Background
Spry, William was born on January 11, 1864 in Windsor, England. Son of Philip and Sarah (Field) Spry.
Spry, William was born on January 11, 1864 in Windsor, England. Son of Philip and Sarah (Field) Spry.
Came to America, 1875. Common school education.
He is the namesake of the William Spry Agriculture Building that houses the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. He served as governor of Utah from 1909 to 1917. He was a Republican. From 1921 to 1929 Spry served as commissioner of Public Lands.
From 1888 to 1891 (continuing his time from being a regular missionary), Spry served as president of the Southern States Mission.
In 1894, Spry was elected county collector in Tooele County, Utah. In 1915, Spry refused President Woodrow Wilson"s request to reconsider the impending execution of Joe Hill and allowed the execution to take place on November 19.
Spry died in Washington, Doctorate. C. in 1929 when he was still serving as the Federal Commissioner of Public Lands. He was buried at Salt Lake City Cemetery.
In 1902 Spry was elected to the Utah State Legislature and in 1905 he was appointed one of the members of the Utah state board of land commissioners.
Married Mary Alice Wrathall, July 10, 1890.