The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-09-12
WAR GOVERNOR EEAO.
William Sprague, Last Of the War
Governors, Dies in Paris.

William Sprague, Last Of the War
Governors, Dies in Paris.
Paris, Sept. n.-William Sprague,
the famous war governor of Rhode
Island, and twice United States sena-
tor, died at his home hero today, aged
S4. The body will be taken to Rhode
Island for burial. At the outbreak of
the war, he turned his apartment on
a fashionable street into hospital
for the wounded of all nations
William Sprague was the last of the
Civil war governors. He outlived ev-
cry member of Lincolns cabinet, ev
cry chief executive OF the states, and
nearly every member of congress, of
the war period.
He was probably the youngest man
in this country ever elected to the
governorship of state. When only
30 years of age, in 1860, he was cho-
sen as Rhode Islands chief executive
serving three consecutive terms of
one year each. In his third campaign
only G5 votes were cast against him
in the entire state.
Born at Cranston, X. l., In 1890, he
early inherited large fortune. The
Sprague family had been prominent
in the political. industrial, and social
life of the state since the revolution.
Young Sprague anticipated the Civil
war. For two years prior to the
outbreak he maintained two full bat
teries of artillery at his own expense.
When the war came, Rhode Island
and Sprague were ready to rush to
| the front
The youthful governor, at the head
of 5000 well-drilled troops, was one
of the first to reach Washington.
He marched with his volunteers to
the battle of Bull Run and later to
the Peninsula.
Governor Sprague was the last sur
vivor of the famous conference of
twelve northern governors at Altoona,
Pa, in 1862.
1--WE had to take lot of abuse
in return for our endorsement of
Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation"
said Governor Sprague recently. eve
were hissed in the streets and were
denounced as traitors"
At SO years OF age, he entered the
United States senate and served dur
ing the administrations of Lincoln,
johnson and Grant.
He married the beautiful and bril-
liant Kate Chase, daughter of Lin
coins secretary of the treasury and
later chief justice of the United States
congressman and foreign ministers
attended. 1t was the most magnifl-
cent wedding ever held in the ma
tional capital up to that time. 1t is
said to have cost more than $250,000.
The young couple led brilliant
social career in Washington and
Rhode Island Sprague erected a
magnificent mansion at Narragansett
Pier which cost $1,OOO0O0 complete
and was the show palace If the state.
The furniture alone, all foreign-made,
cost $25O,OOO. More than $l5O00O
worth of art objects filled the four
story frame structure.
The crash came in 1873. When the
financial panic swept the country the
$16,0O0,000 business house Of the
Spragues which owned large print
cloth factories and numerous other
enterprises went into bankruptcy
Lawsuits stripped the governor of his
fortune, leaving him only his country
home, named "Canonchet' after an
Indian chief.
Before he had recovered from that
blow another fell. Mrs. sprague be
came involved in romance and sail
ed for Jamaica. Senator Roscoe Conk
ling was driven from the mansion al
the point of shotgun in the hands
o, Sprague Divorce soon followed.
Later "Canonchet' was sold over
the head of the governor. Frank D.
Moulton paid $62,25 for the $1,OOO,0OC
estate. When he appeared to take
possession he found "Canonchet" in
a state of siege. Governor Sprague
armed with his historic shotgun and
surrounded by his supporters, stood
ready to repulse invasion. The siege
lasted for many weeks, until the
matter was taken into the courts fol
settlement.
When Moulton died in 1886, his
widow returned the mansion to the
governor in consideration, it is said
of a mortgage for $500, Sprague
Immediately moved in, bringing his
second wife, who was Mrs. Dora Ine2
Weed Calvert, of West Virginia. The
old place was dear to the aged states
man. Here he had entertained such
/ no D,ociJopt Corf old Chief