Our Family Tree
Person Page 82
Ethel Sprong1 (F)
b. 12 May 1906, d. 1975
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=1st cousin 1 time removed of Cynthia Lee Sprong.
Appears on charts:
Descendant Chart for David Henry Sprong
On 23 May 1906, when Ethel was 11 days, her mother, Clara C. Hastings, died of probably complications from childbirth at the age of 28 years, 7 months and 29 days.2,3 On 25 May 1941, Ethel Sprong married Stanley J. Stevens.1 Ethel Sprong died in 1975 of diptheria.4 |
Citations
Appears on charts:
Pedigree for Cynthia Lee Sprong
Gabriel Sprong, son of Johannis Sprongh and Johanna Sodalaers, was born circa 1665/66 in Bushwick, New York.1,2
On 28 May 1692, Gabriel Sprong married Gertrude/Gertruyd Dirksen Woartman, daughter of Dirck Janszen Woertman and Marretje Denyse.3,4 Gabriel Sprong died circa 14 September 1726 Bushwick, New York. |
Citations
Appears on charts:
Pedigree for Cynthia Lee Sprong
Garrett Sprong, son of Jan Sprong and Elizabeth (--?--), was born on 15 November 1719 in New Utrect, New York.
Garrett Sprong married Sarah (--?--).1 Garrett Sprong died before 28 February 1765 in Egg Harbor, New Jersey.2 |
Citations
Appears on charts:
Pedigree for Cynthia Lee Sprong
Descendant Chart for David Henry Sprong
George William Sprong was Christian Church. On 4 October 1904, George William Sprong married Eva Nora Roach, daughter of John Roach and Sophia E. Knapp, at the home of Eva's parents, Lowemont, Kansas.2,3 For their honeymoon, George & Eva went to the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, Missouri.2 After their marriage, George and Eva lived on the Sprong farm for eighteen months. During this time, George and his brother Charlie organized and founded the first Potter telephone exchange, and later established the Kickapoo and Easton exchanges. George and Eva moved from the farm to Easton, where they stayed about two years while George managed the telephone exchange; they then moved to Potter, where he did the same thing for a short while until he sold it. At that point, he and Eva "moved to a farm near Hutchinson, Kansas, where they farmed for eight years before moving to a farm near Jarbalo, Kansas." His granddaughter Cynthia says that her mother had related to her that "farming in Hutchhinson was pretty sparse and George had to sell watermelons to make some money. [Also] when they moved back [to the Sprong farm] they loaded their things into a wagon and came home--they didn't have much." It was not until 1921 before they returned to the Sprong family homestead (buying it from his older brother David), where they resided for the rest of George's life. George "taught a Sunday School class at the Round Prairie Church for many years." He also "served several terms on the Potter School Board and was a patron of the Potter Chapter of the Eastern Star. They had a television on the farm by 1954, as it is mentioned in the newspaper writeup of their golden wedding anniversary.4,2 George William Sprong was primarily a farmer, although he also organized and founded a local telephone exchange with one of his brothers. In a letter written by Dr. Aaron Alfred Sprong to his cousin Lucille, he wrote the following about the years spent in Hutchinson and his brother's death: I do remember poorly [the] ride from Hutchinson area up to North east Kansas early on spring (date unknown), rode in sort of covered wagon, with some kind of canvas over so snow and rain would not come in too bad. There was hay on bottom of wagon with some kind of covers or blankets to keep us warm: would stop along side of road so team (horses) could eat some grass (have no idea of route now) and some did some cooking on some kind of stove. First few days we ate some things she [Aaron's mother] had prepared before we left Sandhills in Reno County. All I remember about Sandhills were small hills of sand, with an infinite amount of sandburrs, crickets, and grasshoppers. It seemed to me I was always sitting on prickly sandburs and pulling them off my clothes socks etc. cause darm things did hurt and irritate your skin. Folks just starved out all Dad could do was raise watermelons, and then peddle them on streets of Hutchinson. It was a sad & rough time for Mom and Dad. You can't make any money peddling watermelons. Also, Roy my brother got sick (due to watermelon Mom said??) and died while we were living out on the Sandhills, northwest of Hutchinson. I have never known for sure what happened--just what did he have exactly? Never will know. I tried quizzing Mom a few times and tears would start coming and she wouldn't say anything. Do remember Dad coming home one p.m. and she asked him where is Roy? Dad told her (they had taken him to Doctor day before) he was gone and she started crying immediately. You know I am not sure where he was buried to this day--Believe it was Round Prairie Cemetery.5 On 18 September 1913, his son Leroy Cecil died of colitis, which is a gastrointestinal disorder usually accompanied by explosive diarrhea; given his young age and the fact that the family was very poor and living in a rural area, dehydration was probably a large factor in his death. He had contracted the disorder twelve days before his death at the age of 2 years, 4 months and 27 days. His mother would never say what exactly had caused little Leroy's death and would say only that he "ate too much watermelon".6,5,7 George William Sprong provided the information necessary to complete the death certificate for Leroy Cecil Sprong, his son.7 George William Sprong attended the memorial service for Leroy Cecil Sprong at the home of Henry Kershner in Hutchinson, Kansas, in September 1913. It was to Mr. Ford's home that Leroy had been taken when he first fell ill the week before. A funeral service was preached by Rev. K. F. Nance, although the remains were taken to Leavenworth for interment..6 George William Sprong witnessed the marriage of Dr. Aaron Alfred Sprong and Elene Ensign on 2 December 1933 at the home of Elene's aunt Lillie Brown in Lawrence, Kansas.8,9,10 On 11 December 1933 George was mentioned by Carrie in a letter addressed to Dr. Aaron Alfred Sprong. Carrie, his older sister, described the family's feelings towards him as "we all thought George was about right--he was our baby there at home and all of us made a great pet of him."11 A golden wedding anniversary party (planned by Aaron & Elene Sprong, their son and daughter-in-law) was held on the farm for George & Nora. The party was an open house between 2 and 5 p.m. on Sunday, 3 October 1954, and was announced in the local newspaper. Marilyn, about 16 at the time, was in charge of the guest book; Cynthia was also there, although apparently not in charge of anything.12,13 On 11 December 1958 George died in Round Prairie, at age 77, leaving Eva a widow.14,15 George William Sprong was buried in Kansas, Sunset Memory Gardens, High Prairie.16 |
Citations
Appears on charts:
Pedigree for Cynthia Lee Sprong
Jan Sprong, son of Gabriel Sprong and Gertrude/Gertruyd Dirksen Woartman, was born on 27 November 1692 in Bushwick, New York.
Jan Sprong married Elizabeth (--?--). Jan Sprong died circa 1725/26. |
Appears on charts:
Pedigree for Cynthia Lee Sprong
John Sprong, son of Garrett Sprong and Sarah (--?--), was born on 12 January 1759 in Egg Harbor, New Jersey.1 |
Citations
Appears on charts:
Descendant Chart for David Henry Sprong
John Grable Sprong was an interior decorator.1 During World War II, John served as an ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserves.1 John Grable Sprong died circa 1997. |
Citations
Appears on charts:
Descendant Chart for David Henry Sprong
In a letter written by Dr. Aaron Alfred Sprong to his cousin Lucille, he wrote the following about the years spent in Hutchinson and his brother's death: I do remember poorly [the] ride from Hutchinson area up to North east Kansas early on spring (date unknown), rode in sort of covered wagon, with some kind of canvas over so snow and rain would not come in too bad. There was hay on bottom of wagon with some kind of covers or blankets to keep us warm: would stop along side of road so team (horses) could eat some grass (have no idea of route now) and some did some cooking on some kind of stove. First few days we ate some things she [Aaron's mother] had prepared before we left Sandhills in Reno County. All I remember about Sandhills were small hills of sand, with an infinite amount of sandburrs, crickets, and grasshoppers. It seemed to me I was always sitting on prickly sandburs and pulling them off my clothes socks etc. cause darm things did hurt and irritate your skin. Folks just starved out all Dad could do was raise watermelons, and then peddle them on streets of Hutchinson. It was a sad & rough time for Mom and Dad. You can't make any money peddling watermelons. Also, Roy my brother got sick (due to watermelon Mom said??) and died while we were living out on the Sandhills, northwest of Hutchinson. I have never known for sure what happened--just what did he have exactly? Never will know. I tried quizzing Mom a few times and tears would start coming and she wouldn't say anything. Do remember Dad coming home one p.m. and she asked him where is Roy? Dad told her (they had taken him to Doctor day before) he was gone and she started crying immediately. You know I am not sure where he was buried to this day--Believe it was Round Prairie Cemetery.3 On 18 September 1913 Leroy died at the home of Henry Kershner in Hutchinson, Kansas, at age 2 of colitis, which is a gastrointestinal disorder usually accompanied by explosive diarrhea; given his young age and the fact that the family was very poor and living in a rural area, dehydration was probably a large factor in his death. He had contracted the disorder twelve days before his death. His mother would never say what exactly had caused little Leroy's death and would say only that he "ate too much watermelon".1,3,2 A memorial service was held at the home of Henry Kershner in Hutchinson, Kansas, in September 1913. It was to Mr. Ford's home that Leroy had been taken when he first fell ill the week before. A funeral service was preached by Rev. K. F. Nance, although the remains were taken to Leavenworth for interment..1 Leroy Cecil Sprong was buried in September 1913 in Leavenworth, Kansas, in either Round Prairie Cemetery or Sunset Gardens.4 |
Citations
Please contact me if you wish to share or correct information. I would be delighted to hear from you.
Compiler:
Elizabeth Churchett
Austin, Texas
This page was created by John Cardinal's Second Site v1.8.6.
Site updated on 8 August 2005 at 11:08:56 PM