History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, 1887



Sprout Family - LEWIS B. SPROUT Biography

Lewis Bosworth Sprout, deceased, during an unusually active career was known as a prime leader in the industrial life of Lycoming county and one of the pioneer manufacturers of Muncy valley. In his physique and personality he exemplified in a remarkable degree the distinctive qualities of the sturdy Scotch ancestry, whence he sprang and which is epitomized in the preceding narrative in this work. He was the direct descendant of two brothers who came from Scotland fifteen or twenty years after the landing of the Pilgrims. His father, Ebenezer Sprout, resided in Massachusetts and married Miriam Burrows, of Connecticut. Together they journeyed by wagon with three children from Massachusetts to Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, where the remainder of the family of eleven were born.

Lewis B. Sprout, the subject of this sketch, being the youngest, was born May 4, 1830, on the homestead near Montrose, Susquehanna r county, Pennsylvania. Here he spent his boyhood days, receiving such education as the common schools afforded and working upon his father's farm until old enough to obtain employment for himself. He entered upon an independent business career at the early age of eighteen years, engaging in the manufacture of a wagon spring known as the "Sprout Wagon Spring," and later in the manufacture of sash and blinds at Montrose. In this relation he manifested such energetic spirit and marked business ability as to win the confidence and esteem of some of the most prominent citizens of the place, whom he ever held in high regard and with whom he formed lasting friendships. In 1854 he came to Picture Rocks, Lycoming county, where six years previous his elder brother, A. Ransaleer Sprout, and their uncle, Amos Burrows, had become the pioneer settlers, and established the first sash, door and blind factory in that part of the country. He became associated with them in 1856, and one year later purchased the business, affiliating with his next older brother, Samuel E., in the firm of S. E. & L. B. Sprout. Their business prospered and in 1866 they located in Muncy, where they added to their line of trade the Sprout Hay Fork and Elevator, of which valuable device their brother, Ariel B. Sprout, was the inventor and patentee. In 1874 the brothers dissolved partnership and Lewis B. continued alone in the manufacture of hay forks, elevators and other hay tools. In 1880 he sold the business to his son-in-law, John Waldron, and retired from active employment. He never ceased, however, to bear a deep interest in the welfare of the business and was at all times relied upon for his clear judgment in decisions of perplexing and momentous questions concerning the conduct of the business.

His active disposition prevented him from remaining long in idleness, and upon the urgent request of his son Charles H., and son-inlaw, John Waldron, he decided to enter into partnership with them, which he did in 1892, being incorporated later under the firm name of Sprout, Waldron & Company, which has become widely known in the manufacture of an extensive line of flour and feed mill machinery, buckwheat flouring mills and other specialties. Mr. Sprout was thus primarily instrumental in laying the foundation for what became in his day a mighty industrial enterprise, employing many workmen and sending its products into every state of the Union and into many foreign countries. His interest and devotion to the business was not so much that he might acquire wealth, but that he might place the industry upon such a foundation as to make it a profitable and an enduring enterprise for future generations. His wisdom in thus planning can only be realized when we are reminded of the fact that within seven years death entered the ranks of its officers three times, and removed every member elected at its incorporation in 1895. Nevertheless, in spite of affliction and loss by death and fire, they have continued to build upon the foundation so securely laid.

The first to be stricken was Charles H., Mr. Sprout's eldest son, who was taken ill of appendicitis while absent on a business trip and died at the Albany State Hospital, March 16, 1896. Despite his intense grief, the father devoted himself more diligently to business, taking upon himself the duties of secretary in addition to those of treasurer. But the grief on the sudden death of his son and the loss of one whose filial devotion, kindness, intelligence, energy and mechanical ability made him a pillar upon whim a fond father could confidently lean, soon undermined Mr. Sprout's health and sapped his energies. Nervous prostration seized upon him and he passed peacefully away on the evening of June 9, 1898, at the age of sixty-eight years. Thus closed the life of a prominent, progressive, persevering, successful citizen and an ideal Christian gentleman.

Lewis B. Sprout was not only watchful and active in every detail of his commercial life, but as a Christian the same energy of action and excellence of judgment which marked the development of the business man was present also in the spiritual life, working out that ripe and full experience which characterized his religious associations. He was converted when a very young man in the Baptist church at Montrose, and was until the time of his death a devoted and faithful member of that denomination. He loved to serve the cause of Christ in every department of church activity, and was never known to neglect any duty or shirk any responsibility in that service. He aided with his influence and means every cause which he deemed worthy, whether material or spiritual, and was particularly helpful in religious and educational concerns. The latest work, one in which he took an all absorbing interest and delight, was the erection of the handsome and substantial Baptist church edifice on the northeast corner of Penn and Market streets. The building project was in a large degree due to his proposition to the congregation at a meeting in 1890, and its consummation was largely the result of his energetic labors and generous contributions. He took great delight in watching the progress of the erection of the building from his beautiful residence nearby, and was an active participant in the dedication services which took place about a year before his death.

As a citizen Mr. Sprout was ever loyal to his convictions of justice and right, as he was in every phase of his well developed character. He cast his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont, and continued a Republican for many years, aiding in every work where good government and wise legislation were needed. He was very enthusiastic in his desire to see the abolition of the liquor traffic, and fought with all his characteristic energy for the submission of the constitutional amendment to the people, which was defeated in 1889. His disappointment in his party to sustain this movement led him to forsake their ranks and cast his influence with the Prohibition party. He continued with this party until the time of his death, using every means within his power to advance the cause of temperance reform and uplift humanity.

Mr. Sprout was an educated man in the best sense of the word. To his deep regret, he was limited in his youth, as we have stated, to a common school education. However, his youthful days were not his only school days, and we know him to have been an earnest student all his life. His education was practical, not theoretical, and was acquired in the school of nature and among men rather than from books. He conceived nature to be simply the production of the Almighty, regulated by a wisdom, the laws of which can only be discovered by observation. He, therefore, studied science in nature. He read law in the works of the Great Law-Giver and had a clear conception of its relation and application to man. Feeling conscious within himself of an ' honest pur pose to serve others and perpetuate their welfare in business, church and public relations, he found ready justification for every act, having in his judgment those ends in view. His purity of speech bore witness to a virtuous life. As determined as he was cautious, as magnanimous as he was impulsive, as clear-headed as he was energetic, as firm as he was just, his influence will continue to be felt in every field in which he labored.

Mr. Sprout married, in 1855, Miss Ellen Donnelly, of Susquehanna county, and to them were born six children : Maggie Amelia, who became the wife of John Waldron; Augusta, married to H. G. Lichtenthaler, died August 16, 1887; Charles Howard, of whom a sketch follows; Annie Laurie, died in infancy; Lucilla Marion, wife of Stephen Soars, treasurer of Sprout, Waldron & Company; and Fred Murray, president of same corporation.


Source: Genealogical and Personal History of Lycoming County, John W. Jordan, Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1906.








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