Charles S. Sprague (1838-1922)
Charles enlisted in the Union army July 31, 1861 in Keokuk County, Iowa. He was veteranized Co. G, fifth cavalry, January, 1864. The records say he was a musician reduced to ranks Oct. 21, 1862; promoted to fifth corporal Oct 21, 1862.
According to a letter from him to his daughter Ada, Charles was in the Civil War battles of Iuka, Corinth, Battle of the Wilderness and with Sherman on his march to the sea. He was a guard on the train that brought Lee to sign the surrender to Grant. He was mustered out at Washington, DC. He was back home after 3 years of service when he married, but he signed up for re-enlistment. His granddaughter, Helen Crose remembers a story he told about a fat dutch soldier that was given a detail to get water at a stream. The confederates shot at him and he went one way and the water the other. He mimicked the actions and speech to make a funny story.
Charles farmed in English River Township of Keokuk County after the war. He moved with his family and father-in-law to Sterling, Nebraska in 1871. He operated a grain elevator at Sterling with a partner and all were living too high on the hog. The partner absconded with the money and he had to declare bankruptcy in 1884.
The Sprague family moved to South Dakota with horses and wagon and a cow and corn meal and sorgum. The first winter they ate corn bread and sorgum, corn mush and milk and navy beans. At one of the camps on the way to S. Dakota, Will left his shoes behind. His father made him walk back and get them and he had to catch up with his folks at the next night's camp. The family homesteaded on a farm 7 miles south and 1 mile west of Iroquois. It was the NW quarter of Section 12 in Belle Prairie Township (means beautiful prairie) in Beadle County.
In 1906, they bought the NE quarter.
The upstairs was not finished during the time Will lived in the home, and it was still standing about 1930, but badly in need of paint. The next spring, the children Ada and Will had to hoe and weed the vegetable garden. Art complained he got headaches herding the livestock
Charles was called Sam while he lived in the country, and Charles when he lived in town. A school located on the SW quarter of section 2 was called the Sprague School. This was just a mile down and across the road from the Sprague home farm. Records show that Charles served on the school board of Belle Prairie #1 and was treasurer in 1892-1894, and 1898-1900.
Charles took up carpentry and painting because of the large amount of building being done. On March 1, 1907, Charles and Lucinda sold their farm to Charles O. and Mary Jane Watts for $11,200. The deed was recorded on p. 86 of book 156 on March 6, 1907. On March 25, 1907 they bought lots 1 and 2 in block 3 of the Klemme Addition to Huron from John C. Klemme for $420. It was filed on March 26, 1907 in book 154, p. 443. This property is located at 907 Colorado. C.S. served as a county commissioner during the time he lived in Huron.
His granddaughter, Helen Crose, remembers being afraid of her grandfather because he was so stern. She told of her grandmother's taking her to the kitchen for sugar cookies, but said not to tell grandpa. One time he stood on the table to paint and got paint on the table cloth. He lived at the vet's home in Hot Springs for a time, but had a heart attack. They said the altitude was too high and sent him to live with his son. Here Helen got better acquainted with him. He chuckled watching her play, and she would tease him a bit. She would tickle his bald head with a feather, and he would bat at the ``fly''. When she giggled, he would say, ``Oh, it's you!''
The day he died, she had walked home from school for lunch and he was sleeping on the couch in the dining room. She, Gene And Phil had begun to eat when they called their grandfather. He did not answer, and had passed away. Their father made them finish eating and go back to school. Her mother told her that he had read the paper in the morning, then said he didn't feel good, and laid down for a nap. The day before, he had ridden to town with Will and bought himself a ring of bologne and ate most of it himself. The funeral was at Will's home when the yellow roses were in bloom. Helen picked one, and her grandfather Bloodgood took it from her and put it on her grandfather's casket.
(The preceding was written by Shirley (Anderson) Reed.)
Sources for this individual: @S405@ @S27@ @S928@ @S1777@
