John Sprinkle 1835-1907

SPRINKLE, JOHNSON, BOTSON, HUFF

Posted By: Beverly Gerdts (email)
Date: 9/4/2022 at 12:08:39

Columbus Gazette, Columbus Junction, Iowa
Thursday, December 26, 1907
page 1

John Sprinkle was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, February 10, 1835 and died at his home near Elrick Junction, December 15, 1907, aged eighty two years, ten months and five days. He was married to Mary E. Johnson, April 12, 1849. To them were born fourteen children, nine of whom, seven sons, Erasmus, Melvin, Frank, Edwin, Charles, Millard and Calvin and two daughters, Mrs. Alice Dotson and Mrs. Emma Huff, together with his aged companion, survive him. All the children with the exception of two sons and one daughter, who reside in the distant state of Washington were with him in his last hours.

Mr. and Mrs. Sprinkle came to Iowa in the fall of 1854, driving through in a covered wagon and were forty days on the road. Crossing the river at Burlington in the month of November they came on to Wapello where they made their home for four years. Mr. Sprinkle working his trade, blacksmithing. They then removed to the farm on which he has since lived, forty acres of which was entered by him at the land office. Father Sprinkle was converted to God in the year 1870 and united with the Methodist Protestant church, at Fairview, of which he had been a consistent member for thirty-seven years, and although, for years unable to attend the services of the sanctuary on account of failing health his love for the church of his choice grew with his declining years and he was always interest in its welfare and the prosperity of his beloved Zion, and the faith that had stood the test with him during those years of service did not fail him in the hour of death but was as another anchor to the soul. His funeral sermon was preached at Fairview by former pastor, Rev. R. S. Tague, of Atica.