SQ p. 2596:

"Kenneth Johnson Sparks, son of Israel A. and Minnie Blanche (Akers)Sparks, was born on September 14, 1902. He was a mortician and worked forthe Bradshaw Funeral Home in Lafayette. He married Ethel Dunn on August2, 1924. She was born on December 31, 1894, and was a daughter of Starrand Martha
(Mongold) Dunn. Kenneth died on December 15, 1982.

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Betsy Sparks died on December 16, 1871, and was buried in the SparksCemetery near Ogden, Iowa. David married (2nd) Mrs. Nancy Williams onSeptember 7, 1872. She was the widow of Samuel Williams who had died in1860 leaving her with nine children. David Sparks died on October 2,1892, and was buried beside his first wife, Betsy, in the SparksCemetery. He and Betsy had nine children."

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

SQ p. 1502:
Kitty Harriet Sparks, was born about 1819. She married Ephraim Wilson inNicholas County in 1842 (marriage bond dated April 19, 1842). He was bornabout 1820. According to the 1850 census, they had children named [Seefamily group sheet]

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

SQ pp. 4638-39:

"Laban ["Labe"] Theodore Sparks was born on November 29, 1859, inLawrence County. He was a farmer and also a merchant. Descendants saythat he was a deeply religious man. He was married twice. His firstmarriage was to Emily Lyon on December 9, 1880. She had been born onMarch 2, 1861, and was a daughter of Lewis and Mary ["Polly"] (Sparks)Lyon. Emily and Labe had seven children before Emily's death in 1902.They were: Florence Alma Sparks, Eva Belle Sparks, Charles FranklinSparks, Mary Hattie Sparks, Hugh Herbert Sparks, and Nelson Tate Sparks{and Henry W. Sparks, see p. 4703}. (For further details about the familyof Charles Franklin Sparks, see pp. 1306-1307 of the March 1970 issue ofthe QUARTERLY, Whole No. 69.)

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

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

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

See his photo on the cover of THE SPARKS QUARTERLY for March 2000, WholeNo. 189, p. 5281 and in his scrapbook. See also pp.5282-83:
See also the photo (p. 5284) of Lamar with his sisters in the scrapbookfor his sister Maybelle.)

SOME DESCENDANTS OF SOLOMON SPARKS, JR. (Died 1817) OF WILKES COUNTY,NORTH CAROLINA WHO MOVED TO INDIANA

[Editor's Note: As we enter the 21st Century, members of our Associationwho belong to my generation (born in 1920, 1 have been both young and oldduring the 20th Century), think of World War II as having been yesterdayand of World War I as our parents' yesterday. The photograph of LaMarFrancis Sparks in his World War I uniform reminds us of someone we mightwell have known, although he was born in the 19th Century and died justas the United States was entering World War II. To our children andgrandchildren, however, his story of a battle in France where he wasgassed, from which he would never fully recover will seem like ancienthistory if they read his obituary clipped from a newspaper the dayfollowing his death on February 15, 1942. (Obituary notice did not copy)

[Here we outline Lamar Sparks' ancestry, some of which has been noted inpast issues of the QUARTERLY, but much of it has been added throughcorrespondence and research conducted by relatives and descendants. Youreditor notes specifically genealogical information provided by KayWolniak of Carmichael, California, and Leon K. Sparks of Grand Junction,Colorado. Mrs. Wolniaks grandmother, Lydia A. (Sparks) Hobson, was adaughter of Lamar's grandfather, Jacob Esau Sparks, while Leon K. Sparksis a son of LaMar. Like tens of thousands of other Americans, Lamlardescended from the William Sparks who died in Queen Annes County,Maryland, in 1709.]

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SQ pp.5304-05:

LaMar Francis Sparks was born September 9, 1899, in Sadorus, ChampaignCounty, Illinois; he died on February 15, 1942, in Maywood, Illinois, inthe Hines Veterans Hospital . His photograph appears on the cover of thepresent issue of the QUARTERLY .
As we noted at the beginning of this article, Lamar Francis Sparks servedin U.S. Army in World War I. His son, Leon Keith Sparks, has provided thefollowing record of his service . LaMar had been 17 when he enlisted onJune 1, 1917, at Chicago, Illinois. He was described as having blue eyes,auburn hair, a fair complexion, and he was six feet tall. By occupationhe was a machinist . His service was described at the time of hisdischarge as follows: "Chateau Thierry Sec. 6/18 - 28118; St. Mihiel Off.9112 - 16/18; Meuse Argonne Off. 10116 -
1116/18. Army of Occ. 12/26118 - 10129119. Served with Co. K, 59thInfantry; 278th Co. Military Police Corps." He was discharged at CampDix, New Jersey, on November 12, 1919, and "Paid in Full $116.85,including Bonus Pay of $60.00. "

.
!NOTES:
See father's notes.

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

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

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

SQ p. 2163:

Laura Alice Sparks, daughter of Elijah and Mary Ann (Garner) Sparks, wasborn on January 8, 1866. She died on July 12, 1936. She married GilbertMoore and they had eleven children. Miss Sparks recalls them: "I didn'tknow Aunt Laura very well, for I saw her only a few times. She was veryquiet. Uncle Gilbert, her husband, was a farmer and also worked in a coalmine at Riverton, Illinois."

SQ pg 3413: "Laura Belle Sparks, daughter of Fred and Catherine (Kegley) Sparks, was born on November 9, 1879, in Elliott County; she wasa young woman when she moved with her parents to Greenup County in 1897.It was there, two years later, that she was married to James Alpha Musseron March 29, 1899. He was born on July 1, 1878, in Lewis County,Kentucky, and was a son of Alexander and Sarah E. (Hensley) Musser. Alpha(as he was called) and Laura lived most of their lives in Ashland,Kentucky. Alpha died on March 18, 1954, and Laura died on September 29,1957. They were buried in the Sparks Cemetery on Happy Ridge. They hadfourteen children."

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

.

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

SQ pg 2749:

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

See notes for her uncle, Troy Otho Sparks.

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

"Lavina Elizabeth Sparks, daughter of Abel Tomlin and Nancy Ann M.(Newsom) Sparks, was married to the Rev. Henry Taylor McKay on November5, 1868. He was born on November 10, 1849, in Pyreton, Clay County,Alabama. He was a son of the Rev. Samuel Martin and Lucinda Emmalee(Walden) McKay. It is an interesting fact that the paternal grandmotherof Lucinda Emmalee (Walden) McKay was Sarah Sparks, born about 1750,daughter of James Sparks, Jr., of Spotsylvania County, Virginia. (SeeTHE QUARTERLY for December 1962, Vol. X, No. 4, Whole No. 40, pp.680-704, for further information on this branch of the Sparks Family.)[JS Note: This branch of the Sparks Family apparently is not descendedfrom William Sparks who died in 1709].

"A daughter of Lavina Elizabeth (Sparks) McKay, Mrs. Myrtle M. (McKay)Jenkins, wrote the following tribute following her mother's death:
'Lavina Elizabeth Pamela (Sparks) McKay was born May 24, 1852, nearUnion Church in the northern part of Clay County, Alabama. She was theonly child of Abel Tomlin Sparks and Nancy Ann (Newsom) Sparks. Lavinaattended school at Red Hill and Union Church Community. Her father wascalled to duty in the Civil War when she was nine years of age. She andher mother lived alone and helped with the farm work during the two yearsof his absence. Livina was eleven when her father was discharged andlittle is known of her life until she was married to Henry Taylor McKayat the age of sixteen.

'He became a Minister of the Gospel shortly after their marriage. Thisreligious setting brought forth results from the start. This couple wasknown near and far throughout their communities for their aid to any andall in time of need, spiritual or physical. The hour was never too latenor the weather too bad to help the unfortunate. They were fondly calledAunt Vina and Uncle Taylor in later years. Lavina was a Christian motherand devoted wife. She lived a full life of love and understanding in themost christian-like manner.

'She and Taylor and the twelve children lived until the youngest waspassed forty before the family circle was broken. Lavina spent the lastfew years in bed and wheel chair because of a broken hip. She was laidto rest at the age of 82 on December 8, 1934, at Oak Grove Church withina mile of where she lived. The minister in charge at her funeralremarked that all the gray hair in Aunt Vina's head could be counted in avery few minutes. Her memories linger with us to eternity."

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

" Lawrence Benjamin Sparks, son of "Doc" and "Hazel Pony" Sparks, wasborn on October 16, 1877. He was married twice. His first marriage was toMary Hawkins on July 31, 1901, in Hunt County, Texas. She died tragicallyon December 8, 1903, when her clothing ignited as she was washing clothesin a kettle over an open fire outdoors. Lawrence Sparks married (2nd)Ellen Clarke. They were divorced in 1932. He lived most of his life onone of his father's farms near Celeste, Texas, part of which he laterinherited. He died on October 10, 1970, at Ft. Worth, Texas, where he hadgone to live with a son. Ellen (Clarke) Sparks died on April 26, 1965, atLubbock, Texas. Lawrence Sparks had seven children. By his firstmarriage, he had a daughter, Amy Sparks. By his second marriage he had:Eugene Sparks; Golden Sparks; Bonnie Sparks; Bertie Sparks; Venus Sparks;and Leslie Sparks."

SQ pg 2660:

"Lawrence Jackson ("Doc") Sparks, son of "Doc" and Mary (Brown)Sparks, was born on August 21, 1846, in Chambers County, Alabama, and wasa small child when his parents moved to Texas where he grew to manhood .The reason for his acquiring the nickname "Doc" is a mystery as is truealso of his
father. On December 19, 1869, he was married to Misalina Hazel SaphroniaRichey in Hopkins County, Texas. She had been born on September 4, 1849,and was a daughter of John Stewart and Elizabeth (Stout) Richey, pioneersettlers of the Republic of Texas and natives of Alabama and Texas,respectively. Her nickname was "Hazel Pony." "Doc" and "Hazel Pony"Sparks settled down in Hunt
County, Texas, and continued to live there until about 1906 when theywent to some new lands which had been opened up in the territory of NewMexico. He died at Clovis, New Mexico, on August 10, 1932, and "HazelPony" died there two years later, on November 1, 1934. She had beenbed-ridden for many years because of a broken hip. They were buried atClovis; they had ten children.

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

SQ p. 743:

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

SQ p. 3406:

"Leander C. ["Brud"] Sparks, son of Nelson and Peggy (Mauk) Sparks, wasborn about 1851 in Carter County. He died on July 17, 1919, in Arkansas.He apparently married three times. His first marriage was to Minerva JaneBinion, probably about 1874. She was born about 1857 and was a daughterof Rebecca Binion. Brud and Minerva had three children before her death,which apparently occurred about 1881."

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

SQ p. 4743:

Leburn H. ["Polly"] Sparks was born on April 4, 1888. He was marriedtwice. His first marriage was to Elvira Conley. They had no children. Hissecond marriage was to Hattie Hall on January 31, 1910. She had been bornon September 11, 1895, and was a daughter of Daniel B. and Elizabeth(Cornette) Hall. She and Polly lived at Gates, Kentucky. Polly died onFebruary 20, 1979, and Hattie died a few months later, on December 3 (or5?), 1979. They were buried in the New Sill Cemetery in Rowan County,Kentucky. They had seven children: Elbert 0. Sparks, Charles E. Sparks,Fred T. Sparks, Robert W. Sparks, Thelma Sparks, Lyda Sparks, and LillianSparks.

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

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

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

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

SQ p. 749:

"Leota Sparks, daughter of James S. and Alice M. (Davis) Sparks, wasborn Sept. 3, 1889, at Douglas, Kansas. She married Howard Marion Lawtonon Sept. 1, 1915, at Hobart, Ind. He was born May 10, 1889, at Plymouth,Illinois. He is a farmer and dairyman; she was a primary teacher. HowardM. Lawton and his five children, James, Dale, Alice, John and Robert, areall graduates of Knox College at Galesburg, Illinois. Two granddaughtershave also attended. All four sons were in World War II and John wascalled back into service for the Korean War. (Data on children)"

See note for his brother, Perry Hawkins Sparks.

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

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

SQ 4734:

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

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

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

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SQ p. 2272:

Levi Sparks, born October 2, 1778, died October 12, 1851; married (1st)----- Walsh; married (2nd) Sarah Lyon; appeared on the followingcensuses: 1810 and 1820 of Wilkes County, North Carolina; 1830, 1840, and1850 of Lawrence County, Kentucky.

SQ pg 2568:

"Levi Sparks, son of Nathan Sparks, was born on December 1, 1787, inQueen Annes County, Maryland. It is said that he was educated to be aphysician. He was postmaster of Church Hill, MD in 1828, and he alsoowned a general store in that community. In 1835, he sold his
property, including his store, furniture, and slaves, and went toIndiana where he built a large home near persent-day Odon in DaviessCounty. It was there that he died on September 24, 1850. He was aMethodist and, according to a descendant, his house was a stopping placefor the circuit-riding preachers of that conference. He was probablyburied in the Churchyard of Talbot's Chapel, a church which has sinceburned.
" Levi Sparks was married three times according to his descendants .His first marriage was to Matilda ---, probably about 1810. They had twosons who were born in Queen Annes County. (See family informationsheet)...After the death of his first wife, Matilda, Levi Sparks, Sr.married a woman named Simmons, and they had three children (See familyinformation sheet)...The second wife of Levi Sparks, Sr., apparently diedabout 1834, and after disposing of his property, he took his two smallchildren, Joseph and Susan Ann, to their maternal grandparents (Simmons)in Vermillion County, Indiana, in 1835. He married Mary Rebecca BrooksGodwin in Daviess County, Indiana, on January 6, 1838. She had been bornon June 19, 1814, and was a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Brooks) Godwin.Levi and Mary had six children born to them before his death on September25, 1850. After his death, Mary married Jacob Wesner on February 22,1856. She died in 1873."

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

"Levi Sparks, son of Solomon and Catherine (Hilligas) Sparks, was bornon April 9, 1798, and died on January 13, 1872, one-half mile north ofPeosta, Dubuque County, Iowa. He was a farmer, but he was also amechanical engineer and operated a saw mill. He was married on December16, 1819, by William Daldridge, M.D.V., at West Union, Adams County,Ohio, to Zulima Craig Moore; she had been born on July 10, 1800, atLexington, Virginia. She died on September 23, 1867, at Peosta, Iowa.(For their children see their family page.)

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

"Levi Sparks moved to Iowa in the early 1840s. In the localitywhere he filed upon a homestead, most of the surrounding land had beentaken by men from a locality in an eastern state. These men had pledgedthemselves to allow no outsider to settle there. They looked withhostile eyes upon the newcomer as he erected his little cabin, and onenight, with their features disquised with white clothes, they invaded hisdomain and calling him to his door they ordered him to move on. He toldthem he was there by permission of the government which had given him theland and there he would remain. Admiring his courage and determination,the men rode away and did not molest him further, but on the contrarysoon became his friends, and in a short time he became a power in thecommunity. He had married Zulima Craig Moore, a blue-blooded Virginian,who was a relative of Thomas Moore, the Irish poet."

SQ 1981: "Levi Sparks, son of Cornelius and Susannah (Stevens) Sparks,was
born in Wayne County, Indiana, on October 3, 1823, and died on September2O,
19OO, in Berrien County, Michigan. He was married on January 2, 1845, toMaria
Martin, daughter of Thomas R. Martin; she was born in 1826 and died in19O2.
They had one son named Edwin E. Sparks; he was born in 1862 and died in191O.
Edwin E. Sparks married Ida Brenner.
"The following biographical sketch of Levi Sparks appeared in American
Biographical History of Self-Made Men, Michigan Volume, published by the
Western Biographical Publishing Company in Cincinnati, in 1878 (pg. 59):
'The Honorable Levi Sparks, of Buchanan, Michigan, was a native ofWayne
County, Indiana, to which place his parents moved from North Carolina .In 1828
the settled in what is now Niles Township, Berrien County. At that timeonly
three or four white families lived in south-west Michigan. Mr. Sparks'sboyhood and youth were, consequently, passed amid trials and tribulationsof pioneer life and his habits and tastes were formed accordingly. Theson of a poor man, resident of a new county, his school education wasnecessarily limited, but in the broader school of practical experience hewas a diligent pupil. His life has been spent on a farm with theexception of five years spent in the mercantile business in Buchanan.This venture was a failure.
'Mr. Sparks's first official position was that of Paymaster of the14th Brigade of the Seventh Division of Michigan Militia. His commissionwas signed by Governor Bingham in May 1857. He has held various topoffices and in 1873-1874 and during the extra session of 1875, he was amember of the State Senate. Here he served on the Committees of StateAffairs, immigration, Religious and Benevolent Insitututions and Asylumsfor Deaf, Dumb and Blind. He was distinguished for his opposition toextravagance and particularly he advocated a constitutional amendmentgranting the women the right of suffrage.
'He was connected with the Republican Party from 1854 to 1874. Onaccount of
the subservience of the party to moneyed power of the East and thelegislation
of Congress in the interests of capitalists and bond-holders against thegreat
laboring and producing classes, he became identified with the Independent
Greenback party. In 1876 he gave his hearty support to Peter Cooper and
canvassed four Congressional Districts thoroughly. He was also adelegate to
the National Convention at Grand Rapids. At the State Convention, he was
nominated for lieutenant-governor of Michigan. On the withdrawal of the
candidate for governor, Mr. Sparks's name was substituted and he receivedthe
full vote of the Independent Greenback Party. He has been a member of the
Grange since 1874. In his religious views he hold firmly to the truthsof revelation, but is unsectarian, and is liberal in his judgment ofthose who differ from him in opinion. He has acquired the habit ofthinking for himself and acting up to his own convictions. Both inprivate and public life he has always been a friend of the laboring man.He keeps himself informed of current events and takes an active part inall public matters that he considers for the good of his country. He isone of the oldest pioneers in western Michigan, having resided therefifty years. On the organization of the Berrien County Pioneer Societyin 1875, he was made its president. This position he still retains(1878).'"

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

.

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

See SQ p. 333 for birth information.

See SPARKS QUARTERLY, pg 1975:
Levi Carlton Sparks, son of Joseph and Caroline (Flanigan) Sparks, wasborn in Berrien County, Michigan, on March 24, 1854, and died inValentine, Nebraska, on April 29, 1915. He was married in Cherry County,Nebr., on August 13, 1889, to Bertha Crum Ludwig. She was born September26, 1865, at Carey, Ohio, and was a daughter of Jacob and Amanda Malvina(Crum) Ludwig. A daughter of Levi Carlton Sparks (Margaret Sparks Smith)wrote the following biographical sketch of her father for the CherryCounty, Nebr., Historical Society in 1968:

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

"Levi C. Sparks was County Superintendent of Schools for Cherry Countyin 1888-89, perhaps longer. He was married on August 13, 1889, to BerthaCrum Ludwig, the Rev. John Bates officiating. The wedding date was setup so Father would have a place to entertain the county teachers duringthe County Teachers Institute, held just prior to the opening of thecounty schools.

"He retained his interest in all educational matters for many-yearsafter his terms as County Superintendent and became friends with many ofthe instructors who came to Valentine to teach at the County TeachersInstitutes and with the teachers in the county and Valentine schools. Heworked hard to get the State Teachers College which is now at Chadronlocated instead in Valentine. He trained a number of young people inpublic speaking and many of them were successful contestants in statewidedeclamatory and debating contests.

"When his term of office as County Superintendent was over, he workedfor Al Thatcher in his store and in the Davenport store. Then he joinedSparks Brothers as a partner in their store at Cody and moved to Cody totake charge of that store. About 1900, Mrs. Sparks inherited the LudwigLumber Yard in Valentine from her half-brother, Daniel Ludwig, and thefamily moved from Cody to Valentine. Mr. Sparks became manager of theLumber Yard, continuing there until he became paralyzed and no longerable to work.

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

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

**********

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

Levi Carlton Sparks, son of Joseph and Caroline (Flanegin) Sparks, wasborn in Berrien County, Michigan, on March 24, 1854, and died inValentine, Nebraska, on April 29, 1915. He was married in Cherry County,Nebr., on August 13, 1889, to Bertha Crum Ludwig. She was born September26, 1865, at Carey, Ohio, and was a daughter of Jacob and Amanda Malvina(Crum) Ludwig. A daughter of Levi Carlton Sparks (Margaret Sparks Smith)wrote the following biographical sketch of her father for the CherryCounty, Nebr., Historical Society in 1968:

I do not know just what year he [Levi Carlton Sparks] in to Valentine butbelieve it was 1884. He worked for his brothers in their stores on thePine Ridge Reservation and at Cody, Nebraska. While at the Pine Ridgestore he learned the Sioux language and it was our understanding thatonly one man in Valentine, Gary Shaw, was more proficient in it. While atthe Pine Ridge store he had a negro cook who often said that he and Mr.Sparks were the only white men on the reservation. The Indians trusted myfather and
were very friendly with him. One of my earliest recollections is of manyIndians coming to our house on Sunday mornings, either to get Father tointerpret for them or, in fancy dress, to allow my Mother to photographthem. Mother's collection of Indian photographs was an extremely goodone, second only to that of John Anderson at the Rosebud Reservation.Unfortunately, it was burned when our house burned in the 1920's.

Levi C. Sparks was County Superintendent of Schools for Cherry County in1888-89, perhaps longer. He was married on August 13, 1889, to BerthaCrum Ludwig, the Rev. John Bates officiating. The wedding date was set upso Father would have a place to entertain the county teachers during theCounty Teachers Institute, held just prior to the opening of the countyschools.

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

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

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

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

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

Levi Garred Sparks was born on August 29, 1901, in Rowan County,Kentucky. He worked in the brickmaking plant at Haldeman, Kentucky. Hewas married to Mary Conley on May 11, 1926. She had been born on August11, 1905, and was a daughter of William and Amanda (Wellim) Conley. LeviSparks died on February 17, 1976, and was buried in the Conley Cemeteryin Rowan County, Kentucky. He and Mary had fourteen children: MargaretSparks, Levi Sparks, Jr.: Elizabeth Sparks, Ruth Sparks, John C. Sparks,Flossie Sparks, James E. Sparks, Bessle Sparks, Jack 0. Sparks, MettieLou Sparks, Ora Lee Sparks, Carlotta Sparks, Rebecca Sparks, and JerryAllen Sparks.

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

"Levi Hansford Sparks, son of George and Nancy (Short) Sparks, wasborn on May 31, 1834, in Lawrence County, Kentucky, and was probablynamed for an uncle, Levi Sparks, the oldest brother of his father. Levigrew to manhood in the home of his parents, and when the 1850 census wastaken, they were living on the Liffle Fork of the Little Sandy River. By1855, however, the family had moved to Big Gimlet Creek in neighboringCarter County. There, on November 10, 1855, Levi, now aged 21, and hisbrother, Colby Sparks, bought 508 acres of land from David Whisman for$600.

"A personal description of Levi Sparks was given several years ago bya son, Colby C. Sparks. He said that his father was about six feet talland weighed about 185 pounds. He had blue eyes, dark hair, and a faircomplexion. He was also slightly bald-headed, but he had a full beardwhich he wore quite long. He had a fine voice for preaching. (JS: Apicture of Levi and Nancy Jane (Lawson) Sparks appears on page 4741 ofTHE SPARKS QUARTERLY.)

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

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

"A church was organized at Bruin, Kentucky, in southern Carter County,and was named Rock Spring Baptist Church. It is no longer in existence,but we have been told that there are still fragments of its early minutessome-where. It is said that these minutes indicate that Levi Sparksbecame a member by experience on July 4, 1858. He was approved to offerpublic prayer in February 1860 and was ordained as a minister in 1869. Heremained active in his ministry for the rest of his life, and heperformed many marriages in Elliott County, including those of four ofhis children.

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

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

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

"Levi J. Sparks, son of Garrett and Betsy (Boggs) Sparks, was born onFebruary 19, 1831, in Lawrence County, Kentucky. It was there that hewas married to Mary ["Polly"] Gambill on January 15, 1859. She had beenborn on October 26, 1837, and was a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth(Holbrook) Gambill. Levi was practicing medicine when he was musteredinto the Union Army in March 1863 as a hospital steward. His wife gavebirth to their third child a month later. Levi served in the army untilthe fall of 1865 when he was discharged. (See an abstract of his pensionfile beginning on page 4665 of this issue of the QUARTERLY.) [JS: Seebelow]

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

"CIVIL WAR PENSIONAPPLICATION

LEVI J. SPARKS, son of Garrett (or Garred) and Elizabeth (Boggs) Sparks,was born on February 19, 1831, in Lawrence County, Kentucky, and hedied on January 14, 1897. He was married to (1) Mary Gambill on January15, 1859, and (2) to Emily Boggs on January 26, 1890. He served inCompany B, 14th Regiment Kentucky Infantry. File Designations: Inv.Cert. No. 728,326; Wid. Cert. No. 853,898.

"Levi J. Sparks, aged 59, a resident of Martha, Kentucky, madeapplication for an invalid pension on September 1, 1890. He stated thathe had been enrolled on March 4, 1863, in Company B, 14th RegimentKentucky Infantry as a hospital steward and had served until he had beendischarged on September 15, 1865. He was now unable to support himselfby manual labor because of a "rupture of both sides and disease of leg."He appointed H. C. Osburn of Blaine, Kentucky, as his attorney. T. D.Johnston and Edburd Osburn attested to the declaration.

"The War Department confirmed Sparks's military service to the Bureauof Pensions on June 22, 1891. Sparks had been enrolled at Louisa,Kentucky, on March 4, 1863, in Company B 14th Regiment Kentucky Infantryand had been mustered out on September 15, 1865, at Louisville,Kentucky. He had also served in the Field & Staff of the 14th RegimentVeteran Infantry to which he had been transferred on February 28, 1865,as a hospital steward. The Bureau of Pensions issued Invalid CertificateNo. 728,326 to Sparks, and he was placed upon the pension rolls. When hedied on January 14, 1897, he was receiving a pension of $12.00 per month.

"Emily Sparks, widow of Levi, applied for a widow's pension under the1890 Act of Congress; her application was rejected, however, on May 17,1897, because she had not been married to Levi Sparks until after thepassage of the act.

"On January 18, 1917, Emily Sparks, now a resident of Kendall,Washington, re-applied for a widow's pension under the provisions of the1916 Act of Congress. She stated that she had been born on March 19,1853, at Louisa, Kentucky, and that she had been married to Levi Sparkson July 26, 1890, at Blaine, Kentucky, by David Sturgill. She had neverbeen married before, but her husband had been married to the former MaryGambill who had died in April 1887. Emily Sparks stated that she and herhusband had no children. Mrs. Ida Baxter and Miss Verna Boggs witnessedthe declaration, which was notarized by E. C. Baxter, a justice of thepeace.

"On November 8, 1918, the Bureau of Pensions issued Widow CertificateNo. 853,898 to Emily Sparks, and she was placed upon the pension rolls atthe rate of $25.00 per month. She died on July 13, 1939, at Bellingham,Washington. On September 11, 1939, Mrs. Adda Stark applied forreimbursement in the amount of $19.50 for expenses paid during Mrs.Sparks's last illness. Accompanying the request was a copy of the deathcertificate of Emily Sparks. She was 86 years of age at death, and hadbeen born in Lawrence County, Kentucky; she was a daughter of James andMatilda (Lyon) Boggs.

"On August 11, 1940, Florence M. Hardi, Los Angeles, California, arepresentative of the Daughters of the Union Veterans of the Civil War,asked the Veterans Administration for the military records of Levi J.Sparks, which would be used in admitting his granddaughters into thatorganization. The granddaughter who was interested in joining was adaughter of Dennis and Regina (Sparks) Lyon, of Fielden, Kentucky. TheVeterans Administration sent Mrs. Hardi a resume of Sparks's militaryservice on August 22, 1940.

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

SQ pg 2569:

"Levi Sparks, Jr., son of Levi Sparks, was born on November 21, 1814at Church Hill, Maryland. He accompanied his father to Daviess County,Indiana, in 1836, but a year later, he went to Clark County, Indiana ,where he settled in Jeffersonville and became a merchant. On January 17,1843 , he was
married to Mary Heiskell in Clark County. She had been born about 1823in Virginia and was a daughter of Isaac Heiskell. Levi and Mary had twochildren, George Sparks, who died in infancy, and Mary Matilda Sparks,born about 1847. She married Edwin E. Ennis on October 26, 1867.

After the death of his father, Levi Sparks, Sr., in 1850, Levi Sparks,Jr., brought his brothers, Thomas and Nathan and his sister, Mary Jane,to live with him and Mary. His brothers eventually became partners withhim in the mercantile business.

Levi Sparks, Jr. was a successful businessman and a most civic-mindedcitizen. For twenty-one years, he was connected with the city governmentof Jeffersonville. He was appointed postmaster there by PresidentFranklin Pierce and was elected mayor in 1869 and again in 1871. He wascommonly referred to as "General Sparks," but as far as we can determine,he held no military rank. He died on March 26, 1875. His wife had diedearlier, on May 10, 1862."

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

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

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

The settlement of the estate of Levi Sparks was fairly complicatedbecause of his scattered land holdings. The administrator of his estatein Rusk County was George W. S. Tipps, probably of relative of Levi'swidow. At its January 1848 term, the Rusk County Court ordered Tipps tomake a final settlement of the estate. Settlement of the estate in othercounties, however, tookmuch longer. On March 28,1853, Levi's estate wasa matter of probate in Denton County, Texas. His widow receivedtwo-thirds of a League & Labor of land while his other heirs, JohnSparks, Edy Simmons, and Sarah McAnulty, received the other one-third. Afew months later, on August 1, 1853, land which Sparks had been granted"for storming of Bexar" was sold in Clay County, Texas. In anothersettlement of his estate in Cooke County, Texas, his heirs (James Simmonsand his wife, et al) sold land to William Howeth and William C. Twitty.

SQ p. 2568)

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

SQ p. 2579:

"CIVIL WAR PENSION APPLICATION OF LEVIN DAVISSPARKS

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

"On July 20, 1865, Christiana Sparks, age 56, a resident ofWilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, made an application for awidow's pension under the 1862 Act of Congress. She stated that she wasthe widow of Levin Davis Sparks who had been a private in Company D, 66thRegiment Indiana Infantry Volunteers, commanded by Capt. Payne and whohad died a prisoner of war at Andersonville, Georgia, about June 5,1864. She said she had been married to Sparks on July 9, 1846, at MarcusHook, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, by the Rev. Joshua Humphrey. Shestated that she had remained a widow and that the deceased had left onlyone child under the age of sixteen years, namely, Julia Arm Sparks, bornon August 11, 1850. Christiana Sparks signed the application by makingher mark which was attested to by W. Y. McAllister and Agness A. Youngwho stated that they had known her for 25 years. G. W. Kelly,Prothonotary of the District Court, acknowledged the deposition.

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

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

"On July 17, 1891, John H. Righter, a resident of Talleyville, NewCastle County, Delaware, made an application for a pension as the trusteeof a minor child of a Civil War veteran. He stated that he was trusteeof a child of Levin D. Sparks named Julia E. Sparks, born August 11,1849, who was deformed and mentally feeble at birth. He said the reasonno pension had been claimed for her at the time her mother's pension wasapproved was that she was so near the age of sixteen years that a minor'spension was not considered worth the application. Robert C. Framm andIsaac A. Righter witnessed the application and also stated that themother of Julia E. Sparks was still living aged about 80 years.

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

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

SQ pp. 4655-56:

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

"Emmitt Ratliff, a grandson of Lewis Floyd and Melvina (Skaggs)Sparks, has given us a glimpse of the lives of his grandparents. Hewrote: "I can remember visiting the farm of my grandfather where he livedwith his youngest son, Kenneth, and Kenneth's wife, Virgie. The oldhouse was a Lincoln-log design and was a two-story structure. It had akitchen on one end and a combination living room and bedroom on theother. A front porch extended the full length of the house. A hand-dugwell, lined with native stones, was in the front yard, and, in additionto the drinking water, it was also used to keep the milk cool in thesummer by lowering it into the well. It was here that family reunionswere held for many years, and I didn't know just how many relatives I haduntil they all showed up for the delicious food. Not only the relatives,but friends for miles around were also in attendance!"

"Melvina Sparks died on Whites Creek on October 15, 1928. Lewis Floyddied there on September 28, 1949. They were buried in the Hay Cemeteryon Little Fork. They had eleven children: Stella Sparks, Nelson TateSparks, Meredith C. Sparks, Logan Monroe Sparks, Rose Frances Sparks,Ervan Roscoe Sparks, Walter Emory Sparks, Bertha Mae Sparks, Esta Sparks,Glenn Ray Sparks, and Kenneth Sparks. (Nelson Tate Sparks is a member ofthe cover picture. Esta Sparks was married to Paul Ratliff and they werethe parents of Emmitt Ratliff who had furnished information and picturesfor this article.)

See SQ p. 333 for birth information.

SQ 3862:

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

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

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

A note appears in the SPARKS QUARTERLY entitled Additional SparksMarriages in Kentucky, p. 1553 Carter County Marriage Bonds (1838-1910)which mentions the marriage of Everett Sparks and Hattie Haywood, July30, 1910 (Book 14, page 335).

Both Lilbourn Everett Sparks and his wife Mattie (Sparks) Haywood areburied in the Garvin Ridge Cemetery, Olive Hill, KY. See notes of SarahRebecca Gray for basis of the inclusion of these people.

.
!NOTES:
SQ pg 2633: She was married to Carl Smith and they had a daughte rnamed Helen Geneva Smith, born in April 1903.

CENSUS:

1920 US Census, St. Louis Ward 26, St. Louis, Missouri. Missouri RollT625_961; Page 13A; Enum Dist. 529: Image 1023.
(The surname is incorrectly spelled Formchon). Arnold, 29, bornMissouri, both parents born in Switzerland, a painter; Lillian, 22,Dorothy 1; Ann 4/12. Their address appears to be 4687 Ferdinand Ave.,St. Louis, MO.

1930 US Census, St. Louis (Independant City) Missouri; Roll 1245;Page: 23A; Enumeration District: 233; Image 493.0
Arnold, 40, Lillian, 33, Dorothy J., 11, Ann, 10, William A., 6, MarySparks, 62. Under the column entitled "Marital Condition" for Mary thereappears the letters WD, assumed to mean widowed. Their address was 6128Sherry Ave., St. Louis, MO.

Baptised at St. Ann's Catholic Church, Morganfield, Kentucky. Married Arnold M. Fornachon, born 9 Mar 1890 in Missouri, died 10 Aug 1 984in Sunnyvale, Santa Clara County, CA. Children Dorothy Drotar, An nBeghtol, William A. Fornachon and Mary Jo Sebastian. Arnold Fornac hon'sfather, Arnold, and his mother Anna Aegerter were born in Switzerland.
The Social Security records under her # 553-12-8099 confirm herbirth and death dates and that her card was issued in California an dthat her last known residence was in California, zip 94087, Los Altos.

SQ p. 5759: Lillie Sparks was listed as a daughter of Richmond and Sarah(Privett) Sparks by Harman in his Annals... and that she was married toJames Whitaker. On the 1860 census of Wilkes County, North Carolina, adaughter of Richmond and Sarah was listed named Sarah, age 4, thus bornabout 1856. Might she and the Lillie named by Harman have been the sameperson?

.
!NOTES:
SQ pg 3944: She had three children as a result of her marriage t oParis Salyers: Pauline, Gaylord, and Merle Salyers. She had no children from her other marriages.

SQ pg 3326: "Lillie Pearl Sparks was born in 1892 [sic] in Oklahoma(Indian Territory). She died there while an infant." The erroneousbirth date followed that of her brother, Robert Earl Sparks, born in1929. Perhaps she was born in 1932.

On November 21, 2000, by email I received from Robert M. Burns(rmburns@@fit.edu] birth and death dates for Herbert Alfred, Lilly Pearl,Ernest Taylor, James Franklin, and Robert Earl Sparks. His note stated,"These are my grandmother's (Lilly Pearl) siblings. I can not addinformation for the other two girls." Robert lives at 3151 S. Babcock#73, Melbourne, Florida 32901.

SQ p. 4742:

"Lille (Susan) Sparks was born on September 4, 1884. She was marriedto Lee Roy Day on December 19, 1900. He had been born on March 8, 1881.He and Susan lived at Haldeman, Kentucky, where they attended the BaptistChurch. Lee died on November 13, 1947, and Susan died on November 7,1973. They were buried in the Dawson Cemetery in Rowan County,Kentucky. They had at least two children: Ivan Day and Bertha Day."

.
!NOTES:
SQ 4067: She was married to Beldon Jones, and they had two childr en,Betty Jo and Edward.