Josephus Clark Sproat

Josephus Clark Sproat was born on a farm in Dorr township, Allegan county, Mich., in 1863, during the dark days of the great conflict that threatened the life of the nation. His parents were hardy pioneer settlers who reared a family of twelve—eight sons and four daughters. (The father, Robert Sproat, now seventy-nine years old, resides with the subject of this sketch and is as young as most men at fifty.)

Josephus Clark Sproat’s youth was spent working on the farm in summer and attend-

ing district school in winter. He appreciated the advantages of education and made the most of his opportunities, but it was not until the age of nineteen that he had the benefit of the city schools. He came to the city in 1880 and managed by strict economy to take a course in the late Prof. Swensberg’s Grand Rapids Business college, after which he secured a position as office boy and assistant bookkeeper for the Grand Rapids Democrat,

and with the exception of two short intervals, has been actively connected with the management of the paper for the past nineteen years. His success and advancement from the position of bookkeeper to that of one which gives him the general management and control of the paper is due to his positive nature and persistent energy, his loyalty to friends and aggressive methods enabling him to advance under adverse circumstance, in the face of strong competition. Taking the Democrat when its affairs were in a deplorably complicated condition he has more than doubled its circulation and given it a better standing and reputation in the city and state than it ever before enjoyed.

Contributor: Barb Jones