James B. Sprague was born in Oakland County, Michigan in 1838, where he was raised until 18 years of age, when in company of another young man he went to Wisconsin and settled near Menominee. He returned to Michigan and was married to Miss Juliet Miller in 1856. In 1878, they went to Forest River, N. D., where he was a successful farmer and merchant until 1899, when he retired from business on account of bad health and came to Bemidji, along with a large number of farmers from that area who settled at Becida.
He died June 26, 1902 after suffering from asthma and dropsy for about two years. Besides a host of friends and acquaintances, he was survived by a brother, John Sprague, three sons, M. A., Frank J., Fred W, and a daughter, Winnie. On the 1880 census, he also had an adopted daughter, Isabel Sparks, born in Canada.
Juliet (Miller) Sprague was born in January 1846 in Michigan. Juliette Sprague purchased Lots 5-6, Block 8 for $400 from the Bemidji Townsite Co. on Nov 6, 1899. J. B. and Juliet had their home there at 515 Beltrami Avenue. This was later the site of the NW Bell Telephone offices, but in 1899, it was on the north end of the city! In 1900, she was a milliner, living with her husband J. B. and daughter Winnie. Winnie was born in Nov 1883 in North Dakota. After J.B. died in June 1902 and her son Frank died in 1905, she continued to live at this address and in 1905, Harry and Raymond, her grandsons, were both in their teens, working as clerks and living with her.
Sprague-Clark Wedding, 1902. At the home of the bride’s parents last Thursday evening occurred the marriage of Miss Winifred M. Sprague to Mr. Robert Clark. Rev. Frank Higgins performed the ceremony in the presence of the members of the family and a few friends of the contracting parties.
Miss Sprague has for the past three years been known in Bemidji and has always been considered one of the leading young ladies of the city. Mr. Clark has been in this city for the past two years, and all who know him pronounce him an A-l good fellow. He is sober and industrious, and will make a good husband.
The Pioneer joins with a host of friends of the happy couple in wishing them a long and happy journey over the path of life. They have taken up housekeeping in the cottage on Beltrami avenue recently vacated by Mrs. Clark’s mother. (Oct 9, 1902)
Personal Injury Suit of Juliette Sprague vs. Schroeder & Schwandt Is on Trial.
The case of Juliette Sprague vs. Schroeder & Schwandt was the next to be taken up. This is a personal injury suit. The plaintiff sues the defendant company for damages in the sum of $1,000, for injuries claimed to have been received through falling down a flight of stairs in the warehouse in the defendant’s store, there being no railing about the stairway. A jury was secured and the case was on for trial this afternoon. (March 20, 1907) A motion was dismissal carried on the next day.
Robert Clark and Winifred Sprague Clark were living in Cucamonga Township, San Bernardino County, CA in 1910 with two children.
There is a Juliette B. Sprague, widowed, age 69, born in Michigan, living at Upland Township, San Bernardino, California, on the 1910 census. She is listed as the mother of 4 children, two of whom were listed as living. She is not listed on the Minnesota census in 1910.
Former Bemidji Couple Married.
Miss Helen Mercedes McCrea and Raymond W Sprague were married July 27, 1910 in Kalispell, Montana. Miss McCrea is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George McCrea, formerly of Bemidji. Both young people are well known here and their many friends will be pleased to learn of their happy marriage. They will make their home in Seattle, Washington, after Oct. 1.