Obituary: Rock County, Wisconsin: Myron Josiah SPERRY

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Submitted by Ruth Ann Montgomery, <rmontgomery@cishome.com> June 2005

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Myron J. Sperry met his death in Janesville by failing to notice the
approach of a gravel train, when the street sweeper which he was driving
was struck at a street crossing and he was drawn under the cars and
instantly killed. 

Mr. Sperry, who had been driving the city sweeper for the past two seasons,
had just finished sweeping the brick streets on the east side of the river.
After making his first trip down Academy street, he started to make a turn
to the railway crossing, so as to clean up the pavement.

While he was making the turn, the first car of a train of gravel cars
backed down from the Northwestern pits north of the city and struck the
sweeper, throwing the horses and dragging the machine to the farther end of
the station platform. The conductor and switchman who were seated on the
car attempted to warn Mr. Sperry of his peril, but his back being toward
them he evidently did not hear the train approach. 

It was several minutes after the train was brought to a stop before the
crew were able to find the body. It was discovered wedged between the rear
trucks of the gravel car. A doctor was summoned but when he arrived found
that Mr. Sperry was already dead. The left side of his head was badly cut
and bruised and several bones in his body were broken.

The remains were brought to this city to the home of his cousin Charles
Sperry, corner of Church and Third Street. 

Myron Josiah Sperry was born in the town of Porter sixty years ago last
May. He was the third son of Josiah and Diantha Sperry, deceased. He is
survived by five sons and one daughter: Edgar, William, Fred, and Mrs. Paul
Paulson, all of this city, Louis of Janesville, and Harry of Madison; also
by four brothers: Henry of Beloit, John and Levi of this city, Hiram of
Richland Center.

The funeral was held at the home of Charles Sperry Monday afternoon at two
o'clock, and was attended by a large circle of Evansville and Porter
friends. Rev. C. E. Coon officiated, and the song service was rendered by
Mrs. Denison

The pall bearers were cousins: Eugene Harris, Willis M. Tolles, Charles and
Frank Sperry, and Pliny and Burr Tolles. Interment was made in the family
lot at Maple Hill Cemetery.

The relatives present from out of town were Henry Sperry and wife of
Beloit, Hiram Sperry of Richland Center, Louis Sperry and wife of
Janesville, Harvey Sperry and wife of Madison, Mrs. Etta Sperry-Simpson of
Long Prairie, Minn., Will Liston and wife of Orfordville, Mrs. Jennie Cain
of Footville, Mrs. Adell Ballard of Union, Pliny Tolles and wife of Porter,
and Lloyd Hubbard and wife.

August 1, 1912, Evansville Review, p. 1, col. 1 & 2, Evansville, Wisconsin