Joy George Sperry

Find a Grave

Birth: Feb. 9, 1785

Death: Jan. 1, 1847

"We crossed over the Mississippi River and marched on westward, not knowing where we were going. The roads muddy and much storm most every day. We went through Iowa until we came to the Grand River. There a resting place was formed. It was named Mt. Pisgah, Iowa. Father Joy Sperry felled trees, cleared away the brush, plowed and put in a little garden. We built a shanty here and remained most of the summer. While the Saints were traveling, the government called for five hundred of our best men to go and fight the battles of the government as there was war with Mexico. This call came to Brigham Young. I well remember seeing Brother Brigham, when he said:'We must raise the Battalion even if we have to take women.' The battalion was raised in less than three weeks and was soon on the march. While we were at Mt. Pisgah, my brothers William, Aaron and Charles took our horse team and went back to Bonaparte on the Des Moines river to get provisions for our journey west. While they were gone our mother, Mary Lamont Sperry, took very sick. We were living in a little shanty covered with bark. I remember father telling me to go over to Brother Mansfield's up the river about 20 rods or more, and it was through brush and very dark. When I got there, and asked him to come he said: 'I cannot, for we are all sick too. When I hurried back my mother was just breathing her last breath. There we were; father was sick, my sister Betsy was sick, and no neighbors anywhere. My mother died on September 25, 1846. She had to lay there until morning when I could get help. They brought a rude coffin and buried her in Mt. Pisgah burying ground. None of us were able to go and see where she was buried. My brothers returned to find mother had died. We moved on to Hyland Grove. Friends heard we were all sick and came to aid us. Crude houses were put up for the winter. A good friend by the name of Behormon had built a double long house and offered to let us come and live with him until we could build, yet he had a large family. We will never forget his kindness. While living here we all took sick and with the 'durn Ague' my brother Aaron had the blackley, caused from lack of proper vegetables, none to be had. Great sores come on his legs and feet. He died in early December of 1846. He was buried nearby in Hyland Grove, Nebraska. Father was very sick. We had no medicine or anything to help. Thus my father, Joy Sperry, died on New Years'Day, 1847, at the age of 62 years. He was buried by the side of my brother Aaron at Hyland Grove and no markers were there but this place is about seven miles east of Winter Quarters. Before Father died, he called us all about him and at his bedside requested us to follow on after the heads of the church who were moving west. This we allagreed to do, and I was a lad of fifteen at the time. We came on into the valley the fall of 1847 on October the 17th after four long months of journeying. We met Brigham Young as he returned after having arrived in head of us on July 24,1847, to Winter Quarters for his family. We had a great time visiting with Brigham as he camped with us that night."

--From the Journal of Harrison Sperry, Sr. -- Inez Robinson Preece.

Family links:

Spouse:

 Mary Lamont Sperry (1789 - 1846)

Children:

 John Sperry (1811 - 1881)*

 Mary Ann Sperry Oatman (1813 - 1851)*

 Elizabeth Lamont Sperry Hoyt (1816 - 1884)*

 Sarah Sperry Abbott (1822 - 1900)*

 William Lamont Sperry (1824 - 1901)*

 Charles Sperry (1829 - 1914)*

 Harrison Sperry (1832 - 1928)*

*Calculated relationship

Note: This is a memorial marker located at Salt Lake City Cemetery, Salt Lake City, UT for Joy Sperry who died in in Highland Grove, Pottaeattamie Co, Iowa

Burial: Salt Lake City Cemetery * Salt Lake City Salt Lake County Utah, USA

• Cenotaph

Maintained by: Loose Moose Originally Created by: Judie Latshaw Huff Record added: Apr 24, 2009 Find A Grave Memorial# 36281657