Title	Mr.
Last Name	Sprague
First Name	Volney
Middle Name	Augustine
Maiden Name
Nick Name
Place of Birth	Dexter, ME
Date of Birth	1817-01-28
Place of Death	Joliet, IL
Date of Death	1908-12-27
Publication	The Eastern Gazette 12-31-1908, p.5
Obituary	VOLNEY A. SPRAGUE One of Dexter's Former Leading Citizens Passes Away in Joliet, Ill. SON OF ONE OF EARLY SETTLERS Worked Way Through College and Practiced Law at Corinna and Dexter. The news was received here Sunday of the death of Volney Augustine Sprague, a former well-known resident of Dexter, at his home in Joliet, Ill., after a short illness. For many years Mr. Sprague was one of the leading legal lights of western Penobscot county and enjoyed a large and lucrative practice while established here. Mr. Sprague was born in Dexter, Jan. 28, 1817, being the second son of Elijah W. and Phoebe (Parker)Sprague. He was the lineal descendant of William Sprague, who was one of the first settlers in Charlestown, Mass., coming over from England in 1628. His grandfather, William Sprague, was the fifth in descent from the emigrant ancestor and about 1720 was located, near Mendon, Mass. His two sons, William and James, were at the battles of Lexington and Concord at the beginning of the Revolution. James enlisted in the Continental army and was engaged the battle of Bunker hill, remaining in the service until the evacuation of Boston by the British. In 1781 he removed to the town of Greene, where his brother, William, was located and was doing a thriving business running a saw and gristmill, a store a blacksmith shop. His son, Elijah Warren Sprague was born in that town , Dec. 23, 1784 and learned the blacksmith trade in the shop of his uncle, William. In the winter of 1803 he came to the plantation of Elkinstown, as Dexter was then known, which had at that time been settled but a couple of years and contained but a half-dozen families. He was induced to settle here by Seba French, another of the early settlers, with whom he had become previously acquainted. His only possessions when he arrived were a horse, a saddle, saddle bags, a hammer and some flies. With this meagre outfit he started in the blacksmith business, in a small way with a homemade bellows sheltered under a roof of bark. In 1813 he built a house and barn . A part of the house is still standing. He married on February 16, 1814, Phoea Parker of Garland. She was born in the tow of Minot, Feb. 16, 1786. At the time of her marriage she was keeping house for her brother, Dr. James Parker, who had settled in Garland. Four children were born to them Henry A., born Feb. 21, 1815; Volney A., born Jan. 2, 1817; Sarah B., born May , 1821; and Horatio O., born Nov. 27, 1824. Volney, the second son, the subject of this sketch, lived at home until the age of 15 year and worked on the farm and for the neighbors, but could not be induced by any reward or threats of punishment to work in the shop except to blow the bellows. His father, besides being a blacksmith, was collector of taxes and deputy sheriff. On one occasion, having spent an evening with his father in the office of lawyer Cushman, he decided upon his vocation in life, reasoning that, his way of making money was far superior to raking hay or blowing the bellows. After he had earned some money he attended an academy and at the age of 16 years taught his first term of school and earned enough money by teachng and painting to work his way through Waterville college, now Colby college, graduating from that institution in the class of 1842, after four years of the most rigid economy and hard work. After his graduation his health was the cause of his spending five years in the South, returning much benefitted in health though not in finances. He had studied law a year before entering college and on his return from the South he entered the office of Hon. Josiah Crosby and was admitted to the bar in Penobscot county in 1848. He hung out his shingle in Corinna, where he practiced for 23 years, 13 of which he was postmaster there. He then removed to Dexter, where he remained till about ten years ago when he went to Joliet, Ill., where he has since made is home with his son, Morrill. In February, 1849 he married Miss Susan M. Sloper of Waterville, who survives him and is now living in Joliet, Ill. To them was born two sons, Morrill and Wilson. Morrill is leading attorney in Joliet, and Wilson lives in Portland. The remains arrived here yesterday afternoon and the interment was in the family lot at Mount Pleasant.