William H. Sprague - Husband of Jane Clark Sprague
La Rue, Montgomery Township - Marion County, Ohio
Found three Census records that give some information about this man. He and his wife Catherine were a farm couple married over 40 years. They had three children, but only one survived into adulthood - a daughter, Sarah born about 1868, who became a school teacher. We couldn't find records before 1880, but we did find them thereafter until 1910. The records show that this William H. Sprague's parents were born in OH (and his wife's in DE).
Records also show that this William H. Sprague was born about 1841. Based on his apparent age here, this CDV likely dates from right around 1861 or just slightly later. In fact, at the time of this photo he was likely not yet married. He would have married at least by 1867 because daughter Sarah was born about 1868, and depending on the unknown age of the child who did not survive, possibly a couple of years earlier. But it is highly likely he was still single when this photo was taken and probably married sometime during or right after the Civil War.
1880 Census - La Rue - Marion Co., OH: William H. Sprague, age 39, born in OH, "retired farmer"; wife Jane, age 33, born in OH; and daughters Nettie, age 12 - and Sarah, age 6.
1900 Census - Montgomery Twp., Marion Co., OH - William Sprague, age 59, born Oct. 1840 in OH, "day laborer"; with wife Jane, age 52, born June 1847 in OH, mother of 3 children, only 1 still living; couple married 36 years; and daughter Sarah Sprague, age 22, born Aug. 1877 in OH, "school teacher."
1910 Census - OH, Marion Co. - Montgomery Twp. - William Sprague, age 69, born in OH, retired; and wife Jane, age 63, born in OH, mother of 3 children, only 1 still living; couple married 45 years.
Related Note: An 1850 Census record shows that this man's wife Jane Clark was the daughter of farmer John Clark Sr., age 38, born in DE; and wife Huldah, also age 38. The Clark's had a large family, with the following nine children as of 1850 ranging in age from 19 down to 1 year: Hannah, Noah, George, Patience, John Jr., Nathan, Elizabeth, Jane, and Betsey.