Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1927-02-10
WILLIAM M. SPRAGUE DIES
AT HOME IN MARIETTA

William M. Sprague, former
mayor of Marietta, former county
recorder and prominent member of
the Masonic and Eastern Star or
ders, died Monday evening at 10:15
O'Clock, at his home at SIS Third
street, following an illness of four
weeks. Mr.. Sprague had been in
failing health for the past two
years, during which time he had
been critically ill on three occasions.
His fatal illness began four weeks
ago, death resulting from compli-
cation of ailments.
William M. Sprague was born at
son of Daniel M. and Adaline Mason
Sprague. He was eighth in line
from William Sprague, who came
from England to Massachusetts in
1923, and was a direct descendant
of Major Joshua Sprague, an officer
in the Revolutionary army. When
small boy Mr.. Sprague went with
his parents to Springfield, Ill,
where he attended school, returning
to Morgan county with his family
lin 1875. Here he completed his
public school education and later
went to Ada, Ohio, where he COM
pleted a business course in Ohio
Normal University. After gradua-
tion from college at Ada he entered
business in the employ of A A.
Coulson, general merchant at Nal
ia, where he spent six years. In
1892 Mr.. Sprague came to Mariet-
ta, and was employed as travelling
salesman for the Penrose and Simp-
son Company, wholesale grocers. In
1904 he accepted a similar position
with the w. w. Harper Company
and was associated with them until
1906 when he purchased an inter
est in the Marietta Book Store, and
became it's manager. He continued
in this business until elected Re-
corder of Washington county in
1915, which office he took in 1917
and held two years. In 1919 Mr.
Sprague was elected mayor Of the
city of Marietta. In 1921 he was
uChSoCCu LII Chio OdAiC I'LL
running again in 1923 was elected
by a large majority. His term of
office expired in ia puary, 1926. Mr..
Sprague was president of the Mer-
chants association for one year and
member of the Marietta Board of
Trade.
On April 4, 1894, Mr.. Sprague
married Miss Cloea B. Jordan of
Marietta
When a young man, Mr.. Sprague
united with the Meigs Christian
church in Morgan county, in which
he retained membership until his
death. He was member of the
Valley Lodge. Free and Accepted
Masons, of Malta, Ohio, American
Union Chapter No. l and the Order
of Eastern Star, Chapter SO, of Ma
rietta. He is survived by his widow.
one son, Mac R. Sprague; two
grandchildren, and two sisters, Mrs.
Ole Tilton of Pittsburgh Pa, and
Mrs. Henry Nan Of Lowell.
Funeral services will be held at
the family home on Third street.
Thursday afternoon at 2:30 O'Clock.
Services will be conducted by Rev.
S. B. Norviel Of the Christian
church, assisted by Rev. w. T.
Blume Of the First Methodist
church. Burial will be made in Oak
Grove cemetery. Friends wishing
to view the body may call at the
house, Thursday, between the hours
of 10 a. m. and l p. m.
The foregoing splendid account of
Mr.. Sprague's life is taken from
The Marietta Register, and seems to
be complete with the exception that
it does not state that after the fam
lily left Lowell, they moved to
Meigs, and the deceased's first en-
ployment was with the stores of
that village.