William Henry Sprague (1842 - 1917)

Born 12 Aug 1842 in Peru, Clinton, New York, United States

Ancestors

Died 21 Jun 1917 at age 74 in Duane Center, Franklin, New York, United States

Biography

SGT William Sprague served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: Nov 1, 1861
Mustered out: June 23, 1865
Side: USA
Regiment(s): Company M 2nd NY Cavalry

William was born in 1842. He is the son of Renadyne Sprague and Mary Swinyer.

The following story comes from the Clinton County, NY, Civil War Record 1861-1865 Facebook Page:

IN OVER 160 ENGAGEMENTS—William H Sprague enlisted in the 2nd Cavalry on November 1, 1861 in Plattsburgh. He was mustered into Company M as a Private with other men from Plattsburgh as well as others from Newburgh, Port Henry, and New York City. While he was with the regiment, he was in three companies, A, L and M.

He re-enlisted on December 29, 1863, and was mustered out as a Sergeant on June 23, 1865. Between March 1862-April 1865, he was involved in 160 engagements in Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maryland. You can see a list of them at: https://dmna.ny.gov/historic/reghist/civil/cavalry/2ndCav/2ndCavTable.htm

William returned home to his parents, Renodyne Sprague and Mary Swinyer, and later married Charlotte Amer from Duane. The couple had 5 children—Cora, Dora, Lora, Fred and Frank. They survived by farming and William’s seasonal job as an Adirondack Guide. Malone Farmer June 27, 1917, carried his obituary—With the Grand Army of Immortals—The world lost one of the most honest, sincere, frank, loyal, and sympathetic, yet sturdy souls, Thursday evening when William H. Sprague, of Malone, for many years a leading citizen of Duane, passed out of life. “Bill” Sprague was a man of the Lincoln type, strong and rugged as an oak, with a heart that was never tempted to dissembled and was as simple and tender as a child’s. For years he followed the life of a small farmer and Adirondack guide in Duane and his tall muscular, willowy form was as much a part of the Meachem Lake country as the tall pines about the hotel, which have braved the storms that swept the lake for more then two centuries, or De Bar Mountain itself which stands sentinel over its waters. . .

. . .he was a fit colleague for the influential men, seeking rest for tired nerves and the delights and quiet of woodland scenes and sports, whom he so often rowed or paddled through the best fishing places or accomplished on the hunt. . . . . .he was one of the finest types of Adirondack guides of 30 or 40 years ago to be found anywhere. . . . . .Mr. Sprague was born in Peru, Clinton County, nearly 75 years ago, and had been a resident of Duane since his 17th year until coming to Malone to reside about three years ago. He was a member of a large family which settled in Duane in its pioneer days. . .After the breaking out of the Civil War, he enlisted in the Cavalry and earned the honor of being a brave and patriotic soldier—patriotism and love of country burned brightly within him to the day of his death. His love of his G. A. R. comrades and loyalty to them was proverbial and no man in the organization was held in deeper affection by his associates. . . .Mr. Sprague married Charlotte Ames of Duane and leaves three daughters and one son to cherish his memory. . .” Read the full text of his obituary at: http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn84031968/1917-06-27/ed-1/seq-3/ William is buried in the Hoose Cemetery in Duane, NY. His wife was buried with him two years later.

Sources

• "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCTY-HZC : 12 April 2016), William H Sprague in household of Renadyne Sprague, Saranac, Clinton, New York, United States; citing family 19, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZ8Q-G5T : 17 August 2017), William Sprague in household of Renodyne Sprague, Duane, Franklin, New York, United States; citing enumeration district ED 84, sheet 580D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0834; FHL microfilm 1,254,834.

• Find A Grave: Memorial #100709637

• Rosters Of The New York Cavalry Regiments During The Civil War—2nd New York Cavalry