Russell and the son-in-law of Frederick Douglass

Nathan H. Sprague's (above) principal claim to notability has been his status as son-in-law of Frederick Douglass (left), famed abolitionist, orator, writer and statesman.

Like Douglass, Nathan was born into slavery in Maryland. At the onset of the Civil War he escaped to Washington, D.C., and made his way north to Rochester, New York. There, on Christmas Eve 1863 he married Rosetta Douglass, the accomplished daughter of Frederick and Anna.

Historians have not been kind to Nathan, dismissing him as a business failure who lived in the shadow of his brilliant wife, a noted teacher and activist herself, and father-in-law.

Unlike his accomplished in-laws, Nathan was illiterate and lacking in skills when he joined the family, then enlisted in the U.S. Army as the war continued. And he never was able to overcome that disadvantage. But the couple remained devoted to each other for the remainder of their lives, despite his financial ups and downs.

And he continued to look upon a Lucas Countyan --- Lucien A. Butts, of Russell --- as one of his principal mentors. During March of 1896, 30 years after the war had ended, Nathan disembarked from a passenger car at the Russell depot to spend a few days with the Butts family --- a visit reported upon briefly by all three Chariton newspapers. Here's the report from The Democrat of March 6:

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 L. A. Butts is entertaining Mr. N. Sprague (colored) of Washington, D.C. Mr. Sprague was born and reared in slavery and was assisted by Mr. Butts in gaining his liberty during the war. He came north and settled in Rochester, New York, and there married  one of the daughters of Frederick Douglass, the celebrated negro orator. Mr. Sprague, who is a refined and well appearing gentleman, is now a prosperous real estate and loan agent in the capital city; but in his prosperity he does not forget the man who aided him in getting his freedom.

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During the week that followed, Mr. Butts submitted a letter to the editor of The Chariton Patriot clarifying the role he had played in Mr. Sprague's life and adding some fascinating detail, as follows:

Russell, Iowa, Mar. 9, 1896

Ed..Patriot: Dear Sir --- The visit I received from Mr. N. Sprague of Washington, D.C., having been noticed in your paper last week, it seems proper to correct some mistakes of your correspondent, and also to give some facts not stated, which are very creditable to Mr. Sprague and likely to be interesting.

It is true, Mr. Sprague was a slave before the war, but only in a very modified sense does he owe his freedom to me. The 85th New York Volunteers, in which I was a lieutenant, was stationed from Jan. 1st to the last of March 1862 in Washington City, and Mr. Sprague came to our camp just before we left for the Chickahominy campaign. He had escaped from his master's place, about 12 miles out of Washington, but I did not then know where he came from. I hired him for my servant and he was with me until the battle of Fair Oaks, in which we became separated, and being unable to get back to me, was put to work driving an army wagon. I found him after the seven days fight, and by his request procured his release from the division quartermaster, and he came to me at Harrison's Landing. During the movement to Harrison's Landing he had narrowly escaped capture, and he had known of some of the colored boys who had followed the army being returned to their masters (the policy then), and after being back with me a short time he asked me to help him to get north with a northern colored boy who was going back.

I got a pass for him, and our commissary sergeant sent him to his father at Angelica, N.Y. He staid there until the spring of 1863, when he went to Rochester. Hunting there for work, he was sent to Mr. Frederick Douglass as likely to help him. Mr. Douglass set him to work for himself, and was so well pleased with his work and his conduct, and his saving his wages, and as Mr. Sprague says, by the attention he paid to the advice I gave in my letters to him, that he encouraged his daughter to become his teacher.

I received several letters written for him by her, and finally one written by himself, all of which I answered and have preserved with others received since. Teacher and scholar, with Mr. Douglass' consent, were soon married shortly after. Mr. Sprague enlisted in the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, the first colored regiment to take the field and which under the gallant Col. Shaw at Fort Wagner had the dearly bought honor of proving that the colored soldiers would fight. The fact the 54th Massachusetts confirmed at Olustee, Fla., Honey Hill, Etc.

After over three years service Mr. Sprague returned to Rochester. After several years in different employments with varying fortunes, he finally removed to Washington where he has for several years been in the real estate and loan business, his old  mistress' family, among others, being his patrons. He has been successful in acquiring property, is a man of good information, address and manners, a fine example of what pluck and perseverance guided by good sense and unincumbered by bad habits can accomplish in overcoming obstacles.

His often expressed high regard for me, as the first white man who showed him true kindness and treated him as a man, and whose counsel he has profitably kept in mind, was fittingly shown by his coming from Chicago, where he had business,  on purpose to see me, as it had been shown before by urgent invitations to visit him in Washington, especially when the Grand Army Encampment was at that city, which I was reluctantly obliged to give up. I was heartily glad, after 33 years, to take him by the hand and to welcome him to my home, and hope to be able to accept his invitation to visit him in return. Respectfully, L. A. Butts.

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So far as I know, the two men never met face to face again. Nathan died 10 years later, on Jan. 23, 1907, in Washington, D.C., age 65. He is buried with the extended Douglass family in Rochester, New York.

Lucien died Dec. 30, 1911, age 85, at his home in Russell and was buried in the Russell Cemetery. Here is his obituary from The Chariton Leader of Jan. 5, 1911:

Mr. Lucien A. Butts was born in Alleghany county, New York, June 8, 1825. His mother died when he was four years old. He was educated in Alfred Academy and engaged in the mercantile business.

At the opening of the Civil War he enlisted in Company K, Eighty-fifth New York Infantry. In December, 1861, he received a commission as second lieutenant. He was in several engagements and was made first lieutenant and subsequently acted as regimental quartermaster.

He was captured and sent to Andersonville, being taken back to Macon the next day. He was removed to Savannah and later to Charleston, but on account of yellow fever was sent to Columbia, South Carolina. From this place, Mr. Butts made his escape with three others on February 6, but was recaptured with these and another party of four at Fayetteville, N. C., on March 2, and after a week's confinement was sent to Richmond, arriving there March 16. He was paroled from Libby Prison March 26, 1865, after eleven months of prison life. Mr. Butts was honorably discharged at Anapolis, Maryland.

After the war he took up residence at Ripon, Wis., and in September, 1867, came to Russell, which has since been his home. He was a charter member of Frank Nolan Post G.A.R. and was chosen as its commander in 1895.

Mr. Butts was married on Oct. 2, 1848, to Miss Margaret Young. To this union were born four children: Alice, wife of A.J. Woodman of Russell; Edward of New York, N.Y.; Charlotte of Russell; and Harry of Mexico; all of whom, with three brothers and one sister in New York state, survive to mourn their loss.

Deacon Butts had been a member of the Baptist church of Russell from its commencement and for many years has been a deacon. His quiet and consistent life had won him an honored place among his fellow members and also in the community in general.

He was on the side of right in his relations in life and has left a record of real worth. His removal takes a noble man from us, a faithful husband and father, an earnest soldier, a worthy neighbor and a devout christian.

He passed away at the advanced age of 85 years. He had been about in usual health until the last week, but his condition was not considered serious. He died at his home in Russell on Friday morning, Dec. 30th at 7:30, from heart failure. He had done his morning chores and taken his usual place in morning devotion, and when he passed away was sitting in his arm chair near the register.

Thus ends the life of one of our most honored and respected veterans. Funeral services were held at the Butts residence on Monday at 2 p.m. conducted by Rev. A. H. Stote. Interment was made in the Russell cemetery. Sympathy is extended to the sorrowing relatives in their bereavement.