Agency Histories

William Spry, like his predecessor, was born in England and moved to Utah later. However, Spry was much younger when he reached the Utah Valley. He was born on January 11, 1864 in Windsor, England. He arrived in Utah in 1875. Two years later he left school at thirteen desiring to become a missionary for his church. He was sent to the southern states and stayed there 1885-1891. While he was there, he was asked to become the Mission President for the area. He took a quick break to return to Utah and marry Mary Alice Wrathall 1890. When his mission ended, he returned to Utah and began ranching and started some other businesses. Spry was a republican and his first job in the political arena was as the Tax Collector for Tooele County 1894. He was elected to the State Legislature 1902. He was selected as a US Marshal for Utah 1906-1908. He became Governor soon after that 1909-1917. While Governor, Spry finished building the state capitol, enacted laws to prohibite child labor and the sale/distribution of tobacco to minors, promoted development of natural resources, and passed bills on banking, industrial safety, and inrrigation/water rights. He is most famous, or infamous, for two things. He vetoed a prohibition bill. Many feel this is the main reason he was not re-elected. The other thing was his refusal to stay the execution of Joe Hill, an immigrant laborer who was charged with murdering two men. The case was shaky, but the execution went ahead anyway. When Spry left office, he was concerned with how land and water were being used so he joined the Western Irrigation Association 1918-1921. He left that group to become the US Commissioner of the General Land Office 1921. He kept that post until he died on April 21, 1929 in Washington DC.