William Sprague (Michigan politician)
American politician
William Sprague
|
|
---|---|
Member of the
U.S.
House
of
Representatives
from 's 2nd district |
|
In office
March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1851 |
|
Preceded by | Charles E. Stuart |
Succeeded by | Charles E. Stuart |
Personal details | |
Born |
(
1809-02-23
)
February 23, 1809
Providence, Rhode Island , U.S. |
Died |
September 19, 1868
(1868-09-19)
(aged
59)
Kalamazoo, Michigan , U.S. |
Political party | Whig |
|
William Sprague (February 23, 1809 – September 19, 1868) was a minister and politician in the U.S. state of Michigan . From 1849 to 1851, he served one term in the U.S. House of Representatives .
Biography
Sprague was born in Providence, Rhode Island , a distant cousin of William Sprague , Governor of Rhode Island . He attended the public schools there, moved to Michigan, and settled in Kalamazoo , where he studied theology and was ordained as a minister. He was presiding elder of the Methodist Episcopal Church , Kalamazoo district, 1844 – 1848. Sprague served as United States Indian Agent in Michigan 1852 – 1853.
Religious leader
In the early 1830s, Sprague was a circuit minister for many communities in central and southwest Michigan. He delivered the first gospel sermon ever given in Van Buren County, Michigan , in the first log cabin which was built in spring 1829. [1] He organized the first Methodist class in Niles in 1832 and was pastor there in 1862 when construction began on a historical Italianate style church building. [2]
In the fall of 1832, Sprague became circuit pastor for Coldwater . [3]
Congress
Sprague defeated incumbent Democrat Charles E. Stuart to be elected as a Whig , though he is sometimes also identified with the Free Soil Party , from Michigan's 2nd District to the Thirty-first Congress , serving March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1851. He did not run for re-election.
Retirement and death
He retired to his farm in Oshtemo Township , Kalamazoo County .
He died in Kalamazoo, and was interred in Mountain Home Cemetery.
References
- ↑ "The History of Van Buren County, Michigan :: The Southwest Michigan Directory" . Retrieved 2008-02-20 .
- ↑ "Michigan Historical Markers" . Retrieved 2008-02-20 .
- ↑ "History of Branch County Churches" . Archived from the original on 2009-07-29 . Retrieved 2008-02-20 .
U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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Preceded by |
United States Representative for the 2nd Congressional District of Michigan
1849 – 1851 |
Succeeded by |
International | |
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National | |
People |