NOBLE COUNTY OHIO BIO'SPRIGGS,Benjamin 1887
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>From the 
The Ohio Biographies Project
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~usbios/Ohio/mnpg.html
a part of
The U.S. Biographies Project
http://members.tripod.com/~debmurray/usbios/usbiog.html


HON. BENJAMIN F. SPRIGGS, for many years a 
prominent lawyer of Noble County, died at
his residence in Sarahsville, January 17, 1879. 
He was born in Washington County, Pa., in
1828, and in 1844 came with his parents to Guernsey 
County. At the formation of Noble County
in 1854, he lived in that part of Guernsey which was 
annexed to the new county. Mr. Spriggs
taught school in early life, studying law in his spare 
time. In 1851 he served as deputy clerk of
courts in Noble County. He was also one of the school 
examiners. He was admitted to the bar in
1854, and soon rose to prominence in his profession. 
Starting as an old-school Democrat, he
soon became a leader in the then Democratic party in 
the county. For some years he was editor
of the Democratic Courier, published at Sarahsville. 
In 1858 he was nominated for Congress,
and was defeated by only a few votes. In 1871, he 
was nominated for representative to the
legislature, David McGarry being his opponent. A 
very spirited campaign ensued, resulting in a
tie vote. A new election being ordered. Mr. Spriggs 
was elected by a considerable majority. He
took an active part in local and national politics, 
and was one of the most effective and earnest
workers for his party in the county. In 1876 he 
was a delegate to the St. Louis convention, which
nominated Samuel J. Tilden for the presidency. 
During the war he was a member of the military
committee of the county. He was good lawyer, 
quick in debate, and a fluent talker. He was
warm in his friendship, and, though always an 
earnest partisan, he retained the respect and good
will of his political adversaries, and was esteemed as a citizen.

History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins 
& Co. of Chicago 1887
The Legal Profession