Note: WorldConnect family trees will be removed from RootsWeb on April 15, 2023 and will be migrated to Ancestry later in 2023. (More info)

Individual Page


Notes
a. Note:   1820-1930:
 http://www.herkimer.nygenweb.net/russia/rusfams6.html
 PITKIN SPERRY was a farmer and a Methodist Episcopalian. He settled in the town of Clayton, Jefferson County, N.Y., where they both died and were buried in the Clayton Center Cemetery. Their names are on a monument in Russia-Gravesville Cemetery. Pitkin and Lucy (Sanford) Sperry had children:
  Laura, born Aug. 7, 1802; died Feb. 17, 1864.
 Aurella, born June 6, 1805; died Aug. 2, 1900. Married _____ Read. A son, George S. Read. They resided in Taunton, Mass.
 Sibyl, born Apr. 18, 1808; died July 12, 1892. Married _____ Judson.
 Aner, born Feb. 5, 1812; died July 1, 1907. He was born in Russia.
  The education that he had he picked up after he was 16 years of age. In 1828 he went to work for John Graves in Russia. In the winter he worked for his board. In the summer he received $7.00 per month. Graves had a 40-cow dairy and made cheese. Pitkin Sperry took his son's wages. This continued until Aner was 21 years of age. During this time he was in the Russia Singing School of 80 scholars. Three choristers were appointed to lead the singing in the Russia Union Church. He was one of them. He was in this period a member of an Artillery Company for General Training called the "Russian Blues." Aner Sperry did not like farming and left Russia Apr. 4, 1833, for New Haven, Conn., with $30 in his pocket. He did not find work there and with $1.75 in his pocket he set out for Hartford, Conn., on foot. There he was employed eight years in the Retreat for the Insane. Then he was in the livery business for 18 years. For 20 years he was engaged in the settlement of assigned and deceased estates. He settled 177. When he was 94 he said that his losses in life had been $40,000 and he had given away $50,000 and had plenty left. He believed in doing good with his money. Among his gifts were money to beautify the Russia-Gravesville Cemetery; an endowment there; Herkimer Hospital; Old Ladies' Home in Mohawk; Russia Union Church, and many other interests. Aner Sperry with Alexis L. Johnson of East Schuyler and William Smith of Arlington Heights, Mass., made up a trio of grand old men, all past 90 years of age, who contributed to the columns of the Herkimer Citizen and brought fame to that paper. Aner Sperry attributed his longevity, 95 years, to the fact that he did not drink, smoked only two years, worked hard all the time and took care of himself, never went to any extreme or bound himself to any hard and fast rules. He broke a habit that was growing on him and kept his will power. He died in Hartford, Conn. His wife, Nancy B. Miller, was born June 26, 1818; died Aug. 31, 1883.
  ANER SPERRY wrote Mrs. John Lanning two letters, dealing with reminiscences of pioneer times in Russia. Excerpts from those letters follow. The first is dated Apr. 15, 1906:
  "I remember seeing you when you were young at your home. I knew your father and both of his wives. When I visited Russia I always called on Abner Moon. He was a very bright man and a good leader."
  "Newey Moon (Mrs. Renewed, wife of John Prindle) was my first school teacher. Your grandfather, Benager (Benajah) Moon, was a great friend of mine. I remember that Oliver Barker was at work for him and a shower came up and Mr. Barker was killed by lightning."
  The second letter is dated Apr. 30, 1906:
  "The first thing that I (Aner Sperry) remember was the old cow cropping the grass in the dooryard and I took hold of her tail and she objected to it and a scar on my head is the proof of her objection."
  "The house where I was born consisted of 110 logs. The back of the chimney was made of cobble stones stuck together with clay and that afforded the light except a small hole on the side with a board slide over it. All of the cash paid out was twelve cents for one pound of nails for the two doors. And, as the family increased an addition was made to it."
  "A trout brook crossed the farm and I had a fish basket which I filled with trout nearly every day. I spent considerable time in that brook. We had hens, ducks, and geese. When mother picked the ganders they would fight, and she drew a stocking over their heads. Father drew the hay into the barn on a sled and one of the girls was on the load and as they had to cross the road and cattle ran in the road I was placed at the bars. We had about 50 apple trees and I can give the names of nearly all of them."
  "We lived on the Beecher Hollow Road. It ran from Russia Corners to the Creek Road. Deacon Johnson (Isaiah Johnson) lived on the corner of the Creek Road. Some winters it was not broke out until spring. I remember one spring the road was broke out about the tenth of April and we got to the foot of the road near the corners and I was sent up to Esq. Frink's (Adam Frink) store for a jug of rum. As Deacon Johnson was the oldest man there it was handed to him first and he sampled it and said it is proper good."
  "I would pick blackberries and lug a twelve-quart pail full to the Corners (Russia) and generally get two cents a quart, but sometimes could not sell them and Esq. Frink would take them and give me a yard of cotton cloth."
Note:   Family Information from the book Russia Union Church, 110th Anniversary,


RootsWeb.com is NOT responsible for the content of the GEDCOMs uploaded through the WorldConnect Program. The creator of each GEDCOM is solely responsible for its content.