Spry, John bio

Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County, Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States, and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890; page 632–633; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
John Spry. The natives of the Buckeye State have been influential in developing the vast interests of Fulton County, and of these the gentleman of whom we write deserves considerable attention. He is the son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Eaton) Spry, and was born in Knox County, Ohio, September 17, 1823. He received only a common-school education, but from early boyhood possessed much natural ability on important questions, and has thus been able to win for himself the esteem of his neighbors and a comfortable fortune. He commenced a business career soon after reaching his twenty-first year and turned his attention to farming. He worked for his father and also for others as a farm hand, and always won approbation for the energy and steadfastness of application that he evinced. His success was not of rapid growth by any means, he being compelled to labor constantly and well but, like all moral and persevering men, he finally gained a good business standing and is at the present writing highly respected in the community in which he resides.
The parents of our subject were married in Pennsylvania, and continued to make that their home until 1822, at which date they removed to Knox County, Ohio, and later to Illinois, settling in Putman Township in 1851 and living here up to the time of their death. The father died in 1853 and the mother in 1858. They were the parents of eleven children, seven of whom are living. Our subject came to Illinois with his parents and continued to live with them until 1852, at which time he married Miss Susan Farr, daughter of Cooper and Ada (Lynne) Farr, and who was born in Ohio in 1832. Her parents were from Ohio and numbered among the pioneers of this county, settling in Astoria Township. The father died in 1886 and the mother resides with her son in Astoria.
Mr. Spry enlisted in the late war in 1862 as a private in Company F, One Hundred and Third Illinois Infantry, a regiment which was organized in Peoria and mustered into service at the same place. The marched to Bolivar, Cairo and later to LaGrange. Mr. Spry took part in the battles of Vicksburg, Mission Ridge, Dalton, Resaca and was with Sherman through his campaign at Atlanta. While he received no serious wounds and was not capture during the entire time, still he endured many hardships and privations. He was taken sick near Kenesaw Mountain, removed to a hospital near Marietta, Ga., where he remained two months and was afterward forced to return home. He was under Gen. Logan, being discharged in July, 1865, after serving faithfully and fighting bravely for a period of three years. He has an excellent army record and even at this time suffers from the effects of hard service.
Immediately after his marriage Mr. Spry settled on Totten Prairie, Cass Township, continuing to make his home there two years, removing thence to Astoria Township and later to McDonough County, and after two years’ residence there came to Putman Township, settling on the estate where he now lives. To him and his estimable wife have been born ten children, six of whom are living: Jasper N., who married Annie Miller, has three children and lives in Joshua Township; Singleton B., who married Miss Samantha Montonya, lives in Lee Township and has one child; Luther, who married Miss Mary Finny, resides in Putman Township; Rebecca, wife of Joseph Laird, has one child and makes her home in Joshua Townhsip; Jesse O. and Ira. The children received good educations in the common schools and are in comfortable circumstances. The death of Mrs. Spry occurred July 3, 1889. She was a most estimable woman and was highly esteemed by all who knew her.
Our subject is a member of the United Brethren Church and has taken an active interest in this and all religious matters for the past thirty years. He is a School Director and as such endeavors to advance the interests of the community in which he resides. He is a public-spirited man, a member of the Republican party and keeps himself well posted on all political matters. He is the owner of a valuable estate comprising one hundred and twenty acres of good farming land which is well cultivated, and he merits praise, having planted every tree, bush and shrub and gaining his possessions by his own industry and hard work.