C. A. SPRAGUE.

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          Over twenty years ago C. A. Sprague became connected with the business interests of Columbus Junction and he sees no reason to regret the step he then took, as he has prospered highly and is one of the best known men in Louisa county. He can claim a long line of worthy ancestry in America and was born in Cherry Valley, Illinois, February 3, 1856, a son of A. G. and . . .

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. . . Lucena R. (Farley) Sprague, both of whom were natives of Ohio. The parents were married in Illinois and shortly afterward located in Winnebago county, that state, where the father engaged in farming. In August, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company D, Twenty-fourth Iowa Infantry, and was soon afterwards sent with his regiment to the south. He was a true soldier and was killed in the battle of Champion’s Hill, May 16, 1864, while valiantly upholding the cause of the Union. Mrs. Sprague, who is now Mrs. Brooks, is living at Lawrence, Kansas. In their family were four children, namely: C. A., of this review; Ella D., who is the widow of J. E. Teeter, of Kansas; Lottie L., who makes her home at Lawrence; and James A., who is engaged with his brother in business.

          The Sprague family traces its ancestry back to the early colonial settlers and is distinctively American through the succeeding generations. In early history the name has been variously spelled as Sprech, Sprake, Spragg, Spragge and Sprague. The first member of the family of whom an authentic record has been found was Edward Sprague, a resident of Upway, county of Dorset, England, and a fuller by trade. In an article by ____ Barr, entitled “The Old Northwest,” the line of descent in the Sprague family is indicated successively by Edward, William, Joshua, Sr., and Joshua, Jr. Joshua, Jr. went to Marietta, Ohio in 1788 and settled at Waterford, Washington county where he died in 1816. He was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, attaining the rank of major. His son, Jonathan Sprague, was born January 9, 1767, at Sackville, Nova Scotia. The first wife of Johnathan Sprague was Sabra Seamans whose parents, Gilbert and Martha (Alger) Seamans, were married in Providence, Rhode Island, on the 25th of June, 1758. Gilbert Seamans emigrated with his family to Nova Scotia, and on the opening of the war for independence he returned to the colonies in revolt and espoused the patriot cause. In appreciation of his services his heirs received a grant of land in the Refugee tract in Ohio. It is thought that after the close of the Revolutionary war he lived in Nantucket, Massachusetts, for a time, but it is known that his last days were spent on the Muskingum river, above Marietta, Ohio, where he died prior to 1800. Among the children of Joshua and Sabra Sprague was Anthony Wayne Sprague, the grandfather of our subject, who married Lucinda, the daughter of Allen and Ruth (Bennett) Duval. Their son, A. G. Sprague, was the father of C. A. Sprague, of this review.

          C. A. Sprague, who was born in Cherry Valley, Illinois, removed the same spring with his parents to Washington county, Iowa. In the meantime he acquired a good education in the common schools, and at the age of eighteen years began teaching school in Washington county. After four years he engaged in farming on his own account and about two years later purchased one hundred and twenty acres in Washington county, which he cultivated for four years. He then removed to De Soto, Kansas, and taught school for a year. In 1888 he came to Columbus Junction and purchased the flour, feed and fuel business of A. H. Parsons. Seven years later he admitted F. H. Johnson to partnership, but in 1897 J. A. Sprague, the brother of our subject, purchased Mr. Johnson’s . . .

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. . . interest and the firm has since been known as Sprague Brothers, their establishment being the largest of its kind in Louisa county.

          In 1878 Mr. Sprague was married to Miss Alice C. Glasgow, a daughter of Robert B. and Matilda J. Glasgow, both of whom were born in Ohio. Three children came to bless this union: R. Wyatt, who is now living at Seattle, Washington; Mazie, the wife of Rev. A. L. Graham, of Burlington, Iowa; and C. Arthur, who is now superintendent of schools at Waitsburg, Washington. The mother of these children died January 31, 1896, and Mr. Sprague was married in October, 1899, to Miss Minnie Davidson, a daughter of Archibald and Sarah (Akin) Davidson, both natives of Pennsylvania. One child, who died in infancy, was born to this union.

          Mr. Sprague gives his political allegiance to the republican party and while living in Washington county served as township clerk. He has also occupied a chair in the city council of Columbus Junction. In religious faith he adheres to the United Presbyterian church. He is a man of good business judgment and is the owner in connection with his brother, of three hundred and twenty acres of land in Kansas and also of several valuable business properties in Columbus Junction, being recognized as one of the most energetic and progressive citizens of the community.