Henry W. Spradley
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Henry William Spradley was born on June 6, 1830 in Frederick County Virginia. Both of his parents were slaves. He was sold to James Jones, another slaveholder in the same county. He maried Jemima Williams, a slave owned by Col. John McGill, in 1858. At the outbreak of the war, Spradley was sent to care for wounded Confederate soldiers. He escaped and enlisted in the Union army in 1863. He moved for a brief period following the Civil war to Greencastle, Maryland, before relocating to Carlisle. He worked until 1879 as a stone mason.
He began to work for the college as the janitor of the Dickinson Grammar School. Within a short period of time, he was in charge of the entirety of West College, which he held until his death. "While humble and modest, he was enthusiastic for anything that would promote the interests of the students whom he loved to serve."[1] |
Henry Spradley. Courtesy of Colin Macfarlane and Dickinson College Archives. (Digital Photo Collection.)
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According to an article in the Dickinsonian, he was referred to as "the king of West College" and "Prof. Spradley." The article describes him as "always jovial always good-natured, always politve. Nature has dubbed him a gentleman...you will find Spradley every time, zealous, enthousiastic, and deadly in earnest. Observe him in his duties about College, industrius, obliging, honest. Incapable of being bribed." [2]
In addition to serving as the janitor of Dickinson College, he was an active member in the community. He was member of the A.M.E. Church on West Street and had served as the Superintendent of the Sabbath School. He also filled many official positions within his church.[3]
He and his wife had three children: William, Elizabeth, and Shirley.Upon his death, many of the other janitors as well as friend Noah Pinkney were pall bearers at his funeral. He died on April 8, 1897 and was buried in the Lincoln Cemetery in Carlisle.
In addition to serving as the janitor of Dickinson College, he was an active member in the community. He was member of the A.M.E. Church on West Street and had served as the Superintendent of the Sabbath School. He also filled many official positions within his church.[3]
He and his wife had three children: William, Elizabeth, and Shirley.Upon his death, many of the other janitors as well as friend Noah Pinkney were pall bearers at his funeral. He died on April 8, 1897 and was buried in the Lincoln Cemetery in Carlisle.
Depiction of "The Janitor" in the 1881 Minutal. Courtesy of the Dickinson College Archives.
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Portrait of Henry Spradley circa 1880. Courtesy of Colin Macfarlane's documentary and the Dickinson College Archives.
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IdentityThe image of Spradley to the left is assumed to be dated as 1893. Because he was 60 in 1893, the date must be incorrect because he looks too young in the picture to fit that age. The image to the far left is a depiction of "The Janitor" that appeared in the 1881 Minutal. Based on how similar the portraits are (from the facial features, fabric creases, and general pose), it is likely that the sketch is based off of this portrait. However, because the sketch was published in the 1881 Minutal, the picture must be dated sometime before that. However, because he did not move to Carlisle until the 1860s, which is where the print's frame says it was taken, this image must have been taken between the mid 1860s and 1881 when the Minutal was published. This window of time it could have been taken can further be shortened when considering that he was a stone mason until 1879, and the outfit he is wearing is one that the janitors of Dickinson College were required to wear. Therefore, this image must have been taken between his hiring at the college in the 1879 and the drawing of the sketch in 1881.
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Lincoln CemeteryColin Macfarlane created a documentary on Henry Spradley and the Carlisle Lincoln Cemetery. Both Henry Spradley and Noah Pinkney were buried in the Lincoln Cemetery. The headstones have since been moved to clear space for a park. All that remains is a plaque marking the site of the cemetery.
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"Henry W. Spradley, Citizen" by Colin Macfarlane.
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Sources
[1] "Death of Henry W. Spradley," The Dickinsonian, April 17, 1897, vol. 1, no. 24, Dickinson College Archives.
[2] "There He Goes," The Dickinsonian, March 1883, vol. 10, no. 6, Dickinson College Archives.
[3] "Death of Henry W. Spradley," The Dickinsonian, April 17, 1897, vol. 1, no. 24, Dickinson College Archives.
[2] "There He Goes," The Dickinsonian, March 1883, vol. 10, no. 6, Dickinson College Archives.
[3] "Death of Henry W. Spradley," The Dickinsonian, April 17, 1897, vol. 1, no. 24, Dickinson College Archives.
