Taken from The Heritage of Faribault County, page 301:
Taken from The Heritage of Faribault County, page 301:
John H. Sprout - F380
John H. Sprout was a native of Attica, Wyoming County, NewYork where he was born December 1836. His father Col. Hosea B. Sprout, a farmer, was a resident of Attica forfifty years. John got his education atcommon schools in the district, at Warsaw Academy and Genessee WyomingSeminary. He then engaged in teachingschool in this native county.
In 1857 he emigrated to Dodge County, Minnesota and workedat farming there for awhile. In thefall of 1857 he went to Columbia County, Wisconsin, where he read law withHonorable O. C. Howe, until the next spring, when he returned to Wisconsin andtaught school for three years after which he came back to Minnesota and farmedfor a year and a half. He then went toJuneau, Wisconsin where he resumed the study of law and later attended for sometime, the Michigan University law school.
He was married in 1861 to Miss Caliste L. Nichols of DodgeCounty, Wisconsin.
He was admitted to the bar in Dodge County and began topractice law. He later came to thiscounty, locating in Blue Earth City and practiced full time. He became the county attorney, justice of peacefor some time, twice president of the council of Blue Earth City, and presidentand member of the board of education there for a number of years. For several years he was postmaster at BlueEarth City. He was a member ofMethodist Episcopal Church.
Written by J. A. Kiester
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Taken from the Blue Earth Post, December 19, 1911:
Judge J. H. Sprout had a pleasant reminder of hisseventy-fifth birthday last Saturday evening. He always attends every meeting of the Masonic brethren unless sicknessor business affairs prevent, and while at lodge last Saturday evening he receivedan urgent phone call from Mrs. Sprout to come home. Shortly after his departure the lodge was informed that the datewas Mr. Sprout's birthday and that the members present were invited forthwithto the home to assist in the happy occasion. The membership present were not entirely destitute of funds and $12.00was raised, a gold headed cain (cane) purchased and the journey from labor torefreshment commenced.
Mrs. Sprout had provided a bountiful repast which allenjoyed, as well as the good talk by Mr. Sprout in thanking the brethren forthe momento of the pleasant occasion. Mr. Sprout has been a member of the home lodge for more than fortyyears, has held every important office therein, and there is not a stain uponhis garments.
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Obituary from the Blue Earth Post, November 18, 1913:
John Henry Sprout Dead
The several weeks' illness of J. H. Sprout terminated in hisdeath at the family home in this city Monday evening, November 17th, at aboutten o'clock. He had been in the best ofhealth for one of his age up to about two months ago when stomach trouble beganto annoy him and later a well-defined case of cancer of the stomach manifesteditself.
No man can do the memory of John Henry Sprout justice in anobituary prepared in a few moments. Hislong residence in the county, his early activities in the politics of county,district and state, are matters worthy of more consideration than can beallotted to them this morning. Inpolitics he was a republican, though in the '70ties he followed General BenButler and Weaver into the Greenback field, but for many years had identifiedhimself with the republican party and gave it hearty and loyal support. He held the position of county attorney, andduring the lively political bouts of early days came within a few votes ofwinning the judicial nomination over Judge Dickinson. He was honored with the postmastership under the Garfieldadministration. He was likewiseprominent in Masonic circles both in the county and State, and we doubt if he misseda Grand Lodge session in a quarter of a century. He had assisted in the formation of lodges at Elmore and Bricelynand was ever ready to give them good and wholesome instruction.
J. H. Sprout was a native of New York, born at Attica,December 16, 1836. He was a student atGenessee Seminary for a time and then engaged in school teaching for a fewyears. He came to Minnesota in 1857,but returned to Columbia County, Wis., in the fall of that year and commencedreading law. He was married to CalisteL. Nichols in 1861, and came to this county where he was admitted to the barand engaged in practice for many years.
In his religious affiliations the deceased early in lifeidentified himself with the great Methodist body. Funeral services will be conducted from the church Thursdayafternoon by the pastor, Rev. O. V. Siniff, assisted by Rev. Wm. Jennings ofthe Presbyterian church. It is thoughta number of the Masonic Grand Lodge body will be present at the services.
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I found a book in the Blue Earth Library, A History of theFirst United Methodist Church, 977.622 History, which states John was a trusteein this church. This is not the SalemMethodist Church, where many other relatives attended, but the First UnitedMethodist Church.
Notice of Death from the Blue Earth Post, March 20, 1923:
Mrs. Sprout Dead
Mrs. J. H. Sprout, a long-time resident of this city, diedvery unexpectedly at her home on West Fifth street Sunday afternoon, March18. Funeral services will be conductedtomorrow afternoon. A more completeobituary will be given next week.