BURR SPRAGUE, a lawyer at Brodhead, Green county, is one of the most prominent and influential citizens of that place. His thorough knowledge of the principles of law, and his wide familiarity with business forms and proceedings, give his counsel high value. He is an excellent pleader, and presents a case to the court and jury in a calm and dispassionate manner, which carries conviction by its sincereity and candor.
Mr. SPRAGUE was born in Cattaraugus county, N.Y., April 30, 1836, a son of Almerin and Asenath (NOYES) SPRAGUE, both also natives of New York. Seven children were born to our subject's parents, of whom three are now living; Edwin R., of DeFuniak Springs, Fla.; Burr; and Sylvia A., wife of Dr. L. B. BEEBE, of Evansville, Wisconsin.
Almerin SPRAGUE, an old and experienced school teacher, having a record of thirty terms in the school room, was also a cabinet maker and wood worker. He was town school superintendent and justice of the peace in New York, and also served as justice of the peace several years in Wisconsin. In an early day he served as an appraiser of Wisconsin University lands. Moving to Wisconsin in 1846, he located in the township of Spring Valley, Rock county. Here he took up a farm of 160 acres, and afterward bought more land from time to time. He was one of the first Free Soilers, a Republican at the organization of that party, a radical opponent of the Fugitive Slave Law, and always an influential and leading citizen. In October, 1868, he moved to Brodhead, where he died in 1887, in his eighty-sixth year. Asenath (NOYES) SPRAGUE was a daughter of John B. NOYES, a descendant of one of the early settlers of Massachusetts. She was a woman of rare strength of character. Ambitious and hard-working, amid all the toil and privations of pioneer life she yet kept the strength and sweetness of a generous and loving nature, and her memory still lives in the hearts of all who knew her. She died in November, 893, in her ninetieth year. She and her husband were Unitarians. Burr SPRAGUE was ten years old when he came with his Parents to Rock county, Wis., and he lived with them until he was seventeen, attending the district school at Spring Valley Corners. In 1853, he began teaching, and followed that profession, in connection with other occupations, for nine terms, also conducting an evening writing school for several terms. In 1854 he bought out the general store at Spring Valley Corners, and took charge of the post office, remaining there form 1854 to 1861, excepting one year, in 1857-58 when he attended a business college in Rockrod, Ill. He then moved his store to Orfordville, in the same township, where he sold goods for six years, was postmaster five years, and served as justice of the peace and assessor. He was clerk of the town of Spring Valley ten years. It was during these early years of business contact and association with the people of Rock county that he laid the foundations of the confidence and esteem in which he is held in that county, and which are so marked a feature of his later years. Mr. SPRAGUE moved to Brodhead, Green county, in 1868, and went into a general store as Salesman. In 1871 he established a book store, and was appointed postmater under President Grant. He was postmaster eight years, and served as justice of the peace ten years. For six years he also held the postion of school superintendent, and identified himself closely with the educational interests of the growing town.
On Nov. 14, 1859, Mr. SPRAGUE was married to Miss Vina B. ABBOTT, of Monroe, Wis.
Mrs. SPRAGUE is the daughter of Luke and Tamar (DAVIS) LANPHEAR, who were natives of Massachusetts, and early settlers near Milton, Wis. After the death of her mother, Mrs. SPRAGUE was adopted by Dr. and Mrs. S.W. ABBOTT, then of Spring Valley Corners. To her excellent womanly qualities, literary attainments, love of home, genuine home-making and cheerful encouragement, Mr. SPRAGUE is largely indebted for the measure of success And enjoyment that has fallen to his lot. Mr. and Mrs. SPRAGUE are the parents of three children: Louis A., Jessie E., and Willson Abbott. Louis A. SPRAGUE married Miss Martha E. BARBER, of Brodhead, and lives in Elgin, Ill., where for eight years he was the foreman of the printing department at the Elgin Watch Factory, and is now with the Willson Printing Co., of that city; he has two daughters, Leila and Gladys. Wilson A. SPRAGUE married Miss Marguerite K. BRICE, of Brodhead, and is employed in his father's office; he has two children, Jessie Brice and Burr SPRAGUE, Junior.
Mr. SPRAGUE and his wife are Unitarians. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, but is best known fraternally in the Masonic order, of which he has been an active member for over thirty years. He has been six times elected master of Bicknell Lodge, No. 94, A.F. & A.M. He is a Royal Arch Mason, having joined Evansville Chapter, No. 35, in 1867, and is thoroughly versed in the mystic lore of the craft. Many brother Masons have requested him to conduct the ceremonies of the order at their burial, and in response to such requests Mr. SPRAGUE has officated at nearly forty Masonic funerals in Wisconsin and Illinois. Mr. Sprague has been identified with the Republican party ever since its organization and for many years has been a leader in local and county policies. The last year of his residence in Orfordville, he represented his district in the State Legilature, being the youngest member, but one, of that body. In 1879 he was again chosen to represent his district in the State Legislature, and at the following election he was a third time made a member of that body. During these winters at Madison he formed valuable and lasting associations with men of prominence thoughout the State, and has always remained a well-known figure at the Capitol. In the winters of 1880 and 1881 he served on the Judiciary committee, and was one of the leaders of the Capital Punishment debate, which was the most hotly contested matter before the House in 1880. Mr. SPRAGUE began the study of law in 1867, but did not devote his entire time to his profession until about 1879. During the years 1889 and 1890 he served as district attorney for Green county, removing temporarily to Monroe during his term of offfice. In 1890 he returned to Brodhead. During nearly the whole of Mr. SPRAGUE's active business life he has conducted a real-estate and loan business, which has been carried on with such quiet care and uniform reliability that few, if any, of his clients realize the extent of his operations in this line alone. For many years his annual loans have amounted to fifty thousand dollars, and the sums safely entrusted to his direct care by non-resident parties have aggregated hundreds of thousands of dollars. Always taking cheerfully upon himself more than his full share of the duties and cares of good citizenship, he has yet given to these miltitudinous business cares such unfailing personal attention, such keenness of judgment and strict integrity of conduct, as to establish himself unassailably in the confidence and respect of all who know him. So well known is his character that never, even in the heat of political campaigns, is the question of his honor raised. His ancestry reaches back through successive generatons of American citizens, through the Revolutionary period, to the early Colonial history of our country. Bred upon American soil, and thoroughy imbued with American principles, stanch, patriotic, and reliable, Burr SPRAGUE presents an example of good citizenship which the rising generation may well emulate.