Paul C. Sprague

SPRAGUE, DRESSER, TOY, CLARK, HOPPUS

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 3/11/2011 at 15:06:03

Paul C. Sprague, who is engaged in farming in Emmet County, was born in Clayton County, Iowa, on January 10, 1912, and is the son of Charles C. and Ama (Dresser) Sprague, both natives of Iowa. His parents were married in Postville and lived in Clayton County until they moved to Langdon, Iowa, in 1918. While living in Langdon his father operated the grocery and dry goods store. His mother passed away April 6, 1937, leaving two children, Paul, of this article, and Faye, wife of Mervin Miller, of Milford. Paul's father came to Estherville in 1941 and located on the farm known as the Ridley Dairy just in the north edge of the city limits, where he farmed until his retirement in 1957. Mr. Sprague passed away September 8, 1966, at the age of 89. Paul was just seven years old when the family moved to Clay county. He attended school in Langdon and graduated from the Spencer High School in 1930. In 1941 he went to California where he was employed in aircraft work. While in California he was married to Brenda Toy of Pasadena, California. They returned to Iowa in 1943 and made their home in Maple Hill. Brenda passed away in 1946. In 1951 in the Little Brown Church in the Vale at Nashua, Iowa, Paul married Muriel Lee Clark, a native of Emmet County and daughter of Bert L. and Blanche L. (Hoppus) Clark, both of whom were residents of Emmet County most of their lives. Muriel was born August 7, 1921 in Armstrong and attended school there through eleventh grade. She attended her last year and graduated from the Estherville High School in 1939. She has worked at various places, including being Emmet County Recorder for two terms.

Mr. and Mrs. Sprague are the parents of two children: Clark Coleman, and Sara Jean.

Mr. and Mrs. Sprague are members of First Presbyterian Church, Order of Eastern Star, and White Shrine. Mr. Sprague is a member of North Star Masonic Lodge and National Rifle Association. Mrs. Sprague is a member of the Emmet County Historical Society and Iowa Historical Society. The Spragues have lived on their farm in Estherville Township since their marriage.

Contributed by: James M. Richmond . Source: "History of Emmet County, Iowa, VoL. III", Compiled by the Emmet County Historical Society as a Bicentennial Project., Inter-Collegiate Press, Inc., Shawnee Mission, Kansas, 1976, page 402.