My Genealogy Hound

MILTON J. SPRY. This gentleman is one of the earliest settlers of Buffalo county, and although he has not accumulated as much of this world’s goods as many others in this vicinity, he has, by his honest, upright christian life, established a reputation among his neighbors and acquaintances which is worth far more as a heritage to his posterity than the riches of this world. He was born July 27, 1841, in Muskingum county, Ohio, and is the son of William M. and Mary (Vernon) Spry, both of whom are natives of Ohio, the former having been born in 1810; the latter in 1812. There were twelve children in the father’s family, as follows — Elizabeth J., Lucinda, Emily, Martha A., Milton J., Joseph W., Samuel U., William E., John E., Mary, Chas. W., and Christina. Mr. Spry lived at home in Muskingum county, Ohio, until eleven years of age, when he emigrated with his father to Henry county, Iowa, where he followed farming until the spring of 1873 when, in March, he came to Buffalo county, Nebr., and took up as a homestead one hundred and sixty acres in section 24, township 10, range 16, on which he lived for eleven years. The first four years, up to 1877, the crops, on account of drought and grasshoppers, were almost a total failure, and Mr. Spry and family had to endure much suffering and privation. In the spring of 1873, there were few settlers in the vicinity of Mr. Spry’s claim, and deer and antelope roamed at will. Elk, while not plentiful, were yet to be found, and an occasional buffalo was killed. The Pawnee Indians trapped along the Wood and Loup rivers, and frequently called upon Mr. Spry for something to eat. In 1877, a new era of prosperity dawned upon this section of country, and the drought and grasshoppers, which proved so ruinous to the crops for the three preceding years, were no longer to be contended with. He has had good average crops ever since.

Mr. Spry was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, and participated in some of the hardest battles that were fought. He enlisted August 22, 1862, in Company B, Twenty-fifth Iowa infantry, and was in what was known as the Western department of the army, under General Grant. He took an active part in the battles of Mission ridge, Lookout mountain, Arkansas Post and Vicksburg. During the charge at Vicksburg, he was wounded in the hand, and lost two fingers in the battle of Mission ridge, for which he receives a pension of eight dollars per month. He was discharged July 17, 1865.

Mr. Spry was married, November 5, 1868, to Charlotte L. Morrison, who was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, December 12, 1849, and is a daughter of John S. and Susana (Steenrod) Morrison, both natives of Ohio; the former was born in 1823; the latter in 1820.

The union of Mr. and Mrs. Spry has been blessed with nine children, as follows — Minna A., born August 5, 1869; Frank N., born June 7, 1872; Louis J., born June 14, 1874; Emma F., born November 14, 1876; William H., born February 20, 1878; Dora M., born December 24, 1879; Leroy E., born August 3, 1883; John E., born October 31, 1885, and Horton H., born September 22, 1887. Mr. and Mrs. Spry are both active members of the Methodist church, and take a great interest in church work. Politically, Mr. Spry is a republican.