Jonathan Darius Sprague (1848 - 1907)

Born 6 Mar 1848 in Murray, Oleans County, New York

Ancestors

Husband of Martha (Bradt) Sprague — married 1870 in Albion, Orleans, New York, United States [uncertain]

Died 5 Jul 1907 at age 59 in Holley, Orleans, New York, United States

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Biography

Jonathan was born 1848 to Danly Sprague and Eunice Budd in Murray, New York.

In 1870, Jonathan married Martha Bradt. They had two daughters, Gertrude born 1874 and Lois born 1879.

Jonathan was a railroad conductor where he took a job as conductor with the Great Northern Railway. In 1885, they moved to Willmar, Minnesota. In 1892, they moved to Minneapolis. In about 1894, his daughter Gertrude married Alfred Owen in Minneapolis.

In 1905, they returned to Murray, New York, although Gertrude and Alfred stayed in Minneapolis. In 1907, Jonathan passed away in Holley and is buried in Clarendon's Hillside Cemetery.

Willmar Tribune (Willmar, Minnesota) 17 Jul 1907, Wednesday, page 1

Death of Conductor Sprague.

Jonathan D. Sprague died at his home on Geddes street, Friday, after a long illness. He was born on the Sprague farm west of this village March 6, 1848. His early years were spent on the farm, during which time he attended school at the Holley Academy and later at the Brockport Normal.

In 1870 he married Miss Martha Bradt of this place. In 1885 he moved to Willmar, Minn., where he lived until 1892, when he moved with his family to Minneapolis, remaining there until two years ago, when he returned to Holley.

Mr. Sprague was for 20 years a passenger conductor on the Great Northern railroad. He was a Knight Templar and a 32nd degree Mason.

Mr. Sprague leaves his wife and two daughters, Mrs. Alfred F. Owen of Minneapolis and Miss Lois Sprague, of Holley and a brother and sister, Danly D. Sprague, of British Columbia, and Miss Emmeline A. Sprague of Inglewood, Calif.

The funeral services, which were largely attended, were held Sunday afternoon from the family home,. Rev. Chas. D. Holcombe of the Christian Science church, Buffalo, officiating. The services at the grave were conducted by the Masons.—The Standard, Holley, N. Y.

1860 Federal Census in Albion, New York:

• Danley D Sprague 39 Sheriff of Orleans County & Keeper of the Jail born Murray New York
• Eunice Ann Sprague 39 born Hillsdale New York
• Phbe A Sprague 14 born Murray New York
• Jonathan B Sprague 12 born Murray New York
• Joseph Sprague 4 born Murray New York
• Emeline Sprague 2 born Murray New York
• Darius Sprague 71 Retired Farmer born Winhall Vermont
• Thankful Sprague 69 born Longmeadow Connecticut
• Margarett Kelly 30 Domestic born Ireland
• John Ross 22 Turnkey to Jail born New York
• [Inmates of Jail]
• Ambrose Dean 30 born New York
• Tabor Bentley 52 Laborer born New York
• Joshua Meyers 43 Laborer born New York
• Frederick Himman 23 Laborer born Lewiston New York

1865 New York State Census in Murray, New York:

• Danley D Sprague 44 Farmer born Orleans New York
• wife Eunice A Sprague 44 born Renselaer New York (5 children)
• child Phebe A Sprague 19 born Orleans New York
• child Jonathan D Sprague 17 Laborer born Orleans New York
• child Emeline Sprague 6 born Orleans New York
• child Danly D Sprague 2 born Orleans New York
• father Darius Sprague 76 None born Vermont (marriage #2)
• [step]mother Thankful Sprague 73 born Mass (5 children; marriage #2)
• [step?]sister Fanny Artiez 46 born Renselaer New York (6 children; marriage #1; widowed)
• [xxx]son Louis Artiez 14 born Orleans New York

1875 New York State Census in Ridgeway, New York:

• JD Sprague 27 born New York
• wife Martha 25 born New York
• daughter Gertie 0 born New York

1895 Minnesota State Census in Minneapolis, Minnesota:

• Johnaton Sprague 46 (Conductor RR GN) born New York
• wife Marthia 44 born New York
• daughter Gertrude B 20 born New York
• daughter Lois B 14 born New York

Sources

• 1850 United States Federal Census [1]
• 1860 United States Federal Census [2]
• New York, State Census, 1865 [3]
• 1870 United States Federal Census [4]
• New York, State Census, 1875 [5]
• 1880 United States Federal Census [6]
• 1895 Minnesota State Census [7]
• 1900 United States Federal Census [8]
• New York, State Census, 1905 [9]
• 1907 New York State Death Index [10]
• Willmar Tribune (Willmar, Minnesota) 17 Jul 1907, Wednesday, page 1
• Findagrave [11]