Kathleen Nicole Sparks weighed 8 lbs 7 oz at her birth on February 10,1997 at Long Beach Community Hospital.

SQ p. 2596:

"Kenneth Johnson Sparks, son of Israel A. and Minnie Blanche (Akers)Sparks, was born on September 14, 1902. He was a mortician and workedfor the Bradshaw Funeral Home in Lafayette. He married Ethel Dunn onAugust 2, 1924. She was born on December 31, 1894, and was a daughterof Starr and Martha
(Mongold) Dunn. Kenneth died on December 15, 1982.

See the SPARKS QUARTERLY, p. 886 for the following marriageinformation from Lawrence County, Kentucky, Marriage Bonds (1822-1865):
Kesiah Sparks & Campbell Gent, February 23, 1839. (Box 2, missing)Consent of her father, Thomas Sparks. Married by Stephen Wheeler,Baptist minister.

SQ 3868: Keziah Sparks, daughter of Thomas and Catherine (Jayne )Sparks, was born about 1824 in Lawrence County. It was there that shewas married to Campbell Gent (or Ghent) on February 23, 1839. We haveno further information about this couple.

SQ 3858: "Keziah Sparks, daughter of Joseph and Martha (Edwards)Sparks, was born on March 4, 1830, probably in Lawrence County, KY.She was married to Jacob Ratliff on December 2, 1852, in Pike County.He had been born about 1831 and was a son of John and Nancy (Mastin)Ratliff. Keziah died on October 16, 1905, in Pike County and Jacobdied there on April 11, 1911. When the 1860 census was taken of PikeCounty, they were shown with four children; it appears likely thatother children were born to them at later times.
a. Martha J. Ratliff was born on October 16, 1853. She was marriedto George Anderson Helvey on December 24, 1879, and they had at leastone child, Ballard R. Helvey.
b. John Ratliff was born about 1855.
c. Caroline Ratliff was born about 1857.
d. Virginia Ratliff was born in the spring of 1860.

SPARKS QUARTERLY, March 1988, Whole No. 141, p. 3180:

"King David Sparks (he was usually called David), son of William andSarah (Jennings) Sparks, was born in December 1829 in Wilkes County,North Carolina, and was a small boy when he traveled with his parentsto Owen County, Indiana. There he grew to manhood, and it was therethat he was married to Elizabeth ["Betsy"] Bass on August 16, 1849.She had been born on February 9, 1830, in North Carolina.

"Shortly after the birth of their first child in the fall of 1850,David and Betsy moved with his parents to Boone County, Iowa, arrivingthere in October 1851. They bought 144 acres of land, and Davidbecame a sucessful farmer. He was a member of the North Union BaptistChurch which was founded by his father.

"Betsy Sparks died on December 16, 1871, and was buried in the SparksCemetery near Ogden, Iowa. David married (2nd) Mrs. Nancy Williams onSeptember 7, 1872. She was the widow of Samuel Williams who had diedin 1860 leaving her with nine children. David Sparks died on October2, 1892, and was buried beside his first wife, Betsy, in the SparksCemetery. He and Betsy had nine children."

See the SQ March 1960, Whole No. 29, p. 467, for a census record ofthis family in the 1850 Census of Owen County, Indiana, District 3,Marion Township and SQ June 1966, Whole No. 54, p. 990, for a censusrecord of this famiy in the 1860 Census of Boone County, Iowa, MarcyTownship where they are living near his father William J. Sparks.

SQ p. 1502:
Kitty Harriet Sparks, was born about 1819. She married Ephraim Wilsonin Nicholas County in 1842 (marriage bond dated April 19, 1842). Hewas born about 1820. According to the 1850 census, they had childrennamed [See family group sheet]

See SQ p. 333 for birth information and page 743 for marriageinformation.

SQ pp. 4638-39:

"Laban ["Labe"] Theodore Sparks was born on November 29, 1859, inLawrence County. He was a farmer and also a merchant. Descendantssay that he was a deeply religious man. He was married twice. Hisfirst marriage was to Emily Lyon on December 9, 1880. She had beenborn on March 2, 1861, and was a daughter of Lewis and Mary ["Polly"](Sparks) Lyon. Emily and Labe had seven children before Emily's deathin 1902. They were: Florence Alma Sparks, Eva Belle Sparks, CharlesFranklin Sparks, Mary Hattie Sparks, Hugh Herbert Sparks, and NelsonTate Sparks {and Henry W. Sparks, see p. 4703}. (For further detailsabout the family of Charles Franklin Sparks, see pp. 1306-1307 of theMarch 1970 issue of the QUARTERLY, Whole No. 69.)

"After the death of his wife, Emily, Labe Sparks was married (second)to Trinvilla Lester about 1903. She had been born in 1875 and was adaughter of John and Juliana (Miller) Lester. Trinvilla died in 1933and Laban died in 1940. They were buried in the family cemetery onCollier Creek. They had five children."

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, pg. 4703 for a photo of Laban Sparks, hisspouse and children taken about 1900, and a article correcting earliererrors and adding a son's name, Henry W. Sparks.

SQ pg 3940: Lafe and Ellen lived on Franks Creek. He and Ellen hadnine children: William, Martha, Charles, Virgie, Estill, Gracie, Nola,Ola, and Lora.

.
!NOTES:
See father's notes.

.
!NOTES:
SQ pg 3424: Correction note indicates that they have a daughter ,Debra H. Beavers.

.
!NOTES:
SQ pg 3692: They had eight children: Fern, Burl, Erma, Dale, Dan ,Olean, Doris, and Yale.

SQ p. 2946:
"From census records, it does no appear that they had children, butwhen the 1880 census was taken of Arkansas County, Arkansas, a 6year-old boy named Leslie Sparks was listed in their household and wasidentified as an "adopted son." "

SQ pg 3413: "Laura Belle Sparks, daughter of Fred and Catherine (Kegley) Sparks, was born on November 9, 1879, in Elliott County; shewas a young woman when she moved with her parents to Greenup County in1897. It was there, two years later, that she was married to JamesAlpha Musser on March 29, 1899. He was born on July 1, 1878, in LewisCounty, Kentucky, and was a son of Alexander and Sarah E. (Hensley)Musser. Alpha (as he was called) and Laura lived most of their livesin Ashland, Kentucky. Alpha died on March 18, 1954, and Laura died onSeptember 29, 1957. They were buried in the Sparks Cemetery on HappyRidge. They had fourteen children."

.
!NOTES:
SQ pg 3698: They had three children: Marilyn, Sherri, and Sandy.

.

!NOTES:
SQ 2774: "Laura Mabel Sparks, daughter of Hawk and Mollie (Davis)
Sparks, was born on December 1, 1882. She was married (1st) to Bernard
Barber on April 1, 1902, and they had one child, a son, named Travi sEarl
Barber. Bernard died in 1908 and Laura married (2nd) J. S. Kennerly .She
died on December 18, 1964."

SQ pg 2749:

"Laura W. Sparks, daughter of James Hawkins and Elizabeth (McKnight)Sparks, was born about 1854. She married George A . Bell and they hadat least one child, a daughter, Eleanor."

See notes for her uncle, Troy Otho Sparks.

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, September, 1969, Whole No. 67, p. 1260:

"Lavina Elizabeth Sparks, daughter of Abel Tomlin and Nancy Ann M.(Newsom) Sparks, was married to the Rev. Henry Taylor McKay onNovember 5, 1868. He was born on November 10, 1849, in Pyreton, ClayCounty, Alabama. He was a son of the Rev. Samuel Martin and LucindaEmmalee (Walden) McKay. It is an interesting fact that the paternalgrandmother of Lucinda Emmalee (Walden) McKay was Sarah Sparks, bornabout 1750, daughter of James Sparks, Jr., of Spotsylvania County,Virginia. (See THE QUARTERLY for December 1962, Vol. X, No. 4, WholeNo. 40, pp. 680-704, for further information on this branch of theSparks Family.) [JS Note: This branch of the Sparks Family apparentlyis not descended from William Sparks who died in 1709].

"A daughter of Lavina Elizabeth (Sparks) McKay, Mrs. Myrtle M. (McKay)Jenkins, wrote the following tribute following her mother's death:
'Lavina Elizabeth Pamela (Sparks) McKay was born May 24, 1852, nearUnion Church in the northern part of Clay County, Alabama. She wasthe only child of Abel Tomlin Sparks and Nancy Ann (Newsom) Sparks.Lavina attended school at Red Hill and Union Church Community. Herfather was called to duty in the Civil War when she was nine years ofage. She and her mother lived alone and helped with the farm workduring the two years of his absence. Livina was eleven when herfather was discharged and little is known of her life until she wasmarried to Henry Taylor McKay at the age of sixteen.

'He became a Minister of the Gospel shortly after their marriage. Thisreligious setting brought forth results from the start. This couplewas known near and far throughout their communities for their aid toany and all in time of need, spiritual or physical. The hour wasnever too late nor the weather too bad to help the unfortunate. Theywere fondly called Aunt Vina and Uncle Taylor in later years. Lavinawas a Christian mother and devoted wife. She lived a full life oflove and understanding in the most christian-like manner.

'She and Taylor and the twelve children lived until the youngest waspassed forty before the family circle was broken. Lavina spent thelast few years in bed and wheel chair because of a broken hip. Shewas laid to rest at the age of 82 on December 8, 1934, at Oak GroveChurch within a mile of where she lived. The minister in charge ather funeral remarked that all the gray hair in Aunt Vina's head couldbe counted in a very few minutes. Her memories linger with us toeternity."

See the SPARKS QUARTERLY for September 1984, Whole No. 127, p. 2661:

" Lawrence Benjamin Sparks, son of "Doc" and "Hazel Pony" Sparks, wasborn on October 16, 1877. He was married twice. His first marriage wasto Mary Hawkins on July 31, 1901, in Hunt County, Texas. She diedtragically on December 8, 1903, when her clothing ignited as she waswashing clothes in a kettle over an open fire outdoors. LawrenceSparks married (2nd) Ellen Clarke. They were divorced in 1932. Helived most of his life on one of his father's farms near Celeste,Texas, part of which he later inherited. He died on October 10, 1970,at Ft. Worth, Texas, where he had gone to live with a son. Ellen(Clarke) Sparks died on April 26, 1965, at Lubbock, Texas. LawrenceSparks had seven children. By his first marriage, he had a daughter,Amy Sparks. By his second marriage he had: Eugene Sparks; GoldenSparks; Bonnie Sparks; Bertie Sparks; Venus Sparks; and LeslieSparks."

SQ pg 2660:

"Lawrence Jackson ("Doc") Sparks, son of "Doc" and Mary (Brown)Sparks, was born on August 21, 1846, in Chambers County, Alabama, andwas a small child when his parents moved to Texas where he grew tomanhood . The reason for his acquiring the nickname "Doc" is a mysteryas is true also of his
father. On December 19, 1869, he was married to Misalina HazelSaphronia Richey in Hopkins County, Texas. She had been born onSeptember 4, 1849, and was a daughter of John Stewart and Elizabeth(Stout) Richey, pioneer settlers of the Republic of Texas and nativesof Alabama and Texas, respectively. Her nickname was "Hazel Pony.""Doc" and "Hazel Pony" Sparks settled down in Hunt
County, Texas, and continued to live there until about 1906 when theywent to some new lands which had been opened up in the territory ofNew Mexico. He died at Clovis, New Mexico, on August 10, 1932, and"Hazel Pony" died there two years later, on November 1, 1934. She hadbeen bed-ridden for many years because of a broken hip. They wereburied at Clovis; they had ten children.

SQ 1356: "Lawson Sparks, son of Jonathan and Rachel (Swaim) Sparks ,was born
about 1819 inn North Carolina. About 1845 he married Charity --- who,
according to the 185O census, was born in Tennessee about 1828. About 1855,
Lawson Sparks moved to Princeton, Dallas County, Arkansas, where hi swife
apparently died shortly after a baby boy was born in March 186O. From census
records it appears that Lawson and Charity Sparks had (here namestheir eight children)."

SQ p. 743:

ELLIOTT COUNTY, KENTUCKY, MARRIAGE BONDS (1869-1912): Clarinda Sparks& S. (sic) C. Sparks, July 19, 1882 (Book 1, page 112). Witnesses:Thomas Sparks and William Sparks.

SQ p. 3406:

"Leander C. ["Brud"] Sparks, son of Nelson and Peggy (Mauk) Sparks,was born about 1851 in Carter County. He died on July 17, 1919, inArkansas. He apparently married three times. His first marriage was toMinerva Jane Binion, probably about 1874. She was born about 1857 andwas a daughter of Rebecca Binion. Brud and Minerva had three childrenbefore her death, which apparently occurred about 1881."

Leburn Sparks, eldest son of Levi and Nancy Jane (Lawson) Sparks, wasborn on December 17, 1860, in Carter County, Kentucky. He was nearlytwenty-four years old when he died on May 5, 1884, in Elliott County.He was never married. He was buried in the Sparks-Lawson Cemetery nearIbex, Kentucky.

SQ p. 4743:

Leburn H. ["Polly"] Sparks was born on April 4, 1888. He was marriedtwice. His first marriage was to Elvira Conley. They had no children.His second marriage was to Hattie Hall on January 31, 1910. She hadbeen born on September 11, 1895, and was a daughter of Daniel B. andElizabeth (Cornette) Hall. She and Polly lived at Gates, Kentucky.Polly died on February 20, 1979, and Hattie died a few months later,on December 3 (or 5?), 1979. They were buried in the New SillCemetery in Rowan County, Kentucky. They had seven children: Elbert0. Sparks, Charles E. Sparks, Fred T. Sparks, Robert W. Sparks, ThelmaSparks, Lyda Sparks, and Lillian Sparks.

.
!NOTES:
SQ pg 4475: They had eight children: John, Thomas, Patricia Ann ,Anthony Charles, Katherine, Nancy Jo, Diane and George Benton Spark s.
[I obtained a divorce in Redwood City, California, in the 1980s fo r aJohn Sparks who brought in a newspaper clipping acknowledging hi sstatus as a grandson of Governor John Sparks. The article concerne da memorial ceremony held in Reno commemorating the death of the Governor. I believe he was the eldest son of Leland John Sparks, Jr.]

.
!NOTES:
SQ pg 2782: She married a man named Dawson; they lived at Iredell ,TX.

.
!NOTES:
SQ pg 2594: She married Charles Hannell and they had one child, Thomas.

SPARKS QUARTERLY, pg 1975:
"Leonard Craig Sparks, only child of Joseph Allen and Margaret (Craig)Sparks, was born in Valentine, Nebraska, on August 27, 1885. He wasmarried to Katherine Speer on June 25, 1924. She was born June 22,1893, in Washingtor, D.C., a daughter of James Calvin and Lelia J.(Butterworth) Speer. They had no children. Leonard C. Sparksattended Orchard Military Academy located northwest of Detroit and wascommissioned a second lieutenant in the Field Artillery in 1908. Forthe next 37 years he was stationed at various army posts in the UnitedStates, the Philippines, and Hawaii. He served for 18 months inEurope in World War I. He and his wife lived in Washington, D.C.,after his retirement in 1945. His wife preceded him in death by twoor three years. He died in April 1968.

SQ p. 749:

"Leota Sparks, daughter of James S. and Alice M. (Davis) Sparks, wasborn Sept. 3, 1889, at Douglas, Kansas. She married Howard MarionLawton on Sept. 1, 1915, at Hobart, Ind. He was born May 10, 1889, atPlymouth, Illinois. He is a farmer and dairyman; she was a primaryteacher. Howard M. Lawton and his five children, James, Dale, Alice,John and Robert, are all graduates of Knox College at Galesburg,Illinois. Two granddaughters have also attended. All four sons werein World War II and John was called back into service for the KoreanWar. (Data on children)"

See note for his brother, Perry Hawkins Sparks.

.
!NOTES:
SQ pg 3468: They had two children, Dorothy Hotona sparks and Melb aCleola Sparks. (Editor's note: Dorothy Hotona Sparks married Jame sMcDonald on December 23, 1938, and they are the parents of Marsha (McDonald) Wharton, the author of this article.)

.
!NOTES:
SQ pg 3728: Lester Sparks went by the name of Lester Williams. While he is shown on page 3728 as the son of James Alfred and Alice A .(Milstead) Sparks, Williams was the maiden name of the second wif e ofJames Alfred Sparks and this male was born to her on January 15 ,1902, after she had separated from James. See his notes.

SQ 4734:

Lester Foley Sparks was born on May 30, 1902, at Mountain Ash,Kentucky. He was married to Hilda Boestad on November 23, 1929, atMadison, Wisconsin. She had been born on August 11, 1907, at Barren,Wisconsin. She and Lester were living at Clifford, Illinois, when hedied on September 6, 1958. They had four children: Rosemary Sparks,Jeannie Sparks, Virginia Sparks, and Robert Lawrence Sparks.

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, December 1955, Whole No. 12, p. 100:

"Levi Sparks, son of John and Sarah (Shores) Sparks, was born 2October, 1778, Surry County, North Carolina; died 21 October 1851,Lawrence County, KY. He was married twice, first, about 1801 to ---Walsh, and second, about 1805, to Sarah Lyon, born about 1781, inNorth Carolina. He served as deputy sheriff in Wilkes Co., N.C.;removed to Kentucky about 1821 with Jesse Lyon, John Holbrook and fourother Lyon brothers (including Redheaded Bill) and two of his ownbrothers, George and Colby Sparks. Colby and three Lyon brothersreturned to North Carolina. Levi Sparks taught school in Kentucky."

SQ pg 2568:

"Levi Sparks, son of Nathan Sparks, was born on December 1, 1787, inQueen Annes County, Maryland. It is said that he was educated to be aphysician. He was postmaster of Church Hill, MD in 1828, and he alsoowned a general store in that community. In 1835, he sold his
property, including his store, furniture, and slaves, and went toIndiana where he built a large home near persent-day Odon in DaviessCounty. It was there that he died on September 24, 1850. He was aMethodist and, according to a descendant, his house was a stoppingplace for the circuit-riding preachers of that conference. He wasprobably buried in the Churchyard of Talbot's Chapel, a church whichhas since burned.
" Levi Sparks was married three times according to his descendants .His first marriage was to Matilda ---, probably about 1810. They hadtwo sons who were born in Queen Annes County. (See family informationsheet)...After the death of his first wife, Matilda, Levi Sparks, Sr.married a woman named Simmons, and they had three children (See familyinformation sheet)...The second wife of Levi Sparks, Sr., apparentlydied about 1834, and after disposing of his property, he took his twosmall children, Joseph and Susan Ann, to their maternal grandparents(Simmons) in Vermillion County, Indiana, in 1835. He married MaryRebecca Brooks Godwin in Daviess County, Indiana, on January 6, 1838.She had been born on June 19, 1814, and was a daughter of Thomas andMary (Brooks) Godwin. Levi and Mary had six children born to thembefore his death on September 25, 1850. After his death, Mary marriedJacob Wesner on February 22, 1856. She died in 1873."

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, Dec 1992, Whole No. 160, p. 4052:

"Levi Sparks, son of Solomon and Catherine (Hilligas) Sparks, was bornon April 9, 1798, and died on January 13, 1872, one-half mile north ofPeosta, Dubuque County, Iowa. He was a farmer, but he was also amechanical engineer and operated a saw mill. He was married onDecember 16, 1819, by William Daldridge, M.D.V., at West Union, AdamsCounty, Ohio, to Zulima Craig Moore; she had been born on July 10,1800, at Lexington, Virginia. She died on September 23, 1867, atPeosta, Iowa. (For their children see their family page.)

(continuing from the SPARKS QUARTERLY: "The following account of thelife of Levi Sparks appears as part of a biographical sketch of agrandson, Edwin Spurgeon Sparks, in a HISTORY OF OREGON, Vol. III,published in 1922, p. 12:

"Levi Sparks moved to Iowa in the early 1840s. In the locality wherehe filed upon a homestead, most of the surrounding land had been takenby men from a locality in an eastern state. These men had pledgedthemselves to allow no outsider to settle there. They looked withhostile eyes upon the newcomer as he erected his little cabin, and onenight, with their features disquised with white clothes, they invadedhis domain and calling him to his door they ordered him to move on.He told them he was there by permission of the government which hadgiven him the land and there he would remain. Admiring his courageand determination, the men rode away and did not molest him further,but on the contrary soon became his friends, and in a short time hebecame a power in the community. He had married Zulima Craig Moore, ablue-blooded Virginian, who was a relative of Thomas Moore, the Irishpoet."

SQ 1981: "Levi Sparks, son of Cornelius and Susannah (Stevens) Sparks,was
born in Wayne County, Indiana, on October 3, 1823, and died onSeptember 2O,
19OO, in Berrien County, Michigan. He was married on January 2, 1845,to Maria
Martin, daughter of Thomas R. Martin; she was born in 1826 and died in19O2.
They had one son named Edwin E. Sparks; he was born in 1862 and diedin 191O.
Edwin E. Sparks married Ida Brenner.
"The following biographical sketch of Levi Sparks appeared in American
Biographical History of Self-Made Men, Michigan Volume, published bythe
Western Biographical Publishing Company in Cincinnati, in 1878 (pg.59):
'The Honorable Levi Sparks, of Buchanan, Michigan, was a native ofWayne
County, Indiana, to which place his parents moved from North Carolina. In 1828
the settled in what is now Niles Township, Berrien County. At thattime only
three or four white families lived in south-west Michigan. Mr.Sparks's boyhood and youth were, consequently, passed amid trials andtribulations of pioneer life and his habits and tastes were formedaccordingly. The son of a poor man, resident of a new county, hisschool education was necessarily limited, but in the broader school ofpractical experience he was a diligent pupil. His life has been spenton a farm with the exception of five years spent in the mercantilebusiness in Buchanan. This venture was a failure.
'Mr. Sparks's first official position was that of Paymaster of the14th Brigade of the Seventh Division of Michigan Militia. Hiscommission was signed by Governor Bingham in May 1857. He has heldvarious top offices and in 1873-1874 and during the extra session of1875, he was a member of the State Senate. Here he served on theCommittees of State Affairs, immigration, Religious and BenevolentInsitututions and Asylums for Deaf, Dumb and Blind. He wasdistinguished for his opposition to extravagance and particularly headvocated a constitutional amendment granting the women the right ofsuffrage.
'He was connected with the Republican Party from 1854 to 1874. Onaccount of
the subservience of the party to moneyed power of the East and thelegislation
of Congress in the interests of capitalists and bond-holders againstthe great
laboring and producing classes, he became identified with theIndependent
Greenback party. In 1876 he gave his hearty support to Peter Cooperand
canvassed four Congressional Districts thoroughly. He was also adelegate to
the National Convention at Grand Rapids. At the State Convention, hewas
nominated for lieutenant-governor of Michigan. On the withdrawal ofthe
candidate for governor, Mr. Sparks's name was substituted and hereceived the
full vote of the Independent Greenback Party. He has been a member ofthe
Grange since 1874. In his religious views he hold firmly to thetruths of revelation, but is unsectarian, and is liberal in hisjudgment of those who differ from him in opinion. He has acquired thehabit of thinking for himself and acting up to his own convictions.Both in private and public life he has always been a friend of thelaboring man. He keeps himself informed of current events and takes anactive part in all public matters that he considers for the good ofhis country. He is one of the oldest pioneers in western Michigan,having resided there fifty years. On the organization of the BerrienCounty Pioneer Society in 1875, he was made its president. Thisposition he still retains (1878).'"

.
!NOTES:
SQ pg 3465: Levi Sparks, son of Willoughby and Polly Sparks, wa sborn about 1825 in Arkansas, probably in Miller County. He is sai dto have lived for a time in Georgia, but he joined family members i nLimestone County, Texas, in time to be recorded on the 1850 censu s ofthat county. He is said to have married and moved back to Georg iawhere he had a family of at least seven children. We have found n orecords to prove this to be correct nor do we have any futher information about Levi Sparks.

.

!NOTES:
SQ pg 2457: "Levi Sparks, son of William and Rhoda (Pennington) Sparks, was
born about 1825 in Tennessee, shortly after the family had moved there from
Virginia. On February 19, 1850, he married Mary Hennessee, a widow with four
children. When the 1850 Census was taken, they were living in Whit eCounty,
Tennessee, and were listed as follows: (lists Wife and children).Lev iand Mary
(Hennessee) Sparks had only one child, a son, named John Sparks."
See also THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, March 1994, Whole No. 165, p. 4272.

See SQ p. 333 for birth information.

See SPARKS QUARTERLY, pg 1975:
Levi Carlton Sparks, son of Joseph and Caroline (Flanigan) Sparks, wasborn in Berrien County, Michigan, on March 24, 1854, and died inValentine, Nebraska, on April 29, 1915. He was married in CherryCounty, Nebr., on August 13, 1889, to Bertha Crum Ludwig. She wasborn September 26, 1865, at Carey, Ohio, and was a daughter of Jacoband Amanda Malvina (Crum) Ludwig. A daughter of Levi Carlton Sparks(Margaret Sparks Smith) wrote the following biographical sketch of herfather for the Cherry County, Nebr., Historical Society in 1968:

"I do not know just what year he [Levi Carlton Sparks] moved toValentine but believe it was 1884. He worked for his brothers intheir stores on the Pine Ridge Reservation and at Cody, Nebraska.While at the Pine Ridge store he learned the Sioux language and it wasour understanding that only one man in Valentine, Gary Shaw, was moreproficient in it. While at the Pine Ridge store he had a negro cookwho often said that he and Mr. Sparks were the only white men on thereservation. The Indians trusted my father and were very friendlywith him. One of my earliest recollections is of many Indians comingto our house on Sunday mornings, either to get Father to interpret forthem or, in fancy dress, to allow my Mother to photograph them.Mother's collection of Indian photographs was an extremely good one,second only to that of John Anderson at the Rosebud Reservation.Unfortunately, it was burned when our house burned in the 1920's.

"Levi C. Sparks was County Superintendent of Schools for Cherry Countyin 1888-89, perhaps longer. He was married on August 13, 1889, toBertha Crum Ludwig, the Rev. John Bates officiating. The weddingdate was set up so Father would have a place to entertain the countyteachers during the County Teachers Institute, held just prior to theopening of the county schools.

"He retained his interest in all educational matters for many-yearsafter his terms as County Superintendent and became friends with manyof the instructors who came to Valentine to teach at the CountyTeachers Institutes and with the teachers in the county and Valentineschools. He worked hard to get the State Teachers College which isnow at Chadron located instead in Valentine. He trained a number ofyoung people in public speaking and many of them were successfulcontestants in statewide declamatory and debating contests.

"When his term of office as County Superintendent was over, he workedfor Al Thatcher in his store and in the Davenport store. Then hejoined Sparks Brothers as a partner in their store at Cody and movedto Cody to take charge of that store. About 1900, Mrs. Sparksinherited the Ludwig Lumber Yard in Valentine from her half-brother,Daniel Ludwig, and the family moved from Cody to Valentine. Mr.Sparks became manager of the Lumber Yard, continuing there until hebecame paralyzed and no longer able to work.

"He was active in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the MasonicLodge, and the Order of the Eastern Star. He was an active (and veryvocal) member of the Democratic Party. He was an active member andvery great supporter of St. John's Episcopal Church.

"Levi Carlton and Bertha C. (Ludwig) Sparks were the parents of fivechildren."

**********

See the QUARTERLY for March, 1993, Whole No. 161 at pp. 1975-6 for thefollowing:

Levi Carlton Sparks, son of Joseph and Caroline (Flanegin) Sparks, wasborn in Berrien County, Michigan, on March 24, 1854, and died inValentine, Nebraska, on April 29, 1915. He was married in CherryCounty, Nebr., on August 13, 1889, to Bertha Crum Ludwig. She was bornSeptember 26, 1865, at Carey, Ohio, and was a daughter of Jacob andAmanda Malvina (Crum) Ludwig. A daughter of Levi Carlton Sparks(Margaret Sparks Smith) wrote the following biographical sketch of herfather for the Cherry County, Nebr., Historical Society in 1968:

I do not know just what year he [Levi Carlton Sparks] in to Valentinebut believe it was 1884. He worked for his brothers in their stores onthe Pine Ridge Reservation and at Cody, Nebraska. While at the PineRidge store he learned the Sioux language and it was our understandingthat only one man in Valentine, Gary Shaw, was more proficient in it.While at the Pine Ridge store he had a negro cook who often said thathe and Mr. Sparks were the only white men on the reservation. TheIndians trusted my father and
were very friendly with him. One of my earliest recollections is ofmany Indians coming to our house on Sunday mornings, either to getFather to interpret for them or, in fancy dress, to allow my Mother tophotograph them. Mother's collection of Indian photographs was anextremely good one, second only to that of John Anderson at theRosebud Reservation. Unfortunately, it was burned when our houseburned in the 1920's.

Levi C. Sparks was County Superintendent of Schools for Cherry Countyin 1888-89, perhaps longer. He was married on August 13, 1889, toBertha Crum Ludwig, the Rev. John Bates officiating. The wedding datewas set up so Father would have a place to entertain the countyteachers during the County Teachers Institute, held just prior to theopening of the county schools.

He retained his interest in all educational matters for many yearsafter his terms as County
Superintendent and became friends with many of the instructors whocame to Valentine to teach at
the County Teachers Institutes and with the teachers in the county andValentine schools. He worked
hard to get the State Teachers College which is now at Chadron locatedinstead in Valentine. He
trained a number of young people in public speaking and many of themwere successful contestants
in statewide declamatory and debating contests.

When his term of office as County Superintendent was over, he workedfor Al Thatcher in his store
and in the Davenport store. Then he joined Sparks Brothers as apartner in their store at Cody and
moved to Cody to take charge of that store. About 1500, Mrs. Sparksinherited the Ludwig Lumber
Yard in Valentine from her half-brother, Daniel Ludwig, and the familymoved from Cody to Valentine.
Mr. Sparks became manager of the Lumber Yard, continuing there untilhe became paralyzed and
no longer able to work.

He was active in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the MasonicLodge, and the Order of the
Eastern Star. He was an active (and very vocal) member of theDemocratic Party. He was an active
member and very great supporter of St. John's Episcopal Church.

Levi Carlton and Bertha C. (Ludwig) Sparks were the parents of fivechildren: (here named.]

See his photo on page 1976 of the QUARTERLY and in the scrapbook.
***************

Levi Garred Sparks was born on August 29, 1901, in Rowan County,Kentucky. He worked in the brickmaking plant at Haldeman, Kentucky.He was married to Mary Conley on May 11, 1926. She had been born onAugust 11, 1905, and was a daughter of William and Amanda (Wellim)Conley. Levi Sparks died on February 17, 1976, and was buried in theConley Cemetery in Rowan County, Kentucky. He and Mary had fourteenchildren: Margaret Sparks, Levi Sparks, Jr.: Elizabeth Sparks, RuthSparks, John C. Sparks, Flossie Sparks, James E. Sparks, BessleSparks, Jack 0. Sparks, Mettie Lou Sparks, Ora Lee Sparks, CarlottaSparks, Rebecca Sparks, and Jerry Allen Sparks.

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, December 1996, Whole No. 176, pp. 4740-42:

"Levi Hansford Sparks, son of George and Nancy (Short) Sparks, wasborn on May 31, 1834, in Lawrence County, Kentucky, and was probablynamed for an uncle, Levi Sparks, the oldest brother of his father.Levi grew to manhood in the home of his parents, and when the 1850census was taken, they were living on the Liffle Fork of the LittleSandy River. By 1855, however, the family had moved to Big GimletCreek in neighboring Carter County. There, on November 10, 1855,Levi, now aged 21, and his brother, Colby Sparks, bought 508 acres ofland from David Whisman for $600.

"A personal description of Levi Sparks was given several years ago bya son, Colby C. Sparks. He said that his father was about six feettall and weighed about 185 pounds. He had blue eyes, dark hair, and afair complexion. He was also slightly bald-headed, but he had a fullbeard which he wore quite long. He had a fine voice for preaching.(JS: A picture of Levi and Nancy Jane (Lawson) Sparks appears on page4741 of THE SPARKS QUARTERLY.)

"On July 7, 1860, Levi H. Sparks was married to Nancy Jane Lawson inCarter County, Kentucky. They were married by Joseph Mauk, a justiceof the peace. Nancy had been born on November 6, 1838, in MorganCounty, Kentucky, and she was a daughter of James and Polly Lawson.When the census taker visited the home of Levi and Nancy on August 7,1860, they were living near Bruin, Kentucky. The census takerrecorded that Levi was a farmer, but it was also just about this timethat he was ordained a Baptist minister.

"When Elliott County, Kentucky, was formed from parts of Lawrence,Carter, and Morgan Counties, Big Gimlet Creek, where Levi Sparkslived, became a part of the new county, and on the 1870 census, he waslisted in Precinct No. 5. His post office was Newfoundland. He wasstill living in Precinct 5 when the 1880 census was taken.

"A church was organized at Bruin, Kentucky, in southern Carter County,and was named Rock Spring Baptist Church. It is no longer inexistence, but we have been told that there are still fragments of itsearly minutes some-where. It is said that these minutes indicate thatLevi Sparks became a member by experience on July 4, 1858. He wasapproved to offer public prayer in February 1860 and was ordained as aminister in 1869. He remained active in his ministry for the rest ofhis life, and he performed many marriages in Elliott County, includingthose of four of his children.

"Nancy Jane (Lawson) Sparks, wife of Levi H. Sparks, died on September11, 1906, in Elliott County, Kentucky, and was buried in theSparks-Lawson Cemetery near Ibex, Kentucky. Levi died on November 20,1911. He too, was buried in the Sparks-Lawson Cemetery near thegraves of his parents. In addition to the dates of his birth anddeath, the following epitaph, from St. Paul's Second Letter toTimothy, is engraved on his tombstone:
I have fought a good fight; I have finished my course; I have kept thefaith.
Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness.

"Levi H. and Nancy Jane (Lawson) Sparks were the parents of elevenchildren."

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, June 1996, Whole No. 174, p. 4638:

"Levi J. Sparks, son of Garrett and Betsy (Boggs) Sparks, was born onFebruary 19, 1831, in Lawrence County, Kentucky. It was there that hewas married to Mary ["Polly"] Gambill on January 15, 1859. She hadbeen born on October 26, 1837, and was a daughter of Henry andElizabeth (Holbrook) Gambill. Levi was practicing medicine when hewas mustered into the Union Army in March 1863 as a hospital steward.His wife gave birth to their third child a month later. Levi servedin the army until the fall of 1865 when he was discharged. (See anabstract of his pension file beginning on page 4665 of this issue ofthe QUARTERLY.) [JS: See below]

"After returning home from the military service, Levi Sparks continuedto practice medicine in Lawrence County. Polly died on April 4, 1887,and Levi was married (second) to Emily Boggs on July 26, 1890. Hedied on January 14, 1897. He had eleven children, all by his firstmarriage."

"CIVIL WAR PENSION APPLICATION

LEVI J. SPARKS, son of Garrett (or Garred) and Elizabeth (Boggs)Sparks, was born on February 19, 1831, in Lawrence County,Kentucky, and he died on January 14, 1897. He was married to (1)Mary Gambill on January 15, 1859, and (2) to Emily Boggs on January26, 1890. He served in Company B, 14th Regiment Kentucky Infantry.File Designations: Inv. Cert. No. 728,326; Wid. Cert. No. 853,898.

"Levi J. Sparks, aged 59, a resident of Martha, Kentucky, madeapplication for an invalid pension on September 1, 1890. He statedthat he had been enrolled on March 4, 1863, in Company B, 14thRegiment Kentucky Infantry as a hospital steward and had served untilhe had been discharged on September 15, 1865. He was now unable tosupport himself by manual labor because of a "rupture of both sidesand disease of leg." He appointed H. C. Osburn of Blaine, Kentucky, ashis attorney. T. D. Johnston and Edburd Osburn attested to thedeclaration.

"The War Department confirmed Sparks's military service to the Bureauof Pensions on June 22, 1891. Sparks had been enrolled at Louisa,Kentucky, on March 4, 1863, in Company B 14th Regiment KentuckyInfantry and had been mustered out on September 15, 1865, atLouisville, Kentucky. He had also served in the Field & Staff of the14th Regiment Veteran Infantry to which he had been transferred onFebruary 28, 1865, as a hospital steward. The Bureau of Pensionsissued Invalid Certificate No. 728,326 to Sparks, and he was placedupon the pension rolls. When he died on January 14, 1897, he wasreceiving a pension of $12.00 per month.

"Emily Sparks, widow of Levi, applied for a widow's pension under the1890 Act of Congress; her application was rejected, however, on May17, 1897, because she had not been married to Levi Sparks until afterthe passage of the act.

"On January 18, 1917, Emily Sparks, now a resident of Kendall,Washington, re-applied for a widow's pension under the provisions ofthe 1916 Act of Congress. She stated that she had been born on March19, 1853, at Louisa, Kentucky, and that she had been married to LeviSparks on July 26, 1890, at Blaine, Kentucky, by David Sturgill. Shehad never been married before, but her husband had been married to theformer Mary Gambill who had died in April 1887. Emily Sparks statedthat she and her husband had no children. Mrs. Ida Baxter and MissVerna Boggs witnessed the declaration, which was notarized by E. C.Baxter, a justice of the peace.

"On November 8, 1918, the Bureau of Pensions issued Widow CertificateNo. 853,898 to Emily Sparks, and she was placed upon the pension rollsat the rate of $25.00 per month. She died on July 13, 1939, atBellingham, Washington. On September 11, 1939, Mrs. Adda Starkapplied for reimbursement in the amount of $19.50 for expenses paidduring Mrs. Sparks's last illness. Accompanying the request was acopy of the death certificate of Emily Sparks. She was 86 years ofage at death, and had been born in Lawrence County, Kentucky; she wasa daughter of James and Matilda (Lyon) Boggs.

"On August 11, 1940, Florence M. Hardi, Los Angeles, California, arepresentative of the Daughters of the Union Veterans of the CivilWar, asked the Veterans Administration for the military records ofLevi J. Sparks, which would be used in admitting his granddaughtersinto that organization. The granddaughter who was interested injoining was a daughter of Dennis and Regina (Sparks) Lyon, of Fielden,Kentucky. The Veterans Administration sent Mrs. Hardi a resume ofSparks's military service on August 22, 1940.

"[Editor's Note: Levi J. Sparks was a son of Garrett and Elizabeth(Boggs) Sparks. See pp.4634-4647 of the present issue of theQUARTERLY for additional information about him and his family.)

Levi and his son Rocky Wayne Sparks died of carbon monoxide poisoningwhen their car stalled.

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, June 1986, Whole No. 134, pp. 2888-9:

"Levi N. Sparks, son of William and Mary (Fielder) Sparks, was born inMissisippi probably about 1812. (The "N" in his name may have been for"Nathan.") He went with his brother, Richard Sparks, to NacogdochesCounty, Texas, in 1834, and he was listed on the 1835 census of thatcounty. He participated in the war between Texas and Mexico, servingas a private in the Nacogdoches Volunteers commanded by Capt. J.Smith. He was with his nephew, Stephen F. Sparks, at the Battle ofSan Antonio. (See Item 4 beginning on page 2768 of the September 1985issue of the QUARTERLY.)

"After his military service ended, Levi returned to Nacogdoches Countywhere he married Louisa R. Tipps on June 5, 1838. She had been bornabout 1821 in Tennessee. When the 1840 census was taken of theRepublic of Texas, Levi and Louisa were living in Liberty County, butby 1846 they were in Limestone County where Levi paid a poll tax. Heapparently died in late 1847, and when the 1850 census was taken,Louisa was listed as head of her household in Rusk County, Texas. Shewas aged 28 years. Living with her was Elizabeth Wood, aged 40 andborn in South Carolina; Elizabeth may have been her sister. Levi andLouisa had no children, this according to a written statement by hisnephew, Stephen F. Sparks.

The settlement of the estate of Levi Sparks was fairly complicatedbecause of his scattered land holdings. The administrator of hisestate in Rusk County was George W. S. Tipps, probably of relative ofLevi's widow. At its January 1848 term, the Rusk County Court orderedTipps to make a final settlement of the estate. Settlement of theestate in other counties, however, tookmuch longer. On March 28,1853,Levi's estate was a matter of probate in Denton County, Texas. Hiswidow received two-thirds of a League & Labor of land while his otherheirs, John Sparks, Edy Simmons, and Sarah McAnulty, received theother one-third. A few months later, on August 1, 1853, land whichSparks had been granted "for storming of Bexar" was sold in ClayCounty, Texas. In another settlement of his estate in Cooke County,Texas, his heirs (James Simmons and his wife, et al) sold land toWilliam Howeth and William C. Twitty.

SQ p. 2568)

" Levin Davis Sparks, son of Elijah Sparks, was born about 1822. Hemarried Christiana Righter on July 9, 1846 in Delaware County, PA.They had at least one child, a daughter, Julia E. Sparks, born onAugust 11, 1849. Levin Sparks served in the 66th Regiment IndianaInfantry during the Civil War and died in the Andersonville (Georgia)Prison on July 7, 1864. Christiana received a Widow's Pension. Shedied on April 18, 1893. See SQ pg 2579 for an abstract of this pensionfile."

SQ p. 2579:

"CIVIL WAR PENSION APPLICATION OF LEVIN DAVIS SPARKS

LEVIN DAVIS SPARKS, son of Elijah and Elizabeth (Davis) Sparks, wasborn about 1820. He died on June 7, 1864, in the Andersonville (Ga.)Prison. He married Christiana Righter on July 9, 1846.
He served in Company D, 66th Regiment Indiana Infantry. FileDesignation: Wid. Cert. No. 82,308.

"On July 20, 1865, Christiana Sparks, age 56, a resident ofWilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, made an application for awidow's pension under the 1862 Act of Congress. She stated that shewas the widow of Levin Davis Sparks who had been a private in CompanyD, 66th Regiment Indiana Infantry Volunteers, commanded by Capt.Payne and who had died a prisoner of war at Andersonville, Georgia,about June 5, 1864. She said she had been married to Sparks on July9, 1846, at Marcus Hook, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, by the Rev.Joshua Humphrey. She stated that she had remained a widow and thatthe deceased had left only one child under the age of sixteen years,namely, Julia Arm Sparks, born on August 11, 1850. Christiana Sparkssigned the application by making her mark which was attested to by W.Y. McAllister and Agness A. Young who stated that they had known herfor 25 years. G. W. Kelly, Prothonotary of the District Court,acknowledged the deposition.

"The Adjutant General's Office verified the military service of LevinD. Sparks on May 17, 1866. He had enlisted in Company D, 66thRegiment Indiana Infantry Volunteers on August 19, 1862, at NewAlbany, Indiana, to serve for three years He died on June 7, 1864,while he was a Prisoner of War at Andersonville, Georgia, from"exposure and suffering incident to prison life."

"On September 26, 1865, the Rev. Joshua Humphreys, a Methodistminister, living in Somerset County, Maryland, confirmed the marriageof Levin Davis Sparks and Christiana Righter at Marcus Hook, DelawareCounty, Pennsylvania, on July 9, 1846. Christiana Sparks was issuedWidow's Certificate No. 82,308 and placed upon the pension rolls.

"On July 17, 1891, John H. Righter, a resident of Talleyville, NewCastle County, Delaware, made an application for a pension as thetrustee of a minor child of a Civil War veteran. He stated that hewas trustee of a child of Levin D. Sparks named Julia E. Sparks, bornAugust 11, 1849, who was deformed and mentally feeble at birth. Hesaid the reason no pension had been claimed for her at the time hermother's pension was approved was that she was so near the age ofsixteen years that a minor's pension was not considered worth theapplication. Robert C. Framm and Isaac A. Righter witnessed theapplication and also stated that the mother of Julia E. Sparks wasstill living aged about 80 years.

"There is nothing in the pension file provided by the NationalArchives to determine what action was taken on the application for apension for Julia E. Sparks. The last record in the file is a reportto drop Christiana Sparks from the pension rolls because of her deathon April 18, 1893.

(Editor's Note: See page 2568 of the present issue of THE SPARKSQUARTERLY for a record of the Sparks family to which Levin DavisSparks belonged.)"

SQ pp. 4655-56:

"Lewis Floyd Sparks was born on April 11, 1862, in Lawrence County,andit was there that he was married to Melvina Skaggs on February 15,1883. She had been born on January 22, 1864, and was a daughter ofWalter and Martha Johnson (Diles/Dials) Skaggs. Melvina and LewisFloyd went to housekeeping near Martha, Kentucky, but about 1900 theymoved to Elliott County, Kentucky, where they settled on Whites Creek. It was there that they lived for the rest of their lives.

"Emmitt Ratliff, a grandson of Lewis Floyd and Melvina (Skaggs)Sparks, has given us a glimpse of the lives of his grandparents. Hewrote: "I can remember visiting the farm of my grandfather where helived with his youngest son, Kenneth, and Kenneth's wife, Virgie. Theold house was a Lincoln-log design and was a two-story structure. Ithad a kitchen on one end and a combination living room and bedroom onthe other. A front porch extended the full length of the house. Ahand-dug well, lined with native stones, was in the front yard, and,in addition to the drinking water, it was also used to keep the milkcool in the summer by lowering it into the well. It was here thatfamily reunions were held for many years, and I didn't know just howmany relatives I had until they all showed up for the delicious food.Not only the relatives, but friends for miles around were also inattendance!"

"Melvina Sparks died on Whites Creek on October 15, 1928. Lewis Floyddied there on September 28, 1949. They were buried in the HayCemetery on Little Fork. They had eleven children: Stella Sparks,Nelson Tate Sparks, Meredith C. Sparks, Logan Monroe Sparks, RoseFrances Sparks, Ervan Roscoe Sparks, Walter Emory Sparks, Bertha MaeSparks, Esta Sparks, Glenn Ray Sparks, and Kenneth Sparks. (NelsonTate Sparks is a member of the cover picture. Esta Sparks was marriedto Paul Ratliff and they were the parents of Emmitt Ratliff who hadfurnished information and pictures for this article.)

See SQ p. 333 for birth information.

SQ 3862:

" Lewis Sinclair Sparks, son of Samuel and Nancy (Skaggs ) Sparks, wasborn on August 28, 1857. He was married three times. His firstmarriage was to Mary Ross on June 12, 1884, in Lawrence County. Shewas a daughter of Edford Ross. She and Lewis had four children beforeher death, which occurred about 1894. They were: Laura, Allen T.,Martha A., and John Houston Sparks.

"Lewis was married (2nd) to Lucy Ramey DeBord, probably about 1895 ,and they had five children: Alma, Nancy, Carrie, Lena and Lydia.Lewis was married (3rd) to Dicey A. Hay on September 13, 1935, inElliott County, Kentucky. He died in 1940.

SQ pg 1972: Liddy N. Sparks, born about 1841. She apparently diedyoung, sometime after 1850. She was listed as nine years old on the1850 census.