Silas C. Sprunger
| Silas Cleophas Sprunger | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
June 17, 1898 Farm near Kidron, Ohio |
| Died |
July 12, 1956 Farm near New Bedford, Coshocton County, Ohio |
Cause of death | Suicide |
Spelling Variations
Surnames
Given Names or Nicknames
- Cy Sprunger
Biographical Sketches
Silas Cleophas Sprunger, known as Cy to most everyone, acquired and developed the Kidron Auction into the established agricultural sales company that it is to this day when he bought an auction block for $5 from a sales company which operated an auction from time to time in Kidron, Ohio in 1923. Because of his pioneering work in auction organization and livestock marketing the Kidron Auction became the the best-known auction sale in the area and state of Ohio. Silas Sprunger was listed in the "Who's Who" in Mid-Western United States and his activities were the subject of stories on both radio and television's, The Ohio Story, program.
Sprunger was born June 17, 1898, on a farm two-and-half miles west of Kidron, Ohio and lived all his life near that community as an auctioneer and realtor. He started to work on the farm at age six, by milking cows. He stayed on the family farm until 1920, when he took a job at the Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station at Wooster, Ohio in the dairy department. From 1923 to 1930 he worked part-time in the E. P. Gerber Lumber and Hardware Store at Kidron.[1]
His formal education included three semesters in the academy at Bluffton College, a correspondence course from the American Auction College at Davenport, Iowa, and in 1929, graduation from Repperts School of Auctioneering.[2]
On July 12, 1956 Kidron area residents were saddened and perplexed by the sudden and unexpected death of Silas C. Sprunger when he took is own life in the woods on his 120-acre farm in Coshocton County, Ohio, near New Bedford. When he did not show up at his sales barn in Kidron all day a search was authorized and organized by the Coshocton County Sheriff, who called a group of local Boy Scouts to help comb a wooded area. It was the Boy Scouts who found Mr. Sprunger's body at 11:55AM under a tree in a near sitting position with a bullet wound to his right temple and a .38 caliber revolver gun laying between his legs. The Coshocton County Coroner ruled the death a suicide and a 12-page note found in Sprunger's pocket confirmed the ruling.
Sprunger had been reported by a family spokesperson to be in a state of mental depression prior to his death and had convinced himself he was suffering from cancer, though this had never been confirmed by a doctor. He had been scheduled to go to the Cleveland Hospital for a complete physical exam and observation but died before the scheduled appointment on July 17, 1956.
His estate was valued at over $200,000 according to the inventory and will filed in Wayne County Probate Court. Personal property was estimated at $80,000. Real estate was placed at $130,000 and annual rentals at $1,000. His house and lot in Kidron were left to Mrs. Helen Sprunger, and were not to be sold before the youngest child reached the age of 21. The real estate, equipment, buildings, chattels and farm, principally the Kidron Auction property, was left in trust to his brothers, Harvey and Earl Sprunger, and Russell Beals, his secretary. His children were to have an opportunity to lease the auction. Then, Earl Sprunger and Russell Beals had first option.
Family
List the husband, wife and children of the family. Include the childrens' maiden name in parentheses followed by the married name(s). If more information is known on the wife and children, a new page should be created.
- Husband: Silas C. Sprunger
- Wife: Helen Sprunger
- Children:
- John Earl Sprunger
- Walter Frederick Sprunger
- Donna Belle (Sprunger)
Vital Records
Birth
- June 17, 1898
Marriage
- Helen
Death
- July 12, 1956
Burial
- Salem Mennonite Church Cemetery
Census Records
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Places of Residence
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Court Records
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Tax Records
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Land Records
- 120-acre farm in Coshocton County, Ohio.
Denomination Affiliations
- Member Salem Mennonite Church
Military
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Occupations
- Farmer
- Auctioneer
- Owner of Kidron Auction
Business letterheads
Letterhead from Silas C. Sprunger dated 1955.
Community Involvement
- Served as President of the Auciton Sales Association, Inc. from 1939-1945
- Secretary of the Auctioneers Association of Ohio from 1942-1945
- Promoted the building of a softball field in Kidron
- Headed construction of a pool for water for fire protection in Kidron
Awards and Recognition
- Listed in the "Who's Who" in Mid-Western United States
Notes
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References