- William Spry
William Spry (
January 11 ,1864 –April 21 ,1929 ) was an American politician and the third Governor of Utah.Spry was born at
Windsor ,Berkshire ,England . He emigrated toUtah Territory with his parents at the age of eleven.He served as governor of
Utah from 1909 to 1917. He was a Republican. Spry was a strong opponent ofProhibition , and vetoed two bills that would have implemented this. [Ludlow, Daniel H., ed., "Encyclopedia of Mormonism ". p. 1158] From 1921 to 1929 Spry served as commissioner of Public Lands. [Ludlow, Daniel H., ed., "Encyclopedia of Mormonism ". p. 634]In 1885, Spry was called as an LDS Church missionary and went to serve in the Southern States Mission.From 1888 to 1891 (continuing his time from being a regular missionary), Spry served as president of the Southern States Mission. [Jenson, Andrew. "Encyclopedic History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints". (Salt Lake City, Utah:
Deseret News Press , 1941) p. 822]In 1890, during his mission, Spry received permission from the leaders of the church to return briefly to
Salt Lake City where he married Mary Alice Wrathal. [Jenson, Andrew. "LDS Biographical Encyclopedia". Vol. 4, p. 381]In 1894, Spry was elected county collector in
Tooele County, Utah . In 1902 Spry was elected to theUtah State Legislature and in 1905 he was appointed one of the members of the Utah state board of land commissioners. [Jenson, Andrew. "LDS Biographical Encyclopedia". Vol. 4, p. 381]Spry died in
Washington, D. C. in 1929 when he was still serving as the Federal Commissioner of Public Lands.References
External links
* [http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/s/SPRY%2CWILLIAM.html William Spry] from [http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/index_frame.html Utah History Encyclopedia]
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