DID YOU KNOW?
Sprague Road, which forms the southern boundary between Olmsted Falls and Columbia Station, is named in honor of the Sprague family? Tom and Sue Sprague, long time residents of Olmsted Falls, trace their family heritage back to Plymouth and Salem, Massachusetts. On the list of passengers for the ships ANNE and LITTLE JAMES that arrived at Plymouth in August, 1623, are Francis Sprague, wife, and child. The ship ABIGAIL, which arrived in Salem on September 6, 1628, had three brothers: Ralph, Richard, and William Sprague - sons of Edward Sprague of Upway, Co. Dorset, England. William is the ancestor of our Sprague family.
The family descended as follows: Anthony (1636-1719), Jeremiah (1682-1759), Knight (1711-1804), Anthony (1742-1764). Anthony had four sons, two of whom moved to Ohio : David Sprague and Knight Sprague.
David and Knight came to Ohio in the winter/spring of 1817-1818. The two brothers settled in what later became known as Royalton. Knight had lost his sight in an accident as a blacksmith back east. Even so, according to reports, he was an energetic man and able to identify objects as well as a person with sight. Being active in affairs, he had the first town hall in Royalton built.
David’s first wife, Dimis Scowton, died in the east before he came to Ohio. His second wife was Phoebe Chaflin. He purchased land for a farm in Cuyahoga County from the Connecticut Land Company and began to clear the land. It was discovered that the markings were incorrect. The family later moved to Middleburg Township.
On October 27, 1818, County Commissioners ordered “Township number five, in range 13, be set off into a separate township with the name of Royalton.” It is reported that Knight Sprague was a very strong supporter of having it named Royalton - after Royalton, Vermont. In the first election in the Township, November 9, 1818, David Sprague was elected a trustee. Later on the name was changed to North Royalton to distinguish the area from another Royalton in Ohio.
David’s family line then continues through Ebenezer (1819-1885), Charles Fremont (1856-1940), Roy Charles (1881-1944), Carl Sprague (1919-1993), father of Tom Sprague.
Carl Sprague’s first home was on Sprague Road on the north side, just west of the turnpike, then a home was built on Sprague Road in Westview. Tom’s mother, Ruth, was born and raised on Sprague Road in a three story stucco home next to Tannery Way.
His grandfather was born on the Sprague family land on the southeast corner of Webster Road and Sprague Road. Roy always had a Sprague Road address. Roy and Sadie Sprague later lived on Sprague Road, east of Marks Road, by the present (2014) Steven David Drive. They had produce in the summer and worked in a greenhouse in the winter. At one time we were the greenhouse capital - few remain today.
Carl Sprague was the mayor of West View. He served as mayor from 1958-1967. Prior to this he served as Council President for two years and was a member of Council before that. He started the first Fire Department (1965). Elmer Deubel was the first West View Fire Chief. The Mayor also started the first Police Department (March, 1961). Bruce Carnes was the first Marshall for the police department. He later became its first Police Chief. Mr. Carl Sprague managed the Olmsted Falls United Farmers Exchange in Olmsted Falls from 1952-1984.
In 1927, Lee Blodgett, Carl’s father-in-law, was elected clerk. He was a graduate of Baldwin College in Berea, Ohio. He was mayor of West View from 1930-1934. He then returned to clerk until he retired in 1955. Lee’s property was split by the Ohio Turnpike - approximately 66 acres were to the south of the new road and 60 acres were to the north of the road.
Lee Sprague, Tom’s second cousin, has 200 years of Sprague history. Tom’s dad’s uncle had an orchard and hatchery at Webster Road and Route 82. Sprague Road was not always divided. When the park system was created, Sprague Road was split by the new park.
Sources: A Sprague Family History
Berea Historical Society
City of Olmsted Falls, Rosann Jones, EDD
Fairview Park, R.L., Regina, Researcher
Historical Society of Olmsted Falls
HISTORY OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY, 1879
HISTORICAL STORY, OLMSTED TOWNSHIP: VILLAGES OF OLMSTED FALLS,
NORTH OLMSTED, WEST VIEW by Walter F. Holzworth
OLMSTED FALLS by John D. Cimperman
Wm. Eichenberg Jr. June 8, 2014
Sprague Road