Braxton County, West Virginia Biography of Melvin B. SPRIGG ************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: Material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor. Submitted by Valerie Crook, , July 1999 ************************************************************************** The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 174 MELVIN B. SPRIGG at the age of forty has achieved defi- nite success in several lines and is one of the prominent lumber dealers in the State of West Virginia. He is presi- dent and manager of the Sprigg Lumber Company at Wes- ton and is officially identified with several other kindred business enterprises in that section of the state. Mr. Sprigg was born in Braxton County, West Virginia, November 14, 1881, a son of James D. and Sarah J. (McCoy) Sprigg. His grandfather, Edward G. Sprigg, was a pioneer of Braxton County, where he erected a saw mill, flouring mill, carding mill, and provided a tremendous stim- ulus to manufacturing and industrial affairs in that section of the state. He conducted these various factories until the Civil war, when his plants were destroyed. Thereafter he lived the quiet routine of a farmer. James D. Sprigg, father of Melvin B., was born in Jack- sonville, Lewis County, January 3, 1840, and was a child when the family moved to Braxton County. He grew up in the atmosphere of his father's mills, but after his marriage he turned to farming and later became a maker of harness and saddles and shoes, and conducted this business at Salt Lick Bridge. His wife was born in Braxton County in June, 1846. They were devout members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, South. James D. Sprigg was a democrat, and served two terms as county assessor of Braxton County. In the family were four children: Flora, wife of C. B. Heater; Minnie J., wife of A. C. Squires; M. L., a merchant and dealer in timber lands at Holly, West Virginia; and Melvin B. Melvin B. Sprigg spent his early life on the farm and acquired a common school education. At the age of eighteen he went to work with J. H. Brewster in the Sun Lumber Company. He utilized this working experience as an oppor- tunity to gain a thorough knowledge of the lumber business in every detail, and in 1913 he organized the Sprigg Lumber Company, Incorporated, with himself as president and man- ager; M. A. Bailey, vice president; G. W. Riddell, secretary; Walter A. Edwards, treasurer; and J. J. Ervin, director. This company bought a planing mill, and its business has grown rapidly, involving an increase on the original capital of $15,000 to its present status of $150,000. In 1916 Mr. Sprigg established the Glen-Elk Lumber Company at Clarks- burg, succeeding the former business of the Johnson & Garrett Company. Mr. Bailey has charge of the Clarks- burg business. These two companies manufacture and handle a varied line of building materials. In 1920 Mr. Sprigg organized the Westwood Manufacturing Company at Weston, of which he is vice president This company makes a specialty of the manufacture of hardwood flooring. August 21, 1907, he married Miss Iva Lowe. Mrs. Sprigg is a graduate in music from Cornell University. Mr. Sprigg is a democrat. He is prominently active in Masonry, is worshipful master of Weston Lodge No. 10, A. P. and A. M., a past high priest of the Royal Arch Chapter, a member of the Knights Templar, Commandery, Scottish Rite Con- sistory No. 1 at Wheeling, and Nemesis Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Parkersburg.