JOSEPH M. SPRIGGS, a leading merchant in the borough of Washington, is a native of the same, having been born on Chestnut street April 26, 1831. His grandfather, Joseph Spriggs, came in an early day from New Jersey to Washington county and settled in Canton township, where he followed agricultural pursuits. He died in West Virginia at the age of seventy-five years, the father of seven children, all of whom are deceased. James Spriggs, one of these children, was born in Washington county February 14, 1801, and reared on his father's farm, attending in his boyhood the subscription schools of his district, which in those early days were of a somewhat primitive character. He held the office of constable eleven years; was sheriff one term (1837-'40), register of wills one term (1812-'45), and was assistant burgess at the time of his death, August 6, 1854, which was caused by falling on his head when jumping out of a wagon, death ensuing a few days afterward. His widow, who was a daughter of David and Elizabeth Boyce, and was born in Washington county January 6, 1805, died June 14, 1876, at the age of seventy-one years. They had a family of ten children, all of whom died young except one daughter, Mary Ann (married to Dr. R. W. Davis, of Washington), and our subject, the latter being now the only survivor. Mrs. Davis died in 1869, the mother of three children, two of whom are living.
Joseph M. Spriggs, whose name appears at the opening of this biographical sketch, attended the common schools of Washington and Washington College, and when yet a boy commenced clerking in William Duvall's grocery store, a line of trade in which he has ever since continued, with some slight interruption, in the city of his birth. In 1854 he embarked in business for himself in the building nearly opposite where he now is, and there remained seventeen years. He was a year out of business, and in 1886 he erected his present three-story building, equipped with all modern improvements, including an elevator, and here, under the firm of Joseph M. Spriggs & Sons, he has since been engaged in a large and increasing business, comprising general grocery, hardware, feed, etc., the largest of the kind in Washington. In May, 1891, he commenced a grain elevator business in the city, which is in charge of his son, Charles H. In 1854 Mr. Spriggs was married to Margaret, daughter of James Donahoe, of the village of Cross Creek, in this county, whose family were among the early pioneers of the county. James Donahoe was born in 1801, and died in Cross Creek in 1872. For thirty years he was a justice of the peace; was commissioner two terms, and at one time was in the State Legislature, representing Washington county. His widow is now a resident of New Cumberland, W. Va.
To Mr. and Mrs. Spriggs were born eight children, of whom the following is a brief record: James D. is a Presbyterian minister at South Lyon, Mich. (he married Annie Wilson, of Fayette county); Mary Eliza died in infancy; Charles H. lives in Washington, Penn. (married Alice Hallam, and has three children); William died in infancy; Joseph B. is married to a daughter of Joshua Wright and resides in Washington; Margaret died in 1891 at the age of twenty-two years; George D. died in infancy; John M. is still at home. On February 2, 1888, the mother passed through the "golden gates" at the age of fifty years, and on October 16, 1889, Mr. Spriggs married Margaret A. Seaman, daughter of Alexander Seaman (deceased), who for many years was one of the leading grocerymen of Washington. Mr. Spriggs is a Republican in politics, and in church connection has for forty years been a member of the M. E. Church, of which he is at present steward.
Text taken from page 982 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed March 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]