From Biographical Memoirs of Huntington County, 1901, pages 546-549

  Back to stanch old Scotch-Irish stock does Dr. Sprowl trace his lineage, and that in his
  character abide the sterling qualities which have ever marked the true types of those two
  invincible races will be manifest when we come to consider the more salient points in his
  career.

  William Sprowl, the doctor's grandfather, came to America from Ireland as a soldier in the
  British army, and took part in the battle of Quebec during the French and Indian war. After this
  battle he was left to do guard duty in that city, where he continued until the expiration of his
  period of enlistment. Instead of returning to his native country he concluded to remain in
  America, and some time after receiving his discharge he went to Norfolk, Virginia, thence a
  little later to the town of Lexington in the same state. There he met and married Elizabeth Lusk,
  and within a few years became a large land owner, purchasing a tract of three hundred acres
  in the bend of the James river, and entered upon the duties of farm life.

  William and Elizabeth Sprowl were blessed with a family of ten children, five sons and five
  daughters, one of the sons, Joseph, marrying, on the 14th day of April, 1814, Miss Jennie
  Armstrong. In October of the same year this couple took up their residence in Preble county,
  Ohio, and in 1834 moved to the new and sparsely settled region of Huntington county, Indiana,
  located near the site of Lancaster in the township of the same name. They were the first
  permanent settlers in that part of the county, and did much toward developing the country and
  inducing other families to locate in the same neighborhood. They had a family of eight children,
  one of whom, Robert by name, married, August 1,1849, Hannah Shaffer, a daughter of John C.
  and Sarah Shaffer. Philip Shaffer, grandfather of John C., was a native of Rockingham county,
  Virginia, and there married Elizabeth Stonebraker, by whom he had two children, John and
  Sarah. He immigrated to Ohio as early as the year 1816, settling in the county of Preble, being
  one of the forerunners of civilization to that part of the state. While living in Virginia he became
  a large slaveholder, but becoming convinced that ownership in human flesh was contrary to
  the law of God and the best instincts of man he liberated his slaves and sought a home where
  such an unholy traffic would not be tolerated. John C. Shaffer and family settled in Franklin
  county, Indiana, at an early day, and about 1837 moved to Salamonie township, Huntington
  county, and settled in the vicinity of Warren. He erected the first house in that town (1838), and
  for some years was one of its active citizens and progressive men.

  To Robert and Hannah Sprowl were born eight children, of whom there are living at the
  present time: Dr. John S., whose name introduces this review; George M.; and Jennie, widow
  of the late Prof. Francis Huff, formerly superintendent of the Huntington county schools, who
  met his death by falling from the upper story of a building in Elwood while arranging his charts
  preparatory to giving a lecture to an assemblage of teachers.

  Dr. John Sprowl was born in Salamonie towship April 14, 1850. On his father's farm and in the
  store he spent the days of his boyhood and youth, assisting in the labors of the field during the
  summer months, while in winter seasons he pursued his studies in the district schools of the
  neighborhood. His progress was rapid, and while still young he was sufficiently advanced to
  procure a teacher's license, and for several years he instructed the youth of his and other
  townships in the mysteries of the common branches. From an early age the medical profession
  had for him peculiar attractions, and while a youth in his father's drug store he decided to make
  it his life work. At the age of seventeen he began a course of private study, which continued
  two years, and then entered the medical department of the University of Michigan, from which
  he was graduated with a creditable record in March, 1872.

  Dr. Sprowl began the practice of his profession immediately thereafter at the town of Warren,
  where his well-known ability and close attention soon brought him to the favorable notice of the
  public, with the result of a well paying business. Later he became associated with Dr. Jonas J.
  Good, who continued his partner until retiring from the practice in 1889, and afterward formed
  a similar alliance with Charles H. Good, son of Dr. Jonas Good, which covered a period of five
  years duration.

  The firm of Good & Sprowl did an extensive and very lucrative practice throughout Huntington
  and adjoining counties, and established a reputation which caused their names to be known
  far beyond the limits of their sphere of service. In 1880 the Doctor attended a course of
  lectures at Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York city, with the object of better
  acquainting himself with certain technical points of the profession and to get himself in touch
  with the latest research in medical science. Not content with the knowledge thus gained, he
  took a post-graduate course in the Chicago University in 1888, and with a mind greatly
  strengthened and enlarged he resumed practice with the most gratifying results. In 1893 the
  Doctor again went to Chicago, where he took a course under some of the most renowned and
  distinguished professors of the United States, graduating the following year; he then took
  charge of the large sanitarium and hospital for the treatment of nervous diseases and the
  liquor and opium habits at Portland, Maine. He remained at the head of that well-known
  institution until the summer of 1895, when he resigned the position, and, returning to Warren,
  resumed the general practice, which he has since successfully carried on. This practice
  reaches into Grant, Wells and Huntington counties, and he has the most extensive practice of
  any physician in this part of the state, the people giving him the name of the busy doctor.

  Dr. Sprowl holds membership in the various county medical societies, and also belongs to the
  state society and to the American Medical Association. At this time he is medical examiner of
  the Manhattan, Etna, Equitable, Northwestern, Union Central, Mutual Life of New Jersey,
  Mutual Life of Massachusetts, Mutual Life of New York, and various other life insurance
  companies, in all of which his duties have been ably and conscientiously performed.

  Devoted to the noble and humane work of alleviating human suffering, Dr. Sprowl has been
  faithful to his calling, and to-day occupies a conspicuous place among the eminent men of the
  profession in the northern part of the state. He has met with pronounced success
  professionally, and enjoys a fair and lucrative practice.

  Fraternally he is a Mason of high standing, belonging to King Lodge, No. 246, Warren, in
  which he has held all offices within the gift of the orgaization, besides representing it at
  different times in the grand lodge of the state. He has taken a number of degrees, including
  that of Sir Knight; for many years he was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows,
  of Warren, but is not in full membership at the present time. He holds membership with the
  Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and helped to institute the lodges at Anderson and
  Muncie.

  In his political views Dr. Sprowl has long been a stalwart Democrat, and does all in his power
  to promote the growth and insure the success of the party. While not a partisan in the sense of
  seeking office, he was induced by his many friends in 1900 to permit his name to head the
  ticket for representative. Unable to overcome the overwhelming majority of the opposition, he
  nevertheless made a brilliant canvass and ran far ahead of the majority of the men composing
  the ticket.

  In connection with his practice Dr. Sprowl for many years carried on a successful drug
  business in Warren, his work in a drug store while a boy being really the beginning of his
  professional career. His father was a druggist for thirty-five years, and it was under his careful
  and judicious instruction that the Doctor received his first instinctive knowledge in the work
  which has made him what he is to-day.

  On the 10th day of April, 1880, Dr. Sprowl and Miss Mary L. Good, daughter of Dr. Jonas J.
  and Margaret Good, were united in the bonds of holy wedlock. Three children have resulted
  from this union, two living, namely: Fred and Raymond, aged sixteen and fourteen years,
  respectively. Mrs. Sprowl, like her husband, is an active worker in Masonic circles, being a
  prominent member of the Eastern Star lodge at Warren, in which she has held various official
  stations, being at the present time associate matron. She is also a member of the Rebekah
  degree, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, which she has represented in the grand lodge,
  besides holding an office in the local organization. In religion she is a Methodist, while the
  Doctor subscribes to the teachings of the Christian or Disciples church.

  Robert Sprowl, the Doctor's father, was a man of local note, and for many years intimately
  associated with the material growth and prosperity of Warren and Huntington county. He was
  identified with the mercantile interests of the town for nearly forty years, and during the
  administration of Presidents Buchanan and Johnson served as its postmaster. He was one of
  the Democratic leaders of Huntington county and held strong views upon all political questions,
  which he had the courage to defend whenever it became necessary to do so. As a pioneer of
  Warren and Salamonie townships he naturally took the lead in all affairs calculated to promote
  the improvement of the county, and to him is due much of the prosperity which it to-day enjoys.

  He was a faithful member of the Christian church, and remained true to his profession as an
  humble and devout follower of Nazarene until his death, which occurred in February, 1899. His
  wife, Hannah Sprowl, who is still living at an advanced age, is a woman of many sterling traits
  of character, widely known and highly respected by a large circle of friends in Warren and
  throughout the surrounding country.