The first issue I ever saw of “Sprague’s Journal of Maine History” was, no doubt, the August 1916 issue that marked Guilford’s centennial. It belonged to my grandmother, Ione Bennett Moore.

There in its pages was genealogical information on some of Guilford’s earliest settlers, including Isaac, John and Nathaniel Bennett.

I was thrilled to read it, and over the years I purchased a dozen or so of the quarterlies published by John Francis Sprague between 1913 and 1926.

And recently I purchased 28 more issues from the L.C. Bates Museum in Hinckley, which still has many individual copies for sale – right from Sprague’s estate. More about that in a minute.

Sprague was quite the guy. Despite only two years of formal schooling, he became a self-educated lawyer, a writer and newspaper editor, a land speculator, an environmentalist and respected member of the Maine Legislature. As far back as 1893, Sprague came out in favor of giving women the right to vote.

He wrote papers and books, he was president of the Sons of the American Revolution in Maine, and in 1918 he gave a talk on Gen. Henry Knox that drew 200 people. Imagine that.

As for Sprague’s Journal, it included over the years more than 300 family genealogies, and some 31 articles on American Indians. One item was the transcription of a letter from an Old Town woman, Mrs. Peter Nicolar, in 1921 to Gov. Percival Baxter, asking that Indian women be given the right to vote in all tribal meetings.

“Local attorney advises that we always had the right to vote and that the agent cannot refuse to accept our votes at election time and sort and count the same, as provided by statute,” she wrote.

Sangerville and Dover also were the subject of centennial books, but Piscataquis County wasn’t Sprague’s only interest.

He was fascinated with Baron de Saint Castine, Father Sebastian Rale and Father Pierre Biard, superior of the Jesuits on Mount Desert Island.

His publication offered everything from vital records and history to cemetery records and biographies. He serialized Charles Flagg’s alphabetical index of Revolutionary pensioners in Maine, then printed it separately as a book in 1920.

Purchasing all of the issues of Sprague’s Journal – presuming one could find them – would be quite expensive. I saw a set on the Internet for $1,500.

Those interested in owning the entire set, with every-name index, will want to know that Sprague’s Journal is available on CD for $85 plus tax and shipping from Picton Press in Rockport at www.pictonpress.com.

But you also may be interested, as I was, in having some of the individual issues with their genealogical and historical articles.

The L.C. Bates Museum at Good Will-Hinckley still has a good variety of these because in 1926 Sprague, who never married and had no children, left his estate to the school – which was always dear to his heart.

A regular issue of the quarterly is $10, plus $2 if you want it mailed. Later issues are more plentiful than early copies, and the museum does not have full sets available. Special books, such as the hardbound Sangerville centennial, cost significantly more, of course.

You can peruse Sprague’s Journal at many local libraries and see what issues might interest you. Then inquire of Deborah Staber at the museum whether they still have the ones you want by e-mailing lcbates@gwh.org or writing L.C. Bates Museum at GWH, Box 159 Hinckley, ME 04955.

A fascinating booklet on Sprague is “John Francis Sprague: Chronicler of Maine History,” by Marius B. Peladeau, written for the museum in Hinckley in 1998. It is available for $10 plus postage.

If you want to save postage by picking up issues you purchase, call the museum ahead of time at 238-4250. The campus is easy to find on Route 201 between Fairfield and Skowhegan. You can see the museum when you go, but keep in mind it is not heated during the winter. I plan to go back in the spring for a longer visit.

For information about Good Will-Hinckley and the L.C. Bates Museum, visit www.gwh.org.

3391. BROCKWAY. Have been given family Bible for Harry Brockway and wife Almira Dorr, a Sangerville-Dover family. Harry died Dec. 4, 1899, and Almira died June 18, 1884. They were married May 3, 1851, by the Rev. David Higgins. Bible not in good condition. Will send family records for return postage and manila envelope. Connee Jellison, Apt. 1, Malvern-Belmont, 80 Mount Desert St., Bar Harbor, ME 04609.

3392. WHITNEY. Need information on Benjamin David Whitney, who served in Civil War and is said to at one time have been in Aurora. In 1870 census, he was in Readfield. Appreciate clues or info. Larry Tracey, 22 Whitten Hill Road, Kennebunkport, ME 04046.

Send genealogy queries to Family Ties, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402; or familyti@bangordailynews.net.