Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Sprague, Frank  
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com November 10, 2007, 2:02 am

Author: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County

FRANK SPRAGUE, an enterprising farmer and dairyman of Lockport Township, was 
born July 22, 1858, in Dupage Township on the Plainfield road, where his 
father, Thomas J., located on settling in Will County. Throughout his entire 
life he has been identified with the farming interests of this county, and, in 
addition, has had other interests of an important character. His education was 
received in country schools and the Lockport high school. Growing to manhood 
on a farm, familiar from his earliest recollections with agricultural 
pursuits, he was well fitted for the management of a farm of his own, and on 
arriving at man's estate chose for his life work the occupation with which he 
was most familiar. He was twenty-two years of age when he started out in life 
for himself. His first independent venture was the renting of the home farm, 
which he carried on alone for two years. In the fall of 1883, in connection 
with his brother, Charles N. (a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work, 
as does also that of their father), Mr. Sprague purchased his present farm. In 
the spring of 1884 he settled on the place. At once he began its improvement 
and cultivation. Besides the raising of general farm products he gave 
considerable attention to the dairy business. In 1894 he sold a part of the 
farm south of the railroad to the Joliet Limestone Company; at the same time 
he bought his brother's interest in the remainder and has since operated it 
alone. He is a dealer in all kinds of farm and dairy feed, shipments to him 
being made in car load lots by means of a side track on his place. He milks 
about twenty head of cows and sells the milk to dealers. He owns and operates 
one hundred and sixty acres of choice farm land. In the fall of 1890 he opened 
up a quarry on the farm, quarrying a fine grade of rock. In 1894 he sold the 
stone quarry, then opened, to the Joliet Lime Stone Company, after which he 
opened another quarry. In March, 1899, he rented it to the Keltie Stone 
Company. The presence of the rock in the strata of his land greatly enhances 
the value of the place. Politically Mr. Sprague votes with the Democrats at 
national elections, but in local affairs gives his support to men whom he 
considers best qualified to represent the people. He has always refused 
official positions for himself. His marriage took place June 2, 1881, and 
united him with Florence E., daughter of Philip S. Tripp, of Hillsdale County, 
Mich. Ten children were born of their union, of whom seven are living, namely: 
Florence Olive, Vila May, Libbie Elsie, Charles Albert, Philip T., George C. 
and Alice C.

Additional Comments:
Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing 
Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present, Biographical 
Publishing Company, Chicago, 1900

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/sprague1070gbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/

File size: 3.4 Kb