George Sperry - c 1880s - page 6 of Charles Joslin Call and Elizabeth Ann Coe's photograph album

 

The fifth photograph is George W. Sperry (1853-1933), husband of Mary Isadore Coe, brother-in-law of Elizabeth Ann Coe

George W. Sperry was born on June 29, 1853 in Pavilion, Genesee County, New York, the son of Platt T. Sperry (1814-1889) and Rebecca Storm (1821-1857). He married Mary Isadore Coe (1851-1924), daughter of Albert Coe (1827-1907) and Deborah Prentice (1833-1910) on May 7, 1879 in Le Roy.

According to census records, George was a farmer in Pavilion until after 1900. In 1910, George and Mary were living in Benton, Lake County, Illinois, where George's occupation was listed as house painter. In 1920, they lived in Zion, Lake County, where George had no occupation listed, although the 1919 city directory does list his occupation as painter. In 1930, George, by then a widow, was living in Elyria, Lorain County, Ohio, where he died on October 10, 1933. 

There is very little information on the photograph that helps date it to a specific timeframe, but I believe the photograph was taken in the 1880s, probably the first half of the decade. 

Based on the style of the cabinet card  - straight edge, no border, albumen print - the photograph could easily date from anytime between 1860 and 1900. The back of the cabinet card has a large imprint - which indicates a date after 1887. The tie George is wearing is much more typical of a tie from the early 1880s - especially 1883 - than later in the decade. 

The page in the album identifies the subject as George Sperry. Comparing this photograph with a group photograph from 1887 where George Sperry is identified, he looks to be same man as in this photograph, possibly a few years younger. 

On the back of the photograph, someone has written C.A. Coe, July 1884. But as of the 1880's there quite simply were no male C.A. Coe's closely related enough to Elizabeth Ann Coe that they likely would have been included in a photo album of her close family. 

Given the jacket and tie George Sperry is wearing in the photograph - a July 1884 date would not be unreasonable. 

The photographer - Albert K Drury (1843-1901) had a studio in Le Roy from 1868 until 1901. So that doesn't help narrow the time frame much either. I could not find comparable backs of photographs on the web from Drury's studio to help date the image. 

George Sperry's age in the photograph and his tie make me suspect a date about 1883-1884, which is consistent with the date on the back. The large photographer's imprint on the back is the one factor that would lean towards a post 1887 date. 

One possibility is that the original photograph was taken in 1883-1884 - and that Drury made a duplicate of the photograph after 1887, since that was a service he advertised. 

Previous page in the album:  Albert Coe

Next page in the album: Mary Coe Sperry