SQ pg 3320: George Thomas "Tom" Sparks was born on March 5, 1874 , in
Georgia. He was married on September 11, 1901, in Petersburg, Oklahoma(Indian
Territory) to Lola Ollie Barnett. Born March 31, 1881, in Hillsboro ,Texas,
she was the daughter of Francis Marion and Nancy Jane (Gibson) Barnett.In
1906, Tom and Ollie moved to Stonewall County, Texas. In 1909, they moved
again to Baker, Montana, where they homesteaded 320 acres of land. While
there, Tom also ran a freight line from Baker to Billings, Montana . Inthe
fall of 1912, Tom and Ollie moved their family of six boys back toTexas. They
settled in the Wright Community of Stonewall County where they purchased480
acres of land. At the time of his death, Tom owned 2,050 acres. TomSparks
died on July 25, 1946. After Tom's death, Ollie moved to Rotan, Texas,where
she died on February 18, 1955.

NOTES:
SQ 2568-9: "George W. Sparks, son of Levi Sparks, was probably bornabout 1812. He was married twice. His first marriage was to Harriet Leaon April 26, 1838. When the 1850 census was taken of Wilmington,Delaware, George, aged 37, and Harriet, also aged 37, had no childrenliving in their household. After Harriet's death in August 1858, Georgemarried Mary Elizabeth Moore on November 28, 1859. Her nieces andnephews referred to her as "Aunt Dolly."
Relatives say that George and Dolly (Moore) Sparks had severalchildren, but we have found a record of only one of them. A daughter,Harriet King Sparks, was born on March 15, 1861. According to a bookentitled 'Ancestry and Posterity of John Lea' published in 1906, Harrietmarried Edward Tatnall Betts on May 19, 1881, in Delaware."

See SPARKS QUARTERLY, June 1959, Whole No. 26, p. 393:

[The parentage of George W. Sparks was incorrectly attributed to GeorgeSparks (391), son of Solomon (361) and Charity Sparks, and George's wifeDelila ---- in this original article. In the December 1990 issue, WholeNo. 152 , p 3706, his parentage was correctly attributed to Solomon (392)and Isabella Swaim (474) Sparks. Corrections will be made as typed.]

"George W. Sparks, son of Solomon and Isabella Swaim Sparks, was bornin Wilkes County, North Carolina, on February 16, 1817. He was marriedin Wells County, Indiana, on August 7, 1838, to Sarah Mossburg. She wasborn May 14, 1817, in Ohio and died in Wells County, Indiana, on May 26,1864. (In the settlement of the estate of George Sparks, father of GeorgeW., Sarah's name was given as "Susanna," and in several deeds recordingthe sale of land by George W. Sparks, her name was given as Susana; onthe 1850 census it was given as "Sally," and on the marriage record andon at least one deed as Sarah."

"George W. Sparks married, second, on July 18, 1865, in Wells County,a widow named Phoebe Jane (Pouless) Light, who was born February 11,1832, in Highland County, Ohio, and died in Wells County, Indiana, onJanuary 18, 1921 . George W. Sparks is said to have been sympatheticwith the Southern cause during the Civil War, although his sons favoredthe Union Side. He died in Wells County on September 14, 1892. In hiswill, dated May 2, 1890, he left his entire estate to his second wife,Phoebe. By his first wife, George W.Sparks had the following children:[here lists children for which see their family sheets]."

See INDIANA SOURCE BOOK, Vol I, p. 176 for marriage date of GeorgeSparks and Sarah Mossburg in Wells County as August 9, 1838.

See also SQ p. 5295.

In the SPARKS QUARTERLY for June, 1979, Whole No. 106, at page 2112,we find the Civil War Pension Application of George W. Sparks as follows:

GEORGE W. SPARKS, son of Isaiah H. and Sarah (Clayborn) Sparks, was bornabout 1837. He married (1st) Martha Jane Cissle and (2nd) Elizab ethWashington Jackson. He served in Company C, 1st Regt. Arkansas Infantry. File Designation: Inv. Cert. No. 422,733; Wid. Cert. No.582,505.

"George W. Sparks applied for an invalid pension prior to August 11,1887, for on that date, the Bureau of Pensions asked the War Depar tmentto furnish his service records. Sparks claimed that he had enlisted onFebruary 12, 1863, in Company C, 1st Regiment Arkansas Infantry and thathe was discharged August 10, 1865, at Ft. Smith, Arkansas. While on dutynear Ft. Smith in March 1864, he was disabled by a disease of the eyes.

"The War Department verified Sparks's military service. He wasenrolled on February 12, 1863, at Fayetteville, Arkansas, in Company C ,1st Regiment Arkansas Infantry for a period of three years. He waspromoted to corporal on March 15, 1863. He was present for duty until hewas mustered out with his company on August 10, 1865. George W. Sparkswas ill at Ft. Smith on March 24, 1864, but was returned to duty. Theregimental hospital records showed a --- Sparks admitted with an inciswound on November 28, 1864, but he was returned to duty in December1864. --- Sparks was admitted in January 1865 but returned to duty.

"George Sparks was treated on March 10, 1865 and also on April 3 ,1865, but each time he was returned to duty. The report concluded bythis remark: "There are three other members of the company named Sparksand where the Christian names are not stated on the hospital records, itcannot be determined which of the four men was under treatment."

"George W. Sparks was issued Invalid Certificate No. 422,733authorizing a pension payment of $6.00 per month. November 9, 1895, heas ked for increased pension benefits because of increased disability.He was 59 years old and a resident of Chancel, Arkansas. He said , 'myeye-sight is growing dimmer on account of the hard pains caused byneuralgia of the head and eyes." He appointed T. W. Talmadge,Washington, D.C., as his attorney. S. E. Sparks and M. A. Sparkswitnessed his signature.

"On July 28, 1997, he again asked for increased pension benefits underthe 1896 Act of Congress. He appointed I. E. Rubenstein, Washington,D.C., as his attorney. B. E. Sparks and Annie Sparks witnessed hissignature.

"Sparks responded to a questionnaire from the Bureau of Pensions onMay 4, 1898. He said he was married to Elizabeth Washington Sparks,formerly Jackson, in September 1866 by E. B. Phenix in Taney County ,Missouri. He had been previously married to Martha Jane Cissle, but hedid not know the date of the marriage. He had two living children: 1.Sarah H. Sparks, born in 1868; 2. Margaret A. Sparks, born in 1872.

"He added a remark to the above questionnaire: "this is to the bestof my knowledge. all my records went to texas. i hav none."

"George W. Sparks died on September 24, 1899, and his widow, ElizabethW. Sparks, made application for a widow's pension. She was 66 years ofage and a resident of Deer, Newton County, Arkansas. She said she hadmarried Sparks on September 15, 1866, under the name of Elizabeth W.Stephenson. She appointed W. H. Wills, Washington, D.C., as herattorney. J. H. Slusher and N. P. Slusher witnessed her signature.

"On June 15, 1901, J. M. Adams, age 66, of Chancel, Arkansas,testified that he had made the coffin in which to bury Edward Stevenson ,the former husband of Elizabeth W. Sparks, in the fall of 1865 inChristian County, Missouri.

"On January 28, 1903, Lue E. Morrison, age 42, a resident ofLimestone, Arkansas, swore that she was the only living child of J. W.Thompson, the first husband of Elizabeth W. Sparks. She stated furtherthat Elizabeth W. Sparks had only been married twice prior to hermarriage to George W. Sparks.

"Elizabeth W. Sparks was issued a pension under Widow Certificat e No.582,505. When she died on May 18, 1924, at Stidham, Oklahoma , she wasreceiving a pension of $30.00 per month.

(Editor's Note: See the note regarding the family of George W. Sparksunder the abstract of the pension papers of Balis E. Sparks, page 2112.George W. Sparks was one of four brothers who served in the same company:Balis E. Sparks, Jesse Sparks, Thomas E. Sparks, and himself.)"

See SPARKS QUARTERLY p. 743 for record of marriage in Elliott County, KY.

See SQ p4853:
"George Sparks was born on July 25, 1870. He was married to Mary["Mollie"] McComas about 1889. She had been born in February 1867 andwas a daughter of George McComas. She and George were living on the EastFork of Little Sandy River in Lawrence County when the 1900 census wastaken. They had twelve children. They were: Rose Annie Sparks, MarionSparks, Richmond Sparks, Monroe Sparks, Rhoda Sparks, Oneida Sparks,Wilma Sparks, Asa Hood Sparks, Richard Sparks, Hester Sparks, May Sparks,and Essie Sparks."

SQ 3074:

"George Washington Sparks, son of Abel and Sarah (Cochran ) Sparks,was born October 14, 1800, in North Carolina. He was still living whenhis brother Solomon Sparks, died in 1880. We know that he came toWisconsin Territory, as did his parents, and that he was living in GrantCounty when the 1850 census was taken At that time, he was a miner withreal estate valued at $1,500. Living with him in 1850 was PhilenaSparks, age 26, whom we assume was his wife, although she was muchyounger than he, having been born in or about 1824 in Illinois. On the1860 census, however, his wife's name appears as "Thelura Sparks." Theone-year-old child, Albert Sparks, on the 1850 census was born inWisconsin about 1849 and was doubtless a son. When the 1860 census wastaken of Lima, Grant County, Wisconsin, George Sparks's family was:George Sparks 59, born NC; Thelura Sparks, 35, born Illinois; Albert 10,John 9, Sarah L. 7, Benity 3, Mary 2/12, all born in WI."

.
!NOTES:
SQ pg 103: George Washington Sparks and his brother John Sparks (sons of Reuben and Phoebe Sparks), were killed in service in 1863 i n theArmy of the Confederate States of America.

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, June 1983, Whole No. 122, p. 2522:

[See the cover of Whole No. 122, pg. 2519 for fine photographs of GeorgeWashington Sparks and Elizabeth Jane (Morgan) Sparks taken about 1865.]

"George Washington Sparks, son of George and Fanny (Lindsay) Sparks,was born on February
18, 1834, in Surry County, North Carolina. He accompanied his parents toUnion County, Georgia,
and it was there that he married Elizabeth Jane Morgan on July 11, 1856.She was born on April 26,
1837, in Union County. She was the daughter of Samuel Morgan and Hannah(Nicholson) Morgan. When the 1860 census was taken, they were living inWhitfield County; their post office was given as Rural Vale.

"George Washington Sparks served in Company H, 36th regiment GeorgiaInfantry, Confederate
States Army, during the Civil War.

'Sometime between 1874 and 1878, George and Elizabeth moved theirfamily to Texas where they
settled in Falls County. George was killed in 1891 about 20 miles fromMart, a small town in
McLennan County. Nothing is known about the circumstances surrounding hisdeath. Elizabeth died
on July 7, 1910, and was buried at Mart. They were the parents of eightchildren." (Here the article includes information on the descendants ofGeorge Washington Sparks for which see their individual sheets.

**********

SPARKS QUARTERLY, December 1988, Whole No. 144, pp 3310-3326 @@ 3310:

FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING DESCENDANTS OF GEORGE SPARKS JR. (Bornabout 1805)

"George Washington Sparks, son of George and Fanny (Lindsay) Sparks, wasborn on February
18, 1834, in Surry County, North Carolina. He accompanied his parents toUnion County, Georgia,
and it was there that he married Elizabeth Jane Morgan on July 11, 1856.She was born on April 26,
1837, in Union County. She was the daughter of Samuel Morgan and Hannah(Nicholson) Morgan.When the 1860 census was taken, they were living inWhitfield County; their post office was given as Rural Vale

"George Washington Sparks served in Company H, 36th Regiment GeorgiaInfantry, Confederate States Army, during the Civil War. He was takenprisoner on July 4, 1863, when the city of Vicksburg, Mississippi,capitulated . On July 9, 1863, he was required to sign a document whichreads as follows:

Vicksburg, MississippiJuly 9, 1963

To whom it may Concern, Know ye That:

I, George W. Sparks, a Private of Co. H, 36th Reg't, Geo.Vols. C.S.A.,
being a Prisoner of War, in the hands of the United StatesForces, in
virtue of the Capitulation of the City of Vicksburg and itsgarrison by
Lieut. Gen. John C. Pemberton, C.S.A., Commanding, on the4th day of
July, 1863, do in pursuance of the terms of saidcapitulation, give this
my solomn parole under oath - -
That I will not take up arms again against the UnitedStates, nor
serve in any military, police, or constabulary force in anyFort, Garri-
son or field work, held by the Confederate States ofAmerica, aginst
the United States of America, nor as guard of prisons,depots or stores
nor discharge any duties usually performed by Officers orsoldiers,
against the Unites States of America, until duly exchangedby the proper
authorities.
[signed] George W. Sparks
Private Co H30th Geo Regt

"George Washington Sparks apparently was exchanged because he servedin the Confederate Army through May 1864 according to witnesses whoprovided testimony when his widow, Elizabeth Jane, applied for aConfederate pension in her late years. According to their testimony,George enlisted as a private in April 1862 and served through May 1864.He served under Colonel Jesse A. Glenn who described him thus: "He wouldweigh about 140 pounds, he was about 5 feet an[d] 7 inches high, he wasdark complected [with] dark hair and dark eyes." W. G. Harris, who wascaptain of Company H. also gave a statement very similar to the Colonel's.

"After the Civil War, George Washington Sparks and his family lived inMurray County, Georgia. Sometime around 1874, George went to McLennanCounty, Texas, where he worked as a laborer in order to save enough moneyto send for his family. This was about 1876, and, according to hiseldest son, John Henry Sparks, they traveled to Texas by train. Georgefarmed for a while and then went into business with another man as apeddler. They traveled all over Central and North Texas in a wagonselling their goods.

"George Washington Sparks was killed on January 15, 1891, nearMesquite, in Dallas County, Texas. There is some mystery surroundingGeorge's death. No one is sure who killed him, but it has been assumedthat he was killed by his partner. He was apparently buried in anunmarked grave somewhere near the place of his death.

"Elizabeth Jane applied for a Confederate pension in 1899, which wasapproved on February 9, 1900. [This was under a pension plan offered bythe state of Texas - - no pension provision for Confederate soldiers andtheir widows was ever made by the U. S. Government.] According to thepapers pertaining to her case that are preserved in the Texas StateArchives, she was in poor health when she made her application, and hadno money. Elizabeth Jane died on July 7, 1910, and was buried at Mart,Texas, in McLennan County.

"George Washington and Elizabeth Jane (Morgan) Sparks were the parentsof eight children. [See pp 2522-24 of the QUARTERLY of June 1983, WholeNo. 122, for more detailed information.)

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, June 1996, Whole No. 174, pp. 4656-57:

"George Washington (Wash) Sparks, son of Wiley and Cynthia Ann(Holbrook) Sparks, was born on September 3, 1845, in Lawrence County. Heserved for a short time in the 68th Regiment Kentucky Enlisted Militia ofthe Union Army during the civil war. (See page 4665 of this issue of theQUARTERLY for an abstract of his pension file" (reproduced below)) Hewas married to Linnie Grizzell on April 2, 1873, in Carter County,Kentucky, and it was there that she died on September 30, 1890. Washsurvived her for nearly fifty years, dying on April 26, 1938. He andLinnie had six children. (See page 241 of the September 1957 issue of theQUARTERLY, Whole No. 19, for records from the Bible of Wash Sparks.)"

Civil War Pension Application of George WashingtonSparks:

"GEORGE WASHINGTON SPARKS, son of Wiley and Cynthia (Holbrook) Sparks,was born on September 3, 1845, in Lawrence County, Kentucky. He wasmarried to Linnie Grizzell on April 2, 1873, in Carter County,Kentucky. He served in Company A, 68th Regiment Enlisted Militia. File Designation: Inv. Appl. No. 1,201,847.

"On November 22, 1897, Washington Sparks, aged 54, a resident ofMartha, Kentucky, appeared before John N. Johnson, a notary public inElliott County, Kentucky, to make a declaration for an Invalid Pension.He stated that he had been enrolled on May 21, 1864, in Company A, 68thRegiment Kentucky Enlisted Militia, commanded by Capt. D. Sturgell, andhad served until he had been discharged on June 22, 1864, at Louisa,Kentucky. At the time of his enlistment, he had been 6 feet in height;he had a fair complexion, black hair, and blue eyes; and he was afarmer. On or about June 1, 1864, he was stricken with a chronicdiarrhea and piles from which he had suffered ever since, so that he wasnow almost totally unfit for manual labor. He had been treated by Dr.Hamilton Sweatman, a private physician. Since leaving the service, hehad lived in Lawrence County. He appointed T. R. Walburn, Ironton, Ohio,as his attorney, and E. E. Johnson and W. A. Dobyns, both of Stephens,Kentucky, witnessed his signature.

"On January 6, 1898, the War Department confirmed Sparks's militaryservice. He had been enrolled in Company A, 68th Regiment KentuckyInfantry Enlisted Militia on May 21, 1864, and had served until he wasmustered out on June 22, 1864. No medical records were on file for him.

"Only one other document is contained in the "selected papers"comprising his file obtained from the National Archives. This is asummary of his military service prepared by his attorney, T. R. Walburn.Stamped across the top of the page in bold letters is the word"Abandoned."

"[Editor's Note: Washington Sparks (as he was called) was a grandsonof Levi and Sarah (Lyon) Sparks who came from Wilkes County, NorthCarolina, to Lawrence County, Kentucky, about 1821, and settled near thefork of Big Blaine Creek. See the December 1955 and September 1957issues of the SPARKS QUARTERLY, Whole Nos. 4 and 19, respectively, forfurther details of this family; also pp.4656-4657 of the present issue ofthe QUARTERLY.]

George Washington "Wash" Sparks and his nephew, Thomas Jefferson"Tom" Sparks, married sisters. Tom was a son of George's sister, NancySparks who was 12 years older than George. George's wife Louisa JaneCreech (b.1847) was 14 years younger than her sister, Mary "Molly" Creech(b.1861).
Thus we have:
Nancy (b.1834) (brother and sister)George (b.1846)
|
Thomas (b.1857)
m. m.
Mary (b.1861) (sisters) Louisa Jane (b.1847)

See SQ p 4874: "Wash and Louisa lived on Little Fork unti about 1895when he died. Louisa then moved her family to Normal, Kentucky, whereher oldest sons could work in the lumberyards. She died there on March21, 1932, and was buried in the Rose Hill Cemetery at Ashland, Kentucky.She and Wash had ten children, six of whom lived to maturity."

See the SPARKS QUARTERLY for June, 1963, Whole No. 42, p 742 for ElliottCounty, Kentucky, Marriage Bonds (1869-1912):

George W. Sparks & Louisa Creech, November 29, 1873. (Book 1, pg38) Witnesses: Joel Sparks and Thomas B. Sparks

SQ 3277:
"George Washington Sparks, son of Jonas J. and Polly (Hankins) Sparkswas born on April 17, 1868. He was married twice. His first marriagewas to Virginia Elizabeth "Jennie" Farris on October 19, 1887. She wasborn on December 14, 1866, and was a daughter of Major Wilson and MaryJane (Durman) Farris. Jennie and George had seven children before herdeath on February 28, 1914. George married (2nd) Jane Waggoner onSeptember 13, 1921. They had no children. George died in April 1941.His children were:

(1) Minnie Ora Sparks was born on July 29, 1888. She married WilliamT. Bandy, and they had nine children: William C., Anna M., George F.,James A., John K., Charles R., Sarah V., Shirley F., and Elmer C.

(2) Stella Maude Sparks was born on October 31, 1890. She marriedOlbert Sayers. She died on August 29, 1966. She and Olbert had sixchildren: May Etta; Berniece; Olbert, Jr.; Ancil B., Virginia Mae; andGeorge C.

(3) Virginia Blanche Sparks was born on November 28, 1894. Shemarried Charles S. Dalton, and they had three children: Virginia E., OraLena, and Edward.

(4) Major Wilson Farris Sparks was born on April 12, 1898. He marriedRuby Avis Bowman. She was born on January 16, 1904, at South Point ,Ohio, and was a daughter of William C. and Ida (McKee) Bowman. WilsonSparks died on July 13, 1932, in a coal mine accident. He and Ruby hadsix children: James, George, Fred, Louise, Jane and Major Wilson.

(5) Mary Edna Sparks was b. on apr 29, 1902. She m. Carl E. Thompson,and they had one child, Frank.

(6) Seldon Copenhaver Sparks was born on March 12, 1902 and d. June16, 1928. He never married.

(7) George W. Sparks, Jr. was b. April 27, 1907. He d. July 3, 1929.He never married."

See the Sparks Quarterly for September, 1958, Whole No. 23 at pages322-23 for the following:

QUERY

George Washington Sparks of Plevna, Montana, wonders whether any memberof the Association can assist him in tracing his Sparks ancestry. Mr.Sparks was born on July 4, 1888, in the territory which is now Oklahoma.He was married in 1908 to Bernetta A. Berry who was born July 30, 1891,in Camden County, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Sparks are the parents of thefollowing children: (1) Herbert A. Sparks, born 1909; (2) Melvina
V. Sparks, born 1911, died 1951; (3) Lelli P. Sparks, born 1913; (4)Ernest L. Sparks, born 1918; (5) George A. Sparks, born 1921, killed inWorld War II in 1944; (6) Mary C. Sparks, born 1923; (7) James F. Sparks,born 1927; and (8) Robert E. Sparks, born 1929.

The father of George Washington Sparks was named Joseph Zac TaylorSparks; he was born August 28, 1845, somewhere in North Carolina, anddied in Petersburg, Oklahoma, about 1912; he married Melvina FrancesMcClain on August 25, 1869, probably in Georgia. She was the daughter ofTom McClain and was born December 26, 1850, in Georgia and died December25, 1931, in Tuttle, Oklahoma. Apparently Joseph Sparks and his wifesettled in Georgia after their marriage and lived in that state untilabout 1879 when they moved to Texas. When the 1880 census was taken,Joseph Sparks and his family were living in McLennan County, Texas, nearWaco. The family was listed as follows:

Joseph S. Sparks (age) 30 Farmer (birth place) N.C.
Frances " 28 Wife Ga.
Fannie " 8 Daughter "
John " 6 Son "
George T. " 4 Son "
James " 2 Son "

Mr. Sparks states that there were also children named Joe, Frank, Davie,and Lillie; these were apparently born after 1880.

Mr. Sparks does not know the names of his grandparents and hopes thatsomeone can aid him in finding information regarding them. They wereprobably from North Carolina and moved to Georgia. They may have lived inArkansas at one time. He knows that his father had a brother named Isaac(Ike) Sparks who was in Seattle, Washington, at one time, and anotherbrother named Cal who operated a cotton gin in or near Waco, Texas. Therewas also another brother named Thomas. Three brothers were in the CivilWar.

************************************************

Sparks Quarterly for December, 1963, Whole Number 44, pg. 779:

DEATH TAKESGEORGE WASHINGTON SPARKS OF PLEVNA, MONTANA

We regret to report the passing of George Washington Sparks on October10, 1963, in Plevna, Montana. Mr. Sparks had been a member of The SparksFamily Association since 1956. He was a son of Joseph Zachariah TaylorSparks (born August 28, 1845, in North Carolina, died about 1912) and hiswife, Melvina Frances Jane (McClain) Sparks (born December 26, 1850; diedDecember 25, 1931). Joseph Z. T. Sparks and his wife were married onAugust 25, 1869, probably in Georgia, where several of their childrenwere born. In 1879, however, they moved to McLennan County, Texas, nearWaco. At the time of his death in 1912, Joseph Z. T. Sparks was living inPeterburg, Oklahoma.

George Washington Sparks was born in the territory which is now the Stateof Oklahoma on July 4, 1888. He was married in 1908 to Bernetta A. Berry,who was born July 30, 1891, in Camden County, Missouri. Her parents wereMoses Grant and Sarah Ellen (Robertson) Berry. George W. and Bernetta A.(Berry) Sparks were the parents of the following children: (1) Herbert A.Sparks, born 1909; (2) Melvina V. Sparks, born 1911, died 1951; (3) LelliP. Sparks, born 1913; (4) Ernest L. Sparks, born 1918; (5) George A.Sparks, born 1921, killed in World War II in 1944; (6) Mary C. Sparks,born 1923; (7) James F. Sparks, born 1927; and (8) Robert E. Sparks, born1929.

[Here appears a photograph, beneath which is the following caption:]

Mr. and Mrs. George W. Sparks of Plevna, Montana taken in the autumn of1929.

*****************************************

See the SPARKS QUARTERLY for December 1988, Whole No. 144, pg 3324:

"George Washington "Colonel" Sparks, son of Joseph Z. T. and Sara M. F.Jane (McClain) Sparks, was born on July 4, 1888, in Petersburg, Oklahoma(Indian Territory). He was married to Bernetta Alma Berry on May 17,1908, in Petersburg. Bernetta was born on July 30, 1891, in CamdenCounty, Missouri, the eldest child of Moses Grant and Mary Angeline(Robertson) Berry. In September, 1909 "Colonel" and Bernetta Sparkschartered an immigrant car from Waurika, Oklahoma, to Baker, Montanawhere they homesteaded in the Lame Jones community, twenty-five milessouth west of Baker. Three families went together: The Sparkses, Mr.and Mrs. Ben Sheffield, and the parents of Bernetta, Moses and MaryBerry. The railroad car held their household goods, plows, wagons,horses, cows, and chickens. "Colonel" Sparks homesteaded the east halfof Section 10, Township 5 North, Range 54 East. Mr. and Mrs. Moses tookthe west half of the section. In an interview with Mrs. Sparks about theearly years in Montana, she described their first home. It was builtinto the bank, three logs high, and was about 28 x 40 feet. There was ashed over the door made of boards with a window in the south side. Therewere shelves along the walls of the dugout for storage.

They also built a dougout barn, and a chicken house was built in thesame way. They went to Baker once a year by wagon or sled to getsupplies for the following year. Bernetta said she was in Montana sixyears before she went to Baker.

Ranching and farming were the main occupations of "Colonel" Sparks,but he also did some mining. He discovered coal on his land, and in thefall and winter he sold coal to his neighbors and to the local school.His son, Frank, still mines this coal and uses it to heat his home andshops.

George Washington "Colonel" Sparks died on October 10, 1963, inPlevna, Montana. Bernetta died on April 18, 1983. Both were buried inthe Lame Jones Cemetary. They were the parents of eight children."

**********

Received the following email note from George Washington Sparks, Jr.(Sparky0311@@aol.com) on Aug 2, 2002 in answer to a request to verify thathis uncle Fred Sparks indeed married (2nd] Marie Permelia Hall when hewas almost 60 years of age (she was then 32) and fathered his lastchild, Jackie Barbara Ann Sparks when he was 68.

"Yes, my Grand Father Fred Sparks that was born in 1891 had a muchyounger
wife and did father his youngest child when he was 68 years old. TheSparks
family association did not show Permilia at all. I remember reading inthe
books I bought from them it said Anna Wright died in NJ and it also saidmy
Grand Dad Fred Sparks never married again. That was wrong. Permilia was
murdered by her son in law who was married to my Aunt Nellie. His namewas
Lester Crammer. Rosalie and Nellie also died from being shot by him. Allthe
girls went to church and were Christians. He was a drunkard. It is a longand
tragic story.
Yours Truly George Washington Sparks Jr."

See the SPARKS QUARTERLY, p. 886 for the following marriage informationfrom Lawrence County, Kentucky, Marriage Bonds (1822- 1865):
George Sparks & Alafair Chafin, January - -, 1858. (Box 3) He born inJohnson County, Kentucky, age 22, 1st marriage. She born in Logan County,Virginia, age 27, third marriage. Married by H. Moore, minister,Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

SQ 3858: "George William Sparks, probable son of Joseph and Marth a(Edwards) Sparks, was born about 1835 in KY. It seems quite likely thathe was the George Sparks who was married to Alafair (---) Chaffin inJanuary 1858 in Lawrence County. He was 22 years old; it was his firstmarriage; and he had been born in Johnson County, Kentucky. She was 27years old; it was her third marriage; and she had been born in LoganCounty, Virginia (now West Virginia). When the 1860 census was taken,they were living in Wayne County, Virginia (now West Virginia). Livingin their household in 1860 were four children; Margaret 10; John, 9;William H., 5; and Martha J., 2.

On September 2, 1861, George Sparks enlisted in the 5th RegimentVirginia Infantry, United States Army, and served until he was given amedical discharge on August 18, 1862. See the abstract of his pensionfile on page 3876 of the SPARKS QUARTERLY, copied below.

While we have no records to prove this statement, we believe thatGeorge Sparks and Alafair (---) Sparks were divorced about 1866. We alsobelieve that he was the George Sparks who was married to Rebecca C.(Ball) Burchett on July 7, 1867, in Carter County, KY. Rebecca had beenborn about 1837 and was a widow of James Burchett.

George and Rebecca moved to Clinton County, MO, shortly after theirmarriage. (He apparently left his children by his first marriage withtheir mother.) He made application for a Civil War Pension [see below]on May 19, 1877, but died on March 15, 1878, probably before any actioncould be taken on the request. Rebecca applied for a widow's pension in1890, and it was granted. She died on January 10, 1909. She and Georgeapparently had no children.

George Sparks apparently had four children, all by his first marriage.
a. Martha J. Sparks was born about 1859.
b. George Sparks was born about 1861.
c. William Sparks was born about 1864.
d. James Sparks was born about 1866.

CIVIL WAR PENSION APPLICATION
SQ 3876: George W. Sparks, probably a son of Joseph and Martha(Edwards) Sparks, was born about 1835 in Floyd County, Kentucky. He wasprobably the George Sparks who was married to Alafair (-------) Chaffinin 1858; his 2nd wife was Rebecca C. Burchett to whom he was married in1867 in Carter County, KY. He served in Company F, 5th Regiment VirginiaInfantry. File Designations: Inv. Appl. No. 236,476; Wid. Cert. No.162,907.

On May 19, 1877, George W. Sparks, age 41, a resident of Starfield ,Clinton County, Missouri, made application for an invalid pension . Hestated that he had enlisted in Company F, 5th Regiment Virgini aInfantry, at Ceredo, Wayne County, Virginia (now West Virginia), onAugust 10, 1861, and had been discharged on August 15, 1862. While inthe service, he had contracted the measles which had settled in hislungs. He also had been poisoned at Parkersburg, Virginia. He said thathe was 6 feet tall, that he had light hair, blue eyes and a faircomplexion. He appointed William P. Hooper as his attorney. Robert Balland Henry Ball witnessed him make his mark, and the
application was sworn to before George R. Riley, clerk of the ClintonCounty Court.

The War Department confirmed Sparks's military service on July 5 ,1877. He had enlisted at Camp Anthony, Ceredo, Virginia, on Septem ber2, 1861, in Company F, 5th Regiment Virginia Volunteers, to serve forthree years and had been given a Surgeon's Certificate of Disability atFort McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland, on August 18, 1862. According to theCertificate of Disability, Sparks had been born in Floyd County,Kentucky, and was a farmer by occupation. His disability was described as"chronic pneumonia."

George W. Sparks died on March 15, 1878, before final action was takenon his application.

On August 11, 1890, his widow, Rebecca C. Burchett, age 53, of DekalbCounty, Missouri, made application for a widow's pension. She statedthat she and Sparks had been married in Carter County, Kentucky, on July7, 1867, by the Rev. John Martin. She had been married under the nameRebecca C. Burchett. She and her husband had no children under the age ofsixteen at the time of her application. She appointed William P. Hooper,Plattsburg, Missouri, as her attorney. James Gibson and Louis W.Burchett witnessed her signature. Nothing was sent by the NationalArchives from her pension file to indicate what action was taken on thisapplication.

On March 20, 1895, W. H. Mocabee, clerk of the Carter County,Kentucky, Court, certified that there was a record of the marriage ofGeorge W . Sparks and Rebecca C. Burchett on July 7, 1867, in CarterCounty. The marriage had been performed by John Martin, M.E.C.S.

In May 1896, Aaron Fluty, age 68, and John Hobbs, age 69, bothresidents of Martin County, Kentucky, made a joint affidavit that GeorgeW. Sparks had never served in any war prior to his enlistment in 1861.At the same time, H. C. Ball, age 55, and Robert C. Ball, age 49 , bothresidents of Starfield, Missouri, testified that they had known RebeccaC. Sparks all their lives, and that she had not remarried after the deathof her husband , George W. Sparks.

The Bureau of Pensions issued Widow's Certificate No. 162,907 toRebecca C. Sparks. When she died on January 10, 1909, she was receivi nga pension of $12.00 per month."

SQ pg 3420:
"George Winfield Sparks, son of Nelson and Peggy (Mauk) Sparks, wasborn on April 9, 1862, in that part of Carter County, Kentucky, whichbecame a part of Elliott County in 1869. As a young lad, he accompaniedhis father in the fall of 1874 to the village of Olive Hill where hisfather was shot and killed on Sunday, October 11th. George , then only12 years old, drove the team and wagon which hauled his father's bodyhome late that day.

"After the death of his father, George continued to live with hismother on the home place until his marriage on September 14, 1883 , toLucinda "Cindy" Sargent in Elliott County. She was born on March 25,1862, in Ohio County, Kentucky. We have not learned the names of herparents, both of whom died when she was quite young. She had a brothernamed Jesse Sargent, and she had two sisters, Kate and Eliza. GeorgeSparks was a farmer and lived on Mauk Ridge. He died on November 27,1932, and was buried in the Mauk Cemetery. Lucinda died on February 3,1939, and was buried at Olive Hill. She and George had six children."

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, pg 4731:

"Georgia Belle Sparks was born on October 2, 1896. She was married toGeorge William ["Buck"] Edwards on November 30, 1910, in LawrenceCounty. Buck had been born in Virginia In 1889 and was a son of Thomasand Carrie (Ziegler) Edwards. Buck was a coal miner in West Virginia allof his working life. Georgia died on May 25, 1943, and Buck died onSeptember 17, 1962. They had six children. They were: Clyde Edwards,Eugene Edwards, George W. Edwards, Jr., Paul Edwards, Lawrence Edwards,and Bobby Wray Edwards. (See p. 2488 of the December 1982 issue of TheSparks Quarterly, Whole No. 120, for the obituary of Eugene Edwards.)

.
!NOTES:
SQ pg 4068: He was married to Eula Reynolds, and they had three children: Debra, Tamara, and Kathy. Gerald was married (second) to Carolyn Birch.

SQ p. 750:

"Gertrude Sparks, daughter of James S. and Alice M. (Davis) Sparks,was born July 16, 1891, at Douglas, Kansas. She is a graduate of HomeEconomics at Madison, Wisconsin. She taught in Fond du Lac, Wisconsinuntil June 1961. She is now [Sept 1963] retired and lives with hersister, Inez, at Eau Claire, Wisconsin."

.
!NOTES:
She was married to a man named Irvin.

.
!NOTES:
SQ pg 3725: He was married to Milly Krause and they live in Portales, New Mexico.

.
!NOTES:
SQ pg 3269: They had five children: Vernon, Zeno, Kenneth, Roland,
and Shirley Ann.

SQ p. 2652:

"Gladys Lacy Sparks, daughter of Buck and May Dora (Owen) Sparks, wasborn on August 31, 1894, at Chickasha. On December 25, 1914, she wasmarried to Zachary Taylor Fulmore, Jr. He was born on January 26, 1885,at Austin, Texas, and was a son of Zachary Taylor and Luella (Robertson)Fulmore. He died on August 10, 1959, at Los Angeles. Lacy died on April6, 1971. They had two children, Buchanan Sparks Fulmore and ZacharyTaylor Fulmore. Buchanan Sparks Fulmore has been most helpful inproviding information about the family of his colorful grandfather, andhe has furnished the picture of his grandparents on page 2651."

.
!NOTES:
SQ pg 3701: She was married to a man named Russell.

.
!NOTES:
SQ pg 3692: They had three children: Nadene, Cynthana, and Jame sGrant.

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, June 1973, Whole No. 82, pg 1573:
Green Sparks, youngest son of Elijah and Elizabeth (Weaver) Sparks,was born about 1808 in Indiana according to the 1850 census of DearbornCounty, Indiana. On May 26, 1835, he was married to Susan Hunt, who wasborn in 1818 in Indiana.
Records indicated that Green Sparks and his brother Norval, werebusiness partners, although in 1850, Green was listed as a farmer, whilebrother Norval was listed as a merchant. Green Sparks was listed asbeing worth $10,000 in real estate, a considerable accumulation of wealthfor a farmer at that time and in that section of the United States. In1837, the two brothers sold land jointly owned in Bartholomew County,Indiana. That same year, Green Sparks was elected to the LawrenceburghTown Council.
By 1860, Green and Susan (Hunt) Sparks were living in Muscatine City(Muscatine County) Iowa, where his occupation was given on the census ofthat year as "clerk"; his real estate was valued at $7,000. In 1870, hewas a furniture dealer in Muscatine County. With him, according to thecensus, were his wife, Susan, age 52, and daughters, Mary, age 32;Amanda, age 23; and Emma, age 14. We have no further record of GreenSparks.

Gregory is a mechanical engineer for Dupont Industries. His spouse Juliais an elementary education teacher for learning disadvantages children.

SQ p. 2620:

"Guy Leo Sparks was born on November 22, 1867, in McDonough County,Illinois. He died on
September 16, 1955, at Indianapolis, Indiana. He was married to Clara R.Heitkam on September 4,
1889, in Arkansas City, Kansas. She was born on March 16, 1869, atArkansas City and was
a member of the Roman Catholic Church. She and Guy had four children."

SQ pg 2635: He was a businessman. His obituary appeared on page 1419of the September, 1971 issue of the QUARTERLY, Whole No. 75 . It follows:

"We deeply regret to report the passing of Guy Sherman Sparks ofMuncie, Indiana, on September, 1971, following a long illness. Mr.Sparks had been a member of The Sparks Family Association for many years. His parents were John Sherman Sparks (1863-1917) and Mary (Loveless)Sparks (1860-1951); his grandparents were Allen and Nancy (Rogers )Sparks; his great-grandparents were James and Margaret (Ray) Sparks ; andhis great-great-grandparents were William and Martha (Moore) Sparks. Mr.Sparks was born in Flora, Indiana, on July 22, 1897. He was graduatedfrom Indiana University in 1922. He was a freshman in college when hisfather died and he worked his way through school by working in theIndiana University bookstore and by managing the bookstore at Ball StateUniversity in Muncie during the summers.

"Mr. Sparks was associated with Marshall Field and Company for 16years before coming to Muncie in 1938 to become personnel manager forMoore Co. and Hager Manufacturing Co. for the next 18 years. He spent 11years with the Indiana Employment Security Division as assistantmanager. He was a member and past president of the Foremans Club,Eastern Indiana Personnel and Industrial Relations Association and theExchange Club. He also served as president of the Visiting NurseAssociation Board for three years and served seven years as a boardmember. He was a 50 year member of the Flora Masonic Lodge 605, F&AM.

"Mr. Sparks is survived by his wife, Gertrude (Dietz) Sparks and byone daughter, Sara Jean Sparks Balch of Indianapolis, wife of CharlesGuthrie Balch. Their children are Susan Marie Balch, 11 years of age,and Sandra Ann Balch, who is 8 years old."

SQ 2776:

"Halcyon ("Hallie") sparks, daughter of Newell Crane and Laura(Fetzer) Sparks, was born on March 30, 1885. She married Alex Z.Harrison and they had four children: Leslie, Annie Laurie, Richard, and
Eugene. Hallie died on May 19, 1969."

SQ; p. 4729

Hallie ["Billie"] Marie Sparks was born on June 19, 1914, at Three Mile,West Virginia. She was married to Willard Carter Estep on September 12,1934, and they lived at Kimberly, West Virginia. After Billie's sister,Roetta (Sparks) White, died, Billie took care of her three children.

See The Sparks Quarterly, June, 1973, Whole No. 82, pg 1563:
"Hamlet Sparks, eldest child of Elijah and Elizabeth (Weaver) Sparks,was born about 1796 in Virginia according to the 1850 census of DearbornCounty, IN. He was married to Elizabeth Toplis Cheesman, or Chisman,about 1819. She, too, was a native of Virginia. Hamlet was a member ofthe early Methodist Church of Lawrenceburgh, Indiana. In 1819, he wascommissioned a captain of the 15th Indiana Regiment. In 1850, when thecensus was taken, he was living at Moores HIll, Indiana, and was listedas a farmer. It is believed that he died about 1876 at the home of hisson, illiam Palmer Sparks, at Grant City, Missouri. Hamlet and Elizabeth(Cheesman) Sparks are believed to have had nine children.

********************************

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, Whole No. 169, p. 4446 for the following censusrecord:

Dearborn County,Indiana -- 1860 Census

Township of Sparta (No post office recorded; probably also Sparta.)
Page 189. Census taken by James D. English on June 26, 1860
236-236

Last Name First name Age Sex Occupation Property values Born
Sparks Hamlett 64 (M) Farmer $300 - $100 VA
" E.Y. 63 (F) VA
" N.G. 22 (M) IN
C.B. 20 (M) IN
Wm. 17 (M) IN
L. 29 (F) IN
Americk 26 (F) IN

(Note: On the 1850 census of Dearborn County [see the QUARTERLY of March1985, Whole No. 129, page 2725] Hamlett's wife's name appears asElizabeth T.; the son named here as N . G. was given as Novel, i.e.,Norval In 1850; the son named as C.B. was given as Charles B.; thedaughter shown as L. Sparks was Liberty; and the daughter called"Americk" was shown as America.)

********************************

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, December 1997, Whole No. 180, p 4906:
"Hamlet Sparks, born September 11, 1795. He died on January 30 1878;his obituary also appeared in the WESTERN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE, the text ofwhich begins here: (See her notes for the obituary of Hamlet's secondwife, Elizabeth L. (Chrisman) Sparks, who died in 1872.)

Hamlet Sparks (1795-1876)

` [Issue for Wednesday, February 16, 1876, p. 55, col. 3]

Hamlet Sparks, Esq., was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia, September 11,1795, and died in Moore's Hill, Indiana, January 30, 1876. In 1806, heremoved to Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and grew up amid the hardships incidentto early pioneer life, part of his time being spent in the blockhouse,with rifle in hand, assisting to repel the then frequent attacks of theIndians. In 1817, he united with the Church, and thenceforward lived astrictly religious life a period of about sixty years. In 1818, brotherSparks was united in marriage to Hanna Cobb, who shortly afterward died.In 1819, he was married to Elizabeth Chrisman, who is the widow of theLamented Rev. E. W. Burruss, of the Southeastern Indiana Conference.When the summons came to him to cross the stream of death, he was"ready," and, without a murmur, passed from his earthly to his heavenlyhome.
NO AUTHOR GIVEN

SQ 799:
"Hampton Sparks, son of William Sparks, was born about 1790 in RowanCounty, North Carolina, and died about 1865 in Oldham County, Kentucky.He married Sarah Blake in Stokes County, North Carolina, in 1809(marriage bond dated January 14, 1809). She was a daughter of John andMary Blake; she mas born about 1785 and died July 19, 1858, in OldhamCounty. When the estate of Hampton Sparks was settled in 1865, hisproperty was divided among his brothers and sisters, or their hairs.,indicating that he had no children.

SQ p. 5315:

b. Hampton Sparks, son of Joseph and Sabra (Demmit) Sparks, was born onAugust 30,
1825, in Wilkes County, North Carolina. He was a lad of about 7years when he accompanied
his parents in their move to Indiana. He was living with hisparents in Kirkland Township,
Adams County, Indiana, when the 1850 census was taken thatspring. Like his brother,
Ransom, Hampton Sparks purchased 40 acres of land from hisparents on September 10,
1851. The autumn before he had gone to Champaign County,Illinois, to be married on
September 30, 1850, to Germima Ann Blue. The ceremony wasconducted by a minister of
the Gospel named Jesse Goddard. Jemima, as her name was usuallyspelled, was probably
related in some manner to the 18-year-old Benjamin Blue, anative of Ohio, who was living in
the Sparks household when the 1850 census was taken. PerhapsHampton had known
Jemima earlier in Adams County. Hampton obviously brought hisbride back to Adams
County, but on February 1, 1854, Hampton and "Jemima Ann hiswife" sold to Jacob Steele
the 40 acres he had bought from his parents three years earlier.

Where Hampton and Jemima Sparks lived after 1854 is not known,but Jemima died in or
about 1859 following the birth of her daughter, Nancy E.Sparks, who was born that year.
Hampton was in Champaign County, Illinois, on October 12, 1860,when he was married there
to his second wife, Nancy C. Allison. We can conjecture that hehad known Nancy earlier and
that he was anxious to find a suitable stepmother for hischildren.

By 1865, Hampton Sparks was in Kosciusko County, Indiana. Arather unusual document was
drawn up there on January 9, 1865, by which Hampton Sparks wasappointed guardian of
three of his children who were described as "minor Heirs ofJemima Sparks, Decd." It seems
odd that Hampton should be appointed guardian of his ownchildren, but we may conjection
that this was related to their inheritance of property of theirmother. These three children were
identified in this court document as: "John D. Sparks, aged 11years; William J. Sparks, aged
9 years; and Nancy E. Sparks, aged 6 years." We believe thatthere was an older daughter,
Ella Sparks, who was not named in this document. A bond was setat $200 by which Hampton
Sparks was bound by the county court to this appointment;Richard Ferguson signed as his
security.

Hampton Sparks, age 52, appeared as head of his family inPrairie Township, Kosciusko
County, on the 1880 census. This census provided for therelationship of each family member
to the head. Nancy Sparks, age 49, a native of Ohio, wasidentified as Hampton's wife. Their
six children, all of whom had been born in Indiana, were listedas: Charles W. Sparks, 18;
Jennie Sparks, 16; Dica Sparks, 14; Isa Sparks, 12; AllieSparks, 10; and Joseph Sparks, 13.
None of the children of Hampton by his first wife appears onthis census.

Hampton Sparks died on March 3, 1911, at Warsaw, Indiana,according to his death
certificate on file there, the county seat of Kosciusko County. His date of birth is given on this
record as August 30, 1825, and his age as 85 years, 5 months,and 4 days. He was described
as being married to Nancy Sparks and was a "retired farmer."His place of birth was recorded
incorrectly as in South Carolina--we know that he was born inWilkes County, North Carolina.
He was buried in the Pleasant View Cemetery in PrairieTownship, Kosciusko County. Nancy
Sparks, second wife of Hampton, died on July 2, 1913, at theage of 81 years according to her
gravestone in the same cemetery. The children of Hampton Sparksby both wives were:

**********

!NOTES:
SQ 3797: She may have been married to -----Mauk.
SQ 3855: Hannah Sparks, daughter of Thomas and Rebecca Sparks, wa sborn
about 1788 in Surry County, North Carolina. Relatives say that she w asmarried
to a man named Mauk. We have no further information on her.

.
!NOTES:
SQ pg 2961 states: "Hanna Sparks, daughter of Solomon and Rachel Sparks, was
born about 1785. She married Solomon Hollar, apparently sometime between 1810
and 1820. She died prior to November 1867. They had at least five children:
Philip, Susan, Rachel, Rebecca, and Hannah."
SQ pg 3349: "Hanna Sparks, daughter of Solomon and Rachel (Weimer)
Sparks, was born on November 21, 1788, according to the Hollar Bible .Her
birth was probably in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, and it was probab ly
there that she was married to Solomon Hollar about 1819. He was bor n on
February 7, 1792, and was a son of Valentine and Susqanna (Ott) Holla r.He
served in the War of 1812 in the 2nd Regiment of Pensylvania Rifleme n asa
member of the company of Capt. Solomon Sparks, his future father-in-l aw.
He was also one of the first elders of the Evangelical Lutheran Churc h at
Everett, Pennsylvania, which he helped to organize in 1842. He die d on
April 3, 1856. Hannah died two years later on May 28, 1858. They we re
buried in the Everett Cemetary. They had seven children, but apparen tly
one child (unnamed) died in infancy. The birth records of the othe r six
came from the Hollar family Bible. [Names are above plus John Andre wHollar.
See SQ pgs 3349 and 3350 for additional information.]