The Sperry family founded the Sperry company that was known as Sperry Rand in the 50's. The original Sperry invented the Gyro compass that was used on ships ca WWI. Lawrence, a son, developed the Gyro used for autopilots on aircraft. In 1914 he took a Curtiss Flyer on floats to Paris and won a $40,000 prize for the most stable aircraft in the competition. He flew down the Seine at about 50 feet with his hands off the wheel while his mechanic walked out on the wing. The residual company still makes most of the autopilots that fly. Lawrence was killed in an accident over the English Channel, but his brother went on to organize the Sperry company. In any event, I believe there are some good biographies of the Sperry's that could have useful data fro genealogists. Ralph Strong