DIED....Wednesday March 7, 1894, James K. Sprague in the 69th year of his age.

Death came to Mr. Sprague very suddenly and very unexpectedly. He had been about during the day in his usual health and spirits, and was making ready for his spring work of which he usually did a little in the way of farming and gardening. After dinner he hitched his horse onto his buggy and drove out. Just at the edge of town he met Adam Roth. As they stopped and were passing a friendly word, his head dropped upon his bosom. That was all. No pain, no suffering.

The funeral services were held the day following at 3:00 o'clock p.m., at the Congregational church, Rev. N.E. Gardner officiating. Wm. Crisp, L.H. Turk, O. Graves, L.K. Hills, WM. Yoeman and Charles Wooster were the pall bearers. The sermon was a very commendable effort, neither too much nor too little but all good and fitting to the occasion. The remains were interred in the Silver Creek cemetery.

James Kilby Sprague was born in the township of Shoreham, Addison county VT. Feb. 8, 1826. He was married when about 19 years of age and went to Wisconsin where he resided a short time and then removed to California where he remained 17 years coming to Nebraska in 1871 and to Silver Creek in 1872 where he has since made his home. Having lost his first wife he was married again to Miss Emma May Frenzer, of Omaha, by whom he had five children, Elvira, Charles L., Frank K., Julia and Elsie, all of whom are now living and, with the exception of Elvira (Mrs. T.W. Coolidge, of Schaller, Iowa) were living in Silver Creek at the time of his death.

Before leaving California Mr. Sprague had the misfortune to lose his second wife. He remained single, keeping his five little children with him and caring for them until 1885, when he was married to Miss Melissa Howland, who survives him.

Politically the deceased was a republican, religiously he was nothing, having never made a profession of religion or joined any church. Naturally he was a man of more than ordinary ability and while, like other mortals, he had his faults, he also had his virtues, chief among which might be mentioned, his loyalty to his children for which he deserves all honor.

He seems to have had some premonition that he was near his end, for recently he was heard to remark that his days were numbered. And so he is gone. For sixtyeight years he performed his part as best he could. His day had come and the vital spark went out. Peace to his ashes.