Frank J. Sprague, custodian of the county poor farm and one of the pioneer residents of Bemidji, died at St. Anthony’s hospital on July 2, 1905 after a two weeks illness. He was 43 years of age. The funeral occurred at the Presbyterian Church. A short prayer was said over the remains at the home of Mr. Sprague’s mother, Mrs. J. B. Sprague, 515 Beltrami Avenue.
Frank Sprague was born in Wisconsin in 1862. He moved to Bemidji with the extended Sprague family in 1898. He purchased Lots 3 and 4, of Block 4, Carson’s Addition, for $75 on Dec 19, 1898. Mr. Sprague ran for the school board in a spirited election in 1900 and received 106 votes. He was a member of the local lodges of Samaritans and Maccabees.