Isaac W. Sprague

Isaac W. Sprague (May 21, 1841 – January 5, 1887) was an American entertainer and sideshow performer, billed as the living human skeleton. Early life He was born on May 21, 1841, in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

Career

During early adulthood, Sprague worked as a cobbler for his father and later as a grocer. As his illness progressed, however, he became too weak to continue either occupation. After the deaths of his parents, he was unable to find enough work to support himself and was left unemployed. The following year, in 1866, at age 25, P. T. Barnum hired him to perform at Barnum's American Museum. Barnum paid Sprague $80 a week (equivalent to $ today). After taking time away from exhibition to marry Tamar Moore, Sprague attempted to leave the sideshow business. Financial hardship and his illness prevented him from finding other employment, and he later resumed touring throughout the United States, Canada and England. Marriage and family Sprague married Tamar Moore shortly after 1868 and the couple had three sons, all of whom grew up to be healthy and physically normal. Sprague found happiness in his family, stating "Life, that had at times seemed so little worth preserving, now seemed more precious."

Death He died on January 5, 1887, in poverty, of asphyxia in Chicago, Illinois.