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    The home of Melvin Sprague and wife, near Butlerville, was the scene on Sunday of one of the biggest and most pleasant gatherings ever witnessed in that locality. Mr. and Mrs. Sprague, after having resided for nearly forty years in their pleasant home on the banks of Big Graham, decided to spend their declining days in sunny California, and disposed of their personal effects at public auction on Thursday, October 1st, at which time their neighbors and friends decided that a slight token of the esteem in which they were held should be shown them and as a consequence, on Sunday morning, October 4th, at ten o'clock, carriages, autos and pedestrians began to arrive and by noon the assemblage totaled one hundred and twenty-three persons. To say that Mr. and Mrs. Sprague were surprised and gratified would be putting it mildly, and especially when they had the opportunity to behold and partake of the display of fried chicken, cakes and many other goodies the good women had prepared especially for the occasion. It is needless to say that ample justice was done to the many delicacies and that many there were who departed with a feeling of fullness that is conductive to a feeling of good fellowship.
    Among those present we noted the following: James Hand and wife, of Vernon; Scott Banta, wife and three children, of Marble Corner; Frank Hamilton, wife and daughter Ida, of Iowa Falls, Iowa; Sam Jarvis and wife, of Indianapolis; C. F. Hole and family, Wm. F. Wilson and family, Joseph Ralston and family, U. E. Smith and family, Rev. Cash and wife, of Butlerville, Wm. Shuck and wife, Logan Vinson, wife and son, George Etter and family, Frank Etter and family, C. N. Stout and family, John McDonald and family, Ed Heid and wife, Harry Heid, wife and son, Walter Sawyer and family, Thos. Schlottman and wife, George Heid and wife, Col. Al Fewell and family, Meredith Johnson, A. G. Perkins wife and son, W. A. Fellows and family, Wm. Haydon and wife, Everett Boswell and wife, Mrs. J. M. Heid, Lena B. Smith, Edith Johnson, George Stine, C. O. Semon, Mrs. Maude Johnson, and children, and numerous others. The day was spent in feasting and social conversation and at a late hour we departed for our homes all feeling that the day had been most pleasantly spent and wishing Mr. and Mrs. Sprague a pleasant journey and a happy home in their new location.

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Either Melvin & Elizabeth "Lizzie" (Johnson) Sprague did not stay long or they did not get to California, because Melvin died in Indianapolis on January 9, 1917. In the 1920 census Elizabeth is listed as a widow and is living with their daughter Cora and her husband Samuel W. Wilson.

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