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ARTHUR WILLIAM SPRAGUE and CORA LOWERY
(S4 and S5)
18 Jan 2002
Born: 16 Mar 1856, at Walsoken, Cambridgeshire, England; son of William Spraggs and Emily Spraggs, formerly Atwood.[1] Baptism was 7 Sep 1856 and listed as son of William Spraggs and Emmily [sic] Spraggs, formerly Attwood. His residence was given as Walsoken and his occupation was a gardener.[2]
Died: 29 Dec 1915, at La Grange, IL.[3]
Marriage: 5 Nov 1885 at DeKalb, IL, to Cora M. Lowry, by Edward W. Drew, Pastor of the M.E. Church. The marriage was witnessed by Edward Lowry and Mrs. E. L. Mayo.[4] Cora was b. 8 Sep 1861, at Malta or DeKalb, IL. She d. 23 Jun 1930 at Los Angeles, CA.[5]
Children:
(1) Avis Louise, b. 29 May 1891, at DeKalb, IL[6], d.----. Los Angeles Co., CA. Avis probably graduated from elementary in DeKalb. She finished a year at Lyons Township High School in La Grange 22 Jun 1906. She was classified as a sophomore and member of the class of 1910 in the 1908 yearbook. The yearbook stated Avis was "genteel in personage and conduct."[7] In the 1909 yearbook she was shown in a picture of the class of 1910, although no mention of students' names or activities was made.[8] In Jan 1910 Avis temporarily moved with her parents from La Grange to DeKalb when her father's professional duties changed (see biography). She was described as being "formerly of La Grange" when she visited some of her friends in the village.[9] However, on 15 Apr 1900 Avis was received by the First Methodist Church in La Grange.[10]
In 1910, perhaps as a belated high school graduation present (it is not clear if LTHS or DeKalb High School issued her a diploma), Avis took an extensive trip, the "grand tour," to Europe with some of her acquaintances. On Jun 16-17 she journeyed by train to Buffalo and then Albany, NY. From there she spent a day on the Hudson River to New York City. From Jul 18-30 she sailed to or visited the Azores, Gibraltar, Naples, Capri, Sorrento and Pompeii. Jul 4-25 she toured Rome, Tivoli, and Assisi. Jul 14-19 she was in Florence (where she received a letter from her father and papers from La Grange), Pisa, Venice, and Milan. The remainder of the month she visited Interlocken, Lucerne, and Munich (where she met by chance some of the Ellwoods from DeKalb). Aug 3-9 she was in Dresden, Berlin, Potsdam, and Mainz. Aug 11-24 she visited Amsterdam, The Hague, Antwerp, Brussels, Paris, Versailles, and Dennis (where once more she ran across Mrs. Ellwood). From Aug 24 to Sep 3 she was in London, Windsor, Warwick, and Stratford-on-Avon. From Liverpool she sailed on the Magentic and was home 10 Sep.[11]
After this adventure Avis attended Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH., but received an honorable dismissal 5 Nov 1911.[12] While at Oberlin she lived at 106 W. Lorain St., and also perhaps at 47 Occident. On 27 Sep 1911 she was granted provisional admission to advanced standing at the University of Chicago to work on an B.S.. in Education. A document stated that she had completed 36 months work at LTHS and 9 months at Oberlin.[13] She was enrolled in the College of Education.[14] She was invited to a tea with the university president given for all candidates for degrees.[15] Thus, she graduated from the University of Chicago in 1914 with a B.S. in Education.[16] At that time she lived in Green Hall.[17] She may also have been at the university in 1915. Several photographs of Avis and unidentified persons exist which are labeled "H.T.H.S." and dated May 1915 and 5 Jun 1915. Additional pictures dated Jun 1917 were taken at the Normal School of Chicago. Further contemporary pictures were taken at Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, most likely in Chicago.[18]
Avis apparently she was offered a teaching position at the Faulkner School, 4746 Madison Ave., Chicago (?).[19] It is not known if she accepted the offer. In Jan 1920 Avis at home with her parents, probably only for the holidays as she was a teacher in the Normal School of Chicago.[20] In Jan 1921 Avis departed for Lansing, MI, where she had accepted a position with the State Agricultural school.[21] She had returned to La Grange by 24 Jun 1921.[22]
On 5 Nov 1923 Avis married George Oliver (Ollie) Newcomb at Los Angeles.[23] He was b. 18 Jan 1884 in TX and d. in Los Angeles Co., CA.. His father was Pruess Newcomb and his mother was unknown. His Social Security number was 555-24-4830.[24] Ten days later they were at home at 355 South Rampart Blvd., Los Angeles.[25] On 25 May 1936 Avis and Oliver bought a house at 60176 or 6017 North Ardines Blvd., Los Angeles. In 1939 they lived at 4915 Laurel Canyon Blvd., North Hollywood, CA[26], which would remain their home until their deaths.
Avis's elementary school teaching certificate was renewed in 1930.[27] She took additional courses in Jun 1931 at the University of Southern California and an extension course at the University of California.[28] Subsequently, she was granted a life certificate 1 Oct 1932.[29]
In the summer of 1938 Avis and Oliver drove to the east coast, visiting first with the Spragues on La Grange Road and with the Edwards (Emily was Avis' aunt) in Wilmette. They also visited the Horrs in Syracuse who continued on with the Newcombs to the East. Later, from 25 Dec 1945 to 14 Jan 1946, Avis during the holidays again visited with her brother Arthur and his wife Louise at 204 S. Seventh St., La Grange.[30] In 1949 Avis took a trip to Mexico. In Apr 1956, and in other unspecified years, Avis was pictured with her class at Rio Vista School at 4235 Satsuma St., probably North Hollywood. She had retired from teaching by 1958.[31]
Oliver d. 22 Feb 1958 at his home, 4915 Laurel Canyon Blvd.[32] He was 74 years old. Funeral services were held at Steen's Mortuary, 11350 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood.[33] He was cremated at Grand View Memorial Park, 1341 Glenwood Rd., Glendale, CA.[34] He had been a resident of the Valley for 35 years and a retired guard for Universal-International Studios for whom he had worked for 18 years. He was survived by a brother, John Newcomb, and a sister, Jeanette West.[35] It is presumed that Oliver and Avis attended the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles located at Hoover, Sixth and Commonwealth Aves.[36]
*(2) Arthur William, b. 2 Aug 1902, at LaGrange, IL[37], d. 18 Jan 1983, at Port St. Lucie, FL. (see separate file)
Biography:
Arthur and Emily Sprague (Spraggs) immigrated from England with their parents to the United States in 1862 and settled at Chicago the same year.[38] However, information on Arthur's application for naturalization stated that they had arrived in the United States in 1867. This information is less credible than the year of their deaths shown on their grave markers. Within six months after their arrival in the U.S. the parents died of typhoid or diphtheria at Downers Grove, or possibly Aurora, IL. The children were subsequently reared by John Attwood, Emily's uncle, on his farm on what is now south Main Street in Downers Grove and the children were known to be there in 1870.[39]
Officially Arthur became an American when he was naturalized in the United States District Court at Chicago on November 5, 1877. Charles Carpenter witnessed the event.[40] On 3 June 1877 he became a full member of the Methodist Church in Downers Grove.[41] In June 1880, at the age of 23, Arthur boarded in Downers Grove and taught school in Fullersburg (now Hinsdale), IL.[42] The specific school and the grade level are not known. Records indicated that on 7 Oct 1878, 27 Aug 1879, and 17 Sep 1881 he was granted a second grade (classification, not grade) certificate by examination.[43] He connection with DeKalb began in 1882 when he entered the office of the Ellwood Manufacturing Co. Arthur lived in DeKalb for several years and he was the city clerk for four years[44] when the clerk's office was in the room over Hoyt's saloon. He was good at this work because of his skill as an accountant.[45] Undoubtedly, it was in DeKalb that Arthur met Cora Lowry.
Information regarding Cora is very limited prior to her marriage. In 1870 she was a student in DeKalb and living with her parents, her sister Elizabeth, and two brothers, Edward and William.[46] In 1880 she still was living with her parents and her brothers.[47]
By the time of his marriage in 1885 Arthur was employed as a stenographer in DeKalb. Eventually he became secretary, and later sales manager to Jacob Haish at the Ellwood Fence Company, the founders of the barb wire industry. By 1873 Haish had developed production of his "S" barb wire at his East Main Street carpenter's shop. Haish eventually owned over one hundred houses in DeKalb, several farms in the DeKalb area, and real estate in many states. In 1892 Arthur was in charge of credit and in 1895 also of correspondence for the I. L. Ellwood Manufacturing Company in DeKalb.[48]
Sometime after their marriage in 1885 the couple lived in a specious home (since demolished) on north Oak and Second Street in DeKalb which allowed them to entertain socially.[49] The arrival of Mrs. Paul Holm, from Lincoln, NE, was the occasion for a reunion of ladies, including Cora, who were girls together when Mrs. Holm lived in DeKalb as Miss Nora Smith. A picnic was given in Leonards Grove and was attended by Mesdames A. W. Fisk, W. L. Ellwood, James Taylor, Frank Wright, Belle Rockwell, Charles Bradt, J. H. Lewis, Dr. Leishman, J. V. Bacon, George Baldwin, S. L. Graham, _____Hopkins of Hinckley, ____Chambers of Sycamore, ____Foster, Waverly, IA, and Puss Ellwood. Mrs. Nellis Hoffman of Western Springs and Mrs. [Dr.] Mayo of Chicago were members of the group but they were unable to attend.
On another occasion Mrs. Wood, Mrs. Bowles, Mrs. Fay, and Cora received about one hundred of their friends. The curtains were drawn and the house was lit by electricity. Helping out were Misses Zaida Brown, Daisy Tyler, Grace Wood, and Ruth Wood. At another time a tea was given for Rev. and Mrs. Horn and Mr. and Mrs. E. O. Wood. In addition, Cora entertained at her home the M. E. Church's Foreign Missionary Society. In 1898 Cora was a music director of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, Dixon District, annual meeting in the M.E. Church in DeKalb. Much later, in 1924, Cora was known to have financially contributed to Ruth E. Northcott in La Grange who was going as a missionary to Inhambane, Portuguese East Africa.[50]
Cora found occasions to get out of the house. Not too long after Avis' birth in 1891, Cora and Arthur went to a meeting in Madison, WI, and Avis was cared for at home by Cora's aunt Mrs. Ladd (who would have been age 41 in 1891).[51] Sometime during the Chicago World's Fair of 1893 Cora and her friends rented a cottage at Englewood, only a few minutes from the gates. Those with her were Mrs. C. E. Bradt, Mrs. Julia Hopkins, Mrs. E. J. Wiswall, Mrs. H. W. Fay, and Miss Hawkins. All of these women were from DeKalb. In Sycamore Mrs. Wyman gave a tea for her friends Cora, Mesdames A. W. Fisk, E. C. Lott, S. E. Bradt, and F. Smith of DeKalb. And, at some time, Mr. and Mrs. Elliott; Arthur and Cora; and their children Arthur and Avis, were guests of Mr. and Mrs. Tyler for a day. On a less pleasant day in 1897, Cora attended the funeral of her father in DeKalb.
Sometime during his tenure in DeKalb Arthur served as V.C. (vice-chairman) of the Woodman Lodge (and possibly of the Royal Neighbors) at a ceremony in Woodman hall before 250 to 300 people. What this organization(s) was is not clear. It is also known that Arthur maintained a garden at his home, particularly the greatest variety of roses. At that time Arthur was the supervisor of the Sunday school at the Methodist church.[52]
When the merger was affected by which the Ellwood company became one of the components of the American Steel and Wire Company, Arthur transferred to the company's offices in Chicago. Arthur's and Cora's church memberships were transferred from DeKalb to LaGrange by letter dated July 2, 1899.[53] The 1900 census showed the Spragues to be in LaGrange but no address was given.[54] They took up residence at 129 South Madison Avenue, LaGrange, where their second child, Arthur, was born in 1902. A new home followed shortly at 57 South Spring Avenue, LaGrange. Later, when the old DeKalb Fence Company was purchased by the steel concern. Arthur was sent to DeKalb for some months to manage the local company until it could be merged into the steel company. On July 1, 1909, it was announced by the American Steel and Wire Company that Arthur had resigned as manager of the fence department and had accepted the presidency of the DeKalb Fence Company in DeKalb.[55] His family temporarily lived at that time in the Mrs. Charles house on College avenue in DeKalb. Apparently he rented his La Grange home to Mrs. J. R. Miller and her mother Mrs. Smythe.[56]
The 1910 census for DeKalb shows:
Arthur Sprague, 53, married 24 years, b. England, migrated to US in 1864, President, DeKalb Fence
Cora, 48, b. IL, father b. Ireland and mother b. MD
Avis, 18, b. IL
Arthur, 7, b. IL
When the fence company plants were merged into the steel company and made the north and the south mills the Spragues moved back to La Grange in 1910.[57] Arthur worker at the Chicago office headquarters on the twelfth and thirteenth floors at the Commercial National Bank Building, located at the northeast corner at Clark and Adams Streets. In the course of his work, Arthur patented a wire-stretcher in April 1908 on behalf of the American Steel and Wire Company.[58]
At the beginning of 1914 Arthur and Cora spent a few months visiting various points of interest throughout the western states.[59] It may have been on this trip that they visited Mrs. Emma Ellwood-Miller and Mrs. Clinton Rosette. They stopped off at Salt Lake, went on to Los Angeles, and returned home by way of Texas.[60] In October 1914 American Steel and Wire consolidated the post and fence departments. This consolidation freed Arthur to accompany his wife Cora, who was in ill health and needed the climate of southern California. He was assigned to the company's Los Angeles operation to act as a counsel in introducing steel posts.[61] He is known to have been in Los Angeles in February 1915 at the Hotel Alexandria. All of his expenses and compensation were paid by the wire company while he was in CA.[62]
While in LaGrange, Arthur took an active part in community affairs. He was president of the Board of Education, District #102, in La Grange. He was also president of the Oakhill Cemetery Company. He was an honored member of the Masonic Fraternity, including the Blue Lodge, the Chapter, and the Knights Templar. He was always interested in church activities, acting as a finance committee member[63] and Trustee of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of LaGrange where he was active in the Men's Club and Men's Bible Class.[64] One month before his death Arthur was present at his first meeting of the La Grange Commercial Club (later known as the Civic Club) after having joined the group.[65]
His death came suddenly. For two weeks he dealt with pleurisy and pneumonia. His condition was not thought serious until three days before his death at the age of fifty-nine. Some obituaries stated that he died at his home at 57 South Spring Avenue, La Grange.[66] Arthur's son, Arthur William Sprague, recalled that he visited his father on the day of his death and that it occurred in a hospital on the northeast corner of Cossitt Avenue and LaGrange Road in La Grange.[67] He believed that modern antibiotics could have saved his father if they had been available in 1915.[68]
Funeral services were held New Year's Day in the Methodist church in LaGrange. The services were in the charge of Rev. Clark, assisted by Dr. A.T. Horn of DeKalb, a former pastor of the Sprague family and an intimate friend of the deceased. Despite the bad weather, the church was filled, including a very large delegation representing the American Steel and Wire Company. It was believed that Arthur was to have been retired on a pension for life New Year's Day, the day of his burial. Burial was at Oakhill (Parkholm) Cemetery, LaGrange Park, IL.[69]
The last twenty years of her life Cora was herself in ill health. She suffered from rheumatism. Following the death of her husband in 1915, she went to CA, accompanied by her son Arthur. Thereafter, she spent a good deal of her time in CA. In Feb 1918 she departed for Los Angeles to spend the remainder of the winter with friends.[70] She was in town in Aug 1920 when she entertained at dinner in honor of Arthur's eighteenth birthday[71] and in Dec also when Arthur returned from Dartmouth.[72] In Jan 1921 she left for Los Angeles to remain for the winter. This was at same time that Avis left for Lansing, MI, where she had accepted a position with the State Agricultural school (Michigan State University).[73] Cora returned from the West in mid-June when Arthur returned from Dartmouth and Avis from MSU.[74] She had rented the home at 57 S. Spring to the D. S. Egbert family of Chicago[75], who then purchased a house at 432 S. Brainard and took possession about 1 Jul when Cora returned home. Cora again rented her home for the winter of 1922-23 so that she and her children could stay in Los Angeles.[76] She returned to La Grange for the wedding of Arthur in 1924. She spent some time renewing old friendships of the time when her family lived there. Several parties were given in her honor during her visit. Thereafter, she planned to spend the winter in Honolulu, HA, after a number of shorter trips in CA that fall. In the fall of 1929 she was ill and received a comforting letter from the church of which she was probably a member.[77]
Cora's addresses in CA are known to have been (in Oct 1924) 5432 1/2 Fountain Ave., Los Angeles; (in Mar 1930) 4453 1/2 Burns Ave., Los Angeles; and 341 N. Gower (near Beverly Blvd.), Hollywood, the home of her daughter Avis, where she died. Her remains were forwarded by train to Chicago. Funeral services were at the Hallowell-James chapel which was then on the second floor of a furniture store on Calendar Ave,. in La Grange. Burial was 27 Jun 1930 at Parkholm cemetery, La Grange Park.[78]
Bibliography
Chicago Tribune. December 30, 1915.
DeKalb Daily Chronicle. December 30, 1915.
DeKalb Centennial Committee. Centennial, DeKalb, Illinois, 1956.
Progress Unlimited.
La Grange Citizen. July 1, 1915.
__________. December 24, 1915.
__________. December 31, 1915.
Letter from F. Baackes to Sales Offices, July l, 1909. Unsigned.
Letters to Arthur W. Sprague from various individuals, 1909-1918, in possession of Arthur William Sprague, Jr.
Illinois State Board of Health. Return of a Marriage to County [DeKalb] Clerk for Arthur W. Sprague and Cora Lowry.
Methodist Church of LaGrange. Membership records.
__________. Program of worship, Sunday, November 23, 1913.
Public Schools of LaGrange, LaGrange Park, Congress Park. District No. 102, Cook County, Illinois. Report for 1914-1915-1916.
State of Illinois, Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Statistics. Photocopy of Certificate of Birth for Arthur William Sprague.
State Of Illinois. DeKalb County. Photocopy of marriage license for Arthur W. Sprague and Cora Lowry.
State of Illinois, State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics. Certified copy of Certificate of Death for Arthur William Sprague.
Undated obituary for Arthur William Sprague from an unnamed business magazine for general steel affairs.
United States Census. 1900 for Illinois.
United States District Court, Office of the Clerk, Chicago, IL. Letter from Deputy Clerk, Naturalization Department, to Arthur W. Sprague, August 18, 1975.
United States Patent Office. Specification of Letters Patent, No. 886,020, Patented April 28, 1908.
Unsigned and unknown author letter to Mr. DeForest, October 1914.
[1]Birth Certificate, Walsoken Registration District
[2]Wesleyan Methodist Register of Baptisms 1852-1870. This was the original book, not a copy, and was viewed by A.W. Sprague in Aug 2001 in Shire Hall, Cambridge County Record Center, Cambridge, England
[3]Certiificate of Death, Cook County, IL
[4]Certificate for Return of a Marriage to County [DeKalb] Clerk
[5]Los Angeles Times, 24 Jun 1930
[6]Certificate of Birth, DeKalb County Clerk
[7]LTHS Tabulae, 1908
[8]Tabulae, 1909
[9]La Grange Citizen, 29 Jan 1910.
[10]Church records
[11]Diary kept by Avis and now in the possession of Barbara Sprague
[12]Certificate from Dean of College Women
[13]Application of Avis to Dean Judd
[14]Matriculation card dated 29 Sep 1911. Her number was 41238.
[15]Invitation postmarked 5 Mar 1914
[16]Diploma in the possession of Thomas Sprague
[17]Letter from Elizabeth Faulkner to Avis Sprague 28 Apr 1914
[18]These pictures were probably developed in Chicago and are in the possession of A. W. Sprague.
[19]Ibid
[20]U.S Census, 1920 for IL. Many photographs of her, staff, and students are extant. There are also pictures marked "H.T.H.S." This school cannot be identified.
[21]Citizen, --Jan 1921
[22]Citizen
[23]Wedding announcement from Avis' mother
[24]Certificate of Death, Department of Public Health, State of CA
[25]Ibid
[26]Telegram to Avis from her brother
[27]State certificate 30 Dec 1930
[28]Certificates from the universities
[29]State certificate
[30]Citizen, n.d. with pencil dates made by Arthur Sprague
[31]Unknown local newspaper article, n.d.
[32]Certificate of death, Department of Public Health, State of CA
[33]Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb 1958
[34]Certificate of Cremation, Grand View Memorial Park
[35]Unknown local newspaper article, n.d.
[36]The Meetinghouse, 9 Mar 1958, newsletter of the church in which appeared an "In Memorium" notice for Oliver
[37]Certificate of Birth, State of IL
[38]The DeKalb Chronicle Illustrated souvenir, 1892. No evidence of their being in Chicago has been found.
[39]U.S. Census, 1870 for IL
[40]U.S. District Court, Office of the Clerk, Chicago. IL. Letter from Deputy Clerk, Naturalization Department, to Arthur W. Sprague, 18 Aug 1975
[41]First Methodist Church of La Grange membership records
[42]U.S. Census, 1880 for IL
[43]Record of the Examination of Candidates for Teachers, Office of the Superintendent of Schools, DuPage County, Wheaton
[44]DeKalb Chronicle Illustrated Souvenir 1892
[45]DeKalb Chronicle Illustrated Souvenir, 22 Dec 1894
[46]U.S. Census, 1870 for IL
[47]U.S. Census, 1880 for IL
[48]DeKalb Chronicle Illustrated Souvenir, 22 Dec 1894
[49]Undocumented events and anecdotes described hereafter are from miscellaneous, undated, and unnamed newspaper articles from DeKalb, La Grange, and Los Angeles collected by Cora Sprague.
[50]Letter from Ruth E. Northcott to Mrs. A. W. Sprague, 12 Oct 1924
[51]Miscellaneous articles
[52]DeKalb Chronicle Illustrated Souvenir, 22 Dec 1894
[53]M.E. Church records, DeKalb
[54]U.S. Census, 1900 for IL
[55]Letter from F. Baackes to Sales Offices, 1 Jul 1909, unsigned
[56]Citizen, 8 Nov 1910. Mrs. Miller advertised for a "good colored cook." Citizen, --Sep 1910. Mrs. Miller, herself, traveled to the East during her rental of the house. Citizen, --Sep 1910.
[57]Citizen, --Aug 1910
[58]U.S. Patent Office. Specification of Letters Patent, No. 886, 020, patented 28 Apr 1908
[59]Citizen, 3 Jan 1914
[60]Miscellaneous articles
[61]Unknown author, unsigned letter to Mr. DeForest, Oct 1914
[62]Letters to Arthur W. Sprague from various individuals, 1909-18, in possession of A. W. Sprague, Jr.
[63]Church program, 23 Nov 1913
[64]Citizen, 24 and 31 Dec 1915
[65]Citizen, 12 Nov 1915
[66]Citizen, 24 and 31 Dec 1915
[67]The hospital was known by two names, Thorton Villa or La Grange Sanitarium and Hospital. It burned in 1925. A Dr. Thorton had headed the institution.
[68]Told to his daughter-in-law, Nancy Sprague
[69]Citizen, 31 Dec 1915
[70]Citizen, 5 Feb 1918
[71]Citizen, --Aug 1920
[72]Citizen, --Dec 1920. U.S. Census, 1920 for IL, showed that Cora had a family as lodgers: Harry and Eva McClure and their two children, Helen and Elizabeth.
[73]Citizen, --Jan 1921
[74]Citizen, 24 Jun 1921
[75]Citizen, 7 Nov 1921
[76]Citizen, 15 Sep 1922
[77]Letter from Elizabeth E. Alton to Mrs. Sprague 21 Oct 1929
[78]Hallowell and James, funeral and burial records
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