Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-12-17
4! HANDSOME TRIBUTE
TO spRAGuE AND
HIS JOURNAL

Last month Justin Henry Shaw OF
kittery. Maine, paid. in a o-column
article in the Biddeford Journal,
; handsome tribute TO John Francis
Sprague of Dover, editor and pub
Usher of Spragues Journal Of Maine
History. In part he wrote:
! John Francis Sprague is the editor
and publisher of "Sprague's Journal
OF Maine History" one CT the finest
Of our state publications. He was
the founder of this journal. in 1919,
and is the owner of it. The Jour
nal" now well into its sixth volume,
is well established, and is faultlessly
printed at the Sentinel Office in wa
terville. quarterly, and with special
edition annually, making five hand
some numbers to each of the care
fully indexed volumes. The sixth
! volume. now being issued. promises
to be better and broader than ever.
The work of editing and publishing
| "Sprague's Journal of Maine His
tory is considerable of task. and
largely labor of love- and can hard
ly be anything more. from materia.
standpoint. The material considera-
tons and profits are only incidental
features and the profits are neces
, sariiy limited. And while the work
undoubtedly has such good support
as to insure the continuation of the
issues so long as the present editor
may be spared, a major portion of
the reward is only in that siien. but
substantial and permanent apprecia-
ton which does not show as a mat
ter OF many subscribers, or In big fig
ures in subscriptions. About 500
copies are being printed, with some
l.400 regular subscribers. / believe
that Maine ought to become more
generally interested in this enterprise
and in the man who has labored so
kindly 70 produce something Of so
great benefit to the state.
John Francis Sprague, Is we'll as
Sir Hiram Maxim, was born in san
Gervillc. and quite whilc ago too, ON
July 16, 1873. and is a descendant Of
William Sprague who was born in
England IN 1893 ana cnigrated to Sa-
len, Mass. IN -G19, and later was To-
C3tcd IN Charlestown, and later still
At bingham, Mass
Editor Sp"ague was educated in the
common schools At the Brockways
Mills district in Sangerville; was ad-
rhitted TO the Piscataquis bar in 1874;
commenced the practice Of law at
Abbot village. that year. and moved
70 Ionson in 1879, where he resided
until 1870, when he moved to Dover,
where he has SINCE been of such serv-
ice to the state in historical research
and III publishing. ] suppose that he
* now almost a. widely known per
haps as the venerable Honorable
James Phinney Baxter Of Portland.
whose work has been the wonder Of
the state and country. He has re-
peatedly been a member of the Maine
house Of representatives.
He is at present referee in bank
'ruptcy for Piscataquis county; a
trustee of Monson academy: A mem
Der Of the Maine Historical society,
and president Of the Piscataquis His
torical society; member and presi
dent Of The Maine society, 5. A. r:
4 member and president Of the Maine
Sportsmen,,s association; and an Odd
Fellow and Mason, in both of which
last organizations he has been a
s worker and ar officer
The members Of The Maine ie2isia-
Il ture. in both the senate and tt house
e speak of him with the highest per-
sonal regard. I am indebted to form
t er Senator Aaron b Cole Of Kittery
for some very fine personal tributes
10 Editor Sprague by reason Of the
acquaintance between these two gen
tIemen in the legislature.
r This is a somewhat formal sketch
J. Of the man who holds that History
g is the truth; ever impartial: never
prejudiced," and who holds to this
straight course with cordial and tire
less devotion.
Is The books of John Francis Spra que
include at present some very fine vol
, umes on local and state history. such
/" as "Piscataquis Biography and Frag-
;, ments;" Sebastian Rale, a Maine
- Tragedy Of the Eighteenth Century
= and "Backwoods Sketches" each Of
- which now sells at 800; THE North
:. Eastern Boundary Controversy and
10 the Aroostook War" at 1925; and a
short work on Accidental Shootings
C in the Game Season." at 25 cents. He
~ has also written a history of Dorie
"a lodge of Odd Fellows, which does no,
appear among his listed books. be-
N cause of the limited interest. Many
y of his journal articles have since
is been reprinted separately, and appea,
in the later Huston lists at Portland
that splendid headquarters in Maine
T. for books.
"Sprague's Journal Of Maine His.
tory" is now recognized as a repre-
d sentative state publication. 1t has q
. work to do, and is doing it well, that
ID could not be done very well other
n wise. II is first of all. perha ps, a con
n. slant means OF interesting comnuni.
J. cation between those who are inter-
+ ested in the present things of the
II state, from the historical standpoint
and also in its schools. and its public
- spirit, and the preservation of state
things worth saving; and the devel-
opment of public welfare in general
through education and loyalty to our
own communities. A review of the
numbers for the last four years and
more only, is a pleasure. and very
much of an inspiration. have not
yet been able to secure the entire first
volume.
Tho raptoptu - ,nu <n,r -