Portrait of James Sprunt.
James Sprunt (1846-1924) was born in Glasgow, Scotland. His family moved to Duplin County, NC in 1852, and then two years later to Wilmington, NC. During the Civil War, Sprunt was involved in blockade running from Wilmington to the Caribbean and Bermuda and was captured at one point. At the conclusion of the war, James and his father founded Alexander Sprunt & Son, a successful cotton exporting firm.
Sprunt was an acknowledged authority on the history of the Lower Cape Fear region, authoring several books. He was also a well-known civic leader in the community. He married Luola Murchison, daughter of Colonel Kenneth Murchison. After the death of his father-in-law, Sprunt purchased Orton Plantation from the estate for his wife and the couple also lived for a period of time at the Governor Dudley Mansion. Sprunt is buried in Oakdale Cemetery.
Sprunt, James, 1846-1924; Blockade; Cotton trade; Local history
Fisher, R.H. Biographical Sketches of Wilmington Citizens. Wilmington: Wilmington Stamp and Printing Company, 1929. 50.
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