SQ pg 3944: They had six children: Hoadley, Austin, Nola, Laura ,Forest, and Albert Sparks.

SQ pg 3722:

DEATH CLAIMS DEWEY COCHRAN, JR.

"It is with regret that we record the death of Dewey Cochran, Jr. whopassed away on June 12, 1990, at the Kings Daughters Hospital in Ashland,Kentucky, following a sudden illness. He is survived by his wife, Betty;a daughter, Susan; a step-daughter, Mary Beth; and three sisters,Catherine, Charlene, and Anna Belle. We extend our sympathy to themembers of his family.

"Dewey Cochrane was born on May 29, 1933, in Boyd County, Kentucky,and was a son of Dewie and Laura (see above) Belle (McKenzie) Cochrane.His maternal grandparents were Sargent Newton and Arizona (Sparks)McKenzie and his great-grandparents were Tillman and Susie E. (Murray)Sparks of Johnson County, Kentucky. His great-great-grandparents wereElisha and Susanna (Pridemore) Sparks, and hisgreat-great-great-grandparents were Thomas and Diana (Wilcox) Sparks whocame from Surry County, North Carolina, to Lawrence County, Kentucky,about 1821.

See also on the same page as her brother obituary notice (SQ pg 3722)is the following:

DEATH TAKES CATHERINE (COCHRAN) BROOKS

"It is with regret that we record the death of Catherine (Cochran)(see above) Brooks who died on November 25, 1990 , at Catlettsburg,Kentucky. She is survived by her two sisters, Anna Belle (Cochrane)Dowdy and Charlene (Cochran) Salyers. Her husband , Charles E. Brooks,died in 1988. Catherine Cochran Brooks was born on August 27, 1921, inBoyd County, Kentucky, and was a daughter of Dewie and Laura Belle(McKenzie) Cochran."

SQ pg 3404: Arlie and Juanita lived at Marlette, Michigan. He workedfor the Ford Motor Company. He and Juanita had two children: Carolineand Connie Sparks.

SQ pp. 4042-43:

"Arthur Sparks, son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Kelley) Sparks, was bornon February 17, 1743. He witnessed the inventories of the estates of hisfather and of his brother, David. He was married, apparently about 1763,to a woman named Ruth ------ and they had one child, Hester Sparks, bornabout 1764. Hester died prior to 1769. Arthur Sparks died in the earlypart of 1766, and his wife, Ruth Sparks, was appointed as hisadministrator. She presented an inventory of his estate to the QueenAnnes County Court on June 13, 1766. The estate was appraised by WilliamGould and Abner Dudley, and the total value was a little over fourteenpounds. Elizabeth Russell and Ann Reed, sisters of Arthur Sparks,attested to the appraisal of his estate as the "nearest of kin."

"Ruth Sparks, widow of Arthur, gave a final accounting of herhusband's estate to the Queen Annes County Court on April 6, 1769. Bythis time, she had remarried, and her husband, Absalom Sparks, was herco-administrator. Representatives of Arthur Sparks were his widow, RuthSparks, and their child, Hester, under age and now (1766) deceased.Thomas Graves and David Reed were sureties for Ruth and Absalom Sparks.(Absalom Sparks, who married Ruth Sparks, the widow of Arthur Sparks,was, in all probability, a first cousin of Joseph Sparks, father ofArthur. For further details of Absalom Sparks and his family, see theDecember 1974 issue of THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, Whole No. 88.)"

SQ 2783:

"Asa Clarence Sparks was born on October 4, 1888. He was married toSarah Annie Merritt on September 16, 1909. Annie (as she was called) wasborn on December 4, 1885. Asa died on November 8, 1926 , and Annie diedon January 8, 1968. They were buried at Gholson. They were members ofthe Caledonia Baptist Church. They had four children: Ruth, Bryant,Doris, and Blanche."

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY for June 1989, Whole No. 146, p. 3424 for thefollowing:

ASA HILL SPARKS DIES

"We regret to report the death of Asa Hill Sparks who passed away onFebruary 3, 1989, at his home in
Nashville, Tennessee. He was a prominent minister of the Church of theNazarene and had pastored churches in Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia,Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.

"Asa Hill Sparks was born in 1913 and was a son of Asa Garfield andMotie May (Applegate) Sparks. His branch of the Sparks family was headedby Thomas Sparks (1766-1837) who came from Surry County, North Carolina,to Lawrence County, Kentucky, about 1820. Thomas Sparks was a son ofWilliam and Ann Sparks who came to North Carolina from Frederick County,Maryland, about 1765.

"Brother Sparks (as he was called by many who knew him) is survived byhis wife, the former Pansy V. Cooper; two sons, Dr. Asa Howard Sparks andDr. Jonathan D. Sparks; and a daughter, Mrs. Martha M. Trau. We extendour smypathy to them and their families."

.

!NOTES:
SQ 3189: "Asa Virgil Sparks was born on February 26, 1878. He married
Maude E. -----. De died in 1973."

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, December 1996, Whole No. 16, pp 4744-45:

(See the family photograph of the Ashby Fairchild Sparks family takenabout 1910 on p. 4744.)

"Ashby Fairchild Sparks, son of Levi and Nancy Jane (Lawson) Sparks,was born on April 19, 1866. He was a farmer. He also taught "singingschools." (A singing school was made up of adults who subscribed totake a series of singing lessons, usually in a group in the evening at alocal church or school.) Ashby F. Sparks was married to Amanda ["Mandy"]Ann Mauk on February 4, 1892. She had been born on July 26, 1870, andwas a daughter of William and Mary America ["Meck"] (Harper) Mauk. Ashbyand Mandy lived near Stark, Kentucky, and their children attended theBunker Hill School located on Beech Branch of Little Caney Creek.

"In 1916, Ashby and Mandy sold their farm in Elliott County and boughta farm in Carter County, Kentucky, located between the villages of Adenand Gregoryville. There they raised tobacco and cattle. Mandy became alicensed midwife. They attended the Regular Baptist Church at Grahn,Kentucky.

"In 1918, the Spanish flu struck the area, and Ella May, daughter ofAshby and Mandy, died from It on October 20, 1918. Six days later, onOctober 26, 1918, Ora Lee Sparks, 13-year-old son of Ashby and Mandy,also died from the dreaded disease.

"Mandy (Mauk) Sparks died on August 18, 1937. Ashby died on April 3,1947. They were buried in the Newall Cemetery at Grahn, Kentucky. Theywere the parents of nine children."

.
!NOTES:
SQ pg 4469: They had three children: Van, Tol, and Sam Alexander.

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, June 2000, Whole No. 190, p. 5371:

Athanasious Sparks, son of Matthew and Sarah (Elmore) Sparks, was bornca. 1810 in Surry County, North Carolina. He was doubtless named for hismaternal grandfather, but, like him, he was usually called "Atha." Thereis a marriage bond recorded in Surry County dated April 12, 1836, for himto be married to Sarah ["Sally"] Brinigan. (The spelling of this name wasusually Brinegar; a Paul Brinegar was a landowner in Surry County asearly as 1809; he was 76 years old in 1850 according to the census ofthat year.) Moses Austill served as bondsman for this marriage bond.Moses Austill had been married in 1831 to Elizabeth Elmore (bond datedDecember 1, 1831). Elizabeth ["Betsey"] Elmore was a daughter ofAthanasious Elmore; she was thus a sister of Sarah (Elmore) Sparks,mother of Athanasious Sparks.

The relationship of Agatha (Augatha) Sparks to this family isspeculation. See SQ p. 5399.

.
!NOTES:
SQ pg 3398: She married a man named Collins. they lived at Sout hWebster, Ohio.

SQ 3272:

"Austin Sparks, son of Timothy and Jane (Lyon) Sparks, was born about1849 in North Carolina. He was married four times according to adescendant. His first marriage was to Mary Mitchell on July 29, 18 68,in Tazewell County, Virginia. She was born about 1847. She apparentlydied about 1871, probably at the time their second child was bornprematurely. Austin married (2nd) Hester Hankins on May 26, 1873. Shewas a daughter of
William and Polly (Mitchell) Hankins. She and Austin had four childrenbefore her death about 1878. Austin married (3rd) Sarah ---, and theyhad one child when the 1880 census was taken of Tazewell County. We havenot learned the name of the fourth wife of Austin Sparks. He had atleast six children:

(1) Joseph Sparks b. Apr 10, 1870
(2) Rebecca Jane Sparks b. Dec 17, 1871
(3) Annie Sparks b. ca. 1874
(4) Mary Sparks b. ca. 1875
(5) James William Sparks b. ca. 1876. He m. Cosby Jane Althizer.
(6) Minnie Sparks was b. ca. 1880."

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, March 1978, Whole No. 101, p. 1987:

QUERY - BAILEY SPARKS,born 1760-70

Mrs. Lemuel M. Rathbone, 16413 Fitzhugh Rd., Austin, Texas (78736) isseeking vital statistics and marriage data for Mary H., wife of MichaelF. Fields. She was born about 1813 -1815 and is believed to have been adaughter of Bailey Sparks of Carroll County, Tennessee.

Bailey Sparks, born between 1760 and 1770, who is believed to have beenthe father of Mary H. Sparks, was a son of Matthew and Sarah Sparks whomoved from Frederick County, Maryland, to the Surry-Wilkes County area ofNorth Carolina about 1758. (A sketch of the life of Matthew Sparksappeared in the QUARTERLY of June 1961, Vol. IX, No. 2, Whole No. 34, pp.556-566.) Bailey Sparks accompanied his parents to Georgia following theAmerican Revolution. By 1820 he had married and was living with hisfamily (wife, four females, probably daughters, under 10 years of age andone male also under 10, probably a son) in Humphries County, Tennessee.He was living near his brother, Isaac Sparks. By
1830 he had moved to Carroll County, Tennessee, and on the census of thatyear was called "Baily Sparks Sr." From this census record, it wouldappear that he had married a second wife by 1830 some 20 years hisjunior. Five males (probably sons) and six females (probably daughters)were enumerated in his household in 1830. He was probably the BaileySparks who obtained a land grant in Carroll County in 1846. A BaileySparks, perhaps a grandson, served in the Confederate Army during theCivil War, enlisting in Marlin Falls, Texas, in 1862 at the age of 17.

Michael F. and Mary H. (Sparks ?) Fields had the following children: (1)Bailey S. Fields, born ca.1830; (2) Sarah A. Fields, born ca.1832; (3)James A. Fields, born ca.1834; (4) Martha E. Fields, born ca. 1836; (5)Mary Fields, born ca. 1838; (6) Sidney Fields, born ca. 1840 and marriedWilliam R. Griffin; (7) Susan Isabel Fields, born 11 Oct. 1845 or 1843,married Andrew Jackson Caraway; (8) Malissa D. Fields, born 9 Sept. 1846and married John Wellington Cleveland; and (9) Daniel R. B. Fields, bornca. 1849.
In 1830 Michael Fields and wife were in Carroll County, Tennessee, but by1840 the family had moved to Carroll County, Mississippi. In 1850 theywere in Yalobusha County, Mississippi, and by the mid-1850's most oftheir children were in Gonzales County, Texas, but no record of the deathof the parents has been found. Michael Field's brother, James Fields,married Matilda Sparks in Carroll County, Mississippi, on June 9, 1838.James Fields was in Carroll County, Mississippi, when the 1840 census wastaken, then they lived briefly in Yalobusha County, andby 1850 they werein Choctaw County, Mississippi. The children of James and Matilda(Sparks) Fields listed on the 1850 census were named: (1) William B.Fields; (2) James A. Fields; (3) Daniel G. Fields; (4) Winney A. Fields;(5) Mary E. Fields; and (6)
Martha Fields. Was Miltilda Sparks who married James Fields also adaughter of Bailey Sparks?

**********

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, December 2001, Whole No. 196, pp 5605-5630, p.5610:

"Bailey Sparks, son of Matthew and Sarah Sparks, was born on May 3, 1778,in what is now Ashe County, North Carolina, but at the time of his birthit was part of Wilkes County. He died sometime after 1832 in CarrollCounty, Tennessee. He was married about 1809 to Martha Noland (alsospelled Knowland and Knowling) who was a daughter of James Noland, and asister of Wilmoth Noland, the second wife of Bailey's brother, IsaacSparks. Bailey and Martha (Noland) Sparks were the parents of elevenchildren according to census records, of whom we have been able toidentify seven. See the present issue of the QUARTERLY, beginning on page5611, for an article about Bailey Sparks and his family ."

and beginning on page 5611, the following:

Bailey Sparks (born 1778, died after 1832)

Son of Matthew and Sarah Sparks

"Bailey Sparks, the tenth child and eighth son of Matthew and SarahSparks , was born on May 3, 1778, near the present-day village ofJefferson on the New River in what, since 1799, has been Ashe County,North Carolina. At the time of his birth, however, the land on which hisparents and nine siblings were living was in Wilkes County, Wilkes havingbeen formed in 1778 from Surry County. It was not until the close of the18th Century, long after the Sparks family had moved to Georgia, that thepart "of the County of Wilkes, lying west of the extreme height of theAppalachian mountains . . . is hereby erected into a separate anddistinct county by the name of Ashe."

Matthew Sparks, Bailey's father, who seems always to have been anadventurer, had moved to this New River site in 1775 from the Forks ofthe Yadkin in what is now Davie County, North Carolina. At the time ofBailey's birth, his father was still "squatting" on a 400-acre tract thathe planned to purchase from the state of North Carolina when it shouldbecome available. Such "squatting" was a common and respected customamong pioneers on the frontier at that time. Happily for Matthew and hisfamily, he succeeded in obtaining from the Raleigh Land Office WarrantNo. 163, for this tract in the fall of the same year that Bailey was born:

Wilkes County, North Carolina. File No. 22, Warrant No. 163:
To Matthew Sparkes 400 acres on the North Side of New River
Beginning on Little Naked Creek , Running Down , Including his
Impt. 5 Nov. 1778."

The abbreviation "Impt . " was the commonly used word "Improvements , "that is, whatever Matthew and his sons had built on the tract while theyhad been "squatting" on it, a log cabin and stable, no doubt , along withsome rail fencing around a portion that they had cleared and beguncultivating .

Upon obtaining his warrant , a settler would then have his tract surveyedto establish the boundaries to enclose the number of acres authorized inthe warrant . Using a compass and a measuring chain 5.5 yards long , alsocailed a pole or rod , the surveyor would begin at the point designatedin the warrant , which usually also included the direction that he shouldproceed , mapping the distances between landmarks . A landmark might bethe boundary of a tract already surveyed, a road or path, a tree on thebank of a stream , or even a stake that the surveyor drove into theground. The surveyor was usually aided by two "chain carriers," oftenbeing young men of the neighborhood. In measuring Matthew Sparks's tract, Surveyor Joseph Herndon engaged 19-year-old Matthew Sparks, Jr., alongwith a James Vaningle, probably a neighbor , as his chain-carriers. Thesurvey prepared by Herndon for Matthew Sparks's tract was published infull in the QUARTERLY of June 1961, Whole No. 34, in the article entitled"Matthew Sparks (died 1793) of North Carolina & Georgia, a BiographicalSketch."

The three oldest brothers of Bailey Sparks served in the AmericanRevolution: John (born 1755), Matthew, Jr. (born 1759), and William (born1761). In 1832, Congress passed an Act authorizing pensions for allveterans of the Revolutionary War who had served for at least six months.Applicants did not have to prove financial need nor a health problem, butthey were required to describe the nature of their service, the period oftime, and written proof of some sort, often consisting of affidavits ofcitizens who had personal knowledge of it. Although John Sparks did notapply, the other two brothers of Bailey did so. In their applications,both Matthew, Jr. and William stated they had been living with theirparents in Wilkes County, North Carolina, when they had been drafted orthey had enlisted in 1778.

It is in the pension applications of Matthew, Jr. and William Sparks thatwe learn of Matthew Sparks's last venture into a new frontier. Inapplying for a pension under the 1832 Act , a veteran was required tostate where he had lived following the war. Both Matthew, Jr. and Williamstated that initially they had returned to their parents' home on NewRiver in Wilkes County.

Sarah Sparks gave birth to her eleventh child, a son named Isaac, on July15, 1780. Less than three years later, she bore her last child, HardySparks, on May 23, 1783. It was in 1783, when Bailey Sparks was fiveyears old, that his father again felt the urge to venture to a newfrontier as word spread that the state of Georgia would open forsettlement the Creek Indian lands east of the Oconee River in 1784. Wemay wonder what Sarah's feelings were as her husband talked of theopportunity this might provide for their older sons, as well as himself,to buy new land.

William Sparks stated in his application for a pension that , with the"close of the Revolutionary ..... . he removed with his father to whatwas then Franklin, afterwards Jackson , and now [1832] Clarke County inthe State of Georgia and settled about four miles from Athens in thatstate." Matthew Sparks, Jr. stated in his pension application that he hadremained in Wilkes County "until three or four years after the close ofthe Revolutionary War" before leaving with his father for Georgia. (Afterhalf a century , veterans differed in their recalling the date that theconflict had actually ended; the surrender of Cornwallis had occurred onOctober 19, 1781, but the peace treaty with Great Britain definitivelyending the war did not take place until September 3, 1783.)

Matthew Sparks last paid taxes in Wilkes County in 1782. We believe thatit was a few months after the birth of Hardy Sparks in May 1783, that thefamily , with the exception of sons John and James , started for Georgia, again to find choice land on which to "squat" until a purchase of itcould be made .

We will not repeat here the story of the Oconee War, during which, in1793, the elder Matthew Sparks was killed by the Indians. Bailey Sparkswas then fifteen years old.

We have only two records from Georgia pertaining to Bailey Sparks. Itappears that he purchased land in
Jackson County on August 20, 1798, from a man named William M. Stokes.(Deed Book A & B, page 128.)
Jackson County had been formed from Franklin County in 1796 and includedthe land on which the Sparks family had settled in 1783-1784. In 1805,Clarke County was created in part from Franklin and included the Sparkssettlement. Unfortunately, no census record from Georgia has survivedprior to the one for 1820 to assist us in tracing Bailey Sparks, but weknow that he was there on February 22, 1810, when he sold land in ClarkeCounty connected copies of these two Georgia deeds.

From later records, we believe that Bailey and Isaac Sparks, with onlytwo years difference in their ages , were close friends as well asbrothers . Another reason promoting their closeness was the fact thattheir wives were sisters. Isaac's first wife , Sarah Nutt , had died, webelieve, after only a few years of marriage, and in about 1808, Isaac wasmarried, second, to Wilmoth Noland, daughter of James Noland. BaileySparks was married at about the same time to Wilmoth's sister, MarthaNoland. It also seems probable that these two couples moved together toTennessee prior to 1810, as had three brothers of Bailey and Isaac beforethem, Matthew, Jr., Jesse, and Hardy Sparks.

A militia muster roll has been preserved showing that on January 12,1812, a company was formed
commanded by a Captain William Teas and comprised of settlers in thecounties of Hickman and Humphreys, Tennessee, which adjoined , "for thepro tection of the frontier of West Tennessee." Both Bailey and IsaacSparks were included in this roster.

From later records , it seems certain that Baiiey and Isaac had settledinitially in Humphreys County. On the census of 1820, Bailey was shown ashead of a household there, as was Isaac. Now 42 years old, Bailey wasshown as heading a household that included his wife, enumerated in the 26to 45 age category, as was Bailey himself. With them were five children ,one male and four females , all under the age of ten. A female was alsoenumerated with Bailey's family in the "45 and up" category; this mayhave been Bailey's widowed mother, Sarah Sparks, who would then have beeneighty-one, assuming that Nathan Sparks was correct regarding her agewhen she died in 1831, as recorded in his family Bible.

Sometime during the mid-1820s, both Bailey and Isaac Sparks moved west toCarroll County, Tennessee. Carroll County had been created in 1821 fromwhat until then had been what was called the Western District ofTennessee. Until Benton County was created in 1835 from Humphreys andHenry Counties, Carroll adjoined Humphreys County. A researcher who hasexamined the land records in Carroll County has found no record of Baileyacquiring land there, although, as a resident of Carroll County in 1826,he sold land that he still owned in Humphreys County, as shown in thefollowing abstract of this deed (Carroll County Book D, p.111).

This Indenture made this the Twenty fourth July in the year of ourLord Eighteen hundred and Twenty
six between Baily Sparks of the State of Tennessee and CarrollCounty of the one part and William
Blair of the County of Humphreys in consideration of the sum of onehundred and fifty dollars to him
in hand paid by the said Blair , the receipt thereof isacknowledged, hath given, bargained, granted,
sold, aliened, conveyed and confirmed unto the said Blair, his heirsand assigns forever, a certain
tract or parcel of land situated, lying and being in the County ofHumphreys and State afforesaid , on
Hurricane Creek of Duck River bounded as follows, to wit: Beginningat an elm the South West
corner of Isaiah Hammilton's occupant claim on the North bank ofsaid creek. Thence North two
hundred and two poles to a small white oak and double ash . ThenceWest twenty eight and a half
poles to a black gum and red bud . Thence South one hundred and twoand a half poles to a stake
on a hill. Thence East seventy eight and a half poles to theBeginning, containing fifty acres. . . In
testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and fixed my seal theday and date above written.. . .

Witnesses:
Henry Epperson
Benjamin Nolan
[signed] BailySparks

Bailey Sparks often omitted the "e" in signing his name. (A pole is, likea rod, 16 1/2 feet in length.) This deed was also registered inHumphreys County in Book D.

As early as 1802 members of the Sparks family began appealing to both thestate of Georgia and to the
Federal government for reparations for their losses to the Creek Indians.It was not until the 1820's, however, that the Federal Government begangiving serious consideration to these claims . In a file entitled "IndianDepredations" at the Georgia Department of Archives and History inAtlanta, a number of documents pertaining to the Sparks claims arepreserved. We published several of these in the article devoted toMatthew and Sarah Sparks in the QUARTERLY of June 1961, Whole No . 34.Included is an inventory of the losses suffered by Matthew from 1786until his death in 1793. His older sons made similar, but smaller, claims.

Many years ago, the present writer corresponded with a great-grandson ofJesse Sparks (1773-1858), the
eighth child of Matthew and Sarah Sparks. This great-grandson was J. KentSparks of Pope, Tennessee, who died in 1966. Jesse Sparks was living inHickman County, Tennessee, in the late 1820s when the Federal Governmentagreed to receive reimbursement claims from the victims of the CreekIndian attacks. A number of documents in this connection had beeninherited by J. Kent Sparks , who kindly loaned them to this writer tocopy . Unfortunately , this was before the invention of photocopying .

Jesse Sparks, himself, claimed that a mare he had owned, worth $70.00,had been stolen. One of the
documents in J. Kent Sparks's possession was Jesse's application forletters of administration for his father's estate, which was approved onSeptember 14, 1829. This gave Jesse the power to collect the reparationsfor his father on behalf of all the heirs . A commission had beenappointed to determine the amount to which each victim, or his heirs, wasentitled. In anticipation of a payment to Matthew's heirs, Jesse Sparksand his brother, Nathan, had obtained authorization to travel toMilledgeville, "the Executive Department of Georgia," to collect anddivide this payment among the heirs. Among the documents in JesseSparks's collection is an agreement dated September 11, 1828, signed bySarah, widow of Matthew, and sons Isaac, Hardy, and Bailey Sparks,authorizing Jesse and Nathan to serve as:

. .our true and lawfull Attornies in fact for us and in our namesand for our use and benefit, to demand
and receive any sum or sums of money which may be due or coming tous or either of us . . . in
consequence of the destruction or loss of the property of MathewSparks by the Creek Nation of
Indians. . .

Sarah Sparks signed this document by mark as "Sary Sparks." Her threesons signed their names . Isaac and Bailey Sparks also witnessed theirmother make her mark.

A letter to Jesse Sparks from R. A. Green, Secretary for GeorgiaGovernor, William Schley, dated November 20, 1835, is among the papersowned by J. Kent Sparks in the 1960s. This letter informed Jesse that, atlong last, the reparation funds due himself and the heirs of MatthewSparks were available : " . . . Jesse Sparks is entitled to $70.00principal and $17.25 interest making $87.25, and Matthew Sparks isentitled to $1112.00 principal and $316.00 interest, making $1,428,10..."By this time, Sarah, widow of Matthew, had died.

When the 1830 census of Carroll County, Tennessee, was taken, BaileySparks was shown as head of his family there, as were, also, hisbrothers, Isaac and Hardy. Bailey's age was marked in the 40 to 50category; his wife in the 30 to40 range. The children in their family nownumbered nine , as follows :

1 male 15 to 20
1 " 5 to 10
1 female 10 to 15
2 females 5 to 10
4 females under 5

Sometime prior to September 1832, James Noland, father of Martha Sparksand Wilmoth Sparks, died in
Humphreys County, Tennessee. On September 10, 1832, Jesse Noland, whowas probably a son of James, purchased the rights of inheritance to tileland of James Noland in Humphreys County held by Martha and WilmothSparks , as well as that of another daughter, Elizabeth Epperson. Thetext of this deed follows:

[From Carroll County, Tennessee, Will Book E, p.200.]

This indenture made this 10th day of Sept. A.D. 1832 between BaileySparks and Martha, his wife,
Isaac Sparks and Wilmoth, his wife, and Henry Epperson andElizabeth, his wife, all of the County of
Carroll, heirs at law of James Noland, late of Humphreys County,dec'd of the one part and Jesse
Noland of said County and State of Tennessee of the other part.Witnesseth that. . for and in
consideration of the sum of one hundred and seventy dollars to themin hand paid by the said Jesse
Noland. . have given, granted, bargained and sold. . . unto the saidJesse Noland a certain tract or
parcel of land containing one hundred and twenty two acres be thesame more or less, situated,
lying and being in Humphreys County, aforesaid, on Hurricane Creekand adjoining the lands of
James Teas, Esquire, and others and which said lands came to them bydescent as heirs of the
aforesaid James Noland, dec'd.. .

In testimony whereof the said parties have hereunto set their handsand affixed their seals.

Isaac Sparks (seal)
Baily Sparks (seal)
Henry Epperson(seal) her
Martha X Sparks(seal) mark
Wilmoth Sparks(seal)
Elizabeth Epperson(seal)

State of Tennessee )
Carroll County Court )
September Term 1832

. . . The said Martha Sparks , Wilmoth Sparks and Elizabeth Eppersonthey being privately
examined as the law directs, separately and apart from theirhusbands and having voluntarily
relinquished their right of dower to the estate conveyed withoutcompulsion or coertion from their
said husbands by the said Indenture to be their act and deed andordered to be certified to
Humphreys County for registration and the State tax paid to me. Acopy Test.

Edward Quin, Clerk.

From the above document , it is evident that Bailey Sparks was alive inSeptember 1832, but this is the last record that we have found of him. Aresearcher named Mrs. C. F. Delap of Springfield, Tennessee, who examinedthe court records of Carroll County, Tennessee, a number of years ago,reported that Bailey Sparks had been a member of the Carroll County Courtprior to September 1832, when it was noted that he had resigned his post.We may ponder whether he may have resigned for reasons of health orwhether he was about to move from Carroll County. In no extant censusfor 1840 has a household headed by Bailey Sparks been found.

There is some reason for us to wonder whether he and Martha, in 1832 or1833, moved to Mississippi, possibly with at least the younger members oftheir family, settling in the Carroll , Lafayette . and YalobushaCounties area. These and other Mississippi Counties were part of the"Choctaw Indian Cession" of 1830. As noted below , it appears that someof Bailey's children are found in the records there .

Based on the census records of 1820 and 1830 where Bailey Sparks wasshown as head of a household in Tennessee, it appears that he and hiswife, Martha (Noland) Sparks, may have been the parents of as many aseleven children, but for a number of these we can only speculateregarding their identification .

[JS Note: For information relating to these children, see theirindividual sheets. The following note appears on page 5620 at the end ofthe above article:]

(As noted above, a number of the children of Bailey and Martha (Noland)Sparks moved to Mississippi in their youth and were married there. In thesame "Marriage Book A" that is preserved in Carroll County, Mississippi,in which the marriage of Matilda Sparks and James Fields was recorded(page 140) on June 9, 1838, there is, on the following page , the recordof a William M. Sparks who served as the bondsman for the marriage ofJames J. Brown and Sarah V. Elles. We wonder whether this William M.Sparks might be one of the unidentified sons of Bailey and Martha(Noland) Sparks. Can any reader further identify this William M. Sparks?)

SPARKS QUARTERLY, pg 3471: Bailey Milton Sparks, son of Willoughbyand Polly Sparks, was born in Tennessee in January 1847. He was probabynamed for his great-uncle, Bailey Sparks, son of Matthew and Sarah(Thompson) Sparks. He served in Company B, Waller's Regiment, Green'sBrigade of Texas Cavalry, Confederate States Army during the Civil Warand received a pension in later years from the state of Texas for hisservice. When the 1880 census was taken of Eastland County , Texas, hewas living in the household of his brother, Tillman Sparks. (Theabstract of his military records is below.)
Bailey Sparks married Julia Antley, probably about 1882, and they hadthree children before her death on April 11, 1887, shortly after theirthird child was born. Bailey married (2nd) Amanda ---, probably about1895. She apparently had a large family by a previous marriage. Baileydied on January 27, 1931, in Wise County, Texas.

MILITARY:
SQ pg 1281: Bailey Sparks enlisted in Capt. Thos. P. Hightower' sCompany, Waller's Battalion, Texas Cavalry, on April 14, 1862, at Marlin,Falls County, Texas, by Thomas P. Hightower. His age was given as 17.He was mustered into the service on April 23, 1862, at Hempstead by E.Waller, Jr. A note on one of the records indicates that he was asubstitute for a man named Cornelison. The last record of his being paidwas dated September 1, 1863. HIs name appeared on the muster roll forCompany B of this battalion for January and February 1864 with the note"Absent, In Arrest." Following is a summary of the history of this unit:
Waller's Regiment Texas Cavalry was first organized as the 13th, orWaller's Battalion Texas Cavalry with five companies, A to E. Company Fwas enlisted in Louisiana August 27, 1862. An unidentified comany,Captain Menard's, Captain Goode's and Captain Dunn's Companies TexasCavalry were added from time to time to complete the regiment.

See the SPARKS QUARTERLY, December 2001, Whole No. 196, p.5627:

"Bailey N. Sparks, son of Isaac and Wilmoth (Noland) Sparks, was bornabout 1817. He was still living with his parents in Carroll County,Tennessee, when both the 1850 and the 1860 censuses were taken. Heappears never to have married. At some point, Bailey acquired 87 acres ofland. Like the approximate date (1867) of his father's death, so, also,our knowledge of the approxim ate date of Bailey' 5 death (also 1867) isfound in a deed dated July 31, 1867. By this deed, Bailey's brother,Jesse P. Sparks, sold his own share of inheritance (one-eighth part) notonly of Isaac Sparks's land, but also of the 87 acres "owned by Bailey N.Sparks at his death." Since Bailey N . Sparks had not married and had nodirect heirs at his death , sometime prior to July 1867, his estate wasinherited by his eight living siblings. In the Carroll County deed ofJuly 31, 1867, Jesse P. Sparks sold to J. L. Seawright his anticipatedinheritance , an undivided eighth part of these two tracts of land."

Copied from the June 1979 issue of the SPARKS QUARTERLY, Whole No .106, at page 2111, is the abstract of his pension file at the NationalArchives:

BALIS E. SPARKS, son of Isiah H. and Sarah (Clayborn) Sparks, was bornon October 27, 1832, in Hickman County Tenn. He married Sarah Jane Joneson February 27, 1862. He served in Co. C, 1st Regt. Ark . Infantry.File designation: Inv. Cert. No. 693220.

"Balis E. Sparks, a resident of Newton County, Arkansas, applied foran invalid pension on or about October 3, 1890, for disabilities he hadincurred as a private in Company C, 1st Regiment Arkansas Infantry. Heclaimed that he suffered from rheumatism which was a result of hardservice during the winter of 1864. The War Department confirmed hismilitary service. He was enrolled on February 12, 1863, at Fayetteville,Arkansas, and served until he was mustered out at Fort Smith, Arkansas,on August 10, 1865. When he was discharged he was 32 years of age; hewas 5 feet, 9 inches tall; he had a dark complexion, black eyes and darkhair; and he was a farmer. He was issued a pension under InvalidCertificate No. 693,220 at the rate of $6.00 per month.

"On May 18, 1896, Sparks made a request for increased pensionbenefits, claiming that he was almost totally disabled from a disease ofthe kidneys brought on by military service while at Fort Smith, Arkansas,in the fall of 1864. He appointed J. B. Cralle & Co., Washington, D.C.,as his attorneys. Mollie Jones and L. R. Sparks, both residents ofChancel, Arkansas, witnessed his signature and the application was swornto before J. B. Sparks, a justice of the peace in Newton County.

"On June 29, 1896, George W. Sparks, age 60, a resident of Chancel ,Arkansas, made a comrade's affidavit to support the claim of Balis E.Sparks. George said that he was also a member of Company C, 1st Regt.Arkansas Infantry and knew that Balis Sparks had been confined to hisbarracks and exempt from duty in September 1864 because of illness. Theaffidavit was sworn to before J. B. Sparks, a justice of the peace.

"Annie Jones, age 74, a resident of Snow, Arkansas, testified inbehalf of sparks on October 1, 1896. She said that she had known Sparkssince 1860 and since that time had seen him about once each week. Whenhe returned from the service, he complained about trouble with hiskidneys and was suffering from fatigue and worry. She said she hadwaited upon him and had given him medicine while he was confined to hishome because of the kidney disorder. W. B. Hefley witnesses her make hermark. The pension of Balis E. Sparks was increased from $6.00 to $12.00per month on November 25, 1896.

"On September 28, 1897, Sparks responded to a questionnaire from theBureau of Pensions. He said he was married to Sarah Jane Jones onFebruary 27, 1862, by the Rev. Aron Owens. He had eight livingchildren. (For children, see their files.)

"On April 13, 1908, Sparks, now a resident of Checotah, McIntoshCounty, Oklahoma, asked for additional benefits under the 1907 Act ofCongress. He said he was born on October 27, 1832, in Hickman County,Tennessee, and was now 75 years of age. He had lived in Newton County,Arkansas, until September, 1907 when he had moved to Checotah . ClaudeNiles, R. P. Rutherford, A. J. Millsaps, and J. V. Millsaps attested tohis application. When Balis Sparks died on September 23, 1910, he wasreceiving a pension of $20.00 per month.

"On November 30, 1910, Lemuel R. Sparks, son of Balis E. Sparks, askedfor reimbursement for expenses incurred in his father's last illness andburial. He said that his father was married only one time and that wasto Sarah Jane Jones. She had died on March 9, 1909. Lemuel said thathis father's final expenses amounted to $239.51 which included thedoctor's fees and undertaker's bills. He said that his father died athis (Lemuel's) home and that he was buried in Mt. Nebo Cemetery elevenmiles east of Checotah.

"Dr. B. J. Vance testified that when Balis E. Sparks took sick on July24, 1910, he had been visiting in Muscogee, Oklahoma, but that he (Dr.Vance) had recommended that Sparks be moved to the home of his son,Lemuel R. Sparks, which was eight miles east of Checotah. Otherattending physicians were Dr. C. T. Rogers and Dr. J. O. Callahan. Therewas nothing sent from the pension file of Balis E. Sparks to indicatewhat action was taken on this request."

(Editor's note: For further details about the family of hisgrandparents, Matthew and Sarah (Thompson) Sparks, see the December, 1956issue of THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, Whole No. 16, and the June 1961 issue,Whole No. 34.

SQ pg 2922 states: "Barbara Sparks, daughter of Joseph and ElizabethSparks,
was born probably about 1791. She apparently was crippled and nevermarried.
Her father made provision for her care and livelihood in his will in1827. She
survived him several years, dying on May 30, 1838. She was buried besideher
parents at the Indian Springs Cemetary at Everett, PA.

SQ pg 2600:

"Barbara Ellen Sparks married George Bungard. Her husband was buriedbeside her as was a son, born March 20, 1881, who died at birth."

SQ pp. 2680-81:

"Barton Sparks, son of James and Elizabeth (Gilman) Sparks, was bornabout 1826 in Lewis County, Kentucky. He was married to ChristianaMichael on November 21, 1866, in Putnam County, Indiana. She was born onJune 30, 1827, in Augusta County, Virginia, and was a daughter of JacobMichael, a native of Pennsylvania. The first two children of Barton andChristiana were born in Indiana, but when the 1850 census was taken ofMarquette County, Wisconsin, Barton and Christiana were living in thevillage of Pleasant Valley. By 1860, they were in Parke County, Indiana.According to a descendant, Mrs.
Mildred Haynie, Barton died in Pratt County, Kansas. After his death,Christiana married Joseph Barker on March 25, 1896. He was the father ofElizabeth Barker who married William F. Sparks. (See (a) below). JosephBarker was also the father of Amanda E. Barker who married Benjamin AmiSparks. (See (f) below.) Christiana died on January 13, 1910, in MillerCounty, Missouri. She and Barton had nine children."

SQ pg 4468: Abbott Sparks (as he is called) has shown a remarkableinterest in his Sparks lineage. A book which he co-authored, entitledCattle in the Cold Desert, contains an excellent insight into the cattleindustry and, in particular, the activities of his great-uncle, JohnSparks (RIN 5854) [former Governor of Nevada].

!NOTES:
SQ 1358: "Ben F. Sparks, born Aug. 28, 1881; married Louie Bell Holder, born
June 7, 1885, daughter of John L. and Mary (Anderson) Holder. They h adthree
children: (1) John E. Sparks, born May 23, 19O5, married Grace Fult s andhad
Edgar C., born 1931, and Kenneth C., born 1932; (2) Emily Sparks; an d(3) Mary
Sparks."

SQ 3230 Married Mary Bailey on 18 May 1738. Names of children: MaryAnn, Jonas Hinson Wright, William, Benjamin, Vinson, Elizabeth andBarsheba.

See MARYLAND MARRIAGES 1634-1777, Compiled by Robert Barnes, Baltimore
1987, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. p. 168:

"Sparks, Benjamin, 18 May, 1738, Mary Baley (sic) 1 QA-44." Thecite refers to page 44 of the Records of St. Luke's Parish, QueenAnnes County. Copy made in 1904/5 at the Maryland Historical Society.See also IGI for Maryland as of March 1992, 7230711/51 on page 12,451. Also, according to that reference Benjamin was christened on April22, 1738 at St. Lukes Protestant Episcopal Parish, Church Hill, QueenAnnes County, MD.

SQ 3797: Benjamin Sparks, son of William and Ann Sparks, was born inwhat is now Davie County, North Carolina, about 1769/70. He was marriedto Elizabeth Hicks in 1797 in Surry County, North Carolina. In either1820 or 1821, he moved to Burke County, North Carolina, settling in whatbecame Caldwell County in 1841. He died there between June 1, 1849 andJune 1, 1850. Elizabeth was still living in 1860. From census and familyrecords, we believe that Benjamin and Elizabeth (Hicks) Sparks were theparents of the following:

(1) Son, born ca.1798. We believe that this was Allen Sparks whowas married to Beersheba ----. He died in 1849.
(2) Daughter, born ca.1799/1800.
(3) James S. Sparks, born ca.1802. He was married to Nancy Largentin 1838.
(4) Son, born ca.1804.
(5) Daughter, born ca.1806.
(6) Son, born ca.1808. His name may have been George Sparks.
(7) Elizabeth Sparks, born October 4, 1812; died December 10, 1881. She was married in Burke County, North Carolina, ca.1833 to HenryCraig.

See SPARKS QUARTERLY, September 1967, Whole No. 59;

DESCENDANTS OFSOLOMON (356) AND SARAH SPARKS, OF MARYLAND AND NORTHCAROLINA THROUGH HEIR SON, REUBEN SPARKS (ca. 1755-1840) at p.1084:

"Benjamin Sparks, son of Reuben and Cassie (Buttery) Sparks was bornabout 1784 in either Wilkes or Surry County, North Carolina; he lived inthat part of Surry County which was cut off to form Yadkin County in 1850and died there in 1876. He married Sarah Jeffreys, daughter of Williamand "Patsey" Jeffrey (Jeffreys, Jeffries) about 1802. She was born in1785 and died in 1870. His will, dated May 8, 1872, is on file in YadkinCounty (Book 2. p.81). From his will and records supplied by isdescendants, we know that Benjamin and Sarah (Jeffreys) Sparks had thefollowing children (here follows information on those children)."

See also SQ p3265:

"Benjamin Sparks, son of Reuben and Cassie (Buttery) Sparks, was bornabout 1785 in either Wilkes or Surry County, North Carolina. (His agewas given as 63 on the 1850 census of Surry County and as 74 on the 1860census of Yadkin County, North Carolina.) He married Sarah Jeffreys ,probably about 1810. She was born about 1789 in North Carolina and was adaughter of William and Martha ["Patsey"] (---) Jeffreys. (Her age wasgiven as 60 on the 1850 census and as 71 on the 1860 census.) She wasnamed as a daughter in the will of William Jeffreys, which was proven atthe November 1831 term of the Surry County Court. She died in 1870 inYadkin County. Benjamin died there in 1876. They had twelve children,in cluding an unnamed daughter who apparently died at birth.

See SPARKS QUARTERLY Dec 1990, Whole No. 152, pp 3669-3673 titled "DR.SALMONS' FAMILY RECORD" which mentions Benjamin and his wife SallyJeffries Sparks and their several children. The article focuses on oneof the children, Joseph Sparks born 6/12/1817, died 5/8/1902 and his wifeMartha Elvira Dimmitte and their 8 children."

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, September, 1982, Whole No. 119, p. 2444:

"Benjamin Sparks, son of Absalom and Lydia (Elsberry) Sparks, wasprobably born about 1793 in Georgia. According to the IllinoisAdjutant-General records, he served in the Illinois Territorial Militiaduring the War of 1812. On January 27, 1814, he was married to DiceyTidwell in Gallatin County, Illinois, by the Rev. Reeves Carmack, aMethodist Minister. The license was issued on January 15, 1814, byClerk, J.M.S.

"Benjamin Sparks apparently accompanied his parents to Miller County,Arkansas, and it was there that he, along with his father and brothers,signed a petition to the President and Congress in 1821. He entered landin Pulaski County, Arkansas, in 1836. This is the last record we havefound of him. We do not know whether he and Dicey had any children."

.
!NOTES:
SQ 2591: Benjamin Sparks never married.

See SQ p. 232 for birth information.

See SQ p. 817 for marriage information.

SQ pg 3945: In the 1900 census of Johnson County, Kentucky, Nancy wasshown as a widow with six children (included in the family sheet) andthat she had four other children who were now dead.

SQ p. 2681:

"Benjamin Ami Sparks was born on September 5, 1857. He went by the nameof "Am." On March 19, 1876, he was married to Amanda Emiline Barker inCarroll County, Missouri. He died on November 25, 1935, in Wakenda,Missouri. He and Amanda had six children: Emma Ellen Sparks, WilliamEdward Sparks, John Jacob Sparks, Ida Bell Sparks, Barton Sparks, andGolda Mae Sparks. The last named was the mother of Mrs. Mildred Hayniewho has been most helpful in providing information about this branch ofthe Sparks family."

.
!NOTES:
SQ pg 3944: They had three children: Roscoe, William and Enoch Sparks.

THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, September 1998, Whole No. 143, p.3267:

DESCENDANTS OF REUBEN & CASSIE (BUTTERY) SPARKS

"Benjamin Franklin Sparks, son of Benjamin and Sarah (Jeffreys)Sparks, was born on October 9, 1833. Apparently he was married twice.He was probably the Benjamin Sparks who married Elmira Matilda Felts in1854 in Yadkin County. (The marriage bond was issued on May 27, 1854,with Elisha M. Felts as the bondsman.) When the 1860 census was taken ofYadkin County, Benjamin, aged 27, and Mira, aged 22, were living in thehousehold of Benjamin and Sarah Sparks. Apparently Elmira died shortlythereafter, for on February 23, 1864, a marriage bond was issued forBenjamin Sparks to marry Amanda Jane Sale. Mandy Sale was born onJanuary 13, 1846, and was a daughter of James and Amelia (Gray) Sale.

"Benjamin F. Sparks was a successful man and acquired nearly 1,000acres of land in Yadkin and Wilkes Counties, including four tracts whichhe purchased from his father in 1872. On November 12, 1899, he made awill (Will Book 2, page 81) by which he left all of his property to hiswife, M. J. Sparks. He died a few months later, on May 13, 1900. MandyJane survived him by several years, dying on December 19, 1907. She hadmade a will (Will Book 3 , page 70) a few days earlier in which she namedeight sons and four of her five daughters. Her daughter, Ellen Dinah,had died in 1904. (Following is a record of the children and descendantsof Benjamin F. and Amanda Jane (Sale ) Sparks.)

a. Ellen Diane "Dinah" Sparks was born in 1865 in Yadkin County ,NC. She was married to John Armstrong on February 20, 1886, in WilkesCounty. He had been born on May 12, 1863, in Yadkin County. Dinah diedon April 23, 1904, at Logansport, Indiana. John died at Bluffton,Indiana, on May 26, 1916. They had five children.

(1) Bessie Pearl Armstrong (see p. 3267)
(2) Joyce Armstrong (")
(3) Frieda Armstrong (")
(4) Mary Jane Armstrong (")
(5) Everett C. Armstrong (")

b. Carrie Sparks was born probably about 1867. she married Virgil M.Swaim, a minister of the Gospel.

c. Mary Sparks was born probably about 1869. She never married . Shedied in 1916.

d. Benjamin F. Sparks, Jr. was born probably about 1871.

e. James Leo Sparks was born on February 21, 1874. He married Mary"Mollie" Savannah Rose. She was born on May 4, 1880. James died onDecember 2, 1946. Millie died on January 8, 1978. They had ninechildren: Nina Virginia, Elmo Savis, Guy DeWitt, Coy Watson, Imogene,Nancy Jane, Vera Louise, Minnie Carolyn, and Mary Rose.

f. Lilly Louella Sparks was born on August 12, 1879. She marriedThomas A. Armstrong. She died on April 9, 1931.

g. Minnie Faye Sparks was born probably about 1880. She marriedCaldwell Dobbins.

h. Everett Clarence Sparks was born on February 5, 1881, nearJonesville, North Carolina. He married Nancy Ann Dobbins probably about1902. She was born on January 9, 1882, at Cycle, North Carolina.Everett died on April 2, 1966. They had seven children.

(1) Glade Zeno Sparks was born on September 4, 1903. He marriedDina lee Martin on November 11, 1925, and they had five children: VernonZeno, Kenneth, Roland, and Shirley Ann.

(2) Elzie Sparks

(3) Jane Sparks

(4) Roy Sparks

(5) Hubert Sparks

(6) Milas Clarence Sparks was born on June 24, 1918. He died onSeptember 19, 1980.

(7) Ruth Sparks.

i. Marvin Worth Sparks was born on March 9, 1884. He married CoraPinnix. He died on June 29, 1933.

j. Leland Carl Sparks was born on April 3, 1886. He married Etta C.Dobbins. He died on February 10, 1965.

k. Paul Sparks was born probably about 1888. He married BerthaBeherns.

l. William G. Sparks was born probably about 1890. He died in 1917.He
never married.

m. Robert Glenn Sparks was born probably about 1892. He marriedMattie Jones.

.
!NOTES:
SQ pg 4458: He was married to Effie Best in Grimes County, Texas .Apparently they had no children.

.

!NOTES:
SQ 2781: "Benjamin Jackson Sparks, son of Andrew and Mary (Allen)
Sparks, was born on April 26, 1857. He was married to Mary Winnie -- -,
probably about 1878, and when the 1880 census was taken of Robertson
County, Texas, they had one child, Cynthia D., born in the spring of
1880. In all probablilty, this couple had other children born to the m."

.

!NOTES:
See SPARKS QUARTERLY, September, 1988, Whole No. 143, pg. 3266:
"Benjamin Sparks was born about 1860. He married Jane Dobbins an dthey
had four children according to a descendant.
(1) Solomon Sparks married to Ida Wells.
(2) Winfield Sparks married Florence Swan (should be Swaim; see below)
(3) Elizabeth Sparks married Hubert Roberts
(4) Lavina Sparks married T. F. Pardue.
Also, Barbara (Sparks) Pinnix advised me (see below) that she ha duncles and
aunts named Hugh Sparks, Winnie S. Pardue, Sudie S. Harrison, Annie S .Gray,
Lucy S. Osborne, and Sedelma S. Pardue. I do not know if these wer eadditional
children of Benjamin, cousins, or in-laws.

!NOTES:
See SPARKS QUARTERLY, September, 1988, Whole No. 143, pg. 3266:
"Benjamin Sparks was born about 1860. He married Jane Dobbins an dthey
had four children according to a descendant.
(1) Solomon Sparks married to Ida Wells.
(2) Winfield Sparks married Florence Swan (Swaim)
(3) Elizabeth Sparks married Hubert Roberts
(4) Lavina Sparks married T. F. Pardue.

!COINCIDENCES:
Between March 16, 1995 and March 31, 1995, Ellen and I flew to Baltimore,
Maryland for a family history vacation. We travelled through Marylan d to
Queen Anne's County, St. Mary's County, Charles County, and Frederic kCounty to
visit the various areas in which my ancestors had lived. We followe dthe maps
provided by the Sparks Family Association and were able to find SPARK SMILL
ROAD in Queen Anne's County MD., and visit the site of the farm of William
Sparks (d. 1801/1802).
We drove to North Carolina and visited the Forks of the Yadkin an dtried to
locate the last homesites of Joseph's son Solomon, William Sample an dhis son
William and others near the town of Cycle. In spite of the detaile d mapwhich
was provided on the cover of the Quarterly, Whole No. 154, we could n otfind
any such town. We pulled into a small grocery store on Highway 421 a ndasked
for help. The proprietor and a young male customer had not heard o fCycle
although they had a road map showin