"Centralia Pioneer is Taken Quickly"
Word was received in Centralia this morning that Frank S. Sprague, formerly of this city, died suddenly at 1 o'clock last night at San Jose, California. He had been in poor health for some time. Whether or not the body will be brought here for burial is not known. He was a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellow Fraternal orders, which have been notified of his death.
Mr. and Mrs. Sprague left Centralia to reside permanently in California, December 10 of last year, after Mr. Sprague had lived here twenty-two years. He made the change in the hope of improving his health and it was with much regret that he left, as he was one of the best known and most popular men in Centralia.
At one time he owned considerable property here, including a beautiful home just south of the Hotel Centralia.
He had, however, disposed of all his property here with the exception of three lots. He leaves an estate valued at from $90,000 to $100,000, about $60,000 being in timber lands and the rest in cash and securities.
Mr. Sprague came to Centralia in 1888 and engaged in the hardware business with William Woodham as a partner. At that time all of the city lay on the east side of the Northern Pacific tracks, only a few hundred persons residing here. In the panic of 1893 the firm was wiped off its feet, but by careful manipulation it regained its business prestige in the wave of prosperity that followed. In 1900 Sprague & Woodham sold their business to Frank McNitt, who is engaged in the hardware business at the present time.
After selling Mr. Sprague engaged in the real estate business with Mr. Woodham laying out the Sprague & Woodham Addition and the East End Addition. In the following year, like most of the other business men here at that time he again went broke, losing over $30,000.
In 1903 with Mr. Woodham and W. C. Hinks, he opened a flour, feed and commission business. In 1905 he bought out his partners and opened the Up-to-Date Department store selling the business the same year to L. Rosenthal. It was at this time that Mr. Sprague traded considerable groceries for a quantity of shingles which at that time were considered practically worthless, but which later increased in value and netted him an enormous realization on his trade.
In 1906 with W. W. Cannon as a partner, he formed the Centralia investment Co., purchasing a part of the Hanson tract and platting it into the Central Addition to Centralia. In 1908 he sold out his interest in this and since then has retired from an active business life, although he has done much speculating in timber lands in this section of the state which have netted him a substantial profit.
Mr. Sprague always had faith in Centralia and even during the hard times his faith never wavered. He always believed that Centralia would be one of the best inland cities in the state. He prospered and made a fortune here and always maintained that others could do as well or better.
Mr. Sprague is survived by a brother, J. A. Sprague who is a building contractor in this city, and R. D. Sprague, a nephew who is engaged in the plumbing business and G. B. F. Sprague, also a nephew, living in Iowa and has been notified of his brother's death. Mrs. Sprague was at the bedside of her husband at his death. The funeral arrangements have not been settled as yet. Mr. Sprague was a member of both the Odd Fellows and Masons which organizations will probably have charge of the funeral if the interment is in this city.
He was born in Floyd county, Iowa, July 15, 1858.
Source: Centralia Weekly Chronicle, 12 Jul 1911, page 5.
Transcribed by Diana Smith. She has no further information on this individual.