The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1879-10-08
THE PIONEERS OF RiPlDES RAP
ISL.
(. GENERAL HoRAT1o 8. spRreG.

It may be regarded as just source
If pride to the American Citizen
that, among the nations ofthe earth,
our country stands conspicuous ana
in all things that can
foster and develop in the highest de-
gree, the nobler instincts and those
manly virtues which her sons have
exhibited in all the walks of life
The glory Of our national existence
Is none the less, when we consider
The obscure origin of the men who
fashioned and who directed on its
that admirable system of
government which, in its conception
is almost sublime, and which has de-
to the world the ability
Of men to rule themselves and to
maintain their rights, without injury
TO the rights of others. We are led
To these reflections in tracing the Pc
culiar characteristics of the men of
the past generation, who gave tone
to the morals, framed the laws,
fought the battles, or in the hum
blest stations have left the impress
sions of the virtues and their worth
as a heritage to their posterity, and
their example us a model to be emu
lated.
If it is not given to all men to
achieve greatness or renown, or to
have their names inscribed upon the
page of history, it is yet given to
every man, in the measure that cir.
(which, perhaps, do
more oftentimes than genius of the
highest order) in his peculiar sphere
will allow, to stamp the seal of his
good or bad qualities upon the COM
munity, and the time il which he
lives. If this be true, what a potent
influence does the life of the citizen
WELD for good or evil2 and how es-
sential it is, that the remembrance OF
their good deeds and worthy exam
Piles should be kept alive as an in
centive to the young.
1t is with peculiar pleasure that
we turn to the lives of such men as
the subject Of this sketch, as an en-
bodiment of so much that is worthy
of regard and of imitation.
Horatio Stevenson Sprigg, was de-
scended of English ancestry, and was
born in Wheeling, Virginia, on the
2sth of January, 1888. He was the
sixth son of Zachariah Sprigg, who
had married in 1772, Elizabeth Ste
venson, young lady Of a highly re-
spectacle family in that portion OF
the old commonwealth of Virginia.
In the early part ofthe eighteenth
century, three brothers emigrated to
this country from England; two OF
them settled in Marylaud-onc OF
whom, Samuel Sprigg, afterwards be-
came Governor of that State. The
family of Governor Sprigg was con
nected by marriage with that of the
celebrated Charles Carroll, Of Car
rollton, one of the signers of tho De
claration of independence. The third
brother, and the grand father of He.
ratio, settled in Western Virginia,
where he continued to reside until
his death.
The Sprigg brothers were ardent
admirers of General Washington,
and were prominent in the politics
of those times, and were also stauncll
Professionals.
At an early age, Horatio, with that
Unborn spirit of adventure, which
marked those times, determined to
leave the parent nest and seek new
field. His dream was of the sea-to
sail across the broad ocean and visit
foreign countries, became the allah
sorbing desire of his young life. His
father opposed him, but at last find
ing his son determined upon taking
Fate into his own hands, he procured
for him the posi- ton of midshipmar
on the seventy four-gun ship, Frank
lin. Gwinn Harris, the uncle of ou
venerable and esteemed citizen, DR.
I. Fl. Maddox, was purser, and thel
was formed friendship, which in
creased as years advanced. TIL
many noble and estimable traits o
his character had endeared him tt
all with whom lie came in contact
and none knew, ''but to love him.
The Franklin was ordered to th
Mediterranean, and after a cruise o
three years she was recalled. Thi
service ended, for the time being, hi
career in the Navy, and he returned
home. After short time passet