The past and present of Eaton County, Michigan, historically together with biographical sketches of its leading and prominent citizens and illustrious dead.

PAST AND PRESENT OF EATON COUNTfT

ly to the position of foreman. In 1850 he returned to his farm, remaining until the following year and then coming to Eaton county,
where he pturchased twenty acres of wild land,
in Vermiontville township, improving the
property and later adding an adjoining tract
of eighty acres. At one time he was the owner
of two hundred acres in this township, but he
disposed of the greater portion before his
death, having passed the remainder of his life
in this township. In politics he was an active
worker in the ranks of the Whig party until
the organization of the Republican party, of
whose cause he was ever afterward a stanch
advocate. His third wife, whose maiden name
was Caroline Mliranda Parker, was born in
i:Bakersfield, Vermont, M!arch 16, 1817, a
daughter of Elijah and Rhoda (Butler) Parker, the lineage being of Irish and English derivation, and tracing back to the dukes of Ormond. Her American ancestors were strictly
New England Puritans, and her early training was of the sort that held the fear and love
of God paramount to all else. At the age of
eleven years she became a member of the Cambria Congregational church, and she continued to be identified with this denomination until her death. In 1828 she accompanied her
parents on their removal from Vermont to
Lewiston, New York. In June, 1840, she was
united in marriage to Stephen Decatur Scovell,
and they removed to Eaton county, Michigan,
locating in Vermontville township, Eaton
county, where she passed the residue of her
life, which was one of graciousness and true
Christian virtues. Of the first marriage four
children were born, of whom only one survives,
Josiah. Mr. Scovell died January 6, 1850, and
June 18, 1851, his widow became the wife of
Argalus Sprague, as already noted in this context. She was summoned to the life eternal
June 92, 1900, at the age of eighty-three years,
and her memory is held in reverent regard by
all who came within the sphere of her gentle
and noble influence. Ernest E. Sprague, the
immediate subject of this sketch, was reared
to the discipline of the farm and secured his
early education in the district schools, after

which he was for a time a student in Olivet
College. After leaving college he was engaged in teaching in the country schools for
a few years, and he finally made an investment in a team of horses, having since continue(l to buy and sell horses and having been
successful in his operations in this line. The
farm which lie now owns had in part been the
property of his mother's first husband, Mr.
Scovell. and had been but partially improved
when he purchased the property. He has paid
for the farm largely through the revenues
gained by raising and selling horses. In 1880
he bought one hundred and twenty acres of
land which had been cleared by Mr. Scovell,
though no buildings had been erected. Here
Mr. Sprague has built a large and substantial
brick residence and other high-grade farm
buildings, and he has one of the best farms
in the county, having added forty-seven acres
to the original purchase. He makes a specialty of breeding a fine type of draft horses, and
owns the majority of shares in a local stock
company which bought and owns a fine imported Belgian stallion. He has also been
very successful and gained high reputation as
a breeder of Shropshire sheep. His farm is
one of the model places of the county, and his
success represents the diametrical results of
his own abilities and efforts along legitimate
lines of enterprise. In politics he gives a
stanch allegiance to the Republican party, and
though he has never sought or held public office he takes a loyal interest in the party cause
and in all that makes for the well being of the
community. He and his family hold membership in the Congregational church. October
5, 1882, Mr. Sprague was united in marriage
to Miss Ezoa F. Potter, who was born in the
state of Minnesota, October 7, 1861, being a
daughter of Theodore Potter; who now resides
in Lansing, Michigan. She is a granddaughter of Linus Potter, the founder of the village
of Potterville, this county, frequent reference
to the family being made in this publication.
Mr. and Mrs. Sprague have six children.
George Clare, who was born June 21, 1884,
was graduated in Olivet College, as a member