Marguerite Sperry Walker Denner

Marguerite Elizabeth Sperry was born Oct. 6, 1903, in New Haven, CT. She was the second child of Burton E. and May. The name she preferred was "Rite"...pronounced "Reet". Other names attributed to her were: AKA "the Pistol", "Firecracker" and "Leader of the Gang"!

Older sister Pauline was refined and demure like May. Rite was a ball of fire like her Dad! She was moody, quick to act, very social, a flirt and instigator. She also possessed her Dad's ability to manage finances, bookkeeping and stenography. She was quick and eager to learn new things. My motto of, "I'll try anything once, must have come from her genes!

Rite's first job was working for the Department of Motor Vehicles. She had the personality for working with the public and the clerical skills.

Marguerite Elizabeth Sperry, you can see the fire in her eyes! She preferred being called Rite...pronounced "REET". Other names she was called were: "The Pistol", "Little Spitfire". "Leader of the Gang", and "Red".

Her hair was red and curly and downright unruly! It suited her feisty personality perfectly! She grew to be all of 4' 11" with a personality 6 ft tall!

Rite is the little girl giving the scowl to the gal crying. This was a favorite look of disapproval. She used it often as she grew! If you got that look, you knew you were in trouble!

Susie Baldwin Norton and Rite. I believe the Norton house was down the street next to and behind the Blacksmith house on the corner of Graves and Boston Post Rd. In the 1960's, I think Merriam Norton lived there.

Rite's Fourth Grade Class 1911.
I have most of the names of the front row. Lft to rt: Maude Briggs, Robert Landon, Marguerite Sperry, Jane Conway, Alice Hibbard, Ruth Bartlett, ?, Frank Brown, ?, Percy Howarth,, Ernest Howarth, ?, Herbert Dudley.

There are over 40 kids, so I expect two grades were combined.

Rite's Gang, Lft to rt: Edith Ashman +Robert Norton, Charles Ives +Pearl Putney, Ernest Howarth + Rite,, and Merle Jillson +Margaret Rolf another photo from the Mulberry Point Picnic. Photo is not dated. Ray Rolf in previous photo was in Navy hat, which puts it about 1918

Rite only wore cheek rouge, powder and light lipstick. I can remember a mirror that hung in the corner by the sink, On the porcelain drainboard was her hair curling iron. She always used it to tame her hair, most of her life!

Now she is in the 1920's

                          Fannie Ella Augur Sperry Clarke   

                            Caught in the Wheels of Time

Fannie Ella was the daughter of Daniel Philemon Augur and Almira Smith of East Haven, CT. born Aug. 30th 1854. By the time her sister Ida Isadore was born Oct 29th 1857, the family had moved  to the old Stephen Spencer house built 1754, where Stephen was a Blacksmith until around 1850.

Daniel became the Blacksmith and added a south wing to the house around 1870. This is how Edwin R. Sperry would probably meet Fannie. The families were both Congregationalists. 

This is what the house at 43 Park St. looks like today and the addition by the Augurs is now a porch. Taken from the Digital Historic Blgs. of Connecticut site. 

Edwin and Fannie would be married Dec.2, 1874 and reside at 291 Boston St. in Guilford by the 1880 Census. Son Lynde Cartwright would be age 2 and Fannie's age was listed at 25. This is very important because as she aged, she did not tell the truth about her age. It was either that or whoever was giving the info didn't have their facts right. Her younger sister Hettie would die the next year at age 15.

Edwin worked as telegraph operator at the Guilford station and a station agent from Guilford to Fair Haven. He also worked in Pennsylvania for the railroad for 3 years but I don't know the timeframe.

The twins May Elinor and Daisy Elizabeth were born Aug. 14th 1881. As listed in the Town Hall Tomes that you must wear white gloves to handle, May was the first born twin. 

By July 18th of 1884, Fannie would fall in love with another man, Thomas Lloyd Clarke. The date is listed on Edwin's Divorce papers.. If Edwin had been seldom home and working in Pennsylvania at this time, Fannie would have been overwhelmed with Motherhood. But alas, I do not know the timeframe but 3 years from 1881 would make it around July of 1884, when she was said to be unfaithful.

The Divorce Decree cites specific dates which leads me to believe that Fannie told Edwin she was pregnant. Divorces were becoming common in the 1880's but were usually granted for men. Women had little or no means of support other than by a man. Women were stuck in unhappy marriages because they had, no legal rights. It would not be until 1920 that the government would even recognize a Woman's Right to Vote.

I believe, she was lonely and sought companionship that led to a much deeper relationship. She would have to leave Guilford or there would be shame and scandal. I, also believe, Edwin told her to go. The dates he stated in the Divorce papers were an almost 9 month timeframe and he listed adultery which guaranteed him custody. Women had no rights or means of support. Women were another possession and status symbol.

I question the timing of the Divorce filing by Edwin. The papers were not filed until May 7th, 1885, yet Fannie had been pregnant since Oct. of 1884 and had probably left around that time with Thomas. Their daughter Katrina Lucille would be born July 12th, 1885. The divorce from Edwin would not be final until May 6th 1886. It appears to me that it may have been a deliberate act on his part to delay filing so the child would be born out of wedlock. I do not know these things for certain, only dates!

Thomas and Fannie would live in Smyrna, Florida, where he would work as a bookkeeper and then real estate agent until 1915. On July 4th, 1893, their son Lloyd  Joseph Ike would be born. Both children were born in New Smyrna, Florida. Eventually the family would move to Palatka where he is listed as a general farmer.

The couple would be together for 45 years until Fannie's death, Aug. 6th 1929. To my knowledge, Fannie never returned to Connecticut. Her son Lynde would find his half sister Katrina (Kitty) years later and he and May Elinor would visit. 

Edwin was considered a good man but his 3 children would go to separate homes to be raised.. Was he hurting them to hurt her or could he just not handle young children on his own? His mindset was never to remarry.

I have carefully analyzed the facts and dates, something I put off for years, believing Fannie had just abandoned her children in Guilford. I have put the pieces together, as I see them. We can never know, how things happened but this seems a more plausible scenario, then Fannie just up and running away with a man, as family lure came to have it. 

She fell in love, at a vulnerable time and then became caught in the legality and morality of the times. It looks like she gave her love to her new family but there must have been an enormous sense of guilt and sadness for the ones she left behind.

Fannie and Thomas are buried at Oak Hill East Cemetery, Palatka, Florida

After the Heat Wave

 Christopher

Up you climb to hug me,

Full of kisses, too;

Stealing sips of my tea,

As only you can do.

As you make yourself a spot,

You cover up your head;

Mommy has to check a lot,

To make sure you're not dead!

Your yellow jammies now fit you,

And make you look so long,

Adorned with Winnie and Tigger, too;

You look so big and strong.

Your smile brings me such gladness,

As year by year, you're growing;

It leaves a touch of sadness;

As onward time is going.

I'll try to hold this memory,

Forever in my mind;

For gladness is remembering,

  The love that grows with time.

                                                 Lynn Cavanaugh

           

                   Ode To A Four Year Old            

              A birthday comes but once a year,     

           You've leaped from three to four;    

   Dreams turn to what to wear, 

 And girlish things galore.     

    At three you were quite elfish,

You loved to kiss and hug;  

And often you were selfish,

Giving brothers quite a tug.

        You grew with disappointments,  

      Were strong and yet, so fragile, 

           Required doctoring appointments,

While learning to be agile   

          No stitches seemed to phase you,

Or hamper you in play;      

Anything would you do,    

For means of making gay.

      But now, you've gained a year,

And have matured to four; 

To play is not so dear,        

 As dancing about the floor.

You want to be a dancer,     

   At four, you are quit certain; 

Ballerina and high prancer,

To play before the curtain. 

You are, as yet, quite tiny, 

     With dreams that do astound; 

      Your eyes so wide and shiny,  

 Curiosity does abound.      

     You really are quite serious,  

In everything you say;     

              Sometimes making me delirious,   

     In a wonderful sort of way . 

I treasure all the days,     

In each and every year;   

But seeing you today,      

 Can't help but cause a tear.

     You've begun to color nicely,

          And your printing is quite plain,

      The alphabet is said precisely;

 You even write your name.

                 What can I say except, "I Love You",

        And this much you must know,

                 Birthdays are happy yet painful, too,

It hurts to see you grow.   

            It doesn't seem you could be four,

       You've grown all quite too fast;

         Today, I give my love to store,   

A present that will last!      

                                                Lynn Cavanaugh

             

                                      

                                                                         Motherhood

                                                      Thoughts in the evening are mine to keep,

                                                      When all my children lay fast asleep.

                                                      The night is still, with just their snores,

                                                      And once in awhile, a creak of the floor.

                                                       The quiet now brings me such pleasure,

                                                       Although their noise is such a treasure.

                                                       This busy Mommy sure deserves,

                                                        A cup of tea to calm the nerves.

                                                        I think of how I spent the day,

                                                        And all the things that are left to say.

                                                        Have I been firm or much too soft?

                                                        Oh, no I think I heard a cough.

                                                        My work seems never to be done,

                                                        Yet having kids is so much fun.

                                                        They take so much of me, it seems,

                                                        That what is left, is only dreams.

                                                         I wouldn't change a single day,

                                                         Except to give, more love their way.

                                                         I renew my strength each quiet night;

                                                         Then start a fresh in morning light.

                                                         The nights are mine to always treasure,

                                                          But in the morn, their noise is pleasure.

                                                          I dread the day the noise will cease;

                                                          I do not need quite that much peace!

                                                                                                                      Lynn Cavanaugh

     

                                                   

                                                                 Just A Housewife     

                                                    Day after day, all melt into one,

                                              As the housewife's chores are never done.

     Make the breakfast and feed the kids,

                                                      I thought, yesterday, this is what I did!

                                                If it's not summer, they're off to school,

                                            Maybe the teachers can teach them some rules;

                                                    Do the dishes and make the beds,

                                                      It seems I will never get ahead!

                                                    

                                                 Gather the laundry and wash the clothes,

                                                 Now, how did I ever miss a pair of those?

                                               Closets each day must be cleaned and resorted,

                                                 And under their bed, a snake's been reported!

                                           Gathering dirty clothes, is like searching for treasure,

                                                Hiding their duds gives kids so much pleasure;

                                                     Even the food items don't hit the basket,

                                             Concealed old apple cores, make me blow a gasket!

                                                     A housewife must be a sort of detective,

                                               And there's no paycheck, cuz the job's an elective!

                                                    Having cleaned and scoured and disinfected,

                                                      You get the rewards that are least expected.  

                                           The children are home and their books are just dumped,

                                                   And now you have entered the 3 o'clock slump.

                                                     Snacks are in order and then there is dinner,

                                                            This is no job for just a beginner!

                                                      A housewife is special in stamina and spirit,

                                                    No other job makes demands that come near it.

                                                        The same old routine, day in and day out;  

                                                           Even in factories, you get a time out!

                                                     So, if you're a housewife and getting the blues,

                                                       Remember, not many can fill out your shoes.

                                                         A true endangered species...the family tree,

                                                     For there is no "family", without those like me!

                                               The flowers on the table, homemade biscuits and stew,

                                                    Are touches, not just anyone can find time to do.

                                                 The helping with homework, the wiping the tears;

                                                 A profession that's endured for thousands of years.

                                                      The Libers may come, the Libers may go.

                                                   And who is there really to show them some woe?

                                                    For memories are made, by those who are giving,

                                                   Thus giving a housewife, a life that's worth living!