Spouse: Hannah Farley
Children: George Granville Sprague
Biography, 1988, Orval And Emily Sprague, "The Century Farms of Jefferson County, PA", (The Jefferson County Historical and Genealogical Society, Brookville, PA), pp.66-67
ORVAL AND EMILY SPRAGUE
Built along the road known as "the old Philadelphia Pike" in the early days of settlement, the Sprague farm near Rathmel in Winslow Township saw lots of color and excitement in the movement of stage coaches through their area. Founded in 1832 at what is called "Prospect Hill" by Samuel B. Sprague, the great-great grandfather of the present owner, the farm still contains the farmhouse built by his son, George Sprague, and Orval and Emily live there in an atmosphere reminiscent of Victorian days, among many family heirlooms.
Orval's grandfather often told him when he was a boy about seeing herds of cattle past their farm, as they were being driven to market in Philadelphia.
Unlike the majority of early settlers of the county, SAMUEL SPRAGUE was a New Englander, of English descent. He was born in 1793 in New Hampshire, where he married Hannah Farley of Vermont. They had five children, George G., William, Hannah, Hiram, and Mary. In 1824, the family moved to New York state, and then to Prospect Hill in Jefferson County, where he bought the 100-acre farm, in 1832. The present owners still own 100 acres.
SAMUEL died in 1845 after falling from a building, and his son George Grandville Sprague became the next owner of the farm. George (1818-1901), had married Prudence Broadhead, who was born in England. George erected the substantial farm buildings which still stand, the house about 1868 and the barn in 1878.
Although George had little formal schooling, he acquired sufficient learning to enable him to teach school, although his principal occupation was farming. In later years he served as President of the Seeley and Alexander Bank (1892-1901) in Reynoldsville, and was also a school director for 25 years. He and Prudence were the parents of eight children: Angeline, wife of Samuel Bailey; Martha, wife of Wallace Garsline; Edwin G., of Winslow Township; Albert J., of Henderson township; Walter, of Winslow; Charles C., who married Margaret Pierce and lived on the farm; Mary, wife of Asa Phillippi of Homer City; and Edith, who married first Milan Phillippi, and later Dr. B. E. Hoover of Reynoldsville.
Their son Charles Orval (1859-1924) became the next owner of the Prospect Hill farm and married Minerva Pierce (1866-1939). They had four children, George G., married to Floy Heemer; Norman L., married to Elvie Heemer; Ilda, married to Arthur Johnson, and TWILA, married to Merle Ruth. Charles was killed in a train accident, which also killed his granddaughter, in 1924.
His son Norman LeRoy (1887-1964) became the next owner. He was a dairy farmer, coal miner, township road supervisor, and later caretaker for the state highway department. He and his wife Elvie had five children, Orval R., Beryl H., Wilmer, Harold, and Twila. Twila had died in 1924 in the train accident which also killed her grandfather, so when Norman died in 1964, the four remaining children inherited the farm. Two of them, Beryl and Wilmer, sold their shares to Orval and Harold, who farmed it together for years.
In 1981, Harold died and Orval became the owner, along with his wife, the former Emily Gibson. They have a daughter, Irene Aylesworth, who has two sons, Mark and Kevin, and lives in California. A stepdaughter, Janet Anderson, lives on the farm with them.
Although Orval has retired from full-time farming, he has to keep busy, and works part-time at Farmer Smith's Greenhouse in Brookville. He and Emily have done some remodeling to the old home, adding a modern deck on the rear, but it still retains most of its original appearance, including the stone carriage-block which stands in front of the house. The 1878 barn is also still standing and in good condition.
Children: George Granville Sprague
Biography, 1988, Orval And Emily Sprague, "The Century Farms of Jefferson County, PA", (The Jefferson County Historical and Genealogical Society, Brookville, PA), pp.66-67
ORVAL AND EMILY SPRAGUE
Built along the road known as "the old Philadelphia Pike" in the early days of settlement, the Sprague farm near Rathmel in Winslow Township saw lots of color and excitement in the movement of stage coaches through their area. Founded in 1832 at what is called "Prospect Hill" by Samuel B. Sprague, the great-great grandfather of the present owner, the farm still contains the farmhouse built by his son, George Sprague, and Orval and Emily live there in an atmosphere reminiscent of Victorian days, among many family heirlooms.
Orval's grandfather often told him when he was a boy about seeing herds of cattle past their farm, as they were being driven to market in Philadelphia.
Unlike the majority of early settlers of the county, SAMUEL SPRAGUE was a New Englander, of English descent. He was born in 1793 in New Hampshire, where he married Hannah Farley of Vermont. They had five children, George G., William, Hannah, Hiram, and Mary. In 1824, the family moved to New York state, and then to Prospect Hill in Jefferson County, where he bought the 100-acre farm, in 1832. The present owners still own 100 acres.
SAMUEL died in 1845 after falling from a building, and his son George Grandville Sprague became the next owner of the farm. George (1818-1901), had married Prudence Broadhead, who was born in England. George erected the substantial farm buildings which still stand, the house about 1868 and the barn in 1878.
Although George had little formal schooling, he acquired sufficient learning to enable him to teach school, although his principal occupation was farming. In later years he served as President of the Seeley and Alexander Bank (1892-1901) in Reynoldsville, and was also a school director for 25 years. He and Prudence were the parents of eight children: Angeline, wife of Samuel Bailey; Martha, wife of Wallace Garsline; Edwin G., of Winslow Township; Albert J., of Henderson township; Walter, of Winslow; Charles C., who married Margaret Pierce and lived on the farm; Mary, wife of Asa Phillippi of Homer City; and Edith, who married first Milan Phillippi, and later Dr. B. E. Hoover of Reynoldsville.
Their son Charles Orval (1859-1924) became the next owner of the Prospect Hill farm and married Minerva Pierce (1866-1939). They had four children, George G., married to Floy Heemer; Norman L., married to Elvie Heemer; Ilda, married to Arthur Johnson, and TWILA, married to Merle Ruth. Charles was killed in a train accident, which also killed his granddaughter, in 1924.
His son Norman LeRoy (1887-1964) became the next owner. He was a dairy farmer, coal miner, township road supervisor, and later caretaker for the state highway department. He and his wife Elvie had five children, Orval R., Beryl H., Wilmer, Harold, and Twila. Twila had died in 1924 in the train accident which also killed her grandfather, so when Norman died in 1964, the four remaining children inherited the farm. Two of them, Beryl and Wilmer, sold their shares to Orval and Harold, who farmed it together for years.
In 1981, Harold died and Orval became the owner, along with his wife, the former Emily Gibson. They have a daughter, Irene Aylesworth, who has two sons, Mark and Kevin, and lives in California. A stepdaughter, Janet Anderson, lives on the farm with them.
Although Orval has retired from full-time farming, he has to keep busy, and works part-time at Farmer Smith's Greenhouse in Brookville. He and Emily have done some remodeling to the old home, adding a modern deck on the rear, but it still retains most of its original appearance, including the stone carriage-block which stands in front of the house. The 1878 barn is also still standing and in good condition.
Spouse: Hannah Farley
Children: George Granville Sprague
Biography, 1988, Orval And Emily Sprague, "The Century Farms of Jefferson County, PA", (The Jefferson County Historical and Genealogical Society, Brookville, PA), pp.66-67
ORVAL AND EMILY SPRAGUE
Built along the road known as "the old Philadelphia Pike" in the early days of settlement, the Sprague farm near Rathmel in Winslow Township saw lots of color and excitement in the movement of stage coaches through their area. Founded in 1832 at what is called "Prospect Hill" by Samuel B. Sprague, the great-great grandfather of the present owner, the farm still contains the farmhouse built by his son, George Sprague, and Orval and Emily live there in an atmosphere reminiscent of Victorian days, among many family heirlooms.
Orval's grandfather often told him when he was a boy about seeing herds of cattle past their farm, as they were being driven to market in Philadelphia.
Unlike the majority of early settlers of the county, SAMUEL SPRAGUE was a New Englander, of English descent. He was born in 1793 in New Hampshire, where he married Hannah Farley of Vermont. They had five children, George G., William, Hannah, Hiram, and Mary. In 1824, the family moved to New York state, and then to Prospect Hill in Jefferson County, where he bought the 100-acre farm, in 1832. The present owners still own 100 acres.
SAMUEL died in 1845 after falling from a building, and his son George Grandville Sprague became the next owner of the farm. George (1818-1901), had married Prudence Broadhead, who was born in England. George erected the substantial farm buildings which still stand, the house about 1868 and the barn in 1878.
Although George had little formal schooling, he acquired sufficient learning to enable him to teach school, although his principal occupation was farming. In later years he served as President of the Seeley and Alexander Bank (1892-1901) in Reynoldsville, and was also a school director for 25 years. He and Prudence were the parents of eight children: Angeline, wife of Samuel Bailey; Martha, wife of Wallace Garsline; Edwin G., of Winslow Township; Albert J., of Henderson township; Walter, of Winslow; Charles C., who married Margaret Pierce and lived on the farm; Mary, wife of Asa Phillippi of Homer City; and Edith, who married first Milan Phillippi, and later Dr. B. E. Hoover of Reynoldsville.
Their son Charles Orval (1859-1924) became the next owner of the Prospect Hill farm and married Minerva Pierce (1866-1939). They had four children, George G., married to Floy Heemer; Norman L., married to Elvie Heemer; Ilda, married to Arthur Johnson, and TWILA, married to Merle Ruth. Charles was killed in a train accident, which also killed his granddaughter, in 1924.
His son Norman LeRoy (1887-1964) became the next owner. He was a dairy farmer, coal miner, township road supervisor, and later caretaker for the state highway department. He and his wife Elvie had five children, Orval R., Beryl H., Wilmer, Harold, and Twila. Twila had died in 1924 in the train accident which also killed her grandfather, so when Norman died in 1964, the four remaining children inherited the farm. Two of them, Beryl and Wilmer, sold their shares to Orval and Harold, who farmed it together for years.
In 1981, Harold died and Orval became the owner, along with his wife, the former Emily Gibson. They have a daughter, Irene Aylesworth, who has two sons, Mark and Kevin, and lives in California. A stepdaughter, Janet Anderson, lives on the farm with them.
Although Orval has retired from full-time farming, he has to keep busy, and works part-time at Farmer Smith's Greenhouse in Brookville. He and Emily have done some remodeling to the old home, adding a modern deck on the rear, but it still retains most of its original appearance, including the stone carriage-block which stands in front of the house. The 1878 barn is also still standing and in good condition.
Children: George Granville Sprague
Biography, 1988, Orval And Emily Sprague, "The Century Farms of Jefferson County, PA", (The Jefferson County Historical and Genealogical Society, Brookville, PA), pp.66-67
ORVAL AND EMILY SPRAGUE
Built along the road known as "the old Philadelphia Pike" in the early days of settlement, the Sprague farm near Rathmel in Winslow Township saw lots of color and excitement in the movement of stage coaches through their area. Founded in 1832 at what is called "Prospect Hill" by Samuel B. Sprague, the great-great grandfather of the present owner, the farm still contains the farmhouse built by his son, George Sprague, and Orval and Emily live there in an atmosphere reminiscent of Victorian days, among many family heirlooms.
Orval's grandfather often told him when he was a boy about seeing herds of cattle past their farm, as they were being driven to market in Philadelphia.
Unlike the majority of early settlers of the county, SAMUEL SPRAGUE was a New Englander, of English descent. He was born in 1793 in New Hampshire, where he married Hannah Farley of Vermont. They had five children, George G., William, Hannah, Hiram, and Mary. In 1824, the family moved to New York state, and then to Prospect Hill in Jefferson County, where he bought the 100-acre farm, in 1832. The present owners still own 100 acres.
SAMUEL died in 1845 after falling from a building, and his son George Grandville Sprague became the next owner of the farm. George (1818-1901), had married Prudence Broadhead, who was born in England. George erected the substantial farm buildings which still stand, the house about 1868 and the barn in 1878.
Although George had little formal schooling, he acquired sufficient learning to enable him to teach school, although his principal occupation was farming. In later years he served as President of the Seeley and Alexander Bank (1892-1901) in Reynoldsville, and was also a school director for 25 years. He and Prudence were the parents of eight children: Angeline, wife of Samuel Bailey; Martha, wife of Wallace Garsline; Edwin G., of Winslow Township; Albert J., of Henderson township; Walter, of Winslow; Charles C., who married Margaret Pierce and lived on the farm; Mary, wife of Asa Phillippi of Homer City; and Edith, who married first Milan Phillippi, and later Dr. B. E. Hoover of Reynoldsville.
Their son Charles Orval (1859-1924) became the next owner of the Prospect Hill farm and married Minerva Pierce (1866-1939). They had four children, George G., married to Floy Heemer; Norman L., married to Elvie Heemer; Ilda, married to Arthur Johnson, and TWILA, married to Merle Ruth. Charles was killed in a train accident, which also killed his granddaughter, in 1924.
His son Norman LeRoy (1887-1964) became the next owner. He was a dairy farmer, coal miner, township road supervisor, and later caretaker for the state highway department. He and his wife Elvie had five children, Orval R., Beryl H., Wilmer, Harold, and Twila. Twila had died in 1924 in the train accident which also killed her grandfather, so when Norman died in 1964, the four remaining children inherited the farm. Two of them, Beryl and Wilmer, sold their shares to Orval and Harold, who farmed it together for years.
In 1981, Harold died and Orval became the owner, along with his wife, the former Emily Gibson. They have a daughter, Irene Aylesworth, who has two sons, Mark and Kevin, and lives in California. A stepdaughter, Janet Anderson, lives on the farm with them.
Although Orval has retired from full-time farming, he has to keep busy, and works part-time at Farmer Smith's Greenhouse in Brookville. He and Emily have done some remodeling to the old home, adding a modern deck on the rear, but it still retains most of its original appearance, including the stone carriage-block which stands in front of the house. The 1878 barn is also still standing and in good condition.
Family Members
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