Hears He Is An Heir to Site of Marietta

The Marietta Daily Times, March 15, 1910 
Western Man Reads Newspaper Story that Makes Him Worth Million. Writes To the Clerk of Courts Here To Learn Tale Is Only Dream. Nothing Known Here of Leasing of Land on Which this City Stands.

To learn through the columns of a newspaper that he was one of the heirs to the land upon which Marietta is situated and, as such, entitled to a share in its estimated value of $16,000,000, and then to find that the story was only the dream of some unknown relative, was the sad experience of James A. Sprague, cashier of the Selden State Bank of Selden, Kansas, and a former resident of this state.

The story is an interesting one and was uncovered here for the first time when Mr. Sprague wrote to Clerk W. J. Dutton of the Washington county court asking for information on the matter.

He first learned of the property when he read an account in the Topeka State Journal of March 4 under date of Meade, Kansas. The story told the good fortune of S. S. Conger, a railroad section boss and is, in part as follows:

“Mr. Conger’s mother’s family name was Sprague, a family which came to Marietta before the revolution. On the declaration of independence, there were three brothers, one of whom was married. Two single men entered the patriot army, serving until the close of the war.

“After the war congress gave to each of them, as to others of the soldiers, land warrants in payment for their services. These warrants they laid on land on the Ohio River.

Leased Site of Marietta.

“Neither of the two soldiers ever married. On April 7, 1788, Rufus Putnam, who was leader of a colony, located his colony on the land covered by their warrants and founded the City of Marietta, now the county seat of Washington County, Ohio. The brothers leased the land for 99 years, either to Putnam or to the government. The lease expired in 1901 and the heirs of the married brother of the two soldiers who had, by will, inherited the property of his brothers, at once began legal action to secure their rights under the leases.

The years since then have been used in finding the various descendants of Sprague proving their legal rights, and contesting another family of Spragues who spell their names differently. Now all of these legal matters have been consummated, the value of the property found and awarded, and the court, at the coming April term, will make distribution of the estate which amounts to $16,000,000. Mr. Conger’s share of the estate amounts to something over $25,000.”

Grandson of Jas. Sprague.

After reading this article, Mr. Sprague immediately wrote to the local clerk of courts for information upon the matter. He is the great grandson of James Sprague, the married brother of the two soldiers referred to in the newspaper article, and as such, would have been entitled to a very large share in the property if the story were true.

In his letter to the court, he gives a very interesting story of the family history, in detail, beginning at the time when his great grandfather, with his two brothers, came to this city and helped to build the old blockhouse which still stands at the corner of Second and Washington streets.

Text of Letter.

The first letter received by Mr. Dutton is as follows:

To the Honorable Court of Common Pleas, Marietta, Washington County, Ohio.

Dear Sir:

I have just read in the Topeka State Journal, of Topeka, Kansas, a statement that one of my ancestors who settled in Marietta about 1789 and his two brothers had placed land warrants upon the original townsite of Marietta and had leased the same for 99 yrs. and that the lease expired in 1901; that the heirs of Sprague had contested the rights of property and an award had been made on the valuation of sixteen million dollars; and that this amount was to be distributed at your April term of court, therefore I wish to inform you that I perhaps am one of the lineal descendants of these original Spragues.

Came to Marietta in 1789.

My great grandfather, James Sprague, and his two brothers came to Marietta about 1789 and built a part of the block house which was erected against the Indians. My grandfather often told me about his father and two uncles coming there at the early date. My great grandfather, James Sprague, was an officer in the Revolutionary War and I think he finally settled in Muskingum County, Ohio.

I think he had two different wives at least and perhaps three. My grandfather’s name was Jonathan Sprague, son of the original James Sprague above referred to, and he signed his name Jonathan Sprague II, as there were other Jonathan Spragues living along the Muskingum River. He located on a farm about five miles above Lowell, near the river about 1842. My father Joseph S. Sprague, was a land holder in your county in Adams Township for many years.

Other Members of Family.

Now if this is the Sprague whose estate is being distributed, we wish to know it at once so as to protect our rights in the matter. My grandfather had two full brothers names Samuel and Elijah and a half brother named William who was younger than the other family. My great grandfather, James Sprague, had two daughters named Bety Sprague Starling (her married name) who died in Washington County, and Levina Simmons who resided always, I think, near Otsego, Muskingum County, Ohio.

I do not know positively how many direct heirs my great grandfather left but I am under the impression that there was an older set of children than my grandfather and his brothers and sisters. But assuming that there might have been as many as sixteen direct heirs, my grandfather would inherit the 1-16 part of his father’s estate, which, as reported, would be $1,000,000.

Direct Heirs.

His direct heirs were Hannah Sprague Thomas, Joseph S. Sprague (my father), Rachael Sprague Brundege, John L. Sprague, who died without issue but left a widow, and Mary Sprague _____ (name forgotten) and Eliza Sprague Null and William W. Sprague, the only surviving members of his father’s family. My father Joseph S. Sprague had four children, all living, namely: Manly H., the writer James A., Leota E. Sprague Hardin, and Edwin C. Sprague, who is believed to be a resident of your county at present.

The names and addresses of all these heirs above referred to, I think can be furnished without great difficulty. We never heard or had notice of, any rights which may be ours having existed in any estate coming to us through our ancestors and we are at a lost to understand why such has been the case.

Asks Information.

I have written to you quite fully and the importance of the subject under discussion is our apology for the length of this missive. I appeal to you for such information as you may have touching this matter, assuring you of our kind appreciate of any effort made by you in our behalf. We wish to know definitely whether these ancestors named are the ones whose estate is being distributed. Thanking you in advance for a reply, and the name of some reliable attorney who is not interested in the distribution, we are,
Very Truly Yours,
James A. Sprague
Son of Joseph S. Sprague
Son of Jonathan Sprague, II
Son of James Sprague, who settled at Marietta, O. in 1789.

Nothing Known Here.

In reply, Mr. Dutton informed him that there was no record here of any of the transactions related in the newspaper article and he received another letter from Mr. Sprague in which the latter states that he is convinced that the matter is groundless.

It is possible that some persons, well acquainted with the early history of Marietta, will know something about the matter and there may be other developments. It is certain, however, that the case has never been brought into the local courts, and so far as can be learned, no such claim has ever been established here.