DEATH OF HOSEA SPRAGUE

Cortland Standard Semi-Weekly Edition, Tuesday, July 23, 1895.

ONE HUNDRED ONE YEARS.

HOSEA SPRAGUE OF HOMER DIED FRIDAY MORNING.

The Oldest Man in Central New York—Vigorous and Strong Till the Last—Sketch of Life.

   Hosea Sprague of Homer, the oldest man in Central New York, died at his home in Homer at 9 o’clock Friday morning at the age of 101 years, 6 months and 21 days. Mr. Sprague was strong and vigorous until the last and there was good prospect of his lasting for some years. He had not been down in the village much this spring and summer, but walked about his lawn and garden. He was about the house as usual on Thursday. His barber went up and shaved him Thursday and made the remark on his return “Uncle Hosea was good for a number of years yet.” Friday morning he seemed weaker and the end came unexpectedly but very quietly. It was the going to sleep of a little child.

   Mr. Sprague was born in Brimsfield, Mass., Dec. 28, 1793, and spent his early life at that place. When twenty-two years of age he moved to Coleraine, Mass., and in 1821 he again moved to East Homer, N. Y., and resided with his sister, Mrs. Samuel Sherman. He moved to Homer in 1853 and has since that time lived almost a retired life in his present home.

   In this same year he was married by Rev. Thomas K. Fessenden to Miss Ann H. Hobart, who is still alive at the age of 85 years, is well and strong and promises to reach the century mark as her husband has done.

   Mr. Sprague voted for the first Republican president and has kept up this good practice ever since, always voting the straight Republican ticket. There is only one time on record when he failed to vote and then he was ill. At the last election he helped to swell the Republican majority in this state.

   At the time Mr. Sprague was one hundred years old the occasion was observed by a celebration and reception at his home. At that time he told a STANDARD reporter that he attributed his good health in one respect to the fact that he never used liquors or tobacco in any form. Both his father and mother lived to be nearly 100 years old. There were eight brothers and sisters in his family, three older and four younger than himself, and he outlived them all. He was one of the most vigorous and best preserved old gentlemen in the whole country.

   The STANDARD is indebted to the Homer Republican for this excellent cut of Mr. Sprague. It was taken from a photograph made when he was 99 years old. At the time that he passed the century mark The STANDARD sent a photographer to his house and had a photograph taken of him that year, and had a cut made from it which we used at that time, but when we came to look at it, it could not be found, having been mislaid in some way. So the Republican loaned us their cut, for the use of which we desire to express our thanks.

Chauncey Depew.

Walter Q. Gresham.

All Work and No Play.

   In speaking of the death of Secretary of State Gresham and how it was due to over work, Chauncey M. Depew says: “I have learned from observation that three things surely happen to a man who works steadily without relaxation. In the first place, he becomes nervous, irritable and hard to get along with. In the second place, the grade of his work falls off, and he is liable to err in judgment. In the third place, he dies suddenly. It is an incontrovertible law of human nature.”

   The Golden Rule adds that Dr. Depew is perfectly right in his description of this dread disease of overwork now becoming so frightfully common. Work under proper conditions and to a proper extent makes a man peaceful, serene and delightful to get along with, is a curative agent as surely as overwork and improper work are agents of disease.

THE CLERGYMEN SPEAK.

A Manly Expression and a Stinging Rebuke to Malicious Falsehood.

   At the union meeting at the Congregational church Sunday evening the following was read with the endorsement, and as expressing the views, of all the evangelical clergymen of the village [Cortland]:

   As Christian ministers and the accredited pastors of large congregations in this village, we are deeply concerned for the good morals and good name of our community. As Citizens, we are interested in everything that concerns the public welfare. Seeing how greatly the public saloons in our midst were debauching public morals, ruining young men brought up at our alters and neutralizing the influence of our holy religion, knowing that a majority of our citizens had repeatedly declared by their votes that liquor should not be sold as a drink in this town, and seeing that saloons continued their business contrary to law and in defiance of the will of the majority, we have gladly encouraged the present careful, honest, wise, and determined effort to promote good government and to enforce the laws against vice and immorality. We believe this to be an issue mainly between the better and worst elements of our community. We should be very glad to have a full and free discussion of all the points involved in this contest by candid, honest men representing different views; but there have been repeatedly published recently in this village, and circulated as widely as possible, attacks upon this good government movement, upon faithful officers, and upon private citizens, so absolutely false, misleading, defamatory and apparently so malicious that we cannot demean ourselves to the indignities that would probably be heaped upon us if we should in any public way, correct the outrageous statements made in these attacks, and we cannot but hope that the reputable press of this village will treat these attacks with a similar silence in the future. We make this statement to the union meeting of churches that our people may understand our future silence.

A Perilous Ride.

   Three members of the Deruyter Gleaner force made a century run on their wheels last week. The course took in Cortland and from here to Syracuse. N. E. Bugbee, who was behind the others was unacquainted with the road. He pulled over the top of Christian Hollow hill at full speed in the effort to overtake the others. There is a sharp turn there and before he knew it he was started downward at a lightning rate. He had no brake and he quickly lost his pedals and could not check his speed by back pedaling. The hill is nearly a mile long and is a terror to all wheelmen for it winds around and is quite stony near the foot. It is a wonder that he ever kept on top of the wheel, but the road was clear and he got down safely. He overtook the others at Cardiff, six miles away.

NEW YORK STEAM LAUNDRY.

To be Located on Homer-ave.—Ready for Business Soon.

   Cortland is to have a new laundry. It is to be located in the shop formerly occupied by William R. Weld on Homer-ave. and used as a carriage manufactory. The new establishment will be under the management of Glenn Edgcomb, assisted by William Hatler. Mr. Edgcomb has been connected with the Cortland steam laundry during the last three years and understands the business from beginning to end. Mr. Hatler is a popular young man and his name will add strength to the business. They expect to be ready for work in a short time, as soon as the new engine and boiler arrive.

   They have purchased new machinery throughout and expect to be able to do the best kind of work. They expect to begin with eight employees and with one delivery wagon which has just been completed by the Cortland Wagon Co. The business will be known as the New York Steam Laundry, Glenn Edgcomb manager.

BREVITIES.

   —The Groton Bridge & Manufacturing Co., have received thus far this year 268 bridge contracts.—Groton Journal.

   —Ten members of Vesta lodge, I. O. O. F., visited Preble lodge Saturday night and report having a remarkably fine time.

   —The Cortland City band accompany the Cortland fire department to Owego, Aug. 8, to attend the Central New York Firemen’s convention.

   —Orris Hose are drilling every Thursday night in anticipation of attending the Central New York Firemen’s convention at Owego, Aug. 8.

   —Chief A. G. Bosworth and Superintendent F. A. Bickford Saturday morning took the fire engine out for a test and found it in perfect working order.

   —The three new open cars for the Cortland and Homer Traction Co. have arrived. One was drawn up to the car barns Saturday and the other two Monday. They are beauties.

   — Cortland with its population of over 10,000 can boast of being as healthy a town as any of its size. No death shave occurred in the corporation since June 5, and there is very little sickness.

   —When Cornell opens next fall it will have the largest and best equipped gymnasium, exclusively for women, in the world. A swimming tank is one of the new features. The future Cornell girl will have no excuse for drowning.

   —The electric light is likely to play a part in night fishing. The lamp, operated by a home-made battery is placed in a glass jar and lowered in the water. The inventor says the light will attract the fish to the hooks suspended around the light.

   —At the banquet Thursday night the preliminary steps were taken toward the formation of a permanent Cortland County Bar association and Mssrs. W. C. Crombie and John H. Kelley were appointed a committee to call a meeting of the lawyers of the county at an early date.

   —Dr. F. W. Higgins has a rather attractive way of announcing to callers at his office when he will be in. A clock face hangs beside the door with movable hands. In the center of the face in larger letter are the words “Will return.” When the doctor goes out he sets the hands of the clock at the hour at which he expects to come back and the clock indicates the hour to the caller.

CORTLAND CITY BAND

Reorganized and Charles Bates of Homer Again the Leader.

   The Cortland City band which was recently reorganized held a business meeting Thursday night at which Levi F. Adams, N. Adams and John Townsend were elected members and Charles H. Bates of Homer was elected leader. The band is now composed as follows: C. H. Bates, leader, E cornet; L. Holdridge, solo B cornet; George C. Murphy, E cornet; Thomas Lanigan, solo clarinet; John Seaman, E clarinet; George Wheeler, second clarinet; John Townsend, solo alto; Norton Adams, first alto; A. S. Perry, trombone; J. D. Clark, F bass; L. T. Adams, double bass; Frank Lanigan, base drum; William Harvey, snare drum.

   Mr. Bates was for many years the leader of the old Homer cornet band. He was also the leader of the Cortland City band when first organized and during some of its best years. It is a sure guaranty of the excellence of the new band that he has assumed its leadership again. Two rehearsals a week are to be held and the band will soon be second to none in the vicinity. The news of the reorganization of the band will be gladly received by all.