- BURR SPRAGUE, a lawyer at Brodhead, Green county, is one
of the most prominent and
- influential citizens of that place. His thorough knowledge
of the principles of law, and his wide familiarity with business
forms and proceedings, give his counsel high value. He is an
excellent pleader, and presents a case to the court and jury
in a calm and dispassionate manner, which carries conviction
by its sincereity and candor.
- Mr. SPRAGUE was born in Cattaraugus county, N.Y., April 30,
1836, a son of Almerin and
- Asenath (NOYES) SPRAGUE, both also natives of New York. Seven
children were born to our subject's parents, of whom three are
now living; Edwin R., of DeFuniak Springs, Fla.; Burr; and Sylvia
A., wife of Dr. L. B. BEEBE, of Evansville, Wisconsin.
- Almerin SPRAGUE, an old and experienced school teacher, having
a record of thirty terms in the
- school room, was also a cabinet maker and wood worker. He
was town school superintendent and justice of the peace in New
York, and also served as justice of the peace several years in
Wisconsin. In an early day he served as an appraiser of Wisconsin
University lands. Moving to Wisconsin in 1846, he located in
the township of Spring Valley, Rock county.
- Here he took up a farm of 160 acres, and afterward bought
more land from time to time. He was
- one of the first Free Soilers, a Republican at the organization
of that party, a radical opponent of the Fugitive Slave Law,
and always an influential and leading citizen. In October, 1868,
he moved to Brodhead, where he died in 1887, in his eighty-sixth
year.
- Asenath (NOYES) SPRAGUE was a daughter of John B. NOYES,
a descendant of one of the
- early settlers of Massachusetts. She was a woman of rare
strength of character. Ambitious and hard-working, amid all the
toil and privations of pioneer life she yet kept the strength
and sweetness of a generous and loving nature, and her memory
still lives in the hearts of all who knew her. She died in November,
893, in her ninetieth year. She and her husband were Unitarians.
- Burr SPRAGUE was ten years old when he came with his Parents
to Rock county, Wis., and he
- lived with them until he was seventeen, attending the district
school at Spring Valley Corners. In 1853, he began teaching,
and followed that profession, in connection with other occupations,
for nine terms, also conducting an evening writing school for
several terms. In 1854 he bought out the general store at Spring
Valley Corners, and took charge of the post office, remaining
there form 1854 to 1861, excepting one year, in 1857-58 when
he attended a business college in Rockrod, Ill. He then moved
his store to Orfordville, in the same township, where he sold
goods for six years, was postmaster five years, and served as
justice of the peace and assessor. He was clerk of the town of
Spring Valley ten years. It was during these early years of business
contact and association with the people of Rock county that he
laid the foundations of the confidence and esteem in which he
is held in that county, and which are so marked a feature of
his later years. Mr. SPRAGUE moved to Brodhead, Green county,
in 1868, and went into a general store as Salesman. In 1871 he
established a book store, and was appointed postmater under President
Grant. He was postmaster eight years, and served as justice of
the peace ten years. For six years he also held the postion of
school superintendent, and identified himself closely with the
educational interests of the growing town.
- On Nov. 14, 1859, Mr. SPRAGUE was married to Miss Vina B.
ABBOTT, of Monroe, Wis.
- Mrs. SPRAGUE is the daughter of Luke and Tamar (DAVIS) LANPHEAR,
who were natives of Massachusetts, and early settlers near Milton,
Wis. After the death of her mother, Mrs. SPRAGUE was adopted
by Dr. and Mrs. S.W. ABBOTT, then of Spring Valley Corners. To
her excellent womanly qualities, literary attainments, love of
home, genuine home-making and cheerful encouragement, Mr. SPRAGUE
is largely indebted for the measure of success And enjoyment
that has fallen to his lot. Mr. and Mrs. SPRAGUE are the parents
of three children: Louis A., Jessie E., and Willson Abbott. Louis
A. SPRAGUE married Miss Martha E. BARBER, of Brodhead, and lives
in Elgin, Ill., where for eight years he was the foreman of the
printing department at the Elgin Watch Factory, and is now with
the Willson Printing Co., of that city; he has two daughters,
Leila and Gladys. Wilson A. SPRAGUE married Miss Marguerite K.
BRICE, of Brodhead, and is employed in his father's office; he
has two children, Jessie Brice and Burr SPRAGUE, Junior.
- Mr. SPRAGUE and his wife are Unitarians. He is a member of
the Ancient Order of United
- Workmen, but is best known fraternally in the Masonic order,
of which he has been an active member for over thirty years.
He has been six times elected master of Bicknell Lodge, No. 94,
A.F. & A.M. He is a Royal Arch Mason, having joined Evansville
Chapter, No. 35, in 1867, and is thoroughly versed in the mystic
lore of the craft. Many brother Masons have requested him to
conduct the ceremonies of the order at their burial, and in response
to such requests Mr. SPRAGUE has officated at nearly forty Masonic
funerals in Wisconsin and Illinois.
- Mr. Sprague has been identified with the Republican party
ever since its organization and for
- many years has been a leader in local and county policies.
The last year of his residence in Orfordville, he represented
his district in the State Legilature, being the youngest member,
but one, of that body. In 1879 he was again chosen to represent
his district in the State Legislature, and at the following election
he was a third time made a member of that body. During these
winters at Madison he formed valuable and lasting associations
with men of prominence thoughout the State, and has always remained
a well-known figure at the Capitol. In the winters of 1880 and
1881 he served on the Judiciary committee, and was one of the
leaders of the Capital Punishment debate, which was the most
hotly contested matter before the House in 1880.
- Mr. SPRAGUE began the study of law in 1867, but did not devote
his entire time to his profession
- until about 1879. During the years 1889 and 1890 he served
as district attorney for Green county, removing temporarily to
Monroe during his term of offfice. In 1890 he returned to Brodhead.
During nearly the whole of Mr. SPRAGUE's active business life
he has conducted a real-estate and loan business, which has been
carried on with such quiet care and uniform reliability that
few, if any, of his clients realize the extent of his operations
in this line alone. For many years his annual loans have amounted
to fifty thousand dollars, and the sums safely entrusted to his
direct care by non-resident parties have aggregated hundreds
of thousands of dollars. Always taking cheerfully upon himself
more than his full share of the duties and cares of good citizenship,
he has yet given to these miltitudinous business cares such unfailing
personal attention, such keenness of judgment and strict integrity
of conduct, as to establish himself unassailably in the confidence
and respect of all who know him. So well known is his character
that never, even in the heat of political campaigns, is the question
of his honor raised.
- His ancestry reaches back through successive generatons of
American citizens, through the
- Revolutionary period, to the early Colonial history of our
country. Bred upon American soil, and thoroughy imbued with American
principles, stanch, patriotic, and reliable, Burr SPRAGUE presents
an example of good citizenship which the rising generation may
well emulate.
-
- Taken from "Commemorative Biographical Record of
the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin"
(c)1901, pp. 552-554.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|