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ARTHUR WILLIAM SPRAGUE and LOUIS BLISS HORR
(S2 and S3)
14 Jan 2002
Born: 2 Aug 1902[1] at 129 South Madison Ave.[2], La Grange, IL. Son of Arthur William and Cora Sprague. He was baptized on 14 Jun 1903 at the First Methodist Church of La Grange.[3]
Died: 18 Jan 1983 at Martin Memorial Hospital, Stuart, FL. His residence at the time was 3113 Overbrook Drive, Sandpiper Bay, Port St. Lucie, FL.
Marriage:
(1) 20 Jun 1925 to Louise Bliss Horr, at the First Congregational Church in La Grange, IL, although the ceremony was performed by Irvin Goddard of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, La Grange.[4] A reception followed at the La Grange Country Club. Louise was the daughter of Charles Phelps and Marie Louise Horr of La Grange. He was born in Lorain, OH on 20 Jan 1868 and she at Columbia, TN, on 11 Dec 1871. Louise was b.16 Aug 1902 at Philadelphia, PA, and died from bronchogenic carcinoma at La Grange Community Memorial Hospital on 10 May 1966.
(2) 6 Apr 1967 to Mrs. Esther, “Essie”, (Harry Mace) Wootten at Bethesda-by- the-Sea Episcopal Church in Palm Beach, FL. The two attendants were Esther's (Essie's) sister and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Everett Gates of Buffalo, NY. Arthur and Essie traveled thereafter and were back at home by 1 Oct. After several years the couple was divorced and then they remarried somewhere in GA. Essie had a step-son Carter J. Cain of Hilton Head, SC. The couple lived at Fairway Pointe, St. Lucie Country Club, FL.
As of 31 May 1983 Essie had a living sister Olive and a deceased brother Raymond and sister Mariam. She stated she and Olive were the only ones left in the Johnson family. Essie’s son Carter was 51 years old on 10 May 1983. He had a son Ruffin who was 19 In 1983 and was a sophomore at Furman University. There was another son John, age 17, who attended Darlington prep school.[5]
Children: All from the first marriage:
(1) Molly Lou: b. 20 March 1926 at Hinsdale, IL, Sanitarium. She d. in Santa Clara Co., CA. She graduated from Cossitt School in La Grange, winning the Daughters of the American Revolution's, (La Grange Chapter), medal in the eighth grade.[6] She graduated in 1943 from Lyons Township High School where she ranked fourth in a class of 317 with an average of 94.527.[7] Her senior year yearbook stated, "Molly is never seen without her knitting. . . [Her] future plans are for the University of Maryland for the Commerce Major." She participated for three years in the French Club, being the secretary her last year; Aeneadae (Latin Club); and four years in Omega Epsilon Omega, girls honor roll club.[8] In Jul 1945 she took a special course for nurse's aides at West Suburban Hospital. Molly attended her first two years at Smith College in MA, then a year at the University of Chicago, and returned her senior year to Smith from which she graduated in 1947. Thereafter she spent a year in Mexico City, Mexico, improving her Spanish and working as a legal secretary. In the winter of 1948-49 she lived with her uncle and aunt, Oliver and Avis Sprague, in North Hollywood, CA. While there she attended Immaculate Heart College and received her teaching certificate for Los Angeles schools. The Newcombes drove to La Grange with Molly late in July and visited with the Spragues. That fall she was employed as a first grade teacher at Trona Unified School, in the Mojave desert, 135 miles northeast of Los Angeles. She shared an apartment with a Los Angeles girl, also a teacher at the same school.[9] In Jun 1953 Molly attended summer school at Stanford University. She then left Trona to teach at Palo Alto. She lived in Menlo Park.
(2) Joan Lowry: b.---- at MacNeal Hospital, Berwyn, IL. She graduated from LTHS in 1947; her senior yearbook stated, "One can usually see 'Dit' buzzing around in her jeep. Her pet peeves-- people who take cards seriously. Stephens next."[10] No activities were mentioned or found in the yearbook. She attended Stephens College, Columbia, MO, where she belonged to Eta Epsilon sorority. Her second year she roomed with a sorority sister in Aviation Hall. Joan made the Dean's List (top seven percent of 2240 students) her first semester that year.[11] On 31 May 1949 she graduated with an Associate in Arts Degree[12]. Thereafter she took business training at Gregg in Chicago[13], and then earned a degree at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, probably in 1951. Joan was married to Donald Preston Haydendahl of 1456 Ridge Ave., Evanston, IL, on 27 June 1953 at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, La Grange. The groom's parents were Karl William Haydendahl (deceased) and Eliza Ann Preston Haydendahl. Witnesses were Arthur W. Sprague, Jr., and Susan Emily Sprague.[14]
*(3) Arthur William, Jr.: b. 21 Sep 1931 at MacNeal Hospital, Berwyn, IL. Baptized at the First Methodist Church of La Grange, date unknown. Confirmed at Emmanuel Episcopal Church 29 Apr 1945. Married to Nancy Louise Holmes on 25 Aug 1957 at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, La Grange. Her parents were Kenneth T. Holmes and Grace Marion Davis of Western Springs, IL. Witnesses were Philip L. Kennedy and Nancy Lee Evans. (see separate file)
(4) Susan Emily: b. 17 Jan -- at MacNeal Hospital, Berwyn, IL. With her cousin, Judy Horr, in Aug 1949 Susan attended Camp Talooli, near Syracuse, NY. This was a camp fire girls camp and two La Grange residents, Mrs. A. L. Elder and Mrs. L.S. Toogood were on the staff.[15] The latter's daughter, Linda, was to be Susan's good friend and neighbor through high school. Confirmed at Emmanuel Episcopal Church 8 Apr 1951.[16] She attended Cossitt School and graduated from Lyons Township High School in 1957. While in her freshman year she was in Latin Club, Representative Assembly, South Campus Publicity Committee, and was class secretary-treasure. She was on Girls' Club Board her sophomore and junior year, Spanish Club in the 11th grade, and Cheerleader sophomore and senior years. She was in the Corral Show all four years and in the National Honor Society her senior year.[17]Susan was a graduate of the University of Iowa and teacher in Kewanee, IL.
(5) Thomas Charles: b. 21 Dec 1941, at MacNeal Hospital, Berwyn, IL. Baptized at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, La Grange. Confirmed 28 Nov 1954 at Emmanuel.[18] Tom graduated from LTHS in 1960; the yearbook stated that his "future includes Kenyon College and studies in medicine. . . spent time working as a volunteer at a local hospital. . .enjoyed playing on the tennis team." He was on the tennis team all four years, the Corral Show his senior year, Latin Club sophomore year, French Club senior year, and the choir junior and senior years.[19] He graduated from Kenyon College, OH, in 1964, with a philosophy major. He joined the Navy and served as a Lieutenant, JG, aboard the U.S.S. Buchanan in the Pacific. Thereafter, he attended Kent Law School in Chicago and received his LL.B. in -----
On 31 Aug 1968 Tom married Barbara Ellen Olson of Western Springs, IL who was b. 6 Aug 1942 at South Shore Hospital, Chicago. She attended Franklin Avenue school from the fourth grade on and graduated from LTHS in 1960. The school yearbook stated Barbara's plans included "major will be foreign relations at either Skidmore College or U. of Wisconsin. . .likes music and journalism. . .enjoyed studying the Russian language." Barbara was in the Student Council her sophomore year and treasurer of that group her senior year. She was in the Corral Show her first two years and on the Lion staff her last two. She was on the Girls' Athletic Association Board her freshman year, Latin Club the next year, Virgil Club her junior year, and Russian Club her senior year. She was elected to the National Honor Society her senior year.[20] She graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1964.
Barb's father, an only child, was Walter Julian Olson (used the name John) who was b. 18 Sep 1907 in Chicago and d. 6 Nov 1980 in Western Springs and was buried at Bronswood Cemetery in Hinsdale, IL. He had owned a construction company in Chicago and then he was a consultant for insurance companies. He had lived in Western Springs the last 25 years of his life.[21] Walter's father was Julius Olson who was b. in Sweden. He married Emma Wickstrom.
Barb's mother is Helen Stormont Mackay (used the name Ellen) who was b. 8 Jun 1909 in Dumbarton, District of Dumbarton, Scotland (see below). At the age of 14 she migrated with her mother Helen and sisters Jemimia, age 11 and Robina, age 8, to Montreal, Canada, in Oct 1923, but because of a filled quota she could not leave ship until 4 Nov 1923.[22] Helen's husband James' naturalization certificate indicated that he arrived at the port of New York 19 Mar 1923 [23] The family traveled to Chicago where James was already employed on the railroad, having previously worked at the Denny shipyards in Dumbarton.[24] James was b. 7 Jul 1872 and his wife Helen was b. 30 Jun 1872[25] and d. 9 Dec 1966. In 1929 and 1940 they lived at 1339 E. 72nd St., Chicago.[26]
Helen Stormont Mackay's maternal grandparents were Alexander Gibb (b.1840 d. 1914) and Ellen Stormont (b. 30 Aug 1843 d. 8 Jun 1902) who were married 11 Feb 1864. Their children were:[27]
James Alexander, b. 1867 in Aberdeen. d. 1 Jul 1900, migrated to US
Alfred Crighton, b. in Aberdeen 20 Jun 1868, d. 1901, migrated to US
Henry George, b. in Aberdeen 21 Aug 1870, d. --, migrated to US
Helen, b. 30 Jun 1872 in Aberdeen, d. 9 Dec 1966, married James Mackay 10 Jul 1903 in Glasgow, District of Gorbals (sp?), migrated to Chicago
Elizabeth Webster, b. 20 Feb 1874 in Aberdeen, d. 30 Nov 1931, married _____Russell, remained in Scotland
Jessie, b. 2 Jun 1875 in Aberdeen, d. 17 Jan 1955, married _____Keiller, remained in Scotland
Arthur Charles. b. 25 Jul 1877 in Aberdeen, d. 6 Feb 1951, migrated to Hawaii
Augustus Stormont, b. 18 Dec 1880 in Aberdeen, d. 5 Jun 1965, migrated to Hawaii
In addition to Barbara, John and Ellen Olson had a son Walter Donald Olson (Don). He was b. 7 Sep 1939 in Chicago and married Judith Gumalius 15 May 1966 in a south Chicago suburb, probably Chicago Heights. They presently live in Wethersfield, CT. Their children are:
David Erick, b 19 Apr 1967
Julie, b. 28 Jan 1969
Michael Donald, 2 Nov 1972?[28]
Tom and Barb have two children:
Steven, b. 25 Aug 1971 in La Grange, married Barbara Kay Tuley on 4 Nov 1995 at the United Methodist Church in La Grange. Her parents are Frank and Janet Tuley of 20l Community Drive, La Grange Park, IL. Both parents are twins and were b. somewhere near Syracuse, NY. Steve and Barb have a daughter:
Rebecca Kay, b. 15 Feb 1998, at Hinsdale Sanitarium, Hinsdale, IL
Peter, b. 31 Dec 1975 in La Grange
Biography: Although born on Madison Ave. in La Grange, Arthur lived with his parents (although his father died in 1915) and older sister Avis at 57 S. Spring Ave., La Grange, from 1903 until the time of his marriage in 1925.[29] On 14 Apr 1914 Arthur was confirmed at the First Methodist Church of La Grange.[30]
On 8 Feb 1918 Arthur was involved in a tragic and accidental killing of 14 year old Francis Dillon of La Grange. Arthur had taken a 22-rifle without permission from the residence of W. J. Galloway at 444 South Waiola, where he had been living that winter, while his mother was in CA. Mrs. Galloway thought Arthur was leaving with his .22 with which he usually hunted. He and two friends were hunting rabbits near the CB & Q freight house when Arthur's gun discharged and hit Dillon as he was joining his friends. The boys reported the accident to the train depot from where the freight agent took the wounded boy to Dr. Clark's office. A train was called and stopped at 5th avenue and took the boy to Presbyterian hospital in Chicago. The injured boy was conscious before and after surgery but then he totally failed and died.[31] There was no printed account of what happened to Arthur as a result of his experience.
A more pleasing event occurred on 25 Dec 1917 when Louise was promised a Christmas present of a $100 Liberty Bond in return for the kiss she had given her Grandmother Bliss.[32] The previous year Louise had had a serious case of bronchial pneumonia.[33]
Arthur and Louise attended elementary school together in La Grange. A class picture, probably of the third grade at Cossitt school, exists with the two of them no where near each other. It was by the fifth grade that they were close friends. They were in the 1920 graduating class of seventy students at Lyons Township High School in La Grange. Graduation ceremonies were held in the town hall. The school's yearbook for 1920 pointed out that Arthur had participated in the debate team (the first freshman to make the team), Forum (secretary and president), literary contest, French club and French play, Tabulae staff, Lion staff, class track, class basketball, lightweight football (captain), lightweight basketball, and sophomore class treasurer. Louise had been on the Lion staff, science and math club, Philo club (vice-president), Athletic Association, class play, Tabulae staff, French club and play, Stunt Night, class play, and senior class secretary. In addition, at some time Arthur had learned to play the clarinet respectably. Since the fifth grade Arthur and Louise were interested in each other and were not inclined to date other students through the time of high school graduation It was apparent by that time the two students were romantically attached. The editors of the yearbook in their write-ups of the respective graduating seniors for Arthur and Louise made humorous and mild suggestive references to each other.[34]In 1919 Arthur contributed a short story to the Lion of which Louise was the art manager for that year. That fall Arthur was the quarterback for the lightweight football team, notably scoring two touchdowns against Crane.[35] In the graduating class were future lifelong friends of Arthur and Louise: Dorothy Heppes, Joseph Sammons, Eleanor Garratt.
Arthur enrolled in Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, the fall of 1920. He immediately qualified for the varsity debate team, being one of six chosen from among 600 applicants. He was probably one of the first freshman ever to be selected for the team.[36] He won debates against Bowdoin and Ripon on the subject of European immigration.[37] In Dec 1921 against Smith College he was the leader for the affirmative on the resolution that the United States should recognize the Soviet government in Russia.[38] After two years (1920-22) of pre-legal study at Dartmouth, Arthur took two years (1922-24) of law at the University of Illinois at Champaign, graduating with an LL.B. degree, and one year (1925) at Northwestern University law school. During one of his summers attending Illinois, he visited his mother (who suffered from rheumatism) and sister in Los Angeles. At Illinois he was selected for the Order of the Coif, the highest honor a law student can receive. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon (social) and Phi Delta Phi (law) fraternities. Arthur was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1925.
In 1922 Louise graduated from National Park Seminary, Forest Glen, MD, a two year institution. Shortly thereafter, her roommate Helen Shadd of Marion, OH, visited Louise at 334 S. Fifth Ave.[39] For one year, 1922-23, Louise attended the School of Domestic Arts and Science (now the School of the Chicago Art Institute).[40] By the time of her marriage she had been active in the work of the Episcopal Church in La Grange, Junior Welfare, and Alpha Pi Phi sorority, of which she was a member. Prior to her marriage parties were given in her honor. A luncheon and bridge party for twelve was given by Miss Evelyn Garratt of 406 North Brainard Ave. Elizabeth Townsend entertained another party of twelve. Additional parties for Louise were given by Mrs. Clarence W. Anderson, Mrs. A. C. Odenbaugh of 437 South Spring, Evelyn Walker, and Ruth Yale.[41]
On a Sunday evening several months prior to Arthur's and Louise's marriage, Marie Horr wrote a diplomatic, yet straight forward, letter to Cora Sprague about the forthcoming event.[42] She wrote:
My Dear Mrs. Sprague:
How I wish miles could fade away and I could be with you for an hour or two this evening. There is so much I would like to talk to you about and I feel so unequal to writing it. Of course it all concerns our children and because it does concern them it is very near to my heart and I am sure very near to yours.
Before this reaches you, you will probably have received Arthur's letter in regard to his and Louise's getting married in June. Before I could come to my decision at all about this myself I had to make a mental list of all the "pro and cons." I am writing this without a definite idea of what Art has written you only after talking it over here with he and Louise. Mr. Horr told him that he was willing to continue Louise's allowance after she was married if he could get some financial help from you [Cora] so they could live in a reasonably comfortable way. I do not think that Louise is extravagant and for a girl that been brought up as she has, I think she knows the value of money pretty well. I think she has been a help to Art in many matters as well as other ways this winter, she has encouraged him to pay his debts and make his money do as far as possible and I really believe they have done the very best they could in every way. I thought a year ago that their love needed a years try out and now that the year is nearly over I believe they are more lovers than ever, and I truly feel that the best thing to do is to help them get started in a little home where they can be together and take care of each other-- I am sure you will feel this way too.
Louise and I have always plan[n]ed that when the time came for her to be married we would have a church wedding-- this was talked of before we knew Art would be the bride-groom. Of course it is a great disappointment to us that her wedding cannot take place in the Episcopal church--. I wish you might have seen their faces when I asked them one day if they couldn't wait until the new church was built (two years). They seemed to think they could not wait later than next Fall so I think we were all sort of going along with the thought of their getting married next Fall-- until all of a sudden there were five other weddings announced for late September and October. This was such a disappointment to Louise[,] added to not having the church that she was most unhappy and felt that her wedding would be one of so many that people would be bored to death to get an invitation, which in a manner is true. Then she began to wonder if they could not get ahead of the others a little and get married in June-- just about this time we were out riding and happened to see a "for rent" sign on one of Miss Nell's apartments on Madison Ave. and nothing would do but we must stop and go in and see it and the outcome is that we have the refusal of it until next Saturday until we see if arrangements can be made for a June wedding.
Louise has been saving her money for sometime and has enough so she can buy the furniture they will need to start with. I will have the expense of holding the apartment until they are ready to go into it. It is almost impossible to find an apartment of any kind to rent out here and it seems as if they would be so much happier here in La Grange than they would be in the City.
We understand that Art's Northwestern examinations will be over the 10th of June and his Bar examinations will not come until the last of July. He feels pretty certain they will keep him in the same office he is in now. I am sure he has made friends of the members of the firm he is with and feel reasonably certain they will give him a "job."
Now Mrs. Sprague this is a very delicate matter for me to write to you about-- I don't want you to think for one moment that I am trying to force anything for as far as I am personally concerned I would be willing matters should go on as they are indefinitely-- but I know it is not right, and I am sure you and I both [would] rather see them happy while we are alive than to know they will be happy when we are dead.
So it all comes down to this-- We will give Louise a church wedding in the Cong.[regational] church with clothes enough to last her a year-- She will have $50.00 a month allowance. She will have money to buy furniture for their apartment and has her household linens.
If you feel you can help Art to add enough to this so they can get married in June send a wire so we get it before Sat. of this week as we must decide about the apartment then.
My Dear Mrs. Sprague-- mother of the boy my daughter loves and will marry,-- you have no idea how I hate to write you all this-- but I do it for the sake of the happiness of these two young lives who are so dear to us both.
I hope you are feeling much better-- I am ashamed to send this letter it is written so poorly-- With love--
Your Sincere friend Marie L. Horr
Mid-night
Cora Sprague's response, if there was one, has not been preserved. Nonetheless, the wedding did occur in June as Louise wished.
Attending their marriage Arthur and Louise had many of their friends and relatives. The flower girl was Imogene Fischer Bliss of Cleveland, OH. Mrs. Douglas Felt of Marion, OH, a friend from National Park Seminary, was matron and Miss Dorothy Heppes, a graduate of Wells College, was maid of honor. Bridesmaids were Mrs. Helen Goff (Robert) Lenington, attending Ashley Hall near Charleston, SC; and the Misses Eleanor Garratt, attending Northwestern University; Elisabeth Milligan, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin; and Evelyn Walker, a graduate of the University of Illinois. David Rees Jones was best man and attended Northwestern University. The ushers, all from La Grange, were Cortland Horr, graduate of Dartmouth; Theodore Allen, graduate of Lewis Institute; Kenneth Anderson, graduate of the University of Illinois; Robert Lenington, graduate of Columbia and Kent Law College; and Joseph Sammons, graduate of Dartmouth. Arthur's mother came from Los Angeles and renewed many of her friendships. Also present were Miss Nell Ames Horr of Duluth, Louise's aunt; Mr. and Mrs. Harry A Bliss of Cleveland, Mrs. Horr's only brother and his wife, and the mother and father of the flower girl; Miss Helen Van Cleef, Louise's cousin; Mr. and Mrs. James T. Edwards, Arthur's uncle and aunt; and a friend of the family Major Leon Carl Stowell of New York city. The entire bridal party with the exception of Mrs. Felt and Mr. Lenington were schoolmates at LTHS.[43]
Only five years after his marriage, Arthur's mother died in Los Angeles and his sister continued to live there. With no living parents or other siblings, he was on his own. This fact may account for his drive to succeed, his "free spirit", heavy use of alcohol, and often abrasive comments and behavior. In 1925 Arthur was admitted to practice law in Illinois and eventually to practice before the Illinois and Courts including the United States Supreme Court. At the time of his marriage he was employed by the law firm of Lord, Wire and Cobb, Harris Trust building, Chicago. He became associated (1925-36) with the firm of Tenney, Harding, Sherman, and Rogers and then opened his own general practice in partnership with Abraham Redman on 1 Mar 1936 at Suite 502, 105 West Monroe St., Chicago.[44] He was a member of the Chicago and Illinois Bar Associations.
In Sep 1926 Louise was matron of honor in the wedding of her friend Dorothy Heppes who lived at 212 S. 7th Ave. in La Grange. Arthur was in the party.[45] In Jun 1928 Louise was elected corresponding secretary in the Junior Welfare Society which had been founded in 1922.[46] She served as treasurer of the society in 1929[47] and president in 1933-34.[48] During her presidency the society joined the Community Chest[49] and held their annual Charity Ball at the La Grange Country Club.[50]
In Jul 1928 Art. Louise, and Molly visited Art's mother in CA. A few months later, Nov 1928, Art and Louise moved to their new home at 204 Seventh Ave.[51] Even though Molly had some sort of serious illness the following Jan[52], during Feb Louise hosted a meeting of the Junior Infant Welfare Society at which they sewed, as was their custom, for the La Grange Community Nurse and Service Association.[53] After several additional luncheons and dinners for house guests and a meeting of thirty for nine high school pledges for Alpha Pi Phi[54], the following summer Art's mother and sister Avis and her husband visited for a few weeks after a drive from CA.[55] In Sep 1933 Art and Louise enjoyed a six day trip to Toronto, Detroit, Niagara Falls and at Marion, OH, they visited Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Felt. Mrs. Felt was Louise's roommate at National Park Seminary.[56] The following year the whole family, including the three children, vacationed at Fox Lake [WI or IL?].[57] The month before Art and Louise had visited at the Joseph Sammons home at Pine Lake, IN.[58] For most of her life Louise belonged to at least one card (bridge) club of her friends who met at each other's homes.[59]
In 1937 Arthur and Louise enjoyed a vacation in Europe. It is probable that their itinerary started with a stay at the Thayer West Point Inn, NY. In New City they visited Radio City Music Hall among other places of interest. From New York they sailed 23 Jul on the North German Lloyd S.S. Europa. Bon voyage messages awaited them on board ship from Arthur's sister Avis, aunts Abbie and Nell, Cortland (Louise's brother), Louise's mother, and Arthur's law partner Abe Redman. They landed at Cherbourg 29 Jul and went on by train to Paris arriving 30 Jul. There they stayed at the Hotel Ambassador on Boulevard Haussmann. Among other activities they visited the Louvre, Versailles, the International Exposition of 1937, the tomb of Napoleon, and Fontainebleau. At some unidentified club they saw Maurice Chevalier perform. They then flew Air France to London on 2 Aug. and stayed at the Royal Court Hotel on Sloane Square through 8 Aug. In London they rented a Ford car and visited the usual "must see" places and Louise bought some China pieces. They went on to Windsor, where they stayed at the Castle Hotel. On 14 Aug Louise received a telegram from her brother Cortland at Syracuse, NY, wishing her happy birthday. The couple took the train to Stratford-on-Avon, Warwick, Harrogate.
A must stop for Arthur was in Wisbech, Camb. They visited with the Bert Bellamy family in Wisbech whose grandfather, it is believed, cared for John Spraggs, Arthur's aged great-grandfather. Bert was a motor engineer at 1 Chapel Street, Wisbech. In that town Arthur attended the Wisbech Borough Police Court to compare its procedures with those in his own magistrate's court in La Grange. Arthur also stopped at the Registrar's office to obtain written confirmation of his grandfather's marriage.[60] He also visited the Wisbech Museum. In addition, he visited Walsoken, the town from which his grandparents came. He found none of the family left in Walsoken, but he obtained information about two dead aunts who had lived in the parish.[61] The couple also visited All Saints Church, Walsoken, the church attended by his paternal ancestors. Arthur took several photographs in the Wisbech and Walsoken area, mostly of places rather than people. Arthur and Louise went on to Sandringham, where they caught a glimpse of Queen Mary, and then traveled to Lincoln. The Spragues then went to Edinburgh, Scotland, where they stayed 16 and 17 Aug at the Royal British Hotel on Princess Street.
Next, destined for Belfast, Northern Ireland, Arthur and Louise took a train to Glasgow and boarded the R.M.M.V. Royal Scotman. In Belfast they stayed at the Grand Central Hotel. They visited Bellevue Gardens, Arthur played at the Royal Golf Club, and the two probably tried to contact some individuals for whom they had letters of introduction who might help them discover information about Louise's ancestors. They carried a letter for Lawrence R. Hastings, solicitor, Bowlane, Strandview Road, Ballycastle, County Antrim. This letter was probably from William Hastings, one of Arthur's important clients from La Grange who lived two blocks from him on Seventh Street. The relationship between the two Hastings is unknown. Somehow, but probably by bus, the couple made their way to Dublin where they stayed 23-25 Aug at the Gresham Hotel on O'Connell Street. They took a motor tour of the city, including a stop at St. Michan's Church. and somehow traveled to see Blarney Castle and then stopped at Castlecore, County Longford, at one time the residence of Louise's great-grandparents, the Johnstons. Eventually the couple took a train to Cobh (Queenstown) and sailed 27 Aug on the North German Lloyd steamer Columbus for New York. At Cobh they were greeted by a telegram from Louise's mother saying she was counting the days until their return home. Arthur and Louise were met in New York by friends and the "grand tour" was completed. Throughout their trip Arthur and Louise had made many new acquaintances and friends.[62]
Later in life Arthur and Louise enjoyed vacations at Bigwin Island on the Lake of Bays, 140 miles north of Toronto, Ontario. Arthur's son William remembers once at an early age vacationing with his parents at Bigwin. While the scenery was the best of Canada, Bigwin was no place for a child; it was a formal resort where the men played golf all day and the women sewed and chatted; there were no activities for children.
Following the Japanese attach on Pearl Harbor in 1941, Arthur was quick to seek military duty. He enlisted as a lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Reserve and went through indoctrination training at Quonset Point, RI, from 18 Aug 1942 to 16 Oct 1942. Upon completion of the school he requested duty on an aircraft carrier in the Atlantic. However, he was ordered to the naval air station at Pensacola, FL, where he served as assistant operations officer and tactical officer until 31 March 1943. He completed the Officers Training Course (including navigation, communications, gunnery, watch, and seamanship)[63] at Pensacola in Nov 1943 and was assigned to Operations there, although he continued to request duty on a carrier. Some time in 1944 Arthur was promoted to lieutenant commander. Finally, his request for an aircraft carrier assignment was honored and after a month's leave at home and vacation on the west coast, including shows, clubs, and visiting friends, he reported for duty on 4 Mar 1944 to the U.S.S. Essex at Pearl Harbor as Air Department Secretary and Integrity Watch Officer. While on the Essex Arthur participated in the First and Second Battles of the Philippine Seas, which included raids on Marcus Island 19-20 May and on Wake Island 23 May 1944. In addition, he was in on the occupation of the Marianas Islands and the raid on the Bonin Islands June, July, and August 1944. Other Essex operations with Arthur on board were off Guam, Saipan, Tinian, Peleliu, Formosa, and Okinawa. From August through December 1944 he served in Assistant Air Intelligence on the Essex. The ship received a Presidential Unit Citation for its activities against the Japanese.[64] Land duty for Arthur followed as Administrative Assistant to the Executive Officer from 1 Feb 1945 through 11 April 1945 at the Memphis, TN, naval air station. In Jul 1945 Louise made a ten-day visit from La Grange to Arthur in Hot Springs and Memphis.[65]The precise date of Arthur's discharge from active service with the naval reserve is not known, but on 21 Nov 1951 he was discharged from the reserves.[66] Throughout his naval career Arthur had received high written evaluations and recommendations for promotion.[67] Because of his involvement in Pacific engagements, Arthur was entitled to wear ribbons for American, Asiatic-Pacific (four stars); Philippine Liberation, (two stars); Presidential Unit Citation (with Bronze Star); and Victory. Earlier he had qualified for the Expert Pistol ribbon.
During Arthur's duty at Pensacola his family joined him and lived at 418 Second St., Warrington, FL. In June 1943, following a 15 day leave in La Grange, during which he saw Molly graduate from LTHS and Joan from Cossitt, Arthur left with son Bill and their dog Mike for Warrington. Bill came down with the mumps and was put in the maternity ward of the hospital, no other facility at the naval base could handle a contagious disease patient. In July 1943 Joan, Susan, and Tom left La Grange with Louise for Florida.[68] Molly remained with her grandmother Horr until she left for Smith College in the fall. Art and Louise visited in La Grange in later 1943 as guests of Joe and Helen Sammons. Following the visit Art took the train east for new duty and Louise drove to Warrington with Mrs. J. W. Hubbard and Helen Sammons.[69]
In Warrington the family lived in a small one story house with a bayou adjacent to the back yard. Bill and Joan daily took a bus to A. V. Clubbs Junior High School in Pensacola, nine miles away. At the school Joan won first place among the girls in the American Legion essay contest "What American Citizenship Means to Me" and was awarded a bronze medal. Not by chance her essay appeared shortly thereafter in the newspaper of her father's ship in the Pacific.[70] Joan graduated from Clubbs school on 2 June 1944.[71]
In Aug 1952 Arthur, Louise, Susan, and Tom took a vacation to the far West. Among their stops were the Badlands, Glacier National Park (where son Bill's friend Phil Kennedy worked at the park's store), Sun Valley, Yellowstone, Banff, and Lake Louise.[72]
Throughout his life Arthur was involved to government service. He served two terms (1931-1939) as Police Magistrate of La Grange before his election in 1938 to the Illinois General Assembly. Extracurricular activities as a politician included a 1940 Wendell Willkie Day celebration held in Elwood, IN. Arthur, Louise, Molly, Grandma Horr, Cortland, and Avis and her husband all attended.[73] Arthur served as a precinct captain for many years. For two terms he was President of the Lyons Township Regular Republican Organization. He was on the Executive Committee of that group when he left for military service. In 1938 Arthur was elected as a Republican to the Illinois House of Representatives from the seventh district. Thereafter, he was returned to office for four additional terms. He was chairman of the House Elections Committee and chief sponsor of the bill that reapportioned the state's legislative districts. He was active in the investigation of the scandal within the Toll Road Commission. It was said of Arthur that "few members of either House have been so useful to the people of Illinois."[74] From 1957 through 1966 he served in the Illinois Senate for the second district, where he served as chairman of the Judiciary Committee and member of the Legislative Reference Bureau. He was also vice-chairman of the Legislative Audit Commission. In the 1965 session he served on the Judiciary Committee (Chairman), the Revenue Committee (Vice-Chairman), the Executive Committee, the Committee on Committees, the Education Committee, the Municipalities Committee, and the Reapportionment Committee. He sponsored several constitutional amendments which became law. In 1963 in a poll he was named, in a tie with senators Bidwell and Arrington, as the "Most Effective Senator."[75]
The Chicago Tribune in 1965 described Arthur as "a solid, hard-hitting veteran who pleased the judges by helping to achieve court reorganization with its virtual guarantee of life tenure, then displeased them by blocking big pay raises."[76] He sponsored legislation that made it a felony for legislators to violate their oath of office, in which they pledge not to accept anything of value to influence their voting in the general assembly, He also fought and voted against a bill to do away with the death penalty in Illinois. He introduced and supported bills that were generally considered to be anti-crime, although he voted against a 1965 appropriation for the Illinois Crime Commission to spend $7500 for gambling tickets as part of its investigation of crime in Illinois. He objected to the proposal saying that supporting gamblers was not part of the state's agency role.[77] In 1966 he chose not to run again for the Senate because a legislative remap put him in a revised district and gave him, he felt, no chance to be re-elected. Instead, later in the year he ran for the Illinois Supreme Court, but lost in a close election. There were irregularities in the voting, but the Republican Party leadership chose not to contest Arthur's loss in exchange for the Democrats agreeing to the disputed election of Joseph Woods as Cook County commissioner.
Throughout his political career Arthur maintained a law practice on Monroe Street in Chicago. In 1957 he was a partner in the firm of Sprague and (Abraham) Redman. In 1965 he was in the firm of Sprague and Jerstrom. In 1966 and shortly thereafter he conducted a greatly reduced general law practice at 120 South LaSalle Street. He retired in 1967.
In addition to legal, naval, and political activities Arthur was involved in numerous other callings. In 1935 and thereafter he was president of the Court and Colonial Apartments, Inc., in La Grange. At one time Arthur served as Chairman of the Red Cross for La Grange and La Grange Park. After the war he was active in the Community Chest, with two terms as president. Arthur was a past commander of the American Legion Robert Coulter Post #1941. Arthur was president of the Stainless Steel Products Company and a director of the Aluminum Products Company. He was a Mason, Shriner, and Moose. He served as legal counsel for the formation of Community Memorial General Hospital in La Grange. He was a vestryman, Junior Warden (1957-59), and Senior Warden (1959-62) of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, La Grange. At one time he was legal counsel to Bishop Montgomery of Chicago. He was an active member of the La Grange Country Club, golf being his favorite recreation. In Port St. Lucie Arthur was a charter member of the Port St. Lucie Rotary, a member of Sandpiper Bay Homeowners Association, and former active member of Port. St. Lucie Men's Golf Association. Following Arthur's death the Illinois House of Representatives adopted a resolution which recalled and praised his life's achievements.[78]
Louise's health grew progressively worse in the early 1960s. She died of lung cancer in 1966; she had been a steady cigarette smoker throughout her married life. The tasks of raising five children and being married to a demanding and sometimes cruel husband sapped her strength.
At some time Arthur and Louise had purchased a home in Port St. Lucie, FL, which they retreated to in the late 1950s. Essie Wooton, twice a widow, was a neighbor and friend in FL. She and Arthur married the year after Louise's death. Initially the marriage was sound and needed by both of them. It is doubtful, however, that Essie ever matched Louise in Arthur's eyes. Each started to physically deteriorate and became argumentative, especially regarding money. Arthur had required a pre-nuptial agreement that Essie could not acquire any of his money. Essie, for her part, was insistent on being fully accepted by her step-children and Arthur was expected to see that it was so. He never had possessed, at least rarely exercised, the skills required to build the kind of close relationship with his children which Essie now demanded he use. Arthur eventually needed a pacemaker for his heart and finally stayed a short time in a nursing home before his death in 1983. By then his mental faculties had shut down. Essie continued to live alone in her home in FL, but then she had to be put in a nursing home in VA by her son. She was moved to a second home thereafter where she died in 30 Jul 1991.
[1]Certificate of Birth, Department of Health, Division of Vital Statistics, State of Illinois
[2]Handwritten memo by AWS
[3]Records of the First Methodist Church of La Grange
[4]Marriage Certificate, Cook County, Illinois
[5]Letter from Essie to Nancy Sprague
[6]Citizen, --Jun 1939
[7]Memorandum from Lyons Township High School, 30 July 1943, to Mr. and Mrs. Sprague
[8]Lyons Township High School Tabulae, 1943
[9]Citizen, 21 Sep 1949
[10]LTHS Tabulae, 1947
[11]Citizen, 23 Mar 1949
[12]Her diploma in possession of A. W. Sprague, Jr.
[13]Citizen, 28 Sep 1949
[14]Records of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, La Grange
[15]Citizen, 13 Jul 1949
[16]Records of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, La Grange
[17]LTHS Tabulae, 1957
[18]Records of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, La Grange
[19]LTHS Tabulae, 1960
[20]LTHS Tabulae, 1960
[21]La Grange Citizen Life, 12 Nov 1980
[22]Family recollections related by Barbara Sprague
[23]Bureau of Immigration, National Archives
[24]Family recollections
[25]Bureau of Immigration
[26]Bureau of Immigration
[27]Family notes in possession of Barbara Sprague
[28]Related by Barbara Sprague
[29]La Grange Directory, 1903-1924
[30]Records of the First Methodist Church of La Grange
[31]The La Grange Citizen, 8 Feb 1918.
[32]Undated note card to Louise from Anna Maria Johnston Bliss
[33]Citizen, --Aug 1916
[34]Tabulae, The Student Annual of the Lyons Township High School, published by the Senior Class, La Grange, IL, 1920
[35]The Lion, October 1919
[36]Unidentified and undated newspaper article clipping, probably from the Citizen.
[37]Program from the Triangular League Debate, 29 Apr 1920
[38]Program from the Intercollegiate Debate, Smith vs. Dartmouth, 10 Dec 1921
[39]Citizen, --Aug 1922
[40]Transcript, School of the Chicago Art institute, Chicago
[41]Unidentified and undated newspaper article clippings, probably from the Citizen.
[42]Undated letter with the address of 334 South Fifth Ave., La Grange, Illinois on the stationery
[43]Citizen, 25 Jun 1925
[44]Arthur W. Sprague, announcement card
[45]Citizen, -- 9 Sep 1926
[46]Citizen, 7 Jun 1928
[47]Citizen, 12 Sep 1929
[48]Citizen, 29 May 1947
[49]Citizen, 10 May 1934
[50]Citizen, 6 Dec 1934
[51]Citizen, 28 Nov 1928
[52]Citizen, --Jan 1929
[53]Citizen, --Feb 1929
[54]Citizen, --Feb, 7 Mar, 14 Mar, and 28 Mar 1929
[55]Citizen, 4 Jul 1929
[56]Citizen, 7 Sep 1933
[57]Citizen, 2 Aug 1934
[58]Citizen, --Jul 1934
[59]For example, Citizen, 3 Nov 1932
[60]The Registrar, handwritten marriage certificate
[61]The Isle of Ely and Wisbech Advertiser, 18 Aug 1937.
[62]Louise assembled a scrapbook of their trip which was used as the source of information.
[63]Memorandum for Naval Reserve Officers, Educational Office, U.S. Naval Air Station, Pensacola, FL, 29 May 1943
[64]James Forrestal, Secretary of the Navy, Washington
[65]Citizen, 8 Jul 1945
[66]Certificate of discharge
[67]Military Personnel Records, National Archives and Records Administration, St. Louis, MO
[68]Citizen, 7 July 1943
[69]Undated Citizen article in chronological scrapbook kept by Louise
[70]U.S.S. Essex Buccaneer. 25 June 1944
[71]Diploma, Escambia County Junior High Schools, FL
[72]Scrapbook of the trip compiled by Louise, now in the possession of Tom Sprague
[73]Undated Citizen article in chronological scrapbook kept by Louise
[74]Chicago Tribune, undated article, probably November 1956
[75]Illinois Political Reporter, October 1963, as quoted in a resume "State Senator Arthur W. Sprague, Republican Candidate for Election to Illinois Supreme Court"
[76]Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb 1965
[77]Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan 1983
[78]House Resolution No. 46, House of Representatives, Eighty-Third General Assembly, 17 Feb 1983
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