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Archiver > NYSTLAWR > 2001-06 > 0991962458


From: Suzi <>
Subject: Frank Wellington Sprague
Date: Thu, 7 Jun 2001 19:07:38 -0600


Posted on: St Lawrence County, NY Obits
Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/NY/StLawrenceObits/10815

Surname: Sprague, Davis, Fosgate, Cross, Burr, Mott, Post, Jones, Gaddis,
Gray, Starner, Rowley
-------------------------

FW Sprague Dies At Gouverneur

He Succumbs To Typhoid At 70 Years Of Age

Village President, 04-06

He Had Been Engaged In the Furniture and Undertaking Business in Gouverneur
For Nearly a Quarter of a Century.

Gouverneur, March 4.- Frank Wellington Sprague, aged 70, died last night
about 6, at his home on Barnes street following about two weeks illness
of typhoid fever.

Mr Sprague was taken to his bed immediately after the funeral of his grandson,
Robert Davis, who died with the same disease on Feb 15. Mrs Sprague, as
well as Lynn Sprague, a son, is ill with typhoid. His sickness aggravated
by the fact that he was tired and on the verge of physical breakdown on
account of the amount of illness in his family.

Frank Wellington Sprague was born in the town of Antwerp, June 29, 1853,
a son of Oliver P and Ruth Fosgate Sprague. He received his education in
the old Gouverneur Wesleyan Seminary. On March 22, 1872, he married Emogene
R Cross, who survives him. They were the parents of two daughters, Estella
and Claribel, and one son, Lynn A Sprague. The two daughters died some
years ago victims of typhoid. The passing of Mr Sprague makes the fourth
member of the immediate family who have died of this disease.

Following his marriage he operated the Temple farm in Gouverneur for a
time. In 1880 Mr Sprague moved his family to Odebolt, Iowa, where he stayed
but two years, returning to this section in 1882 and locating in Hailsboro,
where he built a cheese factory. In 1886 he bought out AA Potter & Cos
stock of general merchandise in that village continuing the business until
1900, when he sold it to GM Holmes and came to Gouverneur. When he first
came here he bought the interest of Isaac Burr in the firm of Mosher &
Burr, prominent local furniture dealer at that time. He had been engaged
in the furniture and undertaking business since that time, for the past
eight years having been associated with his son, Lynn A Sprague and Fred
W Mott in the firm of Sprague & Mott.

While in the town of Fowler, Mr Sprague held several political offices
among them justice of the peace. He was one time president of he village
of Gouverneur.

When he ran for village president in the spring of 1904 a spirited campaign
was waged against him on the ground that he came from south of Matoon
creek bridge and had not resided in this village sufficiently long to
warrant his selection as head of the village board. A campaign committee
in his behalf was formed, his qualities as a sound business man were put
forward and at the polls he won a very substantial victory, carrying with
him to victory the entire ticket composed of HH Post, RD Jones and EW Gaddis.
The new board gave the village a satisfactory administration, and Mr Sprague
was re-elected the following year. Mr Sprague was always a good business
man, and the store to which he was long attached did a substantial trade
here always.

He was active in lodge circles, being a member of the Independent Order
of Odd Fellows and of the local Masonic bodies. He was a most active member
of the First Methodist Episcopal church of this village.

Surviving are the widow, Mrs Emogene Cross Sprague, and one son, Lynn A
Sprague, who resides on El Reposo farm about a half a mile from the village.
A son in law, Wilbur A Davis, of Kansas City, Kan, also survives. There
are several grandchildren, the children of LA Sprague.

Definite funeral arrangements have not been completed, but the services
will probably be held Thursday afternoon, with Rev Harry C Campbell, pastor
of the First Methodist church, of which Mr Sprague was a member, officiating.

Another obit states he was born in Spragueville. Also, states he is survived
by three sisters, Mrs Laura A Gray, Spragueville; Mrs Helen Starner, Los
Angeles, Calif, and Mrs Carrie Rowley, Enid, Oklahoma.

Transcribed from a 4 Mar 1924 unknown news clipping.



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