See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, March 1999, Whole No. 185, p. 5110:

"John Sparks was born November 2, 1865, in Lewis County. He became ablacksmith, but he is best remembered as a most capable baseball player.According to his obituary in the LEWIS COUNTY COURIER, he was given apersonal tryout i the 1890s by Wylie Pyatt, a star pitcher for thePhiladelphia Phillies. Pyatt was unable to strike Sparks out and offeredto take him to the spring training camp. Sparks declined the invitation.

"Sparks was also remembered as a staunch Republican who would travel afar distance to attend a rally. He was one of the mourners at PresidentHarding's funeral.

"John Sparks was married to Elizabeth Belle Essex on September 14,1884, in Lewis County. She had been born in April 1865 and was adaughter of Amaziah and Sarah (Frazee) Essex. Belle (as she was called)died on October 22, 1942, and John died on October 18, 1952. They wereburied in the Concord Cemetery. Photographs of them appear on thefollowing page (p. 5111). John and Elizabeth Belle (Essex) Sparks werethe parents of twelve children."

SQ pg 3940: John Sparks was an enterprising man and was electedjailor of Johnson County during the 1920s. They were the parents ofthirteen children: Mollie, Olma, William, Oakley, Roosevelt, Jarvie,Wonnie, Alma, Chester, Mona, Martha, James, and Maxie Sparks.
John and Missouri, his spouse, were second cousins.

MARRIAGE:
The marriage bond of John A. Sparks and Angha C. Hancock is dated atMorganfield, Union County, Kentucky, the 28th day of February, 1882 . Thebondsmen are John A. Sparks, Solomon Sparks and W. M. Hancock . Solomonis referred to in the bond as "S. S. Sparks" and the signature is "SolomSparks." John's occupation on the certificate is given as "Blacksmith".It states that he was born in Virginia, his father was born in Virginia,and his mother was born in Tennessee. Her name is not given.

DEATH:
UNION COUNTY KENTUCKY, DEATH RECORDS 1911-1950, FHL 976.9885 V38h , pg35:
"John A. Sparks, - (b.) April 19, 1862- (d.) Feb 11, 1924; Father:Solomon Sparks; Mother Margaret - - .
(sic) Sparks b. VA. - (buried)IOOF."
A certified copy of his death certificate (photocopy) is in the file.It includes his birth and death date. Father, Solomon Sparks, bornVirginia; Mother Margaret ---, born Virginia. He died of apoplexy(internal bleeding). Via the internet, I received the followinginformation from Kay Sloan whose mother is a sister of Harry A. Sparks:"Diane", (Diane [Sparks] Arnold) "is very anxious to learn of the historyof her father's family. Her line: Father: Harry F. Sparks married LottieWallace; Grandparents: John A. Sparks married Angha Hancock. Accordingto the "Union County Kentucky Newspaper Obituary Abstracts 1924-1927" byRuth Heffington: "John A. Sparks died Dec 1924, age 62. Born Abbington,Washington County, Virginia; Moved to Morganfield in 1872. Married in1882 to Angha Hancock who survives him . Children: Harry Sparks and Mrs.J. N. Martin. Brothers: Edward, Frank, George and Vance. Buried OddFellows Cemetery, Morganfield."

Great grandfather: Solomon Sparks married Margaret Seimes? Kay Sloanstates "According to the death certificate of John, and two of hisbrothers, their father was Solomon Sparks and their mother's name wasMargaret what looks to be Seimes although it is difficult to read." (Ihave a certified copy of the death certificate and Margaret's maiden namedoes not appear.]

SQ 1659-60: "John C. Sparks, son of Jonathan and Rachel (Swaim)Sparks, was born about 1838. He moved to Dallas County, Arkansas in the1850's . His age was given as 24 at the time of his enlistment in theConfederate Army in 1862.

When the 1860 census was taken of Dallas County, John C. Sparks waslisted as a farmer with real estate valued at $840 and personal propertyvalued at $180. He was apparently unmarried and was living in thehousehold of A. P . Henderson. His age was given as 29, but otherrecords would seem to indicate that this was an error and that he wasactually 22.

Like his brother, Jacobson Sparks, he was enrolled by Capt. McNeill inTulip, Dallas County, Arkansas, in Company F, Morgan's Battalion of the26th Arkansas Infantry, and they both travelled 7O miles to rendezvouswith their company in Little Rock on June 24, 1862. He was listed on hiscompany roll as present regularly until March 14, 1865 , when he
was hospitalized in Shreveport, La., with the disease "rubecola." (JS :This was probably "rubella" or German Measles; no "rubecola" is in thedict.) He was released from the hospital on March 21, 1865. We mayassume that he was
discharged soon after this date.

(John C. Sparks's middle name may have been Crockett--a descendant ofhis brother Solomon, named W. P. Drake, wrote in 1940 that Solomon had abrother named Crockett Sparks. A Crocket Sparks was living with wifeMartha in Dorsey County, Arkansas, in 188O, as was also a SolomonSparks.) John C. Sparks married Martha --- in the late 186O's. In 1870,when his family was given on the 1870 census of Dallas County, Arkansas,he and Martha had a nine-month-old son named Jacob E. Sparks, obviouslynamed for his brother who had been killed during the Civil War."

.

!NOTES:
SQ 3200: "John Calton Sparks, son of Isaiah S. and Charity (Willey)
Sparks, was born on February 4, 1875. He was married to Margaret Virginia
"Jennie" Edwards on September 7, 1897. She had been born on July 2 ,1877,
and was a daughter of Andrew Mack and Eliza (Richardson) Edwards. Sh edied
on April 13, 1935; John on December 24, 1961. They had 7 children:
Stella Clide, James A., Dewey Israel, Tressie May, Elmer Ray, Eliza Hazel,
and John L."
A picture of John Calton Sparks, Jennie (Edwards) Sparks, Dewey Sparks, James Sparks, Stella Sparks, and Tressie Sparks is found on Pag e4937 of the Sparks Quarterly.

SQ p. 5434:

"John Calvin Sparks, born July 21, 1843, was the only one of the foursons of Thomas and Catherine (Swaim) Sparks who survived the period ofthe Civil War. He was only 18 years old when, with his brother, WilliamAshley Sparks, he enlisted in Company H of the 12th Infantry Regiment ofSouth Carolina. Like his brother, he was severely wounded at the battlecalled "Second Manassas" by the Confederates, but called "Second BullRun" by the Federals. Shot in the left knee on August 29, 1862, he wasdischarged, and, according to family accounts, he was brought home in awagon."

"John Calvin was living with his widowed mother in York County, SouthCarolina, when the 1870 census was taken, but by 1873 he had been marriedto Nancy Dulsina Allison. On the census taken in 1900 of Catawba, YorkCounty, Nancy's date of birth was given as May 1845 in South Carolina;she was shown on that census as having had four children, three of whomwere then living. These three are known to have been Martha M. Sparks,born ca. 1874; John Thomas Sparks, born November 1, 1876; and WilliamFranklin Sparks, born July 16, 1881. (Further information on thesechildren of John Calvin Sparks is given below.)

"According to Reports and Resolutions of General Assembly of SouthCarolina, Vol. 1, 1903, in 1902, John C. Sparks applied to the state foran artificial leg, stating that he had been "shot through left leg andhas since used a crutch." The state had set up an "artificial fund" forits Civil War veterans, and John stated that he had "not heretoforeparticipated in [the] artificial fund." His application was rejected,probably because he had not actually lost his leg.

"John Calvin Sparks died a tragic death on December 2, 1902, having beenshot accidentally by his 15-year-old grandson, Thomas Calvin Collins,whose nickname was Cally. Ms. Pettus has provided us with a transcript ofthe detailed account of the incident and of the inquest that followed, asthey appeared in The Record, a newspaper published in Rock Hill, SouthCarolina, on December 5, 1902. The inquest resulted in

'a verdict by the jury that the deceased came to his death at thehands of Cally Collins as the result of
criminal carelessness in the handling of a pistol.... Collins indefault of a $1,000 bond was placed in
the city lock-up pending efforts to secure the bond or have itreduced. It was signed Thursday.'

In reporting the incident, The Record of December 2, 1902, had describedJohn Calvin Sparks as "a leading Friendship farmer, 59 years old," addingthat the accident had occurred "at the home of his son-in-law, J. J.Collins, in White Street near the Laurelwood Cemetery." In the issue ofDecember 5, 1902, the paper quoted the testimony of Martha M. (Sparks)Collins, Cally's mother:

"She said that the family were at the table eating supper, alllaughing and talking and in a "good
humor." The father had threatened to whip the boy during the day.Cally had finished eating and
arose from the table and was in the act of showing his father how hewould trip him off his feet if he
should attempt to whip him when the pistol dropped from his pocketand fired."

Nancy Dulcina (Allison) Sparks, widow of John Calvin Sparks, lived until1909. She was buried in the Old
Friendship Cemetery near Rock Hill, South Carolina.

The three children of John Calvin and Nancy Dulcina (Allison) Sparks tosurvive childhood were:
(For information on these children see their individual sheets.)

SQ: pg 743, Elliott County, Kentucky, Marriage Bonds (1869-1912): JohnC. Sparks and Mary E. Green, December 30, 1883 (Book 1, page 116)Witnesses: Isaac W. Sparks and Robert M. Green.

SQ: p. 4649:

"John Calvin Sparks was born on November 23, 1865. Calvin (as he wascalled) was married to Mary Elizabeth Green on December 30, 1883, inElliott County, Kentucky. She had been born about 1865 and was adaughter of James Madison and Mary Elizabeth (Mason) Green; thus she wasa sister of Robert Martin Green who was married to Calvin's sister, SenaSparks. (See Item C, 2, c, above.) Calvin and Mary Elizabeth had fourchildren: Sarah Rebecca Sparks, Marinda J. Sparks, Virgie T. Sparks, andBert L. Sparks. (Virgle T. Sparks, was married to Charles F. Sparks. Seepp. 1306-1307 of the March 1970 issue of the QUARTERLY, Whole No. 69.Bert L. Sparks was married to Carrie Sparks. See also Item C, 5, a,below. Both Bert Sparks and Virgie Sparks are in the cover picture ofthis issue of the QUARTERLY.)

The following article was sent by Pamela Wagoner (email address:wagonerp@@ohsu.edu] on March 6, 2000. It was taken from THE HISTORY OFJOHNSON COUNTY, MISSOURI, Biographies for Jackson Township, Pages931-947, Kansas City Historical Co., 1881.

"JOHN C. SPARKS,: P.O. Chapel Hill, Mo. Among the enterprising andsuccessful farmers of Jackson township, may be mentioned Mr. John C.Sparks, who was born in Surry county, North Carolina, June 5, 1815. Hisfather, Joel Sparks, and his mother were both natives of North Carolina.John C., the subject of this notice, went from his native state toIndiana in 1836; then to Missouri in 1842, stopping in Lafayette county.He was married July 9, to Miss Sarah M. Cobb, daughter of Maurice Cobb ofthis county. She was born, April 30, 1831, in Surry county, N.C. Mr.Sparks continued to reside in Lafayette county, until 1871, when he movedto this county, and settled in Jackson township.

"He has 257 acres of land, of which 165 acres are in cultivation, withgood residence, barn and out buildings. He received his education atsubscription schools in North Carolina. He commenced his career with nofortune except an untiring energy, and a pair of willing hands, and hasnever received any legacy. He (John C.) is father of thirteen children,all living, viz: Martha M., Maurice E., Arminda E., Joel W., Sarah C.,Mira J., John R., Mary E., Hattie A., Rosa B., Samuel N., Charley W. andWalter W.

Sarah C. was married March 3, 1875, to Frank Brannock. Mira J. wasmarried Dec. 13, 1874, to Edward Hampton. Arminda A. was married March4, 1880, to Frank Buelle. Hattie A. was married August 1, 1880, to DavidSisk. Martha M. was married in the fall of 1865, to Aaron Collins.Maurice E. was married in 1875, to Miss Amanda Brooks. Joel W. wasmarried in 1877, to Miss -----. John R. was married in 1879, to MissCassie Alambaw. Mr. John C. and wife are both members of the M.E.church."

Pamela Wagoner states, "II have cited Joel Sparks as:

1820 census- Surry county, page 674, no township, North Carolina
(census index only)
1830 census- Surry county, page 091, township L, North Carolina
(census index only)
1840 census- Wilkes county, page 085, Spicers, North Carolina (census
index only)
1850 census-District 46, Being, Lafayette, MO, age 62

"There appears to be only one Joel in North Carolina during this timeperiod, if the indexes are to be believed. The Joel Sparks in 1850Missouri, which I do have a photocopy of the census sheet, does show awife by the name of Mary, and I think he is the Joel Sparks buried inCobb cemetery, Johnson county, Missouri with a date contradiction on histombstone. He is buried next to a Mira Sparks, who must have been Mary.

"I don’t have my notebook with me ... so I can’t give you exactdocumentation.... If I remember correctly he had 2 small children in1850; Mary was about 26 years of age and if Mary was Mira, she died in1852....

I requested a death certificate on John C. from the Missouri archives,but the problem is if he died in Lafayette county, no records until 1910;but if he died in Johnson county, there just might be. These folks livedright on the county line, so it’s a crap shoot. If one exists, then somequestions just might be answered, although I kinda suspect that someoneelse would have come up with one before to answer those questionsalthough you said that it was thought that Joel died in Bates county."

* * * * *
See The SPARKS QUARTERLY, March, 1979, Whole No. 105, for the followingarticle at pg. 2093:

THE JOHN C. SPARKS FAMILY REUNION

Roy Sparks of 622 Sylvan, Emporia, Kansas (66801) has asked that weannounce that the golden anniversary of the John C. Sparks Family Reunionwill be held on September 9th at Dyer Park in Odessa, Missouri. Much hardwork and cooperation from the entire family have made this reunion asymbol of what family respect and love should be.

John C. Sparks was born on June 5, 1815, in Surry County, North Carolina,and died on October 24, 1896, in Johnson County, Missouri. He and hiswife, Sarah (Cobb) Sparks, were buried in the Cobb Cemetery near Odessa,Missouri. John C. Sparks was a son of Joel Sparks, Sr., who was born inSurry County, North Carolina; he moved to Lafayette County, Missouri,prior to 1850, where he died about 1861. The application of Joel Sparks,Sr. for bounty land based on his service in the War of 1812 wasabstracted in the QUARTERLY of September 1961 (Vol. IX, No. 3, Whole No.35, pp. 579-80.) He was a son of Matthew and Eunice Sparks of SurryCounty, North Carolina, and a grandson of William Sparks who moved fromFrederick County, Maryland, to North Carolina, about 1760.

All descendants of this family, including those of the brother of John C.Sparks, Joel Sparks, Jr., who was mortally wounded at the Battle of LoneJack during the Civil War, are invited to this reunion. Roy Sparks urges,"Bring a covered dish and spend the day with a remarkable and friendlyfamily."

* * * * *

SQ p. 5365:

John Christian Sparks, son of Joel Sparks and his first wife, was born onJune 15, 1815, in Surry County, North Carolina. He was married there onJuly 9, 1846, to Sarah Cobb, daughter of Maurice Cobb. They had moved toLafayette County, Missouri, by 1850; he moved with his family to JohnsonCounty, Missouri, in 1871, where he died on October 24, 1896. His wife,Sarah (Cobb) Sparks, died there on July 16, 1882. Following is a list oftheir children:
(1) Martha M. Sparks, born February 13, 1847; she was married in 1865 toWiliam Aaron Collins.
(2) Maurice E. Sparks, born May 2, 1848; he was married in 1875 to AmandaBrooks.
(3) Infant, born ca.1849, died in infancy.
(4) Arminda ["Minnie"] A. Sparks, born August 1, 1850; she was married toFrank Buell in 1880.
(5) Joel W. Sparks, born July 16, 1852; he was married to Addie Stevensin 1877
(6) Sarah ["Carrie"] Cardine Sparks, born November 28, 1854; she wasmarried to Frank Brannock in 1875.
(7) Mira Jane ["Jennie"] Sparks, born December 7, 1856; she was marriedto Noah Edward Hampton in 1874.
(8) John R. Sparks, born November 25, 1858; he was married to CatherineAllumbaugh in 1879.
(9) Mary Ellen Sparks, born January 16, 1861; she was married to CharlesWagoner.
(10) Hattie E. Sparks, born March 13, 1862; she was married to DanielSisk in 1880.
(11) Samuel N. Sparks, born October 20, 1865; he died young, unmarried.
(12) Rosa B. Sparks, born May 31, 1868; she was married to Clark Thomas.
(13) Charles Walter Sparks, born November 16, 1870; he was married toVicy Dyer in 1892.
(14) Walter Walker Sparks, born January 14, 1873; he was married toLovetta Proctor.

SQ 2922-2923 states: "John Clay Sparks, son of John and Rebecca(Wareham)
Sparks, was born on April 25, 1844. He served in Company K, 133rdRegiment
Pennsylvania Infantry with his brother, Joseph, during the Civil War and
received a pension in later years for his service. He never married . Hedied
on November 24, 1924. (See SQ Whole No. 132, p. 2818, for an abstract ofhis pension
file which follows next.)"

JOHN CLAY SPARKS, CIVIL WAR PENSION APPLICATION:

JOHN CLAY SPARKS,
son of John and Rebecca (Wareham) Sparks, wasborn on April
25, 1844, at Indian Springs, Pennsylvania. Heserved in Company
K, 133rd Regiment Pennsylvania Infantry; inCompany I, 194th
Regiment Pennsylvania Infantry; and inCompany C, 82nd
Regiment Pennsylvania Infantry. FileDesignation: Inv. Cert. No.
856,575.

"On August 2, 1890, John C. Sparks, aged 46, a resident of Everett,Pennsylvania, applied for an invalid pension. He stated that he hadenlisted on August 29, 1862, in Company K, 133rd Regiment PennsylvaniaInfantry and had served until he was discharged at Harrisburg,Pennsylvania, on May 26, 1863. He was now unable to earn his supportbecause of rheumatism and a disease of the eyes caused by his militaryservice. Lewis M. Piper and W. W. McDaniel witnessed his signature.

"The War Department confirmed Sparks's military service on February20, 1891, exactly as he had stated.on his application, however, nopension certificate was issued.

"On July 15, 1892, Sparks made a general affidavit to support hispension claim. He stated that in addition to his military service fromAugust 1862 until May 1863, he had served in Company I, 194th RegimentPennsylvania Infantry from July 1864, until November 1864 for a term of100 days and was then discharged. He had also served in Company C, 82ndRegiment Pennsylvania Infantry from November 1864 until July 13, 1865,when he had been discharged by the general order from the War Departmentat the end of the war.

"On April 26, 1897, the War Department again confirmed Sparks'smilitary service as he had stated it to be. The Bureau of Pensionsissued Invalid Certificate No. 856,575, and he was placed upon thepension roll.

"John C. Sparks applied for increased pension benefits on February 18,1907, under the 1907 Act of Congress. He said that he had been born onApril 25, 1844, at Indian Springs, Pennsylvania. He had been 5 feet, 10inches tall, with a fair complexion, dark eyes and black hair, and thathe had been a farmer when he entered the Union Army. He stated that hehad never been married. Since he left the service, he had lived inBedford County, Pennsylvania, except for a period (1876 to 1882) when hehad lived in Butte County, California. J. M. VanHorn and L. M. VanHornwitnessed his signature.

"When John C. Sparks died on November 24, 1924, at Everett,Pennsylvania, he was receiving a pension of $50.00 per month.

(Editor's Note: John C. Sparks [relatives say that the "C" was for"Clay"] was a son of John and Rebecca (Wareham) Sparks who appeared onthe 1850 and 1870 censuses of Bedford County, Pennsylvania. He was agrandson of Joseph, Jr. and Elizabeth (----) Sparks and a great-grandsonof Joseph, Sr. and Mary (McDaniel) Sparks. See pages 529-30 of the March1961 issue of the QUARTERLY, Whole No. 33, and pages 585-7 of theSeptember 1961 issue of the QUARTERLY, Whole. No. 36.)

SQ 5316:
John D.Sparks, son of Hampton and Jemima (Blue) Sparks, was born about1854. He was 11 years old in 1865 when his father was declared to be hislegal guardian.

See SQ 2969-2970 which includes a picture of John and states:

"John Ecker Naill Sparks, son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Naill) Sparks,was born on August 26, 1839, in Bedford County, PA. He was a young ladwhen his parents moved to Bureau County, Il. He served in the 57th and151st Regiments of the Illinois Infantry during the Civil War andreceived a pension for his service . (SeeWhole No. 133 for an abstract ofhis pension file[copied below]). On May 13, 1862 , he married Anna E.Barber at Geneseo, Henry County, IL. She was born on July 16, 1842, andBatavia, NY, and was a daughter of Joel and Rowena Fay Barber.

"After their marriage, John and Anna continued to live in BureauCounty until
1873 when they moved to Gordon, Nebraska. They stayed there until 1894when
they moved to Montrose, MO. They left Missouri in 1900 and moved toPagosa Springs, Colorado. John died there on August 31, 1912. Ann diedon November
15, 1921. They were the parents of ten children: Nellie Maria, FranklinErnest, Anna Blanche, Grace Rowena, Harry Lysinger, John Volney, VolneyLeroy, Forrest Herbert, Edna Elizabeth and Earl Grant Sparks."

*****

See SQ 2860-2861 for the following:

CIVIL WAR PENSION FILE

JOHN ECKER NAILL SPARKS, son of Joseph S. and Elizabeth (Naill) Sparks,was born on August 26, 1839, in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. He marriedAnna E. Barber on May 13, 1862, in Bureau County, Illinois. He served inthe 57th Regiment Illinois Infantry and in Company F, 151st RegimentIllinois Infantry. File Designations: Inv. Cert. No. 730,813; Wid.Cert. No. 751,093.

"John E. N. Sparks applied for an invalid pension on August 9, 1890.He was 51 years of age and a resident of Gordon, Nebraska. He statedthat he was enrolled on October 1, 1861, in the Band of the 57th RegimentIllinois Infantry and had served until he was discharged on March 20,1862. He said that during his military service he had contracted acatarrh which affected his back, he eyes and ears and had caused him tolose his teeth. He appointed James Tanner, Washington, D.C., as hisattorney. S. W. Lysinger and Frank S. Sow witnessed his signature.

"The War Department confirmed Sparks's military service on May 19,1891. He was enrolled as a musician in the 57th Regiment IllinoisInfantry on October 1, 1861, and had served until he was mustered out onMarch 20, 1862. In addition, he was enrolled on February 21, 1865, as alst lieutenant in Company F, 151st Regiment Illinois Infantry and hadserved until he was mustered out with his company on January 24, 1866.

"Invalid Certificate No. 730,813 was issued to Sparks, and he wasplaced upon the pension roll.

"On July 7, 1898, Sparks responded to a questionnaire from the Bureauof Pensions. He was a resident of Montrose, Missouri. He said he wasmarried to Anna E. Barber on May 13, 1862, at Geneseo, Illinois, by theRev. Cook; however, the license was issued in Bureau County, Illinois.They had seven children.

Frank E. Sparks, born May 29, 1867
Grace R. Sparks, born March 26, 1872
Harry L. Sparks, born June 5, 1874
Polney L. Sparks, born May 20, 1878
Forrest H. Sparks, born January 16, 1880
Edna E. Sparks, born July 19, 1882
Earl G. Sparks, born May 19, 1885

"On February 19, 1907, John E. N. Sparks, aged 67, a resident ofPagosa Springs, Colorado, applied for increased pension benefits underthe 1907 Act of Congress. He said he was enrolled at Quincy, Illinois,on February 21, 1865, as a lst lieutenant in Company F, 151st RegimentIllinois Volunteer Infantry and had served until he was mustered out withhis company on February 8, 1866. He had also served as a musician in the57th Regiment Illinois Infantry from October 1, 1861, until March 20,1862. He was 5 feet, 9 inches tall; he had a dark complexion, hazel eyesand dark hair; and he was a merchant. He was born on August 26, 1839, inBedford County, Pennsylvania. Since leaving the service, he lived inIllinois until 1873, in Nebraska until 1894, in Missouri until 1900, andin Colorado until the present time. E. W. Lacy and M. J. Bayleswitnessed his signature and the declaration was sworn to before EphraimK. Caldwell, Judge of Archuleta County, Colorado.

"John E. N. Sparks died on August 31, 1912, and on September 18, 1912,his widow, Anne E. Sparks, applied for a widow's pension. She statedthat she and Sparks were married on May 13, 1862. It was the firstmarriage for both. She appointed Edgar T. Gaddis, Washington, D.C., asher attorney. Edna E. Sparks and Harry L. Sparks witnessed her signature.

"On October 3, 1912, James Fletcher, Clerk of Bureau County, Illinois,sent the Bureau of Pensions a copy of the marriage record of John E. N.Sparks and Anna E. Barber. They were married on May 13, 1862, by J. T.Cook, Congll. Pastor.

"Widow Certificate No. 751,093 was issued to Anna E. Sparks, and shewas placed upon the pension roll.

"On September 25, 1916, Anna E. Sparks applied for increased pensionbenefits stating that she was born on July 16, 1842, at Batavia, New York.

"On February 8, 1922, Earl G. Sparks, son of Anna E. Sparks andproprietor of the O.K. Feed and Fuel Company, Pagosa Springs, Colorado,notified the Bureau of Pensions of the death of his mother on November15, 1921. At the time of her death, she was receiving a pension of$30.00 per month.

(Editor's Note: John E. N. Sparks was a grandson of Solomon Sparks(17601832) of Bedford County, Pennsylvania. For further details of thisfamily, see pages 585-587 of the September 1961 issue of the QUARTERLY,Whole No. 35, and pages 912-913 of the June 1965 issue of the QUARTERLY,Whole No. 50.)

SQ 2774: John Edgar Sparks, son of Hawk and Mollie (Davis) Sparks , wasborn on September 1, 1877. He was a physician in Floresville, Texas, andwrote an autobiographical book entitled, AN M. D. THE HARD WAY.Paragraphs from this book formed the article mentioned earlier thatappeared in the June 1965 issue of the QUARTERLY, Whole No. 50. (Seebelow.) Dr. Sparks was married to Tennie Madray on September 7, 1898. Shewas a daughter of Obadiah and Narcissus (Davis) Madray. Dr. Sparks diedon March 9, 1960. He and Tennie had four children: Alma, August E.,Lola, and Virgil Davis."

Excerpts from book:

MEMORIES OF A TEXAS CHILDHOOD

From the Autobiography of Dr. John E. Sparks

Editor's Note: The following paragraphs are taken from a copy of a bookcalled An M.D. the Hard Way by Dr. John E. Sparks, which was loaned tothe editor by Mr. E. F. Smith of Floresville, Texas. It was published byThe Naylor Company in San Antonio, Texas, in 1955. Dr. Sparks, theauthor, was born on September 1, 1877, near Waco, Texas. His father wasJames Hawkins Sparks, born July 29, 1844, at Nacogdoches, Texas. Hismother was Mary Ann Davis, born September 16, 1846. His parents weremarried on December 4, 1866. Dr. Sparks's paternal grandfather wasStephen Franklin Sparks, who was born in Yazoo County, Mississippi, onApril 7, 1819., and died at Rockport, Texas, on May 12, 1908. StephenFranklin Sparks emigrated to Texas with his parents, Richard andElizabeth (Cooper) Sparks, in 1834 and located in what is now SanAugustine County. He married Emily B. 'Whitaker on October 6, 1836. Shedied in McClellan County in January, 1855. He married, second, Jane M.Journey in December, 1856. When he died in 1908, Stephen F. Sparks wasthe last hero of the famous Battle of San Jacinto, fought on April 21,1836. Richard Sparks, father of Stephen F., was born about 1793 and wasa son of William Sparks, whose application for a pension for his servicein the American Revolution appeared in the Quarterly of March and June,1954. William Sparks was born April 3, 1761, near Salisbury, NorthCarolina. He was a son of Matthew and Sarah Sparks, about whom wepublished a long article in the June, 1961, issue of the Quarterly.)

"I saw the light for the first time September 1, 1877, in a log cabintwenty-five miles north of Waco, Texas, in Bosque County, where myparents were ranching. Our closest town was Valley Mills, nine milesfrom the ranch. When I was about one and a half years old I had a severespell of sickness, and no one thought I would ever live through it--noteven the family physician, who came horseback to see me every day for oneyear. I guess I was too tough for them; after one year I began torecuperate. I was about four years old when the log cabin was torn downand replaced by my father with a typical ranch house.

"I was one of nine children, having five sisters and three brothers.Our closest neighbor on the ranch was five miles away and ourtransportation was the horse. Some people had buggies. When I was sixyears old my father gave me a thousand sheep to herd. On foot we wouldtravel five to ten miles from home every day. He gave me a shepherd orcollie dog that had been trained to help me manage the sheep. We had nofences those days. A few people fenced their land. but those who did nothave land cut the fences down to let their stock have the free and openrange. One day a wolf ran into my flock and killed three sheep beforethe dog and I could stop him. My responsibility was very great for a boyof six years.

"We had about three or four months of school a year, and I was veryglad when school opened so I could get loose from those sheep. I had towalk four miles to school and Mother would fix me a lunch, usually of thefinest sausage and big biscuits. Mother rolled the biscuits out by hand.

"My father talked himself into trouble at church on one Sundaymorning. Father said, "I don't have a fence, but I had just as soon havemy barn set on fire as to have a fence cut." That same night, his barnwas set on fire and 1,000 bushels of corn were destroyed, and we camevery near losing a lot of the sheep. After that fire, twelve ranch menover the county paid a visit to all who they suspected of cutting fencesand starting fires and notified them that if another fence was cut or abarn or anything set on fire, they would swing by the neck until dead.All of this had a rather bad effect on me.

"My father did some farming on the ranch. He grew corn, oats, wheatand some cotton. The cotton seed was hauled off and dumped or put on thefarm for fertilizer. The people thought the seed was poisonous for stockand had no value of any kind. I did not like to herd sheep and did notlike farming, especially when I had to take the down row gathering corn.

"I had a little pony named Joe, and while I was only six years of age,I had to ride many nights to Valley Mills to get a doctor when someonewas sick, and some of us were sick very often. Going after the doctor inthe middle of the night was a lonely job, but for some cause or anotherit always fell to my lot to go for him. Between the ranch and ValleyMills, where the doctor lived, was the river. There was no bridge, andit seemed to me that river got up a great deal. However, we had oneplace to cross it. It was considered fairly safe, but not too safe,evidently, because quite a few people drowned at that crossing.

"One night when I was going after the doctor, the moon was shiningbright as day. I met a man -- on horseback, of course -- about a milebefore I got to the river. He stopped me and asked me if I was familiarwith the crossing. I told him I had been, but that I hadn't crossed theriver in a week or two and if it had changed any, I didn't know aboutit. He wondered where the crossing was. He said, "Well, the river isup, but not so much that you can't cross it without having to swim yourhorse. But only if you cross it just right. If you don't cross justright, there is a good deal of danger of you getting drowned there." Hetried to tell me how to cross it, and finally said, "I think I had bettergo back with you and show you how to cross it." He did go back and showme exactly how, and I had no trouble. Unfortunately, I didn't get thisgentleman's name and until this day I don't know who he was.

"I found the doctor at home that night. I didn't always find himthere, because he frequently was up the river or down the river on acase, and maybe you couldn't get him. But he was home that night. Hesaddled his old black single-footing horse and we were off. He asked meabout the river before we left, and I told him it was up some. It hadcome up to my pony's side nearly to the saddle--way above the stirrups Itold him. He said, "Well, I will tell you. I will take my leg off now,and then I won't have to take it off down at the river." He had a corkleg. He had lost his own leg when a team had run away several yearsbefore. So he swung that cork leg around his neck. The leg would havebeen ruined if it had got wet--soaking wet, at least. After we crossedthe stream, he put his leg back on and we rode to the ranch.

"I was very much pleased when I could find the doctor home, as then Iwould have company back. I was very fond of the doctor and evidently hewas pretty fond of me after having treated me for a whole year. Hetalked to me a great deal, when we had the chance, about my becoming adoctor. I guess he instilled that into me and I never recovered from it.

"We didn't have a bridge across this river, but we did have a foot-logwhere we could cross afoot when the river wasn't up. When the river wasup, you just didn't cross unless you took a chance of having to swim, andit was very swift.

"My father finally built a fence on the ranch. He put me to diggingsore post holes. I guess I was about seven years of age then, and we hadto dig the holes in almost solid rock. He gave me some fuse that wecalled dynamite fuse. The fuse was in sticks about one foot long, and hetold me to drill a hole down the middle of the post hole a few inchesdeep and put one end of the fuse down there and tamp it good and hard.Then I was to light the other and and run like the dickens. And that iswhat I did. It would blow out maybe three or four inches of rock, and Iwould dig that out. Then we would go through the same procedure again.Some days I dug two post holes, but most days I dug only one and part ofanother. That was a hard job for a big, strong men; for a kid sevenyears old it was almost impossible. However, I plugged away and got somepost holes dug.

"Things went along on the ranch about as they do on most ranches, Isuppose. There were not very many changes made the next year or two. Oneof my brothers, three year my senior, had a curvature of the spine. Itdidn't cripple him, but he was not as strong as I was and ever since Icould remember I could throw him down, out-run him or out-jump him. Sincehe was three years older than I, you ordinarily would have expected himto be able to handle me, but he couldn't. We were not together a greatdeal, however, because I -was doing one kind of work on the ranch and hewas doing another.

"Once, as I remember, somebody had taken the sheep herding job off ourhands and Daddy told this brother and me that we could go down in thewoods and chop up some stove wood. It was raining or had been raining orwas cold or something. We knew all about cutting wood., so we did gothere and cut some wood. Then I had an accident; I cut my foot. I cut avessel and lost a lot of blood. At the time, I was thirty or forty yardsaway from my brother, and I hollered at him to come over to me. My footwas bleeding so profusely that he became frightened. Nevertheless, hetook his handkerchief--or both our handkerchiefs--and tied the foot upthe best he could. Then he carried me most of the way back to thehouse. I don't know how he managed to do that, but he did.

"I was laid up quite a while with a bad foot. My parents didn't calla doctor; they didn't call him as a rule until they needed him badly.They treated my injury themselves. The foot finally got all right, but Iwas laid up with it for a long while. I still have a scar on that footand will always have.

"My father had a pair of old tooth forceps--rusty most of the time. Hepulled all our teeth while we were kids out there on the ranch. Whenevera tooth would start bothering us, Pa would get those old rusty, filthyforcepts off a plate or some- where. They had been laying there catchingdust for weeks and months, but he pulled a tooth out alright with them.I don't know how badly our teeth were infected at times, but we didn'tdie from the infection. We didn't have a dentist in those days, and thefamily doctors never filled a tooth. If he did anything for you, hepulled a bad tooth out. I can remember that these doctors didn't injectanything into the gum before pulling teeth. They didn't have anything toinject. Later they had cocaine, but it was so toxic that they seldomused it.

"I never saw my paternal grandmother cemily B. (Whitaker) Sparks, Shepassed away a long time before I was born. My grandfather StephenFranklin Sparks, married again several years after that, and I remembermy step-grandmother Jane M. (Journey) Sparks. of course, very well. Shewas almost -- well, she was a wonderful woman; and we all thought a greatdeal of her, too. But she didn't live with us like my maternalgrandmother did; so, naturally, we didn't have the opportunity to be withher as much. My grandfather married when his children were quite young,and she took that family in charge, in a real motherly mamer, and theywere all very fond of her. She was probably thirty-five or forty yearsof age when she married my grandfather. She had never married untilthen. But she knew about children. She took those children, with theyoungest just a baby--I think his mother passed away when he wasborn--brought them up to manhood and womanhood.

"My paternal grandfather was in the battle of Goliad and he was a SanJacinto veteran. He was not at the Alamo, but he was known throughoutTexas on account of being a veteran of San Jacinto and having fought theGoliad War. He used to tell us children great things about his war days,about the reason they could kill most of the Mexicans before they evenstarted shooting at them. The Mexicans smoked "cigaritos" he said, andthe Texans would see the fire on the end of their "cigaritos." They wouldshoot at the spark and down would come the Mexican. His grandchildrenwould sit up for hours until midnight or more to hear him tell about hisexperiences. It was pretty wonderful. ... When he came to Texas hepreempted quite a bit of land. I have heard my grandfather say that theycould buy a section of land for a pair of boots. I said, "Granddaddy,why didn't you buy up a lot of it?" He said, "Son, I didn't have theboots."

"That's right, they had hardly anything. They didn't have any money.One year my grandfather made a crop, and the only money he had was $1.75.They could trade dressed turkeys and deer skins for groceries theycouldn't raise themselves, such as sugar and coffee. I remember he saidhe and my grandmother went to church after he was married one Sunday.There was another lady there who had a new hat, a bomet it was calledthen, and my grandmother fell in love with that hat and wished that shehad one. It was so beautiful, that she was beside herself nearly. Well,Grand-father found out that the lady's husband had paid for the hat bykilling some wild turkeys and dressing them and sending them into town.So my grandfather, first thing Monday morning, went turkey hunting. Fromwhat he said, you could go anyplace nearly and kill as many turkeys asyou wanted. I don't know how many he killed, but he found out how manyit took to get a bonnet.

"They lived twenty miles from town. They had some slaves, and he puta Negro boy on a horse with the dressed turkeys the same day he killedthem, and sent them to town. It took the boy almost all day to getthere, and he didn't get home that night. But he got home the next day,and he had the bonnet. Men, back there, all had a hard time, but fromwhat history we can get, most of them were good to their families. Theywere just as good as they could be. Of course, circumstances were suchthat they couldn't be very good. They didn't have much to be good with.

"My grandfather was also a missionary preacher. He traveled in abuggy with a double team all over the country preaching the gospel. Hedidn't charge anything for it. I don't know whether his congregationstook up a collection or not, but not very likely. If they put anythingin the hat, it might have been a turkey. They certainly didn't have anymoney. I went with him many a time on these trips. I couldn't have beenover five years of age. Sundays, especially, he would go fifteen ortwenty miles to preach in a certain place. They didn't have any churchhouses. There were some school houses scattered about, and I think thatis where he preached. He took me along to open gates. At least., thatis the way I figured it....
(End of segment.)

.

!NOTES:
SQ p 3180: "John Edward Sparks was born on March 26, 1859, at Woodward,
(Dallas County) Iowa. He was married to Rebecca Miller on June 14, 1878, in
Boone County, Iowa. She was born on February 25, 1861, in Boone Coun ty
and was a daughter of James and Sarah (Stumbo) Miller. John Sparks d ied
on October 19, 1939, at Ogden, Iowa; Rebecca died at Armour, South Dakota,
on April 7, 1950. They were the parents of seven children, includin g one
who died at birth. The five who survived were:
(a) Edward J. Sparks was born on December 14, 1879. He died on December
9, 1960. He was married to Ella Fuhlendorf on September 23, 1 903,
and they had at least one child named Verna.
(b) Harry Herbert Sparks was born on August 30, 1881. He was marri edto
Minnie Belle Clabaugh on January 22, 1902. She was born on November
7, 1881, at Everett, Pennsylvania, and was a daughter of Ephri amand
Mary (Felton) Clabaugh. Harry and Minnie had seven children :Lloyd,
Roy, Ciola, Clyde, Dorothy, Dale and Ruth.
(c) Grover Cleve Sparks was born on October 12, 1884. He died o n May
25, 1977. He married Katherine E. Hansen on May 9, 1904, and t hey
had four children: Mamie, LeRoy, Hazel and Archie.
(d) Harvey Sparks was born on January 12, 1890. He died on Januar y26,
1970.
(e) Mae Sparks was born on May 6, 1903. She died on November 10 ,1959.
She married Julius Scherbarth on March 6, 1923, and they had t wochildren: Virginia and Elzie.

SQ pps 3400-01:

"John Elliott Sparks, son of Nelson and Peggy (Mauk) Sparks, was bornon June 22, 1847, in Carter County. He was about 5 feet, 6 inches tall;he weighed about 175 pounds; and he had brown hair and eyes. During hislifetime, he was a school teacher, a surveyor, and a farmer. He was aRepublican in politics and was elected as a justice of the peace inElliott County. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge.

"According to the family Bible (now in the possession of agranddaughter, Blanche Holmberg), John Elliott Sparks married Elizabeth"Lizzie" Boggs on March 18, 1873, at the home of her parents in ElliottCounty. She was born on December 1, 1852, in Carter County and was adaughter of Hugh and Louisa (Whitt) Boggs, natives of Virginia .Witnesses to the marriage were Leander C. Sparks and Dock Boggs.

"John Elliott Sparks, son of Nelson and Peggy (Mauk) Sparks, died onFebruary 17, 1910. Lizzie, his wife, died on May 22, 1944. They wereburied in the Sparks Cemetery on Big Gimlet Creek. They had ninechildren, including an unnamed son who lived only three days."

John E. Sparks is found in the 1870 US Census for Little Fork, ElliottCounty, KY, living next door to the family of his brother Peter P.Sparks. He is shown as 23 years of age born in Kentucky, living alone.It is interesting to note that he and his siblings are descended fromWilliam Sparks of England, both through Joseph on their father's side andthrough William on their mother's side. They are one generation closerto William I through their father.

See SQ p. 754:

"John F. Sparks, son of Ezra and Mahala (Shriver) Sparks, was bornabout 1825 at Winchester, Ohio. He never married. He was a surveyor.The date of his death is not known, but he was buried in Troy, MIssouri."

See the SPARKS QUARTERLY for June, 1962, Whole No. 42, pg 743: ELLIOTTCOUNTY, KENTUCKY, MARRIAGE BONDS (1869-1912):
John F. Sparks & Lynne (sic) Waddle, June 22, 1883. (Book 1, pg 114)Witness: Leborn Sparks; married at home of Susan Waddell. Married byLevi H. Sparks, minister.

John Floyd Sparks, son of Levi and Nancy Jane (Lawson) Sparks, was bornon May 2, 1862. He was married to Laura Belle Waddell on June 22, 1883,in Elliott County, with his father, the Rev. Levi Sparks, performing themarriage ceremony. Belle (as she was called) had been born on May 5,1865; she was a daughter of Jordan S. and Frances Susan (Pennington)Waddell. She and John had four children before her untimely death onApril 6, 1890, probably when their fourth child was born. She was buriedin the Sparks-Lawson Cemetery near Ibex, Kentucky.

SQ p. 1501:

John Franklin Sparks, son of Jonas and Elizabeth (Knox) Sparks, was bornabout 1827. He was married to Cyntha Bradshaw in 1849 (marriage bond inNicholas County dated August 23, 1849). John Franklin Sparks was stillliving in 1880 when he was listed on the census of Nicholas County as 54years old, By November 1885, however, he had died, On that date,corncommissioners met in Nicholas County to determine how his land shouldbe divided among his heirs, and the actual division was made during theFebruary term of Court, 1886. Named in the division of his estate(Nicholas County Inventories and Appeasement Book 1, p. 588) his heirswere named as Cynthia A. Sparks, widow; Jonas A. Sparks; Samuel G.Sparks; John J. Sparks; David W. Sparks; Josephine Alexander; Ida M.Sparks; and Margaret M. Sparks. From census records it appears that JohnFranklin and Cyntha (Bradahaw) Sparks were the parents of the followingchildren: [See family group sheet.]

.

!NOTES:
SQ pg 3357: "...He is quite likely to have been the J. F. Spark s who
enlisted at Sabine Pass, Texas, on May 8, 1864, in A. W. Spaights Battalion
Texas Volunteers, Confederate States Army. (See the December 1969 is sueof the
QUARTERLY, Whole No. 68, pg 1281, for a record of his military servic e."

SQ 2782:

"John Franklin ("Frank") Sparks, son of Thomas and Milly (Smith)Sparks, was born on March 23, 1851. He married Mary Lucy Ann ---,probably about 1872. Mary Lucy Ann was born in Alabama on September 8,1855 . When the 1880 census was taken of McLennan County, Frank and Maryhad three children. Relatives say that they had six more children bornto them later. Frank died on April 19, 1931, and Mary died on September4, 1939. They are believed to have had the following nine children:

(1) Lelia Sparks was born about 1872. She married a man namedDawson ; they lived at Iredell, Texas.
(2) Andrew Jackson ("Jack") Sparks was born about 1877. He lived atFort Worth, Texas.
(3) William C. Sparks was born on January 21, 1880. He married InaChatham. She was born on January 4, 1881. William died on February14, 1905, and after his death, Ina married a man named Dawson. Shedied in 1948.
(4) Nora Sparks married Bud Smith.
(5) Myrtle Sparks was married twice. Her first marriage was to aman named Lott; her second was to a man named Everetts.
(6) Ella May Sparks married Bill Davis.
(7) Ola Sparks is said to have never married.
(8) Thomas Benton Sparks lived at Dublin, Texas.
(9) Oran Sparks lived at Iredell, Texas.

NOTE: There is a picture of John Franklin and Mary Lucy Ann sparks inTHE SPARKS QUARTERLY at page 2781.

SQ 1087: John Henry Sparks, without doubt the oldest son of Jonas andMary (Brown) Sparks, was born about 1818. He was married three times. Hisfirst wife was Matilda Holloway, who died on May 25 or 26, 1854, upon thebirth of a son. John Henry Sparks was married to Rebecca Mitchell, hissecond wife, on April 23, 1855. His third wife was Sallie Pruett. By hisfirst wife, John Henry Sparks is believed to have had the followingchildren:

(1) Jonas Sparks, born about1842; he married Lucy Harrison in Tazewell
County in 1865;
(2) William Sparks, bornabout 1844;
(3) Martha Sparks, born about1848;
(4) Joseph Sparks, born about1851, and
(5) John Henry Sparks, Jr.,born February 25, 1854; he was reared by his
grandparents andmarried Lucinda Asbury. By his second wife
(Rebecca Mitchell)John Henry Sparks had a daughter named Melissa,
born about 1857.There were probably other children born after 1860.

SQ 3269:

"John Henry Sparks, son of Jonas and Mary (Brown) Sparks , was bornabout 1819 in Wilkes County, North Carolina. He was married three times.His first marriage was to Sarah Matilda Hankins, probably about 1840 inNorth Carolina. She was a daughter of James Hankins. She died onFebruary 25, 1854, in Tazewell County, Virginia. On April 23, 1855, JohnHenry Sparks married (2nd) Rebecca Mitchell in Tazewell County. She wasborn about 1820 and was a daughter to John and Sarah (Hankins) Mitchell.She apparently died about 1871, and John Henry married (3rd) Sarah A.Pruitt on September 21, 1871, in Tazewell County. He died on February 9,1888. He had eight children. Those by his first marriage were: Jonas,William, Martha, Joseph, and John Henry, Jr. By his second marriage hehad: Melissa, Reuben and Rebecca. He had no children by his lastmarriage."

SQ p. 2630:

"John Henry Sparks, son of Thomas and Martha (Loveless) Sparks, wasprobably born about 1854.
He was not listed in the household of his father when the 1860 census wastaken, so he may have died
when quite young."

SQ 2523: "John Henry Sparks, son of George and Elizabeth (Morgan )Sparks, was born on January 27, 1859, in Georgia. He married Mary DeLila (Mollie) Lane on May 26, 1881, in McLennan County, Texas. They weremarried by the Rev. T. M. L. Duncan, M.G. Mollie was born on December24, 1865, and was a daughter of Robert R. and Jemnia M. (Connor) Lane.John Henry died on June 26, 1935, in Fort Worth, Texas. Mollie diedthere also on June 29, 1956. They had five children..(all of whom appearin a photograph on SQ pg 2523.)"

Other photographs of John Henry Sparks and Mary DeLila (Lane) Sparks
appear on pages 3309 and 3314 of the Quarterly.

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

SPARKS QUARTERLY, December 1988, Whole No. 144, p 3314-3315:

"John Henry Sparks, son of George and Elizabeth (Morgan) Sparks, wasborn on January 27, 1859, in Georgia. He was married to Mary DeLila"Mollie" Lane on May 26, 1881, in McLennan County, Texas. They weremarried by the Rev.T. M. L. Duncan, M.G. Mollie was born on December 24,1865, and was the daughter of Robert R. and Jemima Menefee (Connor)Lane. After their marriage, John farmed for several years and then wentinto the construction business. His company was active in helping buildrailroads in the early part of the century. Primarily they builtrailroad beds. They also did other work, such as roads, dams, bridges,etc. They worked in Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, North Carolina,Oklahoma Indian Territory, and all over Texas. (See the cover of theDecember 1988 issue, Whole No. 144, for a photograph of a company worksite.]

"During these years, they lived in tents in "camp" wherever their jobstook them. They moved between jobs by wagon when they were nearby, andby train when they were far apart. The children were taught by tutors incamp; none of them attended formal schools.

"About 1915, John moved to Fort Worth, Texas, and made his permanenthome. All of his children and most of his grandchildren also made FortWorth their home as well. Two projects in the city are visible remindersto John 's descendants. He helped to build Exchange Avenue, a brickstreet in the historic
Stockyards area of Fort Worth. He also did the grading, leveling, andlayout of Rose Hill Cemetary. He also was a policeman in Niles City, asmall incorporated area which is now a part of Fort Worth.

"John Henry Sparks died on June 26, 1935, in Fort Worth, Texas. Molliedied there also, on June 29, 1956. Both were buried in Mount OlivetCemetary in Fort Worth. They had twelve children, but only five of themlived to adulthood. They were [details on pps 3315-18]"

Baby Boy Sparks, John Henry Sparks, Jr., William Oscar Sparks, Edna EarlSparks, Theophilus Sparks, George Robert Sparks, Claude Sparks, InfantSparks, Byron Sparks, Mary D. Lila Sparks, Benjamin Franklin CharlieTaylor " Ben" Sparks, and Hazle Dell Sparks."

See notes of his father regarding John Henry Sparks and his sonWilliam D. Sparks.

.
!NOTES:
SQ pg 3470: His children were Robert Lee and Ethyl.

SQ pg 4071: He was married to Dora Fannin. They had no children.

**********

See p. 2175 of the December, 1979 issue of the QUARTERLY, Whole No. 108

FAMILY OF JOHN HENRY SPARKS, JR., 1854-1936

In the QUARTERLY of September 1967, Vol. XV, No. 3, Whole No. 59, wepublished an article on the Descendants of Solomon and Sarah Sparks, ofMaryland and North Carolina, through their son, Reuben Sparks(ca.1755-1810). On page 1087 of this article, we noted that John HenrySparks, born about 1818, was a son of Jonas and Mary (Brown) Sparks and agrandson of Reuben and Cassie (Buttery) Sparks. This John Henry Sparksand his first wife, whose name was given as Matilda Holloway, had a sonnamed John Henry Sparks, Jr. born February 25, 1854.

A descendant of John Henry Sparks, Jr. is Fielden K. Mitchell of Rt. 2,Airville, Pa. (17302). He has provided us with a list of John HenrySparks, Jr.'s children. Mr. Mitchell also gives SARAH MATILDA HANKINS asthe first wife of John Henry Sparks, Sr. rather than Matilda Holloway as
stated in the article.

John Henry Sparks, Jr. was born in Tazewell County, Virginia, on Feb. 25,1854. He was married on August 28, 1873, to Lucinda (or Lucy) Asbury,daughter of Fielding Kirk and Martha (Harrison) Asbury, who was born inTazewell County on March 4, 1855, He died on Sept. 27, 1936, at StonyRidge, Tazewell County, Va. She died there one day later, on Sept. 28,1936. They were the parents of 13 children, all born at Dry Fork,Tazewell County, Va.:

1. Fielding Kirk Sparks, born Dec. 1, 1874 and died in May 1955. Hemarried Victoria Shrader.
2. Launa Almeda Sparks, born March 20, 1876, died May 13, 1948, inPylesville, Harford County, Md. She married in 1895 Thomas P. Beavers.
3. Mary M. Sparks, born June 3, 1877, died Oct. 7, 1936. She marriedHugh Shrader.
4. Martha Elizabeth Sparks, born Aug. 19, 1879, died Oct. 10, 1961.She married James Beavers.
5. Walter Thomas Sparks, born April 14, 1882, died Oct. 11, 1936. Hemarried (1st) Fannie Cameron and (2d) Jennie Miller.
6. Hannah Jane Sparks, born March 20, 1884, died March 20, 1927. Shemarried Zachariah T. Mitchell.
7. Laura Miller Sparks, born July 6, 1887, died Oct. 17, 1955, atBluefield, Mercer Co., W. Va. She married Milton Landan Hankins.
8. Carrie Caroline Sparks (twin of Laura), born July 6, 1887, diedJune 22, 1967. She married Ezra Whitt.
9. Polly Amanda Sparks, born Jan. 25, 1890, died June 25, 1973, inCedar Bluff, Va. She married in 1909 Monroe Boothe.
10. Malicia Rebecca Sparks, born August 22, 1891, died May 9, 1919.She married James Crouse.
11. Columbus M. Sparks, born August 22, 1893. He married PattieHarrison.
12. Charles W. Sparks, born Oct. 24, 1895, died Sept. 18, 1962. Hemarried Julia Mae Whitt.
13. Oliver Eugene Sparks, born July 27, 1898, died Oct. 19, 1963, inCleveland, Ohio. He married Effie Cameron.

[Scanner's note: The above correction and a note have been placedin Whole No. 59.]

SQ 3270: "John Henry Sparks, Jr. was born on February 25, 1854, inTazewell County, Virginia. It was there that he married Lucinda "Lucy"Asbury on August 28, 1873. She was born on March 4, 1855, and was adaughter of Fielding Kirk and Martha (Harrison) Asbury. John Henry diedon September 27, 1936, at Stony Ridge, Virginia. Lucy died the followingday. They were the parents of thirteen children. (See also p. 2175 ofthe December, 1979 issue of the QUARTERLY, Whole No. 108, for otherinformation
about the family of this couple). (JS Note: See note about their deathin notes for Mary Matilda Sparks Shrader.)

(1) Fielding Kirk Sparks b. Dec 1, 1874; d. May 1955. m. VictoriaShrader.
(2) Launa Almeda Sparks b. Mar 20 1876. d. May 13, 1948, inPylesville, Maryland. She m. Thomas P. Beavers in 1895.
(3) Mary M. Sparks b. Jun 3 1877. d. Oct 10 1961. She married HughShrader.
(4) Martha Elizabeth Sparks b. Aug 19, 1879. d. Oct 10, 1961. m. JamesBeavers.
(5) Walter Thomas Sparks v. Apr 14, 1882. d. Oct 11, 1936. He married(1st) Fannie Cameron and (2nd) Jennie Miller.
(6) Hannah Jane Sparks b Mar 20 1884. d Mar 20 1927. She MarriedZachariah T. Mitchell.
(7) Laura Miller Sparks b Jul 6 1887. d. Oct 17 1955 at Bluefield WV.She married Milton Landan Hankins.
(8) Carrie Caroline Sparks (twin of Laura) b Jul 6, 1887. d Jun 22 ,1967. She married Ezra Whitt.
(9) Polly Amanda Sparks b. Jan 25 1890. d. Jun 25, 1973 at CedarBluff, VA. She married Monroe Boothe in 1909.
(10) Malicia Rebecca Sparks b Aug 22 1891. d. May 9, 1919. She married James Crouse.
(11) Columbus M. Sparks b. Aug 22 1891. He married Pattie Harrison.
(12) Charles W. Sparks b. Oct 24 1895. d. Sept 18, 1962. m. Julia MaeWhitt.
(13) Oliver Eugene Sparks b. Jul 27, 1898. d. Oct 19 1963 in Cleveland,Ohio. He married Effie Cameron."

The following information concerning Sherman Sparks was received by emailfrom Daryll Sparks dsparky@@insightbb.com on July 23, 2004. I have noother source for this data.

John Jackson Sparks
July 9, 1864 - Nov 25, 1923

John Jackson was a farmer by trade; one of 15 children born to SolomonSparks and Helen Birchfield. He married Sarah Rebecca Cox on October 11,1887 and their first of six children born was Sherman Sparks on June 7,1888, died on June 16, 1944; Everett born on 1890, died on 1971 and othersiblings Jane, Lucy and Viola I am unsure of their birth dates. Eddie,who was the last child, was born on April 25, 1900, and died on Dec 11,1964. Shortly after the birth of Eddie, Sarah died that same year. Sometime after the turn of the century, John Jackson married again to aMargaret Benion and they may have had as many as seven children betweenthem. His obituary gives their names along with his children from hisfirst marriage to Sarah. John Jackson's death record lists him at thetime of his death as a widower. When reading his obituary, it states thathe was a very honest and kind gentleman and he suffered eight months withtuberculosis and died at the home of his son-in-law. He is buried inSugar Creek Cemetery in Ironton, Ohio and he has no gravestone or marker.Sugar Creek Cemetery has no records showing where he is buried since itis a small country cemetery.

.
!NOTES:
SQ pg 3469: He married Ester Sisemore in 1925 and they had five sons: Edgar, Truett, Wylie, Kenneth, and Gerald Sparks.

See SQ 102 for record of John Sparks Jr., his marriage to Mary Fieldsin 1816 and the birth of their 8 children. He served in the 10th Companyof the North Carolina Militia as a rifleman in the War of 1812.

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

SQ p. 2272: 5. John Sparks, Jr., probably born about 1785, probably diedabout 1865; married Mary Fields, probably about 1815; appeared on the1820,1830, 1840, and 1860 censuses of Wilkes County, North Carolina.

SQ 100: "John L. Sparks, born about 1820; married Mary Hays."

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, March 1993, Whole No. 161, pp 4065-4074:

JOHN L . SPARKS (ca. 1820-1893) SON OF LEVI AND SARAH (LYON) SPARKS

"[Editor's Note: Recent articles in the QUARTERLY dealing with theguerilla warfare which pervaded Kentucky during and after the Civil Warhave provoked quite a bit of interest among our readers. Another "story"has now come to us about guerilla activities in Lawrence County,Kentucky, and involves John L. Sparks, the youngest son of Levi and Sarah(Lyon) Sparks. In retelling this word-of-mouth tale, we have also addedinformation about John L. Sparks and his family. I

"John L. Sparks, son of Levi and Sarah (Lyon) Sparks, was born about1820 in Wilkes County, North Carolina, and was carried as a baby toLawrence County where his parents settled on the headwaters of Big BlaineCreek about 1821. He grew to maturity in the home of his parents andwhen fully grown, he was a tall, thin man. He was married to Mary["Polly"] Hay about 1850. She had been born about 1822 and was adaughter of James and Elizabeth (Johnson) Hay. John L. and Polly livedon what is referred to today as the "Calvin Dobyns farm" on upper BlaineCreek. His neighbors included his brothers, Calvin Sparks and WileySparks.

"The family of John L. and Polly Sparks expanded rapidly during the1850-1860 decade. When the 1860 census was taken, they had threechildren living in their household: Sarrilda, Elizabeth, and Wilburn.Children who had been born to them, but who had died shortly after birthwere: James, Levi, and Sarah. John L. Sparks's parents had also diedduring the decade; Levi Sparks in 1851 and Sarah (Lyon) Sparks in 1855.

"Levi Sparks, father of John L. Sparks, had been born on October 2,1778, and was a son of John and Sarah (Shores) Sparks; see the QUARTERLYof December 1955, Whole No. 12, pp. 93-104, and the QUARTERLY of March1981, Whole No. 113, pp. 2269-2272, for articles on the family of Johnand Sarah (Shores) Sparks, along with references to other articles onthis branch of the Sparks family.

"The political activities of Congress involving slavery were debatedin the little communities all across the nation, and citizens began totake positions for and against the right of a state to act against thefederal government. The Sparkses of Lawrence County also took sides, andby 1861 it was apparent that most of sons and grandsons of Levi Sparkswere on the side of the federal government. A notable exception was hisson, John L. Sparks, and it came as no surprise that, when the twofactions declared open warfare, he joined the side of the states' rightssupporters.

"On October 25, 1861, John L. Sparks, along with some of his relativesand neighbors, rode to nearby Prestonsburg, Kentucky, where he enlistedas a private in Company D, 5th Regiment Kentucky Infantry (Mounted),Confederate States Army. His term of service was for twelve months.

"Confederate forces fared poorly in eastern Kentucky, and by thesummer of 1862 they had been driven to the headwaters of the Big SandyRiver in southwestern Virginia. Many of the men left their militaryunits and returned home. Others joined loosely-knit organizations called"Partisan Rangers" or "Home Guards," whose duties involved protecting thelocal citizens. These organizations also provided opportunities forpersonal grievances to become military objectives; thus the viciousguerilla warfare, or "bush-whacking," became established, a practicewhich continued several years after the Civil War was over.

"For some reason, John L. Sparks fell out with his half-brother,Garrett Sparks. As the story was handed down, John L. went to Garrett'shouse to find something (unnamed) and ransacked the rooms, even rippingthe feather beds apart. Perhaps this incident provoked furtherviolence. On April 24, 1865, John L. Sparks (accompanied by othermembers of his organization) is alleged to have ambushed Hugh Boggs andJim Boggs (ex-Union soldiers and nephews of the wife of Garrett Sparks)while they were working in a field near the mouth of Collier Creek. Bothmen were killed.

"After the shooting, John L. Sparks fled to Scott County, Virginia,where Jesse Boggs, brother of the slain Hugh Boggs, caught up with him.Boggs shot Sparks and left him for dead, but, somehow, Sparks survived.He remained in Virginia, however, for the rest of his life, and even hisclose relatives apparently had little contact with him.

"Little more is known about the life of John L. Sparks after he leftKentucky. He was rejoined by his family, and a son was born to him andPolly in Virginia in 1868. He began the practice of medicine there andwas generally known as "Doctor Sparks." He died in 1893 according todescendants. Polly continued to live in Virginia and died there about1900. They were the parents of ten children, but apparently only five ofthem reached maturity.

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, June 1987, Whole No. 138, pps 3078-9:
"John M. Sparks, born March 11, 1843; he died on January 8, 1873, nearCorrectionville, Iowa, during a blizzard -- he and a neighbor who hadgone after wood became lost. He served in Company E of the 30th RegimentWisconsin Volunteers in the Civil War. He married Caroline Hake in GrantCounty, Wisconsin, on March 8, 1866. She was still living in 1929 when,at the age of 87 and a resident of Pierre, South Dakota, she applied fora pension based on her husband's service in the Civil War. She named herchildren."

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, June 1989, Whole No. 146, pps 3434-5:

Abstract of the Pension Records for John M Sparks:
JOHN M. SPARKS, son of John and Mary "Polly" (Kirkpatrick) Sparks , was
born on March 11, 1843, in Wisconsin. On March 8 ,1866, he was married to Caroline Hake in Grant County , Wisconsin. Heserved in Company E, 30th Regiment Wisconsin Volunteers. He diedon January 8, 1873, in Woodbury
County, Iowa. File Designation: Wid App No. 1,642,128.

On August 16, 1865, John M. Sparks, a private in Company E, commandedby Capt. D. D. Chappell, of the 30th Regiment Wisconsin Infantr yVolunteers, was given a Certificate of Disability for Discharge at thePost Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky. Capt. Chappell stated that Sparkshad enrolled at Mineral Point, Wisconsin, on August 3, 1862, to serve forthree years. Sparks was 19 years of age; he was 5 feet, 8 1/2 inches inheight; he had a dark complexion, hazel eyes, and light hair; and he wasa farmer. For the past 60 days, he had been unfit for duty because of avalvular disease of the heart, history unknown. Sparks's address wasWashburn, Grant Co., Wisconsin.

On May 1, 1929, Caroline Sparks, aged 87 years, a resident of Pierre,South Dakota, applied for a widow's pension under the 1920 Act ofCongress. She said that she was the widow of John M. Sparks who hadserved in Company E, 30th Regiment Wisconsin Volunteers from August 13,1862, until August 16, 1865. Sparks had died on January 8, 1873, atCorrectionville, Iowa. She and Sparks had been married on March 8, 1866,at Lisbon, Grant County, Wisconsin, by John Williams, a justice of thepeace. She was married under her maiden name of Caroline Hake. It wasthe first marriage for both. Children born to this union were:
Wesley B. Sparks, born January 18, 1867
William L. Sparks, born April 7, 1868
Nellie E. Sparks, born November 6, 1871
John E. Sparks, born September 28, 1872

Mrs. Sparks appointed John J. O'Brien, Washington, D.C., as herattorney, Samuel A. McGuffee and James W. Cox witnessed her signature.

On July 2, 1929, Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Sparks, residents of Pierre, SouthDakota, wrote a letter to Charles Hannon and asked for his support inobtaining a pension for Caroline Sparks. They wrote:

Grandma was married to Father Sparks in 1866. They had fourchildren, the youngest one was six months old when Father Spark s wasfrozen to death in a blizzard 56 years ago. Father Sp arks and anotherman went after wood on a lovely morning . A blizzard started before theygot home and they were lost . Grandma raised her children and kept theplace on which they lived. After the children were grown up, theyoungest one about 13, she married again. This marriage was of shortduration, not quite a year, when she left him.

Mr. and Mrs. Sparks went on to inform Mr. Hannon that Caroline Sparksapplied for a divorce from her second husband, John Prosser, after hedeserted her. Her attorney was a man named Blodgett, and since Prosserdid not appear in court, the divorce was granted and she resumed her nameof Caroline Sparks. She had never applied for a pension since shethought she was not eligible. Now she was old and feeble and neededhelp. The Sparkses ended their letter by stating that they hoped to seeHannon soon or hear from him.

Two weeks later, on July 15, 1929, Caroline Sparks made a generalaffidavit to support her application. She stated that she was married toJohn Sparks on March 8, 1866, at Mifflin, Wisconsin, by John Williams, ajustice of the peace, in the presence of Mary Williams and Abbie Lyscom.Four children were born to this marriage before the death of John Sparkson January 8, 1873, at the age of 29 years, 9 months, and 27 days. Shehad married John Prosser on September 10, 1883, at Ida Grove, Iowa, buthe deserted her about two years later, and she obtained a divorce fromhim in 1885, and resumed her former name of Caroline Sparks. She hadcontinued to live at Correctionville, Iowa, until 1899, when she moved toHughes County, South Dakota, to live with her son, William L. Sparks. Shehad lived ever since then with William except for such periods of time asshe would visit with her son, Wesley Sparks. Her affidavit was witnessedby W. L . Sparks and Elva E. Sparks.

Copies of the county record of Caroline Sparks's marriage to JohnSparks at Mifflin, Wisconsin, and of her marriage to John Prosser at IdaGrove, Iowa, were filed with the Bureau of Pensions on July 31 , 1929.

Despite the testimony concerning Caroline Sparks's need for a pension,none was ever approved for her. Perhaps she died before one could begranted.

For his siblings and ancestors see SQ pg 2786 and before.

For an article entitled THE SPARKS HOUSE OF NACOGDOCHES,TEXAS (Originallythe Home of Dr. John Marion Sparks)", See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY,September, 1978, Whole No. 103, pps 2020-22 (see his photograph on page2021 and in the scrapbook herein) :

"On September 18, 1976, the Historical Commission of NacogdochesCounty, Texas, dedicated THE SPARKS HOUSE as a Texas State HistoricalLandmark. The house was originally built sometime between 1839 and 1851,however, there is no specific documentation which either pinpoints thedate of its construction or the name of its builder. The house ispresently owned and occupied by Captain and Mrs. Charles K. Phillips whomoved it from its original location about five miles north of Nacogdochesto their tree plantation, "Llano Grande," about three miles south ofNacogdoches, just off the Press Road.

"The Sparks House was owned and occupied from about 1851 until 1909 byDr. John Marion Sparks, and after his death in 1909 the ownership andoccupancy passed to his heirs. In 1971, Captain (USN) Phillips purchasedit and began its restoration which took nearly five years . Most of thework of restoration was done by the Phillipses, and the only contractwork was for the plumbing, air-conditioning, wall- papering, and chimneys.

"The house is typical of the better constructed houses of the 1840-1850 period of East Texas. It consisted originally of two identicalfirst-floor rooms (18' by 18') separated by a 12' open center hall ordog-trot. Each room had a fireplace in the end wall. The second floorwas a half-story with the walls slightly over four feet high . Thefireplaces were built of stone and the chimneys were made of handmadebricks. The windows were long and narrow with nine panes in the top oversix panes in the bottom section.

"In 1884, Dr. Sparks made several changes in the house, adding threerooms as a wing to the rear of the house. All of these rooms had highceilings which was fashionable for that period of time. The Phillipseshave furnished the house with appropriate period pieces, many of whichwere made by Nacogdoches cabinet makers. Since November 1, 1976, thehouse has been the Phillipses' private home.

"Designation of the house as a Texas Historical Landmark was madebecause of its age, construction features, and because of thecontributions of the Sparks family to the Republic, the state, and to thecommunity during their formative years.

(Editor's note: John Marion Sparks was born on June 26, 1831 inLawrence County (sic), Mississippi. He was a son of Richard andElizabeth (Cooper) Sparks; a grandson of William and Mary "Polly"(Fielder) Sparks; and a great-grandson of Matthew and Sarah (Thompson)Sparks.)

"John Marion Sparks was about two years old when he was taken to Texasby his parents in January 1834. His father stopped first at SanAugustine, but that fall he moved his family to what is now NacogdochesCounty, where, in November 1835, he bought a league (about 4440 acres) ofland. There he and his brother, James Sparks, built a stockade whichbecame known as the "Sparks Settlement." It was about this time that thesettlers began preparing to revolt against the dictatorship of GeneralSanta Anna, an action which was successful the fo llowing April. At thattime, Richard Sparks was the alcalde, or mayor, of Nacogdoches; thus whenTexas became a Republic he was the last alcalde of that community. Hewas killed by Indians in April 1838 while surveying land in what is nowNavarro County. It appears quite likely that his brother, James Sparks,was also killed at the same time in the general Indian uprising.

"John Marion Sparks grew to maturity while his mother was stillliving, but he was not quite seventeen years of age when she died onJanuary 1, 1848. The following year, John became an apprentice to anEnglish physician who lived in nearby Douglass, and after serving him fortwo years, he became a doctor. For the remainder of his life hepracticed medicine, although he was also successful in managing the landwhich he had inherited from his parents.

"On September 18 , 1851, John married Martha Ann Crain. She was bornon August 23, 1832, in Tennessee and was an orphan daughter of Williamand Nancy Eason (Whitaker) Crain of Hudsonville, Mississippi. Martha Annlived with her uncle, Ambrose Crain, just a few miles from the "SparksSettlement." Two children were born to this marriage, William M. andIdora May.

"With the outbreak of the Civil War, John Marion Sparks joined theConfederate States Army, serving in Company C, 2nd Regiment, 3rd TexasBrigade. He is said to have inoculated the first volunteers for militaryduty at the old Nacogdoches University Building. He returned to hismedical practice at the close of the war.

"Martha Ann (Crain) Sparks died on January 5, 1883, and on April 8,1884, John Marion Sparks married Elizabeth "Betty" Whitlow Hazle . Shewas born on February 7, 1861. Three children were born to this union:Johnnie May, Ethel Elizabeth, and Jewell.

"In addition to his medical practice, Dr. Sparks had at least twobusiness ventures. He established a company that manufactured andbottled a hair tonic which he had developed and had named "Dr. Sparks'Hair Vigor." This business was so successful that it lasted severalyears after his death under the management of a daughter, Mrs. JohnnieMay Wyres. The other business venture was the acquisition of a franchisefor the manufacture and sale of a water pump which wa s known as the"Direct Force Acting Pump."

"In 1893, Dr. Sparks gave ten acres of land to the Old North Churchfor a Church, school and burying ground. He did this in order to carryout his father's wishes when, many years earlier, in 1837, his father hadpermitted the church to build on is land. The Old North Church is one ofthe oldest Protestant churches in Texas. Originally it was anon-denominational church, but eventually it became the MissionaryBaptist Church.

"Dr. Sparks died on April 17, 1909. His wife Betty, died on October9, 1935. He and his wives are buried in the Old North Church Cemetery."

SQ p. 4581:

"John Merritt Sparks was born on February 23, 1818. He was married toAnn ----- about 1842, probably in Kent County, Delaware. He was atinner. When the 1850 census was taken of Kent Couty, Delaware, Merritt(as he was called) and his wife, Ann, had a son named William S. Sparks,aged 7. Also living in their household in 1850 were Mary F. Casles, aged17, born in Maryland, and John Bryant, age 14, born in New York. WilliamS. Sparks, son of Merrit and Ann Sparks, served in the 4th RegimentDelaware Infantry during the Civil War and received a pension for hisservice. (See page 1917 of the June 1977 issue of the QUARTERLY, WholeNo. 98, for an abstract of his pension file at the National Archives.)"The pension file is copied in the notes for William S. Sparks.

John Mitchell Sparks was born on March 8, 1903. He was killed in a miningaccident in 1922.

.
!NOTES:
SQ pg 3902: He was married to Millie Osburn.

SQ pg 2655:

"John Napoleon "Butch" Sparks was a lad of fourteen when he went withhis family to Texas. At the outbreak of the Civil War, in the spring of1861, he joined a company called the Titus Greys, later to be known asCompany I, 9th Regiment, Texas Cavalry. He was appointed as sergeant.(See page 2672-3 for an abstract of his Texas Confederate Pension file.)

"After the war ended, Butch Sparks returned to Titus County where hewas married to Sara May Penn on March 15, 1866. She had been born onAugust 7, 1848, at Duck Springs, Alabama, and was a daughter of Nathan S.and Lura (Horton) Penn. The first three children of Butch and Sarah wereborn in Titus County, but by 1880 Butch and his brother, Allison, hadmoved their families west to Clay County, Texas. He stayed there forsome time, but eventually moved his family back eastward to HopkinsCounty where he died on February 10, 1916. Sarah survived him nearlytwenty years, dying on April 13, 1935. They were buried in the WeaverCemetery in Hopkins County. They had nine children."

*******************************
SQ p. 2674:

A TEXAS PENSION FORSERVICE IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY

"Soldiers who served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War werenever permitted by the Congress to receive pensions based on that servicefrom the federal government. A number of Southern states, however,provided funding for this purpose.

"On June 10, 1930, Sarah Sparks, born August 7, 1848, and a residentof Weaver, Texas, applied for a Confederate pension from the state ofTexas. In her application, she stated that she had been married to JohnNapoleon Sparks on March 15, 1866, in Titus County, Texas. He had died onFebruary 10, 1916, in Hopkins County, Texas. He had served in Company I,9th Regiment Texas Cavalry, C.S.A., for four years. He had never drawn apension for his service. John M. Biggerstaff, R. Teer, Clarence Wood, B.M. Camp, and J. A. Butler witnessed the application which was sworn tobefore J. J. Murray, Judge of Hopkins County.

"The War Department confirmed the military service of John N. Sparkson July 9, 1930 He had been 25 years old when he enlisted on October 14,1861, in Grayson County, Texas, as a private in Capt. L. D King'sCompany, Simms Regiment Texas Volunteers, an organization whichsubsequently became Company G, 9th Regiment Texas Cavalry, ConfederateStates Army. He was transferred to Company I, same regiment, on December31, 1861. He was promoted to 2nd Corporal on June 20, 1862, and later to2nd Sergeant. He was captured on June 10, 1864, at Garvin's Ferry onSunflower River, Mississippi, and exchanged near Vicksburg, Mississippi,on May 13, 1865.

"Sarah Sparks was placed upon the Texas Pension Roll, effective August1, 1930. She died on April 23, 1935.

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

The following appears in the SPARKS QUARTERLY for September 1999, WholeNo. 187 pp. 5231 and relates to the 1860 Census of Titus County, Texas:

Titus County,Texas --1860 Census
Post Office: Lone Star
Page 167. Census taken by Wm. M.. S. Houghton on August 14, 1860
394-394
Name Age Sex Occupation Born
Weeks, J.S. 23 (M) Farmer $1,000 - $926 IL
" Louisa 21 (F) AL
Sparks, John N. 24 (M) Waggoner $640 - $385 AL

The John N. Sparks shown as a "Waggoner" living in the J. S. Weekshousehold (page 5231), was a son of James Brooks and Mary Ann (Cook)Sparks. His full name was John Napoleon Sparks; he was born in 1836 atTecumseh, Georgia, not Alabama as shown on this 1860 census . The Weekshousehold in which he was living in 1860 was that of his sister, IdrisLouisa Sparks, and her husband, John W. Weeks . He served in theConfederate Army in the Civil War; see his Confederate pension file onpage 2673 of the September 1984 issue of the QUARTERLY cited earlier. Fora biographical sketch and a record of his children, see p.2655 of thissame issue.

See SQ p. 332 for birth information.

SQ p. 2179:

John R. Sparks, son of Josiah A. and Anna (Gilkey) Sparks, was born about1829 in Adair County, Kentucky. On May 6, 1847, he was married toPriscilla H. Reece in Adair County by the Rev. Spencer Janes. Priscillawas born about 1829 and was probably a daughter of David Reece. John andPriscilla lived quite near the present-day boundary between Adair Countyand Metcalfe County; in fact, it is quite likely that their house was onthe boundary line for they were included in the 1860 census of bothcounties. They were listed on the 1870 and 1880 censuses of Adair County.

On September 1, 1863, John R. Sparks enlisted in the 13th RegimentKentucky Cavalry and served until mustered out on January 10, 1865. (Seethis issue of THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, page 2190, for an abstract of hispension file.) He died on January 17, 1881, in Metcalfe County. Priscilladied sometime after 1890. They were buried on the John England farm atRed Lick, Kentucky. They had ten children.

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

SQ pp. 2190-91:

JOHN R. SPARKS, CIVIL WAR PENSION APPLICATION

JOHN R. SPARKS, son of Josiah A. Sparks, Jr. and Anna (Gilkey) Sparks,born about 1829 and died on Jan. 17, 1881. He married Priscilla H. Reesein Adair County, Ky., on May 6, 1847. He served in Company L, 13thRegiment Kentucky Cavalry. File Designation: Wid. Cert. No. 242,973.

On June 28, 1884, Priscilla H. Sparks, age 55 years, of Adair County,Ky., applied for a pension stating that she was the widow of John R.Sparks who was a waggoner in Company L, 13th Regiment Kentucky VolunteerCavalry in the War of 1861. She said she was married to Sparks on May 6,1847, under the maiden name of Priscilla H. Reese by the Rev. SpencerJones. Her husband had died on Jan. 17, 1881, of consumption caused bypneumonia which he had contracted while in the U.S. Army. She had notremarried and she had two children by John R. Sparks who were living andunder the age of sixteen, namely: Greenup S. Sparks, born on July 13,1867, and Jacob C. Sparks, born on Oct. 7, 1869. She said she supportedthe children and would not permit them to be adopted. Her postoffice wasBreeding, Ky. Reuben A. Baker and George T. Simpson attested to herapplication which was accompanied by a copy of the marriage certificatewhich confirmed the date of the marriage.

On Aug. 14, 1884, the Adjutant General's Office confirmed the militaryservice of John R. Sparks. He had enlisted in Company L, 13th Regt.Kentucky Cavalry on Sept. 1, 1863, for one year. He was present on thecompany muster rolls, with one exception, until he was mustered out atCamp Nelson, Ky., on Jan. 10, 1865. The exception was when he was inarrest or confinement at Burkesville, Ky., in Oct. 1864. There was noevidence of the alleged disability, nor did his name appear on theregimental hospital records.

The Bureau of Pensions apparently required additional information fromPriscilla Sparks for, between Sept. 1884 and May 1887, six documents ofevidence were filed which included statements about John R. Sparks'smarriage, the birth of his youngest children and his disability. Thefirst of these documents, dated Sept. 20, 1884, and entitled "NeighborEvidence" was made by Thomas J. Barnes, age 48, William M. England, age47, and Jahu C. Simpson, age 52, all of Breeding, Ky. They stated that asresidents of Adair County, they had known the deceased soldier, John R.Sparks, for 35 years and that they were also well acquainted with hiswidow, Priscilla H. Sparks. Prior to his enlistment in the U.S. Army,Sparks was of good sound bodily health and able to perform all kinds oflabor, but when he returned to Adair County after his discharge, he wassuffering from lung trouble and an infection about his breast whichfrequently prevented him from performing manual labor. This conditiongradually grew worse and eventually caused his death. John P. Curry andR. A. Baker witnessed the affidavit which was notarized by W. H.Hamilton.

Three days later, Thomas Barnes and John Simpson again made an affidavitthat John R. Sparks and Priscilla H. Sparks had been married on May 5,1847, by the Rev. Spencer Janes and that they had lived together sincethat date until his death and that they "were never but once married."George Dillon and J. D. Scott witnessed the affidavit which was notarizedby W. H. Hamilton.

An "Officer's Certificate" was prepared on Oct. 29, 1885, by Lt. BlackmonHughes of Horse Cave, Ky., who stated that he had commanded Company L,13th Regiment Kentucky Cavalry in the War of 1861 and was well acquaintedwith John R. Sparks as a member of his company. He said that during thelatter part of the winter of 1864, while stationed at Neatsville, Ky.,Sparks had contracted pneumonia fever because of exposure and that he wastreated by Dr. Richard H. Perryman, the hospital steward. The disabilitydid not respond to treatment, but gradually increased after Sparks'sdischarge from the service until his death which occurred of consumption,on Jan. 17, 1881, in Metcalfe County, Ky. J. S. Bailey and J. E. Abbottattested to the affidavit which was notarized by Samuel Meartin of HartCounty, Ky.

On July 12, 1886, Cyrena Sparks, a midwife, nurse, and friend residing atRed Lick, Ky., made an affidavit that she was the midwife at the birth ofJacob C. Sparks on Oct. 7, 1869, and that he was the legitimate offspringof John R. and Priscilla H. Sparks. William Jessey and Joseph A. Englandwitnessed the affidavit which was notarized by William England. On Dec.21, 1886, Priscilla H. Sparks, now living at Elroy, Ky., made anaffidavit that she could furnish the testimony of only one party to thebirth of her son, Greenup S. Sparks, the legitimate offspring of John R.Sparks, deceased, and that "those who were present on said occasionacting in the capacity of nurse and friends have departed this life andthere is no public or church record." R. A. Baker and W. L. Janeswitnessed the affidavit which was notarized by William M. England ofAdair County.

The last document (in chronological order) in the pension file is a jointaffidavit made on May 21, 1887, by Dr. George T. Simpson and Albert W.Smith, both of Elroy, Ky., in which they declared that they were well andintimately acquainted with John R. Sparks who died on Jan. 17, 1881, ofconsumption which was contracted in the United States Army. They saidthey had never known of John R. Sparks being afflicted of any disabilityother than the one mentioned above and that their knowledge was derivedfrom personal observation. John M. Simpson and W. R. Grissom witnessedthe affidavit which was notarized by W. H. Hamilton.

Apparently all of the evidence given above convinced the Bureau ofPensions that Priscilla (Reese) Sparks had a valid claim for she wasissued a pension under Widow Certificate No. 242,973; however, there isnothing in the file provided by the National Archives to indicate thedate of issuance nor the amount of the pension.

(Editor's Note: John R. Sparks was a brother of William Jasper Sparkswhose pension papers were abstracted on pages 2189-90; see the Editor'sNote on page 2190. Also see page 2179-80 for a record of John R. Sparksand a list of his children.)

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

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!NOTES:
SQ pg 3404: They lived at Mansfield, Ohio. They had at least on echild, but we have no further information about them.

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, June 1997, Whole No. 178, pg. 4808: (Picturesof John Richard Sparks and his family appear on the cover of the June1997 issue of the QUARTERLY and on page 4807.)
"An obituary of John Richard sparks appeared in a local newspaperfollowing his death near Valera in Coleman County, Texas, in September1939. This reads:
Funeral Held Saturday for John R. Sparks
Funeral Services for Mr. John R. Sparks were held at the ValeraMethodist Church Saturday afternoon, Sept. 23, Rev. A. W. Ferrillofficiating. Interment in Valera Cemetery.
Mr. Sparks was born at Matchacha Springs, near Austin, in 1860.For over thirty years he has been living near Valera. He is survived byone brother, J. H. Sparks of Lometa; two sisters, Mrs. Bell Knight ofQuanah and Mrs. Ida Moore of Port Arthur; three sons, Reuben andEmmitt of Valera and Preston of Brownwood, two daughters, Mrs. J. B.Sleuder and Mrs. L. E. Maracle of Valera, and a host of relatives andfriends.]
Friends were shocked to hear that Mr. Sparks had died of a heartattack about 11 on Friday morning. He held a place of highesteem in Valera. At one time he was a trail-driver and made severaltrips up the Old Chisholm Trail. He was a member of the ChristianChurch.
Millie Ann (Joyner) Sparks was born on April 15, 1855, and died onSeptember 25, 1935. Both she and her husband were buried in the ValeraCemetery. (Here the article provides supplemental information abouttheir children which is included on the family page.)

SQ pg 2922-2924 is about John and Rebecca and their nine children andmany grandchildren and states: "John Sparks, son of Joseph and ElizabethSparks, was born on April 4, 1799. He married Rebecca A. Wareham,probably about 1840. She was born on May 16, 1816. They lived in WestProvidence Townshi where John was a farmer. He also served as a Justiceof the Peace. John died on August 30, 1876. He had made a will just afew weeks before his deat h in which he named the following: his wife,Rebecca, his sons, Joseph H. , John, Samuel B., and Abraham; and hisdaughters, Sarah E. and Mary C. John's wife, Rebecca, survived him bynearly thirty years, dying on August 15, 1905.

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY September 2002, Whole No. 200, p. 5774:

SAMUEL B. SPARKS is a prominent farmer and an extensive lumbermanufacturer and dealer of West Providence, Pa., where he was born onOctober 8, 1848, and where his paternal grandfather, Joseph Sparks, whofought in the Revolutionary War, was a pioneer settler.This township wasalso the place of birth of his father, the late John S. Sparks, Esq. TheSparks family, it is said, originated In England.

John S. Sparks was influential in business and political circles,andduring his entire life was actively identified with the highestinterests of the township. For thirty years prior to his death, whichoccurred in August, 1876, he served as Justice of the Peace, and wasfamiliarly known as Squire Sparks. A leader among the Whigs in hisearlierdays, he was a staunch supporter of the Republican party from thetime of its formation. He married Rebecca Wareham, who was born inFranklin County, Pennsylvania, eighty three years ago, and is now[1899]in Clearville, Bedford County, being one of the oldest and most respectedwomen of that town. She is a member of the Lutheran church, to which herhusband also belonged. Of their children, five are now living, asfollows: Joseph, of Clearville, Pa.; John C., also of Clearville; SamuelB., the subject of this sketch; Abraham W., a resident of the State ofWashington; and Mary, wife of Aaron Stayer, of Monroe, Pa.

SQ 3059:

"John Sparks, probable son of Joseph Sparks, was listed on the 1812tax list of Franklin County, Tennessee. He was probably named for hisuncle, John Sparks. We have no further record of him."

SQ 3356:

"John S. Sparks, probable son of William Sparks, was born on March26, 1811, in Tennessee. It was probably there that he was married toMalinda Jones about 1834. She was born on March 1, 1819, in Tennessee.Two children were born to John and Malinda before they left Tennesseewith their ox team and wagon and moved to the Texas border where theSabine and Neches Rivers meet on the north shore of Lake Sabine. ThereJohn worked in a mill that made cypress shingles by using drawingknives. Later he established a ferry on Taylors Bayou and managed to buy160 acres of land fronting on Lake Sabine on which he built his home.Here he was joined by his brother, Solomon, and others, and the sitebecame known as "Sparks Settlement." The name was changed to Auroraabout 1856, and it finally became the site of the town of Port Arthur in1895.

"John Sparks was joined by his brother, Solomon Sparks, about 1847,and, according to information given in the HISTORY AND PROGRESS OFJEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS by Lorecia East, the two families lived just afew hundred feet from each other. They cultivated the land and raisedtheir own food as well as much of their clothing for they raised sheepand carded and spun their own wool. It was John Sparks who established afamily buriel ground quite close to his home. The cemetery filledgradually, and as the surrounding property became more desirable, itbecame necessary to move the graves. They were moved to Forest LawnCemetery in Beaumont, Texas.

"John Sparks died sometime between 1860 and 1870. Malinda diedsometime after the 1880 census was taken of Jefferson County. She andJohn were the parents of twelve children, ten of whom we have been ableto identify . (Here lists details of children]."

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

See the SPARKS QUARTERLY for September 1999, p. 5217 for the 1860 Censusof Jefferson County Texas:

Jefferson County,Texas --1860 Census
Post Office: Sabine Pass
Page 436. Census taken by Ceo. A. Pattilo on July 12, 1860.
379-379

Name Age Sex Occupation Born
Sparks, John 49 (M) Farmer $320 - $2,100 NC
" Malinda 41 (F) Housekeeper TN
" Albert 19 (M) Labourer TX
" John F. 14 (M) TX
" Sarah C. 11 (F) TX
" Arabellah 8 (F) TX
" James C. 6 (M) TX
" Worthy C. 4 (M) TX
" Henry E. L. 8/12 (M) TX

Note: On the 1850 census of Jefferson County, John Sparks had been shownwith the middle initial of "S ~ His brother, Jacob Sparks, also appearedon that 1850 census, but by 1860 Jacob was living in Colorado County,Texas. see page 5213. They were, we are certain, sons of William Sparks,born about 1785. For information on John S. Sparks and his wife, MalindaJones, with a record of their children, see the article entitled "TheSparkses of Early Jefferson County, Texas" in the QUARTERLY of March1989, Whole No. 145, beginning on page 3354. The part of that articledevoted to John and his family begins on page 3356. John's brother,Solomon Sparks, was in Orange County, Texas, when the 1860 census wastaken, see page 5226.

SQ 3189:

"John S. Sparks, son of Solomon and Malinda (Caudill) Sparks, was bornon May 15, 1840, in Wilkes County, North Carolina. Like his brother,William, he joined the Union Army during the Civil War, enlisting inCompany H, 4th Regiment Missouri Militia. (See below for an abstract ofhis pension file.) After leaving the service, he married Nancy JaneSexton on February 18, 1864, in Marcer County. She had been born in 1845in Indiana. John Sparks died on November 3, 1909, and Nancy Jane died onJuly 30 , 1916. They had nine children."

SQ 3208:

"JOHN S. SPARKS, CIVIL WAR PENSION APPLICATION":

JOHN S. SPARKS, son of Solomon and Malinda Ann (Caudill) Sparks, was
born on May 15, 1840, in Wilkes County, North Carolina.
He married Nancy J. Sexton on February 18, 1864, inMercer
County, Missouri. He served in Company H, 4th Regiment
Provisional Missouri Militia. File Designations : Inv.
Cert. No. 1,099,338; Wid. Cert. No. 694,270.

"On april 29, 1904, John Sparks, age 63, a resident of Rt. 1,Cainesville, Missouri, made a declaration for an invalid pension. Hestated tha the had enrolled on May 18, 1863, in Company H, 4th RegimentProvisional Missouri Militia and had served until he was discharged atMissouri City, Missouri, on
October 10, 1863. He said he had suffered a rupture on his left side bybeing struck by a plow beam, and a foot injury caused by stepping on anail . He also suffered from a disease of the kidneys. He said thatbecause of his advanced age, he was no longer able to earn his support.He appointed J. B. Ormsby, Princeton, Missouri, as his attorney. H. R.Spencer and W. W. Braffet witnessed his signature.

"The Bureau of Pensions asked Sparks to respond to a questionnaire onMay 19, 1904. He responded by stating that he had been born on May 15,1840 , in Wilkes County, North Carolina. He had enlisted in Company H,4th Regiment Provisional Missouri Militia on May 18, 1863, at Princeton,Missouri, and had been discharged on October 10, 1863, at Hamilton,Missouri. At his enlistment, he was 6 feet, 1 inch tall; he weighed 170pounds; he had hazel eyes, sandy hair and a fair complexion; and he was afarmer.

"Two months later,on July 21st, the Bureau of Pensions again askedSparks to answer a questionnaire. He stated that he had been married onFebruary 18, 1864, in Mercer County, Missouri, by the Rev. StephenSexton. It had been his first marriage. He had eight living children.

W. T. Sparks, born January 15, 1865
Malinda E. Sparks, born September 24, 1866
Martha A. Sparks, born September 14, 1868
R. E. Sparks, born January 16, 1871
E. R. Sparks, born March 25, 1873
Lanora L. Sparks, born February 27, 1882
Sherman Sparks, born May 20, 1884
Frank T. Sparks, born April 22, 1887.

"On September 28, 1904, Sparks advised the Bureau of Pensions that hiscorrect name was John S. Sparks.

"Invalid Certificate No. 1,099,338 was issued to Sparks, and he wasplaced upon the pension roll. When he died on November 3, 1909, he wasreceiving a pension of $10 per month.

"On November 9, 1909, Nancy J. Sparks, aged 64, a resident of Rt. 1 ,Cainesville, Missouri, applied for a widow's pension. She stated thatshe had been married to John S. Sparks under her maiden name of Nancy J.Sexton on February 18, 1864. He had died on November 3, 1909. They hadno children under the age of sixteen at the time of her application. Sheappointed J. B. Ormsby as her attorney. W. T. Sparks and Lanora L.Foster witnessed her make her mark.

"On November 29, 1909, Nancy J. Sparks asked the Bureau of Pensions toaccept the testimony of witnesses in lieu of a public record of hermarriage to John S. Sparks. She sent affidavits from the followingneighbors: Isaac Sexton, aged 62; J. G. Odd, aged 68; Richard Carin, aged81; Peter Hart, aged 78; Elizabeth Sexton, aged 64; W. H. Harper, aged78; and W. P. H. Hart, aged 63. All of them testified that they werepresent when Nancy J. Sexton and John S. Sparks were married and thatthey knew that they had lived together as man and wife until his death.

"Widow Certificate No. 694,270 was issued to Nancy J. Sparks, and shewas placed upon the pension roll. When she died on July 30, 1916, shewas receiving a pension of $12 per month.

SQ 2923 provides the following: "John Sherman Sparks was born onApril 14, 1878. He married Dora Belle Amick on April 10, 1901, inBedford County. She was born on November 14, 1883, at Clearville, PA,and was a daughter of George Washington Amick and Jane Elizabeth (Sparks)Amick. (Jane Elizabeth Sparks was a daughter of Solomon and Susan (Black)Sparks. See pg 2973 for her family.) John and Dora (Amick) Sparks werethe grandparents of John R. Akers , H. C. Smith, and Mrs. Marion Rinard.John and Dora (Amick) Sparks had seven children: Mabel Rebecca, SamuelGeorge, Mary Kathryn, Nellie Grace, Evelyn Gertrude, Albert Vaughn andHelen Elizabeth. (A photograph of this family appears on the cover ofWhole Number 135, p. 2913.

SQ p. 963:

"John T. Sparks, son of John and Sarah (Bowlen) Sparks, was born inFranklin County, Alabama, on February 8, 1843. He moved with his motherand brothers to Hardin Count, Tennessee, then to Lawrence County,Arkansas, and finally to Sharp County, Arkansas. He was a farmer and wasstill living in 1899 when the BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL MEMOIRS OFNORTHEAST ARKANSAS was published by Goodspeed.

"He was married in 1859 to Susan Webb, who was born in Polk County,Missouri, in 1845; she died in 1871. In 1872, John T. Sparks married(second) Alvira Hill, who was born in Lawrence County, Arkansas, in 1850,daughter of Daniel and Delia Hill. John T. Sparks served in theConfederate Army from 1862 to 1865 under a Captain Huddleson in a cavalryunit. It is said that he was in every battle west of the MississippiRiver. By his first wife, susan (Webb) Sparks, John T. Sparks had adaughter named Mary J. Sparks, born in 1868, who married James Wheeler,and a son named William N. Sparks, born about 1870. By his second wife,Alvira (Hill) Sparks, John T. Sparks had the following children:Josephine Sparks, born about 1872, who apparently died in youth; Ellen O.Sparks, born about 1875; Causette Sparks, Edward B. Sparks; and one otherchild who died in youth."

See his father's notes for his location in the 1860 census of Texas.

.

!NOTES:
SQ 3189: "John Thomas Sparks, son of William James and Sarah Jane
(Smith) Sparks, was born on January 5, 1874. He married Stella M. -- ---.
He died in 1956."

SQ p. 5436:

"John Thomas Sparks, son of John Calvin and Nancy Dulcina (Allison)Sparks, was born on November 1, 1876. He was married on February 10,1904, to Nancy Bell Snider, daughter of Fred W. and Sallie (Enloe)Snider. She had been born on November 23, 1881, at Bethany, near Clover,York County, South Carolina. An item in The Record of Rock Hill datedFebruary 12, 1904, pertains to their marriage:

J. T. Sparks of Roddeys married Miss Nannie Snider of Clover.Spent night with Mrs. S. S. Collins,
sister of groom on W. White St., Rock Hill. Will make home inRoddeys. [Mrs. S. J. Collins was
Martha Sparks, see a., above.]

John Thomas Sparks died on December 23, 1953 , and was buried in theGrandview Cemetery at Rock Hill. Nancy Bell died on November 9, 1958. Aclipping, undated, found by Ms. Pettus, gives a brief obituary for JohnT. Sparks. He was described as a "retired railroad clerk and he operateda small grocery." It was noted that his brother, W. F. Sparks, of RockHill survived him. His children were identified as follows: Mrs. Guy P.Steele, Rock Hill; Mrs. T. M. Anderson, Monroe, North Carolina; Mrs.Jason Radisill, Buffalo, New York; Mrs. James 1. Dozier, Charlotte; MissLouise Sparks; and his son, John T. Sparks, of Rock Hill. It was notedthat there were 12 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

A photograph of John Thomas Sparks taken in his youth, along with asnapshot of him with his wife and their son, John Thomas Sparks, Jr.,taken in later years, appear on the following page [See his scrapbookhere]. The six children of John Thomas and Nancy Bell (Snider) Sparkswere: (See their individual sheets.)

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, June 1972, Whole No. 78, p. 1487:

(The article begins with information concerining the parents of JohnThompson Sparks and continues as follows:)

"In the same article, we listed John Thomson as a son of Joseph andIsabella (Ellis) Sparks, and his picture appeared on the cover of theSeptember 1971 issue with his brothers Ephraim B. Sparks and ThomasMarshall Sparks. Like his parents, John Thomson Sparks is buried in BlackOak Cemetery near Memphis, Missouri, His tombstone gives his birth dateas September 6, 1839; he died on February 20, 1905. He was married toChloe A. Calhoun on December 22, 1865. She was born, according to hertombstone beside her husband’s, on May 3, 1845, and died on June 15,1902. A correspondent whose father kept a scrapbook of obituaries fromScotland County newspapers, has copied the following obituary of JohnThomson Sparks for us:

"Another one of Scotland County" a best citizens passed away at hishome just west of
Granger, Feb. 20, 1905. John T, Sparks was born in Lewis County,Kentucky, Sept, 6, 1839,
moved to Missouri in October 1853, where he resided until his death.He was united in
marriage to Chloe A, Calhoun Dec. 22, 1865. Two children were bornto them, Bertie and
Lutie, who were with him in his last hours. He leaves besides twochildren to mourn his death
two grandchildren, one brother and four sisters and a host ofrelatives and friends. He was a
good man, honored, loved and respected by all who knew him. In1899, in October, he had a
stroke of paralysis from which he never recovered. For years he hasbeen an earnest
Christian and a devoted member of the Christian Church.

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

SQ March 2001, Whole No. 193, pp 5502-03:

UNION SOLDIERS NAMED SPARKS WHO APPLIED

OR WHOSE HEIRS APPLIED

FOR PENSIONS FOR SERVICE IN THE CIVIL WAR

JOHN THOMPSON SPARKS was a son of Joseph and Isabella (Ellis) Sparks; hewas born on September 6, 1839, in Lewis County, Kentucky. He was marriedto Chloe A. Calhoun on December 21, 1865, in Scotland County, Missouri.He served in Company E, 2nd Regiment Provisional Missouri Volunteers andin Company I, 39th Regiment Missouri Infantry. File Designation: mv.Cert. No. 975,066.

On January 1, 1898, John T. Sparks, age 58, a resident of Granger,Missouri, made a declaration for an Invalid Pension. He stated that hehad been enrolled on March 14, 1863, in Company E, 2nd RegimentProvisional Missouri Volunteers, and that he had served until he wasdischarged on November 13, 1863. He had also enlisted in Company 1, 39thRegiment Missouri Infantry on August 25, 1864, and had been discharged onMarch 15, 1865. He was now unable to earn his support because ofrheumatism and a disease of the back. He appointed E. S. Matthews ofMacon, Missouri, as his attorney to help him secure a pension.

On January 17, 18, and 19, 1898, three neighbors of Sparks madeaffidavitsto to support his claim. They were A. D. Cline, age 52; J. T.Matlick, age 51; and A. W. Hamrick, age 40; all residents of Granger,Missouri. They testified that they saw Sparks two or three times eachweek, and that during the past ten years, he had suffered from severerheumatism and had gradually gotten to the place where he was unable todo any farm work. He was a man of good character and had no bad habitswhich would cause his disability.

On February 4, 1898, the War Department informed the Bureau of Pensionsthat Sparks had served in Company I, 39th Regiment Missouri Infantry fromAugust 25, 1864, until he had been mustered out with his company on March25, 1865. When he had been enrolled, he was 24 years of age, having beenborn in Lewis County, Kentucky. He was then 6 feet, 1+ inches tall; hehad a fair complexion, light hair and blue eyes; and he was a farmer. Thefollowing day a War Department auditor wrote that Sparks had also servedas Company Sergeant "in Company E, 2nd Regiment Prov. En. Mo. Mil." fromApril 8, 1863, until November 13, 1863.

John T. Sparks responded to a questionnaire from the Bureau of Pensionson February 14, 1898. He stated that he had been married to Chloe A.Calhoun on December 21, 1865, in Scotland County, Missouri, by the Rev.Reuben Turner. They had two living children: Bertie E. Sparks, bornDecember 3, 1868, and Lutie A. Sparks, born December 29, 1881.

Invalid Certificate No.975,066 was issued to John T. Sparks, and he wasplaced upon the pension roll at the rate of $6.00 per month.

John T. Sparks applied for an increase in his pension on November 6,1899, stating that he was now confined to his bed by paralysis of hisleft arm and leg, caused by a stroke on October 19, 1899. He requested amedical examination by a board of examining doctors.

January 11, 1901, Sparks made an affidavit about his stroke. He stated:

On the afternoon of October 19, 1899, 1 was at the Christian Churchfixing it for a dedication and we were moving the organ from thehouse of W. B. Evans up to the church and I took sick. I was taken in abuggy to my home a mile west of Granger in a totally helplesscondition, and since that time I have been totally disabled.

On February 20, 1901, Dr. W. M. Munsell made an affidavit that Sparks wasnow totally unable to perform any manual labor of any kind.
When John T. Sparks died on February 20, 1905, he was receiving a pensionof $12.00 per month.

[Editor's Note: For further information about this branch of the Sparksfamily, see the September 1970 and the September 1971 issues of theQUARTERLY, Whole Nos. 71 and 75.]

-

SQ p. 1319:
"John Thornton Sparks, born about 1809; he was married to ElizabethLauntz in Lewis County, Kentucky, on April 1, 1830. On the marriage bondthat was dated March 7, 1830, John Sparks was identified as over 21 yearsof age and consent for the marriage of Elizabeth was given by CurtisLauntz. John Thornton Sparks was sometimes listed in official records asJohn Sparks and sometimes as Thornton Sparks. He died as a relativelyyoung man in 1848 in Lewis County. Earlier, in 1834, he had signed themarriage bond of his sister, Cytha Ann Sparks, when she married JesseNash. One of his nephews remembers him as "Uncle John Thornton"; thisman also recalled an "Uncle William" Sparks and an aunt who married aScott. Elizabeth (Launtz) Sparks was born about 1805 in Maryland; shewas a daughter of Curtis Launtz and was living with her daughter, NancySarah (Sparks) Guthrie in Lewis County in 1880." (here names theirchildren for which see their individual sheets.)

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, September 2002, Whole No. 200, p. 5759 for thefollowing article that is somewhat different from one appearing in theQUARTERLY of September 1988, Whole No. 143 at page 3273:

John T. Sparks was born about 1841. According to Harman's Annals...,hewas married on July 7, 1867, to Elizabeth Sparks, born in 1851, died in
1920, daughter of Joshua William (ca.1830-1902) and Cynthia (Hankins)Sparks. John T. Sparks's household was listed on the 1880 census of
Tazewell County, in Jeffersonville District. His age there was given as34 and Elizabeth’s as 29, with the following children, although three ofthese
(see below) seem not to have been their own: (a) Cynthia Sparks, age 12;(b) Sarah Sparks, age 9; (c) William Sparks, age 6; (d) Sarah Sparks, age4; (e) Rebecca Sparks, age 2; and (f) Lucie Sparks, age 1 month. (In thislist, William, age 6; Sarah, age 2, and Rebecca, age 2, were shown as"NR," i.e., "Not Related to Head of Household". )

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, June, 1973, Whole No. 82, pg 1567:
John W. Sparks, son of Norval and Jane (Johnston) Sparks, was born in1840 according to the HISTORY OF DEARBORN, OHIO, AND SWITZERLANDCOUNTIES, INDIANA. He was educated in the public schools and was trainedin the mercantile business under the tutelage of his father. In 1862, heentered military service in the Quartermaster Department of the UnionArmy. After participating in the siege of Vicksburg, he returned homeand entered the grocery business at Lawrenceburgh, a business in which hewas still engaged when the above history was published in 1885. On July13, 1901, he signed a statement supporting the application of his brotherDavid's widow for a pension.

See the 1900 census for Carroll County, GA, vol 9, e.d. 7, sheet 31,line 5, where John W. Sparks, age 30, born in GA is listed with his wifeIda, age 27, born in GA, and daughters Gracie, age 8, and Kathleen, age3, along with mother-in-law, Amanda Williams, born May 1857, age 49, bornin GA; brother-in-law, James D. Williams, born in GA in January 1875, age25,; and nephew, Edward L. Lassiter, age 18, born April 1882, in GA.

See SQ p4853:
"John Wesley ["Little Wes"] Sparks was born posthumously on October25, 1878. He was married to Lucinda Jane Ramey in 1898 in LawrenceCounty. She had been born in April 1879 and was a daughter of DanielRamey. She and "Little Wes" lived on Wallowhole Creek. They were buriedin unmarked graves in the Little Wes Sparks Cemetery located east ofWallowhole Road. According to relatives and census records, they hadseven children. They were: Charles Sparks, Alice Sparks, Buddle Sparks,Eva Sparks, Daniel Sparks, Mary Sparks, and May Sparks."

On January 8, 1999, I received an email from Robert E. Polley(repolley@@juno.com) which stated in part "My closest Sparks relatives arefirst cousins, my mother's sister Ruth Steele, m. Russell LeonardSparks. They had seven children. Russell was the son of John Wesley"Little Wes" and Lucinda Jane Ramey Sparks.
His address is 258 David Ave, Lehigh Acres, FL 33972.

See the SPARKS QUARTERLY, p. 886 for the following marriage informationfrom Lawrence County, Kentucky, Marriage Bonds (1822- 1865):
Wesley Sparks & Nancy Keesee, June 19, 1835. (Book I, p. 121)

US Census, 1870, Elliott County, KY:
Wesley Sparks 63, b. NC; Nancy, 50, b. KY, William, 16; Hugh, 14 ;Ruanna, 11; Wesley, 7; Reuben, 2.

SQ p 4851:
"Wesley Sparks, son of Robert and Margaret (Pigg) Sparks, was bornabout 1806 in Wilkes County, North Carolina. His full name was JohnWesley Sparks, but he was usually called Wesley or "Wes." He was probablyabout ten years old when his father died. He grew to manhood in NorthCarolina, and about 1825 he brought his mother and siblings to LawrenceCounty where he joined his uncles, Levi Sparks and George Sparks. He wasshown as head of his household when the 1830 census was taken of LawrenceCounty.

"Wesley Sparks paid taxes in Lawrence County for the first time in1831. He was married there to Nancy Kozee on August 22, 1835. Hisbrother, Reuben Sparks had been his bondsman for the marriage licensedated June 7, 1835. Nancy had been born about 1819 in Kentucky and was adaughter of Elias Kozee. She and Wes went to housekeeping on WallowholeCreek, and it was there, on October 1, 1846, that he was issued aLawrence County land warrant for 100 acres of land. (Kentucky countieswere given permission in 1835 to claim and to dispose of vacant landwithin their boundaries.) When the 1850 census was taken of LawrenceCounty, Wes and Nancy were shown with five children. Their nearestneighbor was Wes's uncle, George Sparks.

"Wes Sparks was still living in Lawrence County when the 1860 censuswas taken. Shortly thereafter, his son, Martin Sparks, was enrolled inthe 5th Regiment Kentucky Infantry, Confederate States Army. Wes's son,Richmond, joined Union forces in 1864. Wesley was issued two moreLawrence County land warrants on May 15, 1865, for tracts on WallowholeCreek consisting of 380 and 275 acres. In 1869, the portion of LawrenceCounty where he lived became a part of a newly-formed county namedElliott County. When the 1870 census was taken of Elliott County, Wesand Nancy were living near Culver, Kentucky, with their two youngestsons. (JS Note: The 1870 US Census for the North Fork of the SandyRiver in Elliott County shows Wes and Nancy (63 and 50 respectively)living with William, 16; Hugh, 14; Ruanna, 11; Wesley, 7, and Reuben, 2.)

"Nancy (Kozee) Sparks was not enumerated on the 1880 census of ElliottCounty; she had probably died by then. Wesley Sparks, age 74, was stillliving near Culver, with his two youngest sons, John Wesley Sparks andReuben Sparks. We have found no record of his death, nor the place wherehe was buried. He and Nancy had twelve children.

"(Article continues with information about children for which see theirfamily pages.)

See the SPARKS QUARTERLY, p. 886 for the following marriage informationfrom Lawrence County, Kentucky, Marriage Bonds (1822- 1865)
John W. Sparks & Almeda Green, December 21, 1845. (Book II, p. 133)Married by Elder Rufus Humphrey.

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, December 1996, Whole No. 176, pp 4720-22:

"GEORGE G. SPARKS (1796-1879),continued:

"John Wesley Sparks, son of George G. and Nancy (Short) Sparks, wasborn on November 5, 1823, in Lawrence County, Kentucky; he wasundoubtedly named for his paternal grandfather. He grew to manhood inLawrence County, and It was there that he was married to Almeda Green onDecember 21, 1845, by Rufus Humphrey, an elder in the Baptist Church.Almeda had been born on March 13, 1826, in Virginia, and was a daughterof James and Dulcena (Stallard) Green, natives of Virginia.

"John Sparks was said to have been a strong man with a short temper.The story has been handed down that he subdued a cantankerous horse bystriking it between the eyes with his fist and knocking it to theground. He was about six feet tall and weighed about 170 pounds. He hadblue eyes, dark hair, and a dark complexion. He was a member of theBaptist Church and a member of the Masonic Order.

"John and Almeda lived on Big Sinking Creek, a stream that flows fromwest to east in north-central Elliott County. He was a collier andworked at providing charcoal to make iron in one of several blastfurnaces in Carter County. He and Almeda had seven children when theCivil War broke out in the fall of 1861.

"In October 1861, John and his brother, Hugh Sparks, rode toPrestonsburg, Kentucky, where they enlisted in the 5th Regiment KentuckyInfantry, Confederate States Army, under the command of General HumphreyMarshall. John was mustered into Company C on October 28, 1861, probablyas a lieutenant.

"The Civil War activities of John W. Sparks are reflected in the illfortunes of the Confederate forces in eastern Kentucky. Probably thelargest engagement between Union and Confederate forces In that sectionof Kentucky was at Middle Creek near Prestonsburg on July 10, 1862, whichresulted in no decisive victory for either side; however, theConfederates, under General Humphrey Marshall, withdrew to Abington,Virginia. The Union general, James A. Garfield, followed them toPikeville, Kentucky, and then stopped.

"John Sparks was a part of the withdrawal to Virginia and received thepay of a first lieutenant ($90.00 per month) from January to July 1862.He was with his unit when it re-entered Kentucky in August 1862 as partof a major attempt to strike through to central Kentucky and join thearmy of General Bragg in the Bluegrass. The unplanned Battle ofPerryville on October 8, 1862, doomed this attempt, and again GeneralMarshall withdrew his troops to Virginia.

"Although the military records of John W. Sparks are scant and offerno direct proof, he apparently did not accompany his unit back toVirginia. This may have been because of the expiration of his term ofenlistment or, what is more likely, he was offered a post in a "new"military organization to be known as "Partisan Rangers." The objectiveof this unit was to harass the Federal troops by "procuring" horses andsupplies from them and then scattering in all directions to confuse thefoe. The new unit was Fields Partisan Rangers and was under the commandof Captain William J. Fields. It was also designated the 10th RegimentKentucky Infantry, C. S. A.

"This method of "procuring" horses was made a matter of record by aGrand Jury of the Carter County [Kentucky] Circuit Court, as follows:

Commonwealth of Kentucky against Preston Fields, Matthew Combs,Daniel Combs, Azel Lyon, H. Pennington, Hugh Sparks, Frank Thompson,William Thompson, John Sparks, Richard Gilliam and Elijah Jackson.

"The Grand Jury of Carter County in the name and by the authorityof the Commonwealth of Kentucky accuse (the above) of the offense ofhorse-stealing committed as follows: The said men on the lst day of April1863 in the county and circuit aforesaid did willfully and feloniouslytake, steal and run off with a certain horse, the personal property of H.Easterling of the value of more than four dollars, against the peace anddignity of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
[signed] E. P. Davis, Clk. Cir.
"The men were never brought to trial, of course.

"John Sparks was in command of a small cavalry force of "Rangers" nearGrayson in Carter County on May 9, 1863, when it collided with a squad ofUnion cavalry. The Confederate unit was badly trounced. Sparks's rolein this skirmish is not known, but shortly afterwards he wrote thefollowing letter:

"Camp Lebanon, Virginia. June 5, 1863.

"To the Hon. S. Cooper, Adj. Genl. Dear Sir: existingcircumstances Renders it necessary that I feel it to be my duty to resignthe Position which I hold as first lieut. in Capt. William J. FieldsCompany of Partisan Rangers. I do so not with the intention of leavingthe Service but to change from branch of the Service to another. ITherefore hope that you will accept my resignation for the Reasons beforementioned. I therefore with much respect remain your obedient Servant,etc.
[signed] John W. Sparks, lst Lieut.

"Captain Fields forwarded Sparks's letter of resignation with thefollowing endorsement:

"Near Lebanon. June 5th 1863. Approved. Respectfully forwardedwith the recommendation that the resignation of Lt. Sparks be accepted ashe is incompetent for the position he holds.

[signed] W. J. Fields, Capt. Com. Co.

"The resignation of John W. Sparks was accepted on June 6, 1863, byBrig. General W. Preston, at Headquarters, Preston's Brigade, Abington,Virginia, and Sparks returned to Kentucky. There, on October 16, 1863,he was captured in Magoffin County by Union troops. He was sent as aprisoner-of- war to Camp Chase, Ohio, where he was imprisoned untilNovember 14, 1863, when he was sent to Johnson's Island, Ohio. Heremained a prisoner until May 16, 1865, when he was released after takingthe Oath of Amnesty.

"A military record, written at Johnson's Island on April 24, 1865, isquite revealing, not only as to the personal feelings of John W. Sparks,but also it shows the feelings of these war-torn times. Here it is inits entirety:

"John W. Sparks, lst Lt. 10th Regt. Ky. Cav., appears on a Roll ofPrisoners of War at Johnson's Island, Ohio, Applicants for the Oath ofAmnesty. Roll dated: Office Supt. Pris. Rolls & Corresp. Johnson'sIsland, Ohio, April 24, 1865. Captured Magoffin Co., Ky., Oct. 16,1863. Remarks: "Is a native of Kentucky. Occupation: before the war acollier; entered the Rebel service in Oct. 1861 as a private in the 5thRegt. Ky. Infty; Served as such for one year; was then transferred tothe 10th Regt. Ky. Cav., and in Dec. 1862 was elected lst Lieut. of Co.A of that Regt; entered the Rebel service under the influence of thestrong excitement in his part of the state, but is not a secessionist andnever voted as such; became convinced that he was wrong, and resigned andleft the Rebel service on the 5th day of July 1863; returned home andwhile making arrangements to give bond and take the oath of allegiance,was arrested and sent to this depot. Has no sympathy with the Rebellionwhatever; desires to return to his allegiance, and live hereafter as atrue and loyal citizen of the Unites States; does not wish to beexchanged under any circumstances."

"John Wesley Sparks returned to his family in Carter County, Kentucky.(Elliott County was not formed until 1869, a political move to separatethe strong Democratic faction in southern Carter County from the equallystrong Republican faction in northern Carter County.) He and Almeda hadtwo more children. For the rest of his life, he was called "Capt." JohnSparks. He died on November 17, 1895, and Almeda died on May 1, 1900.They were buried in the Lawson-Sparks Cemetery. They had nine children."

SQ pg 2621:

"John Wesley Sparks (he was known as Wesley Sparks), son of Joseph andSarah (DeFord) Sparks, was born on August 16, 1843; he died on July 17,1917, in Long Beach, California. He became an attorney and practiced lawwith his twin brother, Thomas J. Sparks. He was married on December 31,1868, toSusan M. Ross, who was born on August 13, 1842. She died onNovember 4, 1922, in Long Beach. Both were buried in Inglewood Cemetery.They apparently had no children, but adopted Wesley's niece, SusanForbes, after the death of her mother."

See Sparks Quarterly, March 1996, Whole No. 173, p. 4593:

"John Wesley Sparks was born on November 3, 1860; he died in 1947 . Hewas married to Rosy Pennington and lived in the northwest part of WhiteCounty, Tennessee. Their children were named Mae, Lula, Luther, Lee,Claude, George, Dora, Daisy and Jewell."

SQ 3872:

John Wilbur Sparks, son of Thomas and Catherine (Jayne ) Sparks, was bornon March 18, 1846, in Johnson County, Kentucky. He was married to NancyJane Jackson on June 5, 1870, in Boyd County. She had been born on April7, 1847, and was a daughter of (---) and Elizabeth (Thompson) Jackson.According to a descendant, John Wilbur and his brother Henry, bought 400acres of timberland in Lewis County and moved there about 1870. NancyJane died there on March 31, 1905; John Wilbur died sometime after 1900.They had six children.

***************
SQ 1551:

ADDITIONAL SPARKS MARRIAGES IN KENTUCKY, continued:

BOYD COUNTY, KENTUCKY, MARRIAGE BONDS (1860-1905)

Copied by Paul E. Sparks

John Sparks and Nancy Jane Jackson, Jane 5, 1870. (Book 3a, page (420) Hesingle, age 23, born Johnson County, Ky., father born in North Carolina.She single, age 27, born Russell County, Virginia, father born inVirginia.

SQ p. 2026:
DEATH TAKES JOHN WILL SPARKS

"Once again it becomes our duty to record the death of another chartermember of the Sparks Family Association. John Will Sparks of CarterCounty, Kentucky, passed away on June 25, 1978. He was born in ElliottCounty, Kentucky, on October 13, 1896, a son of Ashby and Amanda (Mauk)Sparks and a grandson of Levi and Nancy (Lawson) Sparks. (See page 102of the December 1955 issue of the QUARTERLY, Whole No. 12, for additionalinformation about his lineage.) He was a member of the Regular BaptistChurch. He never married."

SQ p. 4745:

"John Will Sparks was born on October 13, 1896. He was a farmer. Hewas never married. He died on June 25, 1978. (See p.2026 of theSeptember 1978 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 103, for his obituary.)"

SPARKS QUARTERLY, Dec 1979, Whole No. 108, p. 2155:

John William Sparks, son of Josiah A. and Harriet (Powell) Sparks, wasborn on June 27, 1855. On January 6, 1876, he married (1st) Charlotte T.Collins in Adair County. He was 20 years old and she was 17 years old.They were married by the Rev. William Wheat. She was a daughter ofZachariah and Catherine (Sparks) Collins (see III, A, 4, below). JohnWilliam and Charlotte had at least four children prior to her death onMay 28, 1888, and there may have been others. She is buried in the SparksCemetery on Crocus Creek.

a. & b. Twins, born about 1877, died on April 9, 1878.
c. Flora E. Sparks was born about 1879.
d. William Fred Sparks eras born about 1885.

After the death of his first wife, John William Sparks married (2d) LauraEllen Bennett on February 25, 1891. We have not learned whether anychildren were born to this marriage. John William Sparks died on May 1,1899, and was buried at Crocus.

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

[Scanner's Note: For corrections and additions to the above informationconcerning the family of John William ("Candy") and for a photograph ofeight of his children, see the article commencing on page 2534, Whole No.123 of the QUARTERLY for June, 1983.]

JOSIAH A. SPARKS (ca.1770-ca.1841) OF ADAIR COUNTY, KY.

(Editor's Note: On page 2155 of the December 1979 issue of the QUARTERLY,Whole No. 108, we recorded the family of John William ("Candy") Sparks ofAdair County, Kentucky. At that time we did not have complete informationregarding his family. Since them we have been given additionalinformation and can now make some corrections and additions.)

John William ("Candy") Sparks, son of Josiah A. and Harriet (Powell)Sparks, was married twice. By his first wife, Charlotte Temple (Collins)Sparks, he had eight children, and by his second wife, Laura Ellen(Bennett) Sparks, he had four children. Here is a record of these twelvechildren.

a. & b. Twin sons were born to Candy and Charlotte (Collins) Sparks about1877. Both died on April 9, 1878.

c. Flora Ella Sparks was born on August 2, 1879. She married LeslieMcClister and they had four children: Temple, Valda, Denver, and Will.

d. Emily Elizabeth Sparks was born on May 17, 1881. She married RoyTalbot Bennett and they had twelve children. (See page 2155 of theDecember 1979 issue of the QUARTERLY for a record of these children.Unfortunately, on that page, Emily Elizabeth Sparks was listed under thechildren of her uncle, James Edward ("Ed") Sparks. Our readers arerequested to make this correction on page 2155.)

e. Joseph F. Sparks was born in January 1883. He married Mattie P. ------and they had one child, a daughter, named Ruby Sparks.

f. Finis A. ("Jack") Sparks was born in May 1884. He married Flora Yocumand
they had three children: Velma, Audrey, and Norma.

EIGHT OF THE CHILDREN OF JOHN WILLIAM ("CANDY") SPARKS

Left to right: Henry L. ("Dick") Sparks; Rosa Bell (Sparks) Garrett;Harriet Ann (Sparks) Powell; Finis A. ("Jack") Sparks; Zachariah KelseySparks; Joseph F. Sparks; Emily Elizabeth (Sparks) Bennett; and FloraElla (Sparks) McClister.

(View photograph in scrapbook)

g. Zachariah Kelsey Sparks was born on June 24, 1885, in Adair County. Hedied on November 21, 1947, in Illinois. He married Margaret Hoff onJanuary 12, 1910, in Riverton, Illinois. She was born on August 18, 1889,and was a daughter of Joseph and Bell Hoff. Zachariah and Margaret hadthree children: Joseph Zachariah Sparks, W. Basil Sparks, and Betty J.Sparks. Joseph Z. Sparks has been most helpful in the preparation of thiscorrection.
h. William Fred Sparks (he was called Fred) was born in June 1887. Hemarried Nancy ----- and they had at least two children, Tanner and Goldie.

After the death of his first wife, Charlotte Temple (Collins) Sparks,Candy Sparks married (2nd) Laura Ellen Bennett on February 25, 1891. Tothis union four children were born:
i. Harriet Ann Sparks was born in February 1892. She married a man namedPowell.
j. Martha ("Mattie") Sparks was born in November 1893.
k. Rosa Bell Sparks was born in December 1895 and married Ulis Garrett.Their children were Hanzel, Howard, Haskel, Naomi, and Norma.
l. Henry L. ("Dick") Sparks was born in December 1897. He married Nellieand had two children, but we have not learned their names.
[Scanner's Note: Reference to the above corrections and additions to thearticle appearing in Whole No. 108, has been made in that article.]

SQ p. 4733:

"...John and Anna Margaret lived at Harveytown, Kentucky, where theyreared a large family. John died there on July 4, 1949, and was buriedin the Riverside Cemetery at Walkertown, Kentucky..."

SQ 2962 states: "Jonah Sparks (sometimes written as Jonas), son ofSolomon and Rachel Sparks, was born in Pennsylvania about 1793. Heappeared on the 1830 and 1840 census of Bedford County as head of hishousehold. According to the enumeration of his family on these censuses,it seems apparent that he had married about 1818 and that he had twochildren, a son born before 1825, and a daughter born between 1820 and1825. According to information furnished by a relative, he "went toIllinois." We have found no further record of him in Bedford County."

"Jonah Sparks may have been the JohnSparks (born ca.1795 inPennsylvania) who was listed on the 1850 and 1860 censuses of Rock IslandCounty, Illinois. With him were his wife, Elizabeth (born ca.1800 inPennsylvania) and a son named Jonas Sparks (born ca.1819 inPennsylvania). This Jonas Sparks married Margaret Kirk on January 25,1857, in Hancock County, Illinois. She was born about 1826 in Tennesseeand was a daughter of Armstrong and Mary (Bolinger) Kirk. She and Jonashad four children: James M., John B., Charles W., and J. A. ["Albert"].

"Jonah Sparks apparently had died before the estate of his brother,Abraham Sparks, was finally settled. On November 23, 1866, a notationwas made on the settlement record, 'by cash, Hannah Bogges Ex JonasSparks, $55.84." Perhaps Hannah Bogges was a granddaughter.

See MARYLAND MARRIAGES 1634-1777, Compiled by Robert Barnes, Balti more,
1987, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. p. 168:
"Sparks, Jonas, 4 Aug. 1731, Mary Sinnot (sic)" citing 1 QA-38. Thecitation refers to the records of St. Luke's Parish, p. 38, Queen Annes
County, MD. These records were copied in 1904/5 at the MarylandHistorical Society.

SQ 3230: "Married Mary Sinnott 4 Aug 1731. Children Jemima, Lambert,Mary Ann, others?"

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, December 1992, Whole No. 160, pg 4036-4040:
Jonas Sparks, probable son of George and Mary ( ----- ) Sparks, wasborn about 1706. He was married to Mary Sinnott on August 4, 1731, inQueen Annes County as recorded in the register of St. Lukes Parish. Hewas listed on the Oath of Fidelity roll taken in 1778 in Queen AnnesCounty, and also on the tax list of 1783. He apparently died prior to1790. According to the register of St. Lukes Parish, he and Mary had atleast three children.
a. Lambert Sparks, son of Jonas and Mary (Sinnott) Sparks, was bornon January 7, 173-. (The fourth digit is illegible, but we judge it tohave been the numeral "3.") He was married to Deborah Wiggins about1755. She may have been a daughter of Charles Wiggins of Kent County,Maryland, who died in 1797 and named in his will, Deborah, wife ofLambert Sparks.
b. Mary Ann Sparks, daughter of Jonas and Mary (Sinnott) Sparks,was born on March 2, 1739.
c. Jemima Sparks, daughter of Jonas and Mary (Sinnott) Sparks, wasborn on November 10, 1741.
(Article ends on page 4043.)

See the cover of THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, September 1993, Whole No. 163, fora picture of a monument at Fort Boonesborough, Kentucky, honoring some750 persons for helping with the establishment of the fort, includingJonas Sparks.

THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, March 1964, Whole No. 45 , pg 790:

JONAS SPARKS (DIED 1805) OF ROWAN COUNTY, NORTHCAROLINA AND HIS DESCENDANTS

"Jonas Sparks was a resident of Rowan County, North Carolina, fromabout 1760 until his death in 1805. He lived in that portion of RowanCounty that became Davie County in 1836, often referred to in earlyrecords as "the forks of the Yadkin," about ten miles from Salisbury.Jonas Sparks was, in all probablility, closely related to Solomon Sparks"[JS: His brother (356)], "Matthew Sparks" [JS: His first cousin onceremoved (256)], "and William Sample Sparks" [JS: His first cousin (201)]"who moved from Frederick County, Maryland, to Rowan County, NorthCarolina, in the late 1750's and early 1760's...."

"Our earliest record of Jonas Sparks in Rowan County is the tax listof 1761 - - in Caleb Osborn's District the name of Jonas Sparks appearsalong with that of Matthew Sparks and Solomon Sparks.

"The earliest record of Jonas Sparks acquiring land in Rowan County isa deed dated January 1, 1763, by which he purchased for 20 pounds a tractof 130 3/4 acres from Solomon Sparks. (See Rowan County Deed Book 5, p.275.) This was the lower portion of a 290 acre tract of "vacant land"which Solomon Sparks had purchased on August 28, 1762, from the RightHonorable John Earl Granville. (Rowan County Deed Book 5, p. 228) Thisland was located, according to the description in the deeds, on the southside of the Yadkin River just opposite the point at which Muddy Creekflows into the Yadkin. On the same date, Solomon Sparks sold thisportion of his tract to Jonas Sparks, he sold the remaining 159 1/4 acresto Valentine Vanhouser. In 1761, Solomon Sparks had purchased a tract of250 acres on the south side of the Yadkin (Rowan County Deed Book 4, p.389) immediately below the mouth of Muddy Creek, and it was on this tractthat Solomon lived for a number of years before moving to what is nowYadkin County, then a part of Surry County, North Carolina. Thus, Jonasand Solomon lived on adjoining land for several years after 1763.

"In 1764, Jonas Sparks served on a jury in Rowan County, as did alsoSolomon Sparks and William Sample Sparks.

"Whether Jonas Sparks was married when he came to North Carolina , wehave not been able to determine, nor do we know the date of birth of hiseldest child. We know that his daughter Elizabeth was born in 1765. Itis possible that she was the oldest of his children. No record of thename of the wife of Jonas Sparks has been found. He married a secondtime in 1786, but it was his unknown first wife who was the mother of hischildren.

"A few years before the Sparkses moved from Maryland to NorthCarolina, a family that was later to become famous in American historyhad settled along the Yadkin River. This was the Boone family, SquireBoone, father of Daniel, having moved there with his family fromPennsylvania in May, 1750. another prominent family that had preceededthe Sparkses to the Yadkin River was that of Morgan Bryan who had movedthere from Virginia in 1748. (Daniel Boone, the famous frontiersman,married Rebecca Bryan, daughter of Joseph Bryan, in 1755.) [Note: Thisarticle originally stated that Rebecca was the daughter of Morgan Bryanbut this error was corrected on p. 3885.]

"These three families, the Boones, the Bryans, and the Sparkses,became close friends, and on September 25, 1773, members of all three ofthese families set out to find a new home in the wilderness of what isnow Kentucky. Daniel Boone had spent two years exploring (from May,1769, to March, 1771) and, according to his autobiography which he wrotewith the aid of John Filson in 1784, when he returned home he was"determined to bring them [his family] as soon as possible at the risk ofmy life and fortune, to reside in Kentucke, which I esteemed a secondparadise. " He then relates that he sold his farm on the Yadkin "andwhat goods we could not carry with us; and on the 25th of September,1773, we bade farewell to our friends and proceeded on our journey toKentucke, in company with five more families." The other five familieswere those of his brother Squire Boone, Jr., James Bryan, Morgan Bryan,Jr., and William Bryan , all brothers, and Jonas Sparks. Each of thesemen was accompanied by his wife and several children, some of whom wereapproaching maturity. According to Dr. J. D. Bryan, whose article onthis migration was reprinted in the QUARTERLY of September, 1953 (Vol. I,NO. 3, pp. 13-16) [and copied below], enough of the sons were old enoughto carry rifles so that there was a total of twenty armed men. The pathfollowed by this emigration party has become known in American History asthe Wilderness Trail.

"When they reached Powell's Valley, which is located near the presentborder between Western Virginia and Tennessee, they were joined by fiveother families, including forty well-armed men....... (A description ofthe trip from Dr. Bryan's article appears reproduced in its entiretybelow).

(Continuing from page 792 of the QUARTERLY:) "An Indian war nowbroke out, known as Lord Dunmore's War, and the emigrants remained intheir settlement on the Clinch River for two years. During this timeDaniel Boone served the government of Virginia in various ways, includingthe building of a fort on the Kentucky River which was calledBoonesborough. Finally, on June 14, 1775, he returned to his family andled those who wished to continue to Kentucky to the new fort.

"Jonas Sparks did not remain in Kentucky, but sometime prior to 1778he returned with his family to their old home on the Yadkin. Severalmembers of the Bryan family also returned to Rowan County. In 1778 ,Jonas Sparks was taxed in Rowan County on property valued at 4 pounds 3shillings and 6 pence. He moved back on the farm that he had purchasedoriginally from Solomon Sparks and did not acquire additional land for anumber of years. In 1784, for example, he was taxed 17 shillings on thisfarm of slightly over 130 acres.

"Sometime prior to 1786, Jonas Sparks's first wife died. Possibly shedied in Kentucky before the family returned to North Carolina. OnSeptember 5, 1786, Jonas Sparks obtained a marriage bond in Rowan Count yto marry Mary Eakle. The bond was signed by Peter Little, while HughMagoune signed as witness. Mary Eakle had been twice a widow when shemarried Jonas Sparks. Her first husband, whom she married about 1751,was Ca pt. Daniel Little (born in 1731, died December 10, 1775), who wasa prominent citizen of Salisbury in Rowan County. (He held numerous highoffices in Salisbury: Constable, Jailer, Commissioner, High Sheriff,Justice of the Peace and Captain of the Militia.) Daniel and Mary Littlehad seven children: Peter, Daniel Jr., John, Henry, James, Lewis, andMary. I n 1779, Mary, widow of Daniel Little, married as her secondhusband, Jacob Eakle (also spelled Eckle); the Rowan County marriage bondwas dated January 5, 1779, and Mary's name appeared as Anne Mary Little;the bondsman was John Lewis Beard, while the witness was William R.Davie. Jacob Eakle (or Eckle) died, date not known, and Jonas Sparksbecame Mary's third husband.

"According to a tradition among the descendants of Jonas Sparks' s sonDavid, this second wife was a "Dutch woman," (that is German), and David, who would have been about eighteen years old at the time, stronglyobjected to his father marrying her. Later, however, David married the"Dutch woman's" pretty daughter, whose name was Mary. A descendant whocould remember Mary recalled many years ago that she had a Germanaccent. Daniel little is said to have come to Rowan County fromPennsylvania about 1750. Without doubt, both he and Mary, he wife, werePennsylvania Dutch.

"On May 3, 1788, Jonas Sparks again purchased land from SolomonSparks, who had moved by this time to Surry County, North Carolina (thatpart which became Yadkin County). On this date, for 150 pounds, Solomondeeded to Jonas 82 1/2 acres on the south side of the Yadkin Riveropposite the mouth of Muddy Creek, just below and adjoining his earlierpurchase from Solomon. This was a portion of the tract of 250 acrespurchased by Solomon i n 1761. The deed (see Rowan County Deed Book 11,p. 436) was signed by mark b y Solomon and his wife, Sarah, and waswitnessed by two of Solomon's son s (Solomon Sparks, Jr., and JosephSparks) and by Jonas's son, David. One year earlier, Solomon and Sarahhad sold the lower portion of this tract , comprising some 160 acres, toZephemiah Harris (Rowan County Deed Book 1 1, p. 271). Alson in 1788,Jonas Sparks purchased from James Lindsey for 80 pounds a tract of 330acres "in the Forks of the Yadkin" (Rowan Count y Deed Book 11, p. 630),and the following year sold to Roland Jones for 3 5 pounds a portion ofthis land comprising 111 acres (Rowan County Deed Book 1 1, p. 747). OnOctober 29, 1789, Jonas Sparks sold to his son William Sparks, for 40pounds, the tract of 82 1/2 acres on the Yadkin River that he had boughtfrom Solomon Sparks in 1788. (See Rowan County Deed Book 11 , p. 835.)

"The 1790 census of Rowan County, North Carolina, lists three Sparksesliving in the Salisbury District as follows:
Jonas Sparks: 2 males over 16, 3 males under 16, 3 females;
David Sparks: 1 male over 16, 2 males under 16, 1 female;
William Sparks: 1 male over 16, 2 males under 16, 3 females.

"The extra male over 16 years of age living with Jonas Sparks was hisson Jonas, Jr., who did not marry until 1796. Perhaps the three malesunder 16 were his wife's children by one of her previous marriages, sinceJonas's will makes it clear he had only three sons. David and Williamwere his other two sons, both of whom had married and had children priorto 1790.

"On August 17, 1804, Jonas Sparks sold to Lewis Little, his step-son,a tract of 100 acres for 100 pounds (Rowan County Deed Book 19, p. 194). Then on May 3, 1805, just a few days before writing his will, JonasSparks sold 120 3/4 additional acres of his land on the Yadkin River tohis son W illiam for 600 pounds.

"On May 11, 1805, Jonas Sparks made his will. He described himself as"very weak in body' and he apparently died soon afterward. He signedwith his mark, probably because of his illness. It reads as follows:(See Rowan County 'Will Book D, p. 50.)

In the name of God, Amen, the llth of May 1805. I Jonas Sparks, ofRowan being very weak in body but of perfect mind and memory, thanx be toGod for it, therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body andknowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordainthis my last will and testament, that is to say principally and first ofall I give & recommend my soul unto the hands of God who gave it & for mybody I recomend it to the earth to be buried in a descent and Christianlike maner at the discretion of my executors nothing doubting, but at thegeneral resurrection, I shall receive the same again, by the mighty powerof God and as touching such worldly estate, where with it had pleased Godto bless me with in this ''life, I give, devise and dispose in thefollowing manner and form -
I give & bequeath unto my well beloved wife Mary Sparks, thedwelling house where I now live and a sufficient maintenance of theplantation during widowhood or lifetime, one desk, a bay mare & sixpewter plates & two pewter basons one flax wheel, one bottle, onepot, one old small pot, one looking glass, one coffee mill, one cornercuberd, one grddel, pare of dogs, one old coper kettel, one stillard.
I give & bequeath unto my son Jonas Sparks, junr., deceased widow,Anna Sparks during her widowhood the land & plantation where she nowlives.
Item I give & bequeath unto my grand son Joseph Sparks, son ofJonas Sparks, Jun. & his heirsJonas Sparks Junr dec: Widow Anna Sparksduring her widowhood the land & plantation where she now lives.
Item I give & bequeath unto my grand son Jsseph Sparks son ofJonas Sparks Jun: & his heirs forever all the land & plantation andpremisses with all the pertanning their unto where I now live.
Item I give & bequeath unto my daughter Rachel Griggs one silverdollar & no more
Item I give & bequeath unto my daughter Easter Caton one silverDollar & no more
Item I give & bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Bryant one silverdollar & no more
Item I give & bequeath unto my son William Sparks one silver dollar& onehalf of the waggon which we have now in use between us for the useof both the plantation and one third of the fishery.
Item I give & bequeath unto my Son David Sparks one silver dollar &one third of the fishery.
Item I give & bequeath unto my three grand children my son JonasSparks['s] children Elizabeth Sparks, Jamimah Sparks and Joseph Sparks,the balance of all my stock of every kind with the ballance of my household furniture & plantation utintinals to be equeally davided betweenthem three children.

And further I do by this present constitute and appoint my son DavidSparks & Josuah Caton my whole & sole executors and administrators & I doutterly disallow, revoke & disanull every other former testaments, willslegacies & executors by me in any way before this time named willed &bequeathed ratify & confirming this & no other to be my last will &testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this day& year above written. his
Jonas X Sparks(Seal)
[Witnesses] mark
Rowland Jones
Jacob Hill

"As was noted earlier, the wife named Mary whom Jonas Sparks named inhis will, was his second wife, and he had no children by her. We mayassume that he named all of his living children in his will, as well ashis deceased son, Jonas, Jr. It is possible, however, that there was adaughter omitted, perhaps because she had died and his wife Mary (whobecame Jonas Sparks's second wife), is known to have married a TabithaSparks. Since there was this family connection and because Jonas Sparkssold land to Lewis Little in 1804, it is possible that Tabitha wasanother daughter to Jonas; perhaps she died prior to 1805."

THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, September 1953, Whole No. 3: DANIEL BOONE AND THESPARKS FAMILY, pages 13-16.

"The following account of the BOONES, BRYANS and SPARKS, was writtenby J. D. Bryan whose great-grandfather Bryan's sister, Rebecca was thewife of Daniel Boone. Dr. Bryan read this article before the KentuckyHistorical Society some years before its publication. It was firstprinted in the REGISTER OF THE KENTUCKY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, September1905, Volume 3, Number 9, pages 81-92. Dr. Bryan was described as acareful historian and the Society pointed out that he had made a carefuland exhaustive search for data concerning his own people. Subsequent tothe first publication, the article was reprinted in THE KENTUCKYHISTORICAL SOCIETY MAGAZINE, July 1930, Volume 28, Number 84, pages244-260. In the reprinting, JONAS SPARKS is erroneously called JAMESSPARKS -- a mistake which has set several Sparks family genealogists on afalse trail. Jonas Sparks did not remain in Kentucky, but soon took hisfamily back to Rowan County, North Carolina. Some of the Bryans alsoreturned to North Carolina. In 1786, Rowan County, North Carolina (andnot in Kentucky, as Dr. Bryan states), Henry Bryan, a brother of Dr.Bryan's paternal grandfather, was married to Elizabeth Sparks, daughterof Jonas. They later settled in Missouri....Here follow pertinentexcerpts from Dr. Boone's article:

"Squire Boone, Daniel's father, and his family left Exeter (now BerksCounty, Pennsylvania) on the first day of May, 1750, and moved to NorthCarolina. Squire Boone settled on the Yadkin River at Alleman's Ford,also since called Boone's Ford. This was in the same community whereMorgan Bryan then lived...

"Morgan Bryan, father of James, William and Morgan, Jr., had sold hisinterests in Virginia, and in the fall of 1748 he had moved his family toNorth Carolina and settled in the forks of the Yadkin River, which wasthen in Anson County, but in 1753, Rowan County was set off from Anson,thus they were in Rowan County. Thus we see that Morgan Bryan had beenliving on the Yadkin River when Squire Boone came from Pennsylvania andsettled on the Yadkin River and became a near neighbor to him. HereDaniel Boone and Rebecca Bryan became acquainted and in 1755 weremarried. William Bryan (son of Morgan and uncle of Rebecca) also marriedMary Boone (sister of Daniel) the same year.

"On September 25, 1773, Daniel Boone, Squire Boone (brothers), James(Bryan), Morgan (Bryan) Jr., and William Bryan (brothers), and JonasSparks, all with large families of children, many of said childrenapproaching maturity, started from North Carolina to settle on theKentucky River.

" 'Kaintuckee' is a Shawnee word and signified 'at the head of theriver' it never meant 'dark and bloody ground', as is generally stated.These men with their sons, old enough to be efficient with the rifle,formed quite a respectable force, as they could certainly muster sometwenty rifles. They proceeded without incident worthy of note until theyreached Powell's Valley where they were joined by five other families and'forty well-armed men'.

"Their daily order of march was for the armed men to take the lead,then came the women and children on horseback, then the cattle and youngstock driven by the older boys and young men, who thus brought up therear, and acted as a rear guard. In this order they took their dailymarch, and proceeded without incident worth of note until October 10t h,(1773) when they were crossing Powell's River for the last time, as theyapproached 'Cumberland Gap'. While moving, the cavalcade would stretchout on the road for a mile or so. The armed men had forded the river andwere halted and formed in line to protect the company, expecting attack,if at all, from the front. While the main force were thus on guard,other men were helping the women and children to ford the river. Thetime comsumed in fording the river had brought the rear guard up towithin half a mile or less of the river. While some of the women andchildren were still in the midst of the stream the entire company wasstartled by a sudden and heavy firing in the rear. Some of the armed menhastily mounted and rushed back across the river, and as they got fairlyon the bank, met one of the young men, wounded, dashing up, who reportedthat they had been fired on from ambush. The men soon came upon theIndians, and after a sharp fight drove them off, to find the other sixyoung men dead. All had received fatal wounds at the first fire, showingthe Indians had lain in the thicket at the roadside, and, as the companywas too strong for them, they had allowed the cavalcade to pass by, butwhen the seven young men came up, it was too tempting for Indian enmityto resist. They evidently each picked his man, took deliberate aim, andbut one, sent their bullets but too true, killing outright the six andwounding the seventh.

"Daniel Boone's oldest son, James, was among the slain. Fearing ageneral attack the company at once went into camp and remained under armsthe rest of that day and night. This caused them, after burying th edead, to retreat to the settlements on the Clinch River, Virginia, fortymiles back the road they had come.

"Here they erected cabins for their protection and comfort and wentinto winter quarters to await the following spring to renew theirjourney. The next spring an Indian War broke out known as Dunmore's War.Boone was commissioned Captain in the Virginia militia and placed incommand of three contiguous forts, part of a system of forts from thePotomac to the south line. The emigrants remained in their cabins on theClinch River during the war, which was concluded by the Battle of PointPleasant, October 1774, after which the militia was disbanded. Boonereturned to the camp on the Clinch River. An impetus was now given tothe settlement of Kentucky because of the bounty lands given the soldiersby Virginia.

"Among many others, Colonel Richard Henderson organized a company withthe purpose of purchasing the rights of the Cherokee Indians (whateverthat right might be) to all land bounded by the Ohio, Kentucky, andCumber land Rivers. (Kentucky River was originally called LouisianaRiver.) Because of his influence with the Indians, Captain Boone wasengaged and went with Colonel Henderson to attend a treaty with theCherokees at Fort Wautauga, situated on a branch of the Holston River,March 17, 1775, where the right of the Cherokees to the above statedlands was purchased by this company. Then it was important to takepossession of this territory. Captain Boone was engaged to do this. Heraised a company of well- armed men (nodoubt his own people formed agood part of it) and proceeded to the Kentucky River. They proceededwith such dispatch as to begin April 1st the erection of the 'StockadeFort' which, in honor of Boone, was called 'Boone's Borough', on theKentucky River at the mouth of Otter Creek. The fort was completed the14th of the following June. As soon as the fort was completed, Boonestarted for the Clinch settlement for his family, leaving a small guardin the fort. The old company, William, James , and Morgan Bryan, Jr.,Squire Boone and Jonas Sparks and families -- and now that the danger wastrifling, other families joined the caravan -- in September or October,just two years from their first start, crossed Powell's River and thistime proceeded to the Kentucky River without incident. " "

A HISTORY OF THE DANIEL BOONE NATIONAL FOREST, 1770-1970 by Robert
F. Collins, 1975; 976.9C at page 33:

"Throughout his life Daniel Boone demonstrated a certain quality ofleadership and an adventurous spirit which always attracted followers. Inthis case, it was his wife's relatives, the Bryans, who still lived onthe Yadkin that joined him. In addition, five other families agreed toaccompany him to Kentucky, all agreeing to rendezvous in Powell' s Valleyjust short of Cumberland Gap and to travel to Kentucky together.

"As Boone and his companions well knew, this was a dangerous adventure.
Basically, it was in violation of British policy, as thr Royal Government had forbidden western settlement. The Royal Governors of Virginiaand North Carolina were already concerned at the whole violation of thi sRoyal Edict, and were considering legal measures against the violaters.In addition, no agreement had been reached with the Indians who were sureto object, as Boone's previous experience in Kentucky had demonstrated .The Cherokee nation claimed ownership of that portion of Kentucky wheresettlement was contemplated, and all legal rights supported this claim.With the usual disregard for the niceties of the law, Daniel Boone andhis companions were determined to go ahead. In later years, Daniel Boonetold John Filson, "I returned home to my family with a determination tobring them as soon as possible to live in Kentucky, which I esteemed asecond paradise, at the risk of my life and fortune." On September 25,1773 , the group of settlers started their travel to the land ofKentucky. At that time, the group consisted of six families from theYadkin and an additional 40 men who had joined the party at PowellsValley, which lay approximately 150 miles from their destination inKentucky. In his book, KENTUCKY , Dr. Thomas D. Clark reminds us that inlater years, the folk artist, Caleb Bingham, "Was to portray Daniel Booneas an optimistic frontier Moses, leading his domestic band throughCumberland Gap to the promised land beyond."

" As this caravan got underway, it certainly set the pattern forAmerica's concept of the settlement of the successive frontiers duringthe nex t 100 years. Like nomads, they drove their livestock with them,milk cows , young cattle, and swine, which were to form the nucleus ofthe livestock herds they planned to develop in their new location. Thecountry beyond Cumberland Gap through which this party must travel wassuch as to have discouraged any but truly frontier people. Since therewere no roads, wagons were out of the question. Horses and pack horseswere the only transportation.Those without horses were compelled towalk. Not only were there no roads, but there were no cleared orwell-marked trails. This little column would be compelled to wind in andout among the trees and over rough terrain, following hunter trailswherever these existed and seeking game trails through thick under- brushand cane patches. One can imagine the difficulties of driving cattle andswine on such a trip as this. Add to this the constant danger of Indianattack and we cannot help but wonder, in this modern day, how anyone,much less families, would be induced to undertake such a trip. Truly,the desire for new land and the freedom of a new country must have beenstrong in these people to fortify them against the rigors of the trail,the thrests of Indians, and the work, dangers and privations ofestablishing themselves in a wilderness country.

"As the Boone settlement party left their assembly area in Powell sValley and moved slowly toward Cumberland Gap, no one anticipated Indiantrouble, particularly before passing throught the Gap into Kentucky .Travelers returning from that area had encountered no difficulty with theIndians. They had found both the Shawnees and the Delewares friendlyenough.

"After a few day's travel, Daniel Boone decided that he needed moreflour and farm tools and sent his oldest son, James, back to CaptainWilliam Russell's place to get them. Since the party was still fairlynear the settlements, the boy rode off alone without thought of danger.He contacted Russell, procured the needed supplies and equipment, andstarted back to rejoin the column accompanied by Russell's son, Henry, aboy of about 17, two slaves, and a couple of white workmen. Having failedto catch up with the column at the end of the day, they camped the nightof October 10, 1773, on Walden's Creek at a spot only three miles behindthe main body. Being experienced woodsmen, they spread their blanketsand went to sleep unconcerned by the normal night noises of thewilderness around them. Just before dawn, a party of Indians fired intothem shooting Henry Russell and James Boone through the hips and killingmost of the others. One man of the party escaped to the woods and wasnever seen again, although a skeleton reported to be his was ultimatelyfound some distance from the scene. He had probably died of his woundsalone in the forest. One of the Negro slaves managed to slip into a pileof driftwood by the river where he lay concealed and witnessed thehorrors that followed with abject terror.

"The two boys had been rendered helpless by their wounds and wereunable to move. The Indians proceeded, with great pleasure, to torturethem to death.

"James Boone had immediately recognized one of the Indians, a Shawneeknown as "Big Jim" who had often visited at his father's cabin. Thehidden slave, from his concealment in the pile of driftwood, distinctlyheard James Boone repeatedly beg his father's friend to spare his life.The Indians were intent on torture and were not about to forfeit thepleasure. The hidden slave heard James Boone screaming for mercy timeafter time begging that he be tomahawked at once and allowed to diequickly. Again, the Indians refused and the torture lasted until at lastthe two boys died with their nails torn out, their palms squashed intheir futile efforts to turn the blades of the Indian knives aside withtheir bare hands, and their bodies slashed to ribbons. It had beenpremeditated and prolonged torture of the most painful kind.

"Early the next morning a deserter from the main body, slipping backalong the trail, came upon the scene of the torture just after theIndians left. As he stared speech- less, Captain Russell came up fromthe other direction on his way to join Boone's party. The party withCaptain Russell started immediately to dig graves, sending one man aheadto warn Boone of what had happened and of the presence of Indians.

(This article is continued under the notes for his spouse, ElizabethSparks.)

SPARKS QUARTERLY, September 1967, Whole No. 59, 1082-1089 at p. 1086:

DESCENDANTS OF SOLOMON AND SARA SPARKS, OF MARYLAND AND NORTH CAROLINATHROUGH THEIR SON, REUBEN SPARKS (ca. 1755-1840),

"Jonas Sparks, son of Reuben and Cassie (Buttery) Sparks, was bornabout 1794 in Wilkes or Surry County, North Carolina. In 1817 he wasmarried to Mary Brown, a daughter of John Brown of Wilkes County. Themarriage bond is dated September 27, 1817 and John Brown was the bondsman.

"On the cover of this issue of THE QUARTERLY appears a photograph ofMary (Brown) Sparks, wife of Jonas Sparks. It has been provided by MaryEtta Sayers Bostic, a great-great-grandaughter of Jonas and Mary (Brown)Sparks. Mary (Brown) Sparks, daughter of John Brown, was born about1801. It is believed that she was still living as late as 1875; thispicture was probably taken sometime in the 1870's.

"Jonas and Mary (Brown) Sparks were listed as members of the SouthFork of Roaring River Baptist Church in 1829. In 1835, Jonas purchased70 acres of his father's home place in Wilkes County, North Carolina,while his brother William R. Sparks, purchased 100 acres. Earlier, onApril 5, 1821, Jonas Sparks had purchased a tract of 30 acres adjoininghis father's land in Wilkes County from Noel Wadill (Wilkes Deed Book1841-51, page 24); this tract was described as lying on "the East Side ofRoaring River." On Mar 13, 1835, Jonas Sparks purchased for $5.00 atract of twenty-five acres from the State of North Carolina. This tractwas described as follows: "Beginning on his own North west Corner at abunch of kornbeans on the bank of Roaring River and running West CrossingRoaring River with William R. Sparkse line fourteen poles to a Stake thenNorth ninety five poles to a Chestnut and Maple in Browns line then Eastwith sd. line Thirty two poles to a Chestnut then South With Browns lineCrossing the river Sixty poles to a poplar at or near to Browns Cornerthen East with Browns line Thirty five poles to a pine in his own linethen west with sd. line forty six poles to the beginning." ( WilkesCounty Deed Book 1841-51, p. 34). The reference to an adjoining tractbelonging to a man named Brown suggest that Mary Brown may have lived ona farm adjoining the Sparks family.

"In 1848, Jonas Sparks moved with his family to Tazewell County, Virginia, and settled in an area called Baptist Valley. Jonas Sparks isbelived to have died there in 1875.

"Jonas and Mary (Brown) Sparks are believed to have been the parentsof ten children. In John Newton Harman's ANNALS OF TAZEWELL COUNTY,VIRGINIA, published in Richmond in 1925, three of their sons areidentified: Jonas J. Sparks, Joshua W. Sparks, and Joseph Sparks. Fromother records, we believe that we can identify most of the other, but wecan not be certain. ( Here follows information on their children, forwhich see their individual files.)"

SQ 3269: "Jonas Sparks, son of Reuben and Cassie (Buttery) Sparks,was born in Wilkes County, North Carolina, on June 2, 1793. It was therethat he married Mary Brown in 1817. (The marriage bond was datedSeptember 27, 1817, and they were doubtless married shortly thereafter.)Mary was born on September 21, 1800, and was a daughter of John Brown.Jonas Sparks died on January 18, 1875, in Tazewell county, Virginia, andMary died there in June 1890. They had nine children. (For furtherinformation about this couple, the reader is referred to the September1967 issue of THE QUARTERLY , Whole No. 59, pp. 1086-88.)

SQ p. 1500:

3. Jonas Sparks, son of John and Katharine (Waddell) Sparks, born about1799; he died in 1855 in Nicholas County, Kentucky. He married ElizabethKnox (called Betsey) in 1821 (Nicholas County marriage bond dated October30, 1821). She was born about 1802, (She may have been a sister ofCatherine Knox who married William Sparks, brother of Jonas.) As noted inthe sketch of William Sparks, Jonas and William owned a number of tractsof land in Nicholas County in partnership. In his will, dated October 26,1855, Jonas Sparks mentioned his wife, Elizabeth, and the following threechildren: John, Samuel, and Margaret Ann.

WILLS OF PERSONS NAMED SPARKS IN NICHOLAS COUNTY, KENTUCKY, 1800-1896

Abstracted by Paul E. Sparks

Book G. Jonas Sparks to wife, Elizabeth, one-third of the land andhousehold goods. To sons, John Sparks and Samuel Sparks, balance ofproperty and land. Sons to pay daughter, Margaret Ann Young, $1500.Signed, 26 October 1855. Witnesses: David Knox and James Huffstetter.Will probated in December term of Court, 1855.

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, Mar 1964, Whole No. 45, p. 804:

"Jonas Sparks, son of David and Mary Little Sparks, was born about1800 in Rowan County, North Carolina. His name appears on the tax listsof Madison County, Tennessee, of 1827, 1828, and 1829. In 1840 he wasliving in Shelby County, Tennessee, but by 1850 he had moved to TippahCounty, Mississippi, just over the line from Hardeman County, Tennessee,and near his cousin, Ephriam Sparks (786). His age in 1850 was given as49, that of his wife, Rebecca, as 44. Both were born in North Carolina.Their children, as listed on the 1850 census were: (there were probablyothers born after this date but the family had moved from the area ofTippah County by 1860 ) [here lists 6 children]."

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, September 1986, Whole No. 135, p. 2944:

"QUERY - FAMILY OF JONAS SPARKS, BORN ABOUT 1800.

"Larose Adams Wynn (1368 Wrenwood, Memphis, TN 38122) would like tocorrespond with descendants of Jonas Sparks, who was born in that part ofRowan County, North Carolina, that was cut off to form Davie County in1836 . He was a son of David and Mary (Little) Sparks. David Sparks wasborn about 1868 in Rowan County and was a son of a Jonas Sparks who diedthere in 1805 . (Article
cites above article pgs. 790-807)

"By 1846, Jonas and Rebecca Sparks were living in Tippah County,Mississippi, with six children. Tippah County adjoins the county ofHardeman in Tennessee on the north. The 1850 census of Tippah County,Mississippi, indicates that Jonas' first four children, born betweenabout 1830 and about 1841, had been born in Tennessee, while the othertwo had been born in Mississippi between about 1846 and 1848. Whetheradditional children were born after 1850 we do not know.

"Jonas Sparks has not been found on the 1860 census of Tippah County,Mississippi, nor anywhere else, although we have only scattered data fromthe 1860 census of the U.S. at this time. Jonas Sparks had apparentlydied prior to 1870, for in that year, his widow, Rebecca, age 60, wasliving in Arkansas County, Arkansas (in Crockett Township). Her nearestpost office was Mt. Adams.

"Based on census records as well as family records for the daughterAmanda and the son Jonas H., we believe that Jonas and Rebecca Sparks hadthe following children born prior to 185O. It is possible that otherswere born after 1850."(For identity and information concerningdescendants, see family pages.)

SQ 3270: "Jonas Sparks was born February 1842 in North Carolina . Hemarried Lucinda "Lucy" Harrison on February 10, 1865, in Tazewell County,Virginia. She was born in January 1849. According to the records of the1880 and 1900 censuses of Tazewell County, Lucy and Jonas had elevenchildren:
(1) Martha b. ca. 1866.
(2) Joseph b. ca. 1868
(3) John b. ca. 1870.
(4) Lydia b. Aug 1871.
(5) Mary B. b. September 1873.
(6) Rachel b. ca. 1875.
(7) Harriet b. March 1877.
(8) Nancy "Nannie" b. June 1878.
(9) Elias b August 1880.
(10) Jonas Jr. b. April 1882.
(11) William b. February 1884."