JAMES SPRATT .org

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Reposted from a posting on Rootsweb:

This link was encountered during research in the mid 1960′s. My mother wrote down word for word the entry, but at the moment I cannot cite the source, except for the page number. I believe it was a history of DeWitt County, published probably in the 1890′s. Here is what she copied in its entirety:

JAMES SPRATT (Page 367)

Among those who have retired from the more active duties of life is this gentleman, who is well known throughout DeWitt County as one of its most successful and prominent pioneers. He was long and honorably connected with its agricultural interests, and during his active business life was a potent factor in the rise and progress of this section of Illinois. For many years he was one of the foremost farmers and stock-raisers of Rutledge Township, where he still has very extensive landed interests, as he did as much or more than any other towards its development. He now lives retired in Farmer City.

Mr. Spratt was born in Greene County, Pa., October 14, 1822. His father, Robert Spratt, was born in the North of Ireland and came of an old Irish family. He was reared to manhood in his native land and was there married to Sarah McGaffin, who was born and reared in the North of Ireland and was also of pure Irish blood. After the birth of two children Robert Spratt and wife in 1821 came to America on a sailing-vessel, the voyage consuming three months. After landing they made their way at once to Greene County, Pa., and there some months later our subject was born. A few months after that event the little family emigrated to Franklin County, Ohio, where the father worked on a turnpike, and where two more children were added to the family circle. In that county also the faithful wife and mother died in the prime of life in 1828. The father subsequently moved to Madison County, Ohio, where he died in 1853 when fifty years of age. Both he and his wife were devoted members of the! Catholic Church and were very worthy people.

Our subject and his brother Andy, who is a blacksmith in Union County, Ohio, are the only surviving children of their parents. James Spratt grew to manhood amid the pioneer scenes of Ohio, and was there married to Miss Elizabeth Wheeler, a native of Lebanon County,where she was born in 1823. Her parents were Pascal and Susan (Rocker) Wheeler, natives respectively of New York and Ohio. When Mr. Wheeler was a young man he served as a private through the War of 1812, and afterward became a pioneer of Ohio. He was there married, and later settle in Lebanon County, where he lived for some years. There his wife died of consumption in 1826, when she was still a young woman. Mr. Wheeler married a second time, and lived and died near Harmony in Clarke County, Ohio, being past eighty years of age at the time of his death. He andb oth his wives were members of the old school Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Spratt and her brother, Jacob Wheeler, a blacksmith of Springfield, Ohio, are all of the family now living. After the death of her mother she was reared by strangers. She is a true wife and helpmate, a loving moth! er and a generous neighbor. Mr. and Mrs. Spratt are the parents of twelve children, five of whom are deceased, as follows: Thomas J., Mary J. and Ursula E., all of whom grew to maturity and married; John W., who died at the age of seventeen years; and James F., who died when fourteen months old. The living children are: Andrew J., who married Nancy Morrison and resides on a farm in Union County, Ohio; William R., who married Nancy Roy, and lives on a farm in Bates County, Mo.; Catherine, wife of George Catterman, a farmer in Bates County, Mo.; George P., who married Rebecca Vance; Charles A., of whom see biography on another page of this work; D. F., who married Belle Clingler, and lives on a farm in Rutledge Township; and Martha A., wife of Robert Spratt, a farmer of Rutledge Township. Mr. Spratt came to DeWitt County in 1847 and settled in Wilson Township, where he began life in Illinois as a renter. Three years later, in 1850, he purchased his first forty acres of land, which was a tract of wild pra! irie, and on that he made his home for twenty-eight months. In the fall of 1852 he bought one hundred and thirty acres of land on section 25, Rutledge Township. It was but very slightly improved when he moved on it and there he lived andlabored and became more that ordinarily successful in his work. He atlast placed himself among the foremost of the large landowners of this county, having added to his estate until he now has fifteen hundred acresof as fine land as ever the sun shone on. This has nearly all been developed from the unbroken prairies and timberland to what it is to-day, the most highly improved and valuable property in this section of the State, finely adapted for general farming and stock-raising purposes.

Mr.Spratt has in one tract five hundred and eighty acres of land, in another one hundred and twenty acres, two others of one hundred and sixty acres each, one of one hundred acres and another of sixty acres, and besides these various farms he owns some good ! timberland and two hundred and eight acres in Vernon County, Mo. When our subject and his wife began life together they had not a dollar a head, and their handsome fortune has been the result of their united labors, which have placed them among the wealthy people of the county. In the accumulation of their property they have not been unmindful of their duties in regard to others, nor have they selfishly kept the benefits to be derived from their money, but are generous and contribute liberally towards all Charitable objects brought to their notice. Mrs. Spratt possesses a high Christian character, and is a stanch member of the United Brethren Church. Mr. Spratt politically is a Democrat and is firm in support of his party. A portrait of Mr. Spratt appears on another page. December 1879 The DeWitt County circuit Court closed the Dec., term this week. ANDERSON charged with the burning of Jim SPRATT The chauncery docket was not reached.

A LITTLE BIT OF SCANDAL. Charles A. SPRATT, of Rutledge, wishes that he was a resident in Brigham Young’s dominions. There is such a thing as loving too much here in Illinois, and Charles has found it out to his sorrow. He got engaged to two young girls in his neighborhood, and, as matters were becoming rather pressing, Charles skipped out one fine day and left the fair ones to fight for his affections. They are both nice ladies and well connected. One of them, however, fell a victim to his amorous advances and is now mourning over her shame. Charles came back recently, and on his way to the marriage altar his victim had him arrested on the charge of bastardy. He gave bail for his appearance and married the other girl. At this term of court he will answer to Judge LACEY why he should not support his illegitimate offspring; and probably a suit for breach of promise may be the result.