My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES D. SPRAGUE. For many years this honored and worthy farmer and old soldier in the Civil War has been a resident of Johnson County, where he has hosts of sincere friends. His estate is located on section 22, township 44, range 27, and is devoted to the raising of grain and the breeding of a fine grade of stock.

Mr. Sprague was born in Cold Run, Washington County, Ohio, May 14, 1842, and is the son of John and Eliza Ann (Beach) Sprague, natives of the same state and county. Charles D. was about six years of age when his father, who had been a moulder through life, went to Iowa, locating near Bonaparte, Van Buren County. There he purchased land, and after abandoning his former occupation gave his entire time to its cultivation and improvement. He made his home there until 1852, when he sold out, and with his wife and two eldest children, our subject being one of the number, went with ox-teams to California. On arriving at Placerville, in Eldorado County, the father entered the mines and meeting with fair success remained there for four years.

When making the return trip to this state the little party passed through many experiences new to them, and on arriving in Johnson County tarried a short time. They then moved on to Bond County, Ill., where John Sprague invested in two hundred and forty acres of land, on which the family made their home from 1858 to 1870. In the last-mentioned year the father disposed of his landed interests and began buying and shipping grain from various points in the Prairie State, following this business with signal success until the time of his decease. Four or five years prior to his demise, which occurred in September, 1893, he removed to Sedalia, Mo. Mrs. Sprague is still living in the latter place at an advanced age.

While traveling about in California and Iowa our subject had very poor opportunities for attending school regularly, but after the family located in the Prairie State he attended the common schools there, and as he was studious and anxious to become well informed he made rapid progress in the common branches. In April, 1 861, he enlisted in the Union service and became a member of the Post Band at Camp Yates, Springfield, Ill. At the end of three months he returned home, and a short time thereafter he joined Company I, Sixty-fifth Illinois Infantry. When at the battle of Harper’s Ferry his regiment was captured, and Mr. Sprague, with others, was sent to the parole camp at Chicago, where they were detailed for several weeks. On being exchanged they were ordered to report at Kentucky and were assigned to General Burnside’s command, fighting with him at Knoxville, Tenn. They later participated in the battle of London and when driven back to Knoxville were besieged and nearly starved to death. When at Strawberry Plains Mr. Sprague veteranized and was given a thirty-days furlough. He served until June, 1865, when he was honorably discharged at Greensboro, N. C.

On his return from the war our subject began farming in Bond County, Ill., on a tract of eighty acres which had been given him by his father, although previous to this time he had aided in paying for the place. He was married, February 22, 1869, at Greenville, Ill., to Miss Allia C. Larrabee, of that place. They continued to reside there until 1873, when they came to Sedalia, Mo., he entering into business with his father, handling grain, etc. His wife died August 13, 1880, while on a visit to her mother in Illinois. Mr. Sprague remained in Sedalia two years thereafter, and May 23, 1882, was married to Miss Mary J. Carpenter, the daughter of Thomas N. and Sarah (Howerton) Carpenter. She was born in Chilhowee Township, this county, December 17, 1860.

The year of his second marriage our subject came to his present farm, which is eighty acres in extent. He is a stanch Republican in politics, and in religious affairs is a member of the First Presbyterian Church, with which denomination his good wife is also connected. Socially he is a Mason of high standing, having joined that fraternity in Greenville, Ill.