.
!NOTES:
SQ pg 3403: They had one child: Omer Wilson.

.

!NOTES:
SQ 3181: Surilda Evatine Sparks, daughter of David and Betsy (Bass)
Sparks, was born on May 30, 1861. She died on June 2, 1934. She married
C. A. Barnes and they had five children: Mary, Alpha, Edith, Clara, and
Charles.

SPARKS QUARTERLY, WHOLE No. 112, p. 2263:
Susan Sparks, daughter of John and Katherine (Waddell) Sparks, wasmarried to Abraham Inlow in 1828 by John Rogers in Nicholas County,Kentucky. (Nicholas County bond dated July 17, 1828.) They moved toMontgomery County, Indiana, that same year. Abraham Inlow died in1860. They had at least two children,there may have been others:
(1) William J. Inlow was born on December 6, 1833, in MontgomeryCounty. OnMarch 15, 1866, he married Emmarine Sparks. She was born onNovember 2,1833, and was a daughter of William and Catherine (Knox)Sparks of Nicholas County, Kentucky.
(In the article of THE SPARKS QUARTERLY referred to above, EmmarineSparks?s name is given as Harriet Sparks. Emmarine Sparks had asister, Harriet Sparks, who was omitted from the article. She was bornon June 17,1831, and was married to William Firman Gillespie in 1863.He was born on November 2, 1833, and was a son of Calvin and Cythia(Hedges) Gillespie. Harriet (Sparks) Gillespie died in 1888 and wasburied in the Carlisle (Ky.) Cemetery. Our readers are asked to makethe appropriate addition on page 1500 of the QUARTERLY referred toabove.)

(2) Susan Inlow was born on February 20, 1838. She was married toJames H. Kelly in 1866. She died on February 25, 1879.

SPARKS QUARTERLY, March, 1978, Whole No. 101, pg 1984:
"Susannah Sparks (called Susan), daughter of Cornelius and Susanna h(Stevens) Sparks, was born in Berrien County, Michigan, on August 1 ,1832; she died on October 22, 1917. She was married to John Irwi n onJuly 31, 1851. He was born on June 19, 1828, and died on November 3,1906. From the family records of Mary Vogel, it would appear thatthey had children named: (William Irwin; (2) James Irwin; (3) FrankIrwin; (4) Arthur Irwin; (5) and John Irwin."
SPARKS QUARTERLY, September, 1989, Whole No. 147, pg 3473:
"In THE SPARKS QUARTERLY of March 1978, Vol. XXVI, No. 1, Whole No .101, we published an article about Cornelius Sparks (1789-1862) whosewife was Susannah (Stevens) sparks (1794-1861), daughter of Spencerand Elizabeth (Little) Sparks and was born in Rowan County, NorthCarolina. He left North Carolina in 1814 and settled in Wayne County ,Indiana; then in 1828, he and Susannah, with the first eight of theireleven children, moved to Berrien County, Michigan, where they livedout their lives. Among their eleven children was a daughter namedSusannah, though she was always called Susan, who was born in MerrienCounty on August 1, 1932.
"In the isssue of the QUARTERLY cited above, on page 1984, we notedthat Susan Sparks had been married to John J. Irwin on July 31, 1851.He had been born on June 19, 1828, and was a son of James and Margaret(Gillchrist) Irwin; he was born in the state of New York. John J.Irwin lived until November 3, 1906; Susan died on October 22, 1917.
"We had very little information regarding John's and Susan's child renwhen we published the article in the March 1978 issue of the QUARTERLY, but through the efforts of a great-great-grandaughter of thi scouple, we are now able to present a complete list of the Irwin children....The Irwin family Bible, published in 1866, which containsthis record, is now owned by the mother of Mrs. Phyllis Rohn,Genevieve (Irwin) Casselman...."

.

!NOTES:
THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, March 1994, Whole No. 165, p. 4273 states: "Susan
Sparks, daughter of Solomon and Susan Sparks, was born about 1839 i nNorth
Carolina. We have no further information about her."

SQ p. 2622:

"Susan Sparks, daughter of Joseph and Sarah (DeFord) Sparks, was bornon December 5, 1847. She was married to George Forbes on November 29,1876, at Bridger, Territory of Wyoming. (This marriage date was provided by Susan's daughter, Alice; as recorded by Sarah Sparks in herfamily Bible, see page 2613, Susan was married "December 1876.")George Forbes was from Toledo, Ohio, and was a civil engineerassociated with the Union Pacific Railroad. He and Susan had twochildren, including an unnamed son who died at birth. Shortly afterthe birth of her second child, Susan (Sparks) Forbes died on September19, 1881. She was buried in the Bushnell Cemetery."

!NOTES:
SQ 2569: "Susan Ann Sparks, daughter of Levi Sparks, married a ma nnamed
Knight.

.
!NOTES:
SQ pg 3693: Her first marriage was to William Chapman by whom sh ehad two children, Cora and William, Jr. Her second marrige was t oWesley Rainey, by whom she had three children: Arelda, Susan, and Betty.

SQ p. 2974: Article on descendants of Joseph and Mary (McDaniel) endson page 2974 with mention of Susannah Sparks.

SQ p 3350:

"Susannah Sparks, daughter of Joseph and Mary (McDaniel) Sparks, wasborn about 1762 in Frederick County, Maryland. (See also page 2974 ofthe December 1986 issue of the QUARTERLY, Whole No. 136). She wasmarried to Adam Weimer, probably about 1775. He was born about 1740and was a son of Johannes and Wientje (Symons or Simons) Weimer; thusa brother and a sister (Solomon Sparks and Susannah Sparks) marriedinto the Weimer family, Solomon marrying a niece of Adam Weimer whomarried Susannah.

"Adam Weimer, son of Johannes Weimer, died sometime between March 7,1825, when he made his will, and May 21, 1825, when his will wasprobated. Named in the will were his wife, Susannah, and their sixsons:
Joseph b.1775,
Abraham b abt. 1777,
Jacob b. abt 1779,
John b. abt 1781,
James b abt 1783, and
Solomon b abt 1785.

"Susannah (Sparks) Weimer is said to have died on May 14, 1825. Thisdate is apparently based upon a tombstone inscription which reads asfollows: "S [reversed] W was Born 1752 D May 14, 1825." If this stonedoes mark Susannah's grave, then Adam's death probably occurredshortly before the date on which she died.

"Adam and Susannah (Sparks) Weimer were the parents of six children:
(see above names)

Information on Susannah's descendants came from Kevin Boers via email(kdb@prodigy.net) on October 8, 2001.
***************
See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, June 2000, Whole No. 190, p. 5371:

Susannah Sparks, daughter of Matthew and Sarah (Elmore) Sparks, wasborn in Surry County, North Carolina, about 1810; her age on the 1850census was given as 50 and on the 1870 census as 60. She was marriedin Surry County in 1833, the marriage bond being dated October 9,1833, with Leroy Holcomb serving as bondsman. The Holcombs wereextensive landowners on Deep Creek in Surry County.

Susanna and her husband, Thomas Holcomb, moved from North Carolina toMissouri before 1845; they crossed the plains to Oregon in 1853,following other members of the Sparks family, including her parents,and settled in Polk County. She signed a receipt in 1856 for her share($14.29) of her father's estate. According to the mortality scheduleof the 1860 census for Polk County, Thomas Holcomb had died fromcancer in December 1859 at the age of 50. Susan Holcomb was shown ashead of her household on the 1860 census of Polk County. With her wereher children: William Holcomb, age 20; Thomas Holcomb, age 15;Elizabeth Holcomb, age 13; and Martha Holcomb, age 11. William's placeof birth was given as North Carolina; that for the other three asMissouri.

Susannah was married (second) to William Darrow on November 26, 1861,in Polk County, Oregon. On the 1870 census of Polk County, however,she was shown as "Susan Holcomb," age 60, a native of North Carolina,living with her daughter, Mary, age 28, and Mary's husband, AbrahamGarrison, age 38, a native of Indiana, farmer. According to Susan'sthird great-granddaughter, Marijane Rea, a family record identifiesSusannah's children as: William Holcomb, Thomas H. Holcomb, MarthaEvans, Elizabeth Lynch, Eliza Reynolds, and Mary Garrison.

Sybrina ["Bryan"] Sparks was born on April 30, 1904. She was marriedto Reuben Thomas on January 1, 1927. He was elected later to theoffice of Rowan County jailor. He died on May 7, 1967, and Bryan diedon March 25, 1971. They had twelve children: John C. Thomas, JamesThomas, Claudia Thomas, Clyde Thomas, Clayton Thomas, Edith Thomas,Ruby Thomas, Vinda Thomas, Mary Jane Thomas, Sue Thomas, BonnieThomas, and Madge Thomas.

SQ 3193: Sylvester Sparks was born probably about 1879. He lived inTarkio, Missouri.

In July, 2001, Cindy Sparks (casparks10@gateway.net) postedinformation on the GenForum web site as follows:

"My father was Eugene Sparks b. Apr. 16, 1933, d. Apr. 24, 1994, MFrances Laychack b. Mar. 8, 1935, d. Apr. 4, 1994. Eugene's siblings:LUcille Sparks b. ? D. 198?, m John Montgomery; William (Billy) Sparksb. ?KY resided in Mayhew Flats m Florence Hay b.?; Robert Sparks b. ?KY d.KY; Lettie Irene b. ?KY d. 1996 OH m. Elbert Hay b.? KY d. 1995OH; Carolyn b. 1936? KY d. 1999 OH m. Leonard Hayes b. ?KY d. June,2000 OH; Baby Sparks (Mildred) died in childbirth 1927

"My grandfather was James Solomon Sparks (Solly) b. Aug 7, 1901, m.Elizbeth Seagraves (Lizzie) b. 1908 d. 1927.

"G-grandfather was Sylvester Sparks b.? d.? m Elizabeth Johnson b.?d.?

"I cannot locate the branch from which Sylvester came. I have beentold we are descendants of William Sample Sparks but I cannot find anydirect connection with him."

This information is included here on the possibility that these aredescendants of this Sylvester Sparks b.ca.1879.

SQ 3872:

"Sylvester Barnett Sparks was married to Belle Redden. She had beenborn on December 24, 1874, and was a daughter of Joseph and AmeliaRedden. She and Sylvester had six children: Alva, Edith, John G.,Gilbert, Iva and Doris. Sylvester died in 1940."

!NOTES:
SQ 3858: "Tabitha Sparks, daughter of Joseph and Martha (Edwards )Sparks,
was born about 1832 in Kentucky. She was married to Rhodes Meade o nJune 15,
1848, in Pike County."

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, June 1985, Whole No. 130, pg 2746:

"Thaddeus C. Sparks was born on January 9, 1848. He was married toMary E. Gaines in 1867 in Cooke County, Texas. She was born about1851 and was a daughter of John B. and Nancy (McMahon) Gaines.Thaddeus died on February 28, 1890, and was buried in the First StreetCemetary in Waco,
Texas. According to the 1880 census of Johnson County, Texas, he andMary had at least three children: (1) John M. Sparks b. ca. 1870; (2)Walter Sparks, . ca. 1876; Mary Sparks b.ca. 1878. She is said to havemarried a man named Dorris. (Note: Do not confuse Thaddeus C. withThaddeus D. Sparks, son of Thomas and Juliana (McWhorter) Sparks forwhich see page 541, March 1961, Whole No. 33. Sparks Quarterly.)

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, June 1991, Whole No . 154, page 3753:

"Land records in Queen Annes County prove that this first WilliamSparks had come to Maryland from Hampshire County, England, at leastas early as 1670, as had also his brother, John Sparks. Recentresearch strongly suggests that they were sons of Thomas and Joane(Davis) Sparks who had been married in Fareham Parish in HampshireCounty, England, on October 19 , 1635.

"Among the children of Thomas and Joane was a son named WilliamSparks, baptised on August 6, 1646, and a son named John Sparks,baptized on December 3, 1649. They also had two other sons baptizedin the Fareham Parish,Church: Francis Sparks, baptized on July 20,1641, and Richard Sparks , baptised on December 10, 1658."

The World Family Tree disk Vol. 2, file 5319, shows Thomas and Joaneand their descendants for seven generations down to thegreat-great-grandfather of James J. Sparks, Solomon Sr.

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY for September, 1955, Whole No. 11, at page 79for the following:

THE SPARKS FAMILY OF PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY, VIRGINIA

Compiled by

William Perry Johnson

It was during the American Revolution, in 1778 to be exact, that theSparkses settled in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. Prior to that time,the family had made its home in Maryland, in the counties of AnneArundel, Baltimore, and Prince George's. In Prince George?s County,the family appears to have resided near the town of Upper Marlboro,which lies about fifteen miles southeast of Washington, D.C., andabout the same distance southwest of Annapolis, Maryland.

Probate records for Anne Arundel County, Maryland, on file in theMaryland Hall of Records, in Annapolis, show that a Thomas Sparks diedintestate in that county in or near the year 1727. The inventory ofestate for Thomas Sparks is dated 20 April 1727, and the papers showthat he had "No Relations." (For some reason, a wife and childrenapparently did not count as "relations" in these cases.) The account,dated 1732, was made by Leonard Hollyday of Prince George?s County,Maryland, as administrator of Thomas Sparks late of Anne ArundelCounty, deceased. This Thomas Sparks may or may not be the father ofthe Thomas Sparks who appears on the records of Anne Arundel County ageneration later.

For the balance of this article see the notes for Thomas Sparks born1711.

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

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, VOL. VI, NO. 4 DECEMBER 1958 WHOLE NO. 24app. 335-6

THOMAS SPARKS, POLITICAL EXILE

By: Paul E. Sparks

(Editor's Note: Among a large number of political exiles sent fromEngland to Prince George?s County, Maryland, in 1716-1717, was oneThomas Spark. He was probably the same Thomas Sparks who diedintestate in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, in 1727. (See The SparksQuarterly, Vol. III, No. 3, September, 1955, p. 79.) The followingaccount by our President, Paul E. Sparks, gives the historicalbackground necessary to understand the circumstances under which thisearly Sparks immigrant came to America.)

James II, King of England, was deposed in 1688 primarily because heattempted to restore Catholicism as the religion of England. The birthof a son, by his second wife, who was to be educated as a RomanCatholic, precipitated the crisis. James fled to France where he diedin 1701. His son James, (later to be called The Old Pretender), wasproclaimed at once by the French court as "James III, King of Englandand Scotland." The English people, however, had selected as theirrulers William and Mary, the latter of whom ruled Great Britain until1702, when she was succeeded by Queen Anne.

In 1707, during Queen Anne's reign, England and Scotland formed apolitical union. The union was not popular, and there was much unrest.It set into motion several factions: "highlander" against "lowlander,"Whig against Tory, "low" churchman against "high" churchman. Thediscontent mounted and reached a climax in August, 1714, when QueenAnne died and George I was crowned as King.

Under the leadership of the Jacobites (Latin for "followers ofJames"), a dissenting group of Englishmen and Scotchmen invited James,The Old Pretender, to become their King. Internal friction within thegroup, however, and a lack of concerted leadership, caused a prematuremeeting of the Jacobite forces and a Loyalist army at Preston,England, and in November, 1715, the rebel group surrendered ordispersed. A month later, James landed from France, but his supportershad melted away, and he speedily returned to France. The rebellioncollapsed.

Seven hundred and thirty-eight men were taken as prisoners of war bythe English army and were sentenced to exile in the colony ofMaryland. They were forbidden to return to England within seven years.Most of these exiles, lowlanders from Scotland in the main, settled inPrince George?s County, Maryland, where they remained. They calledtheir new home "New Scotland."

Among these exiles was Thomas Spark. Since there were so many factionsinvolved in this short rebellion, it is not known to which faction hebelonged.

References:
1. Richardson, Hester Dorsey. Side-Lights on Maryland History(Baltimore, Williams and Wilkins Company, 1903), Vol. I.
2. Cross, Arthur Lyon. A Shorter History of England and Great Britain(New York, The MacMillan Company, 1929).

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY for September 1955, Whole No. 11, p.79. Thisarticle is reproduced below:

Deed books for Anne Arundel County, Maryland, show seven deeds underthe name Sparks, all for one Thomas Sparks. He first appears on recordin 1748, when he purchased 162 acres, and in 1752 he obtained 430 moreacres of land. By 1756, he had sold all of his land in Anne ArundelCounty and was living in Baltimore County, Maryland, having removedthere late in 1755 or early in 1756. The names of no other personsnamed Sparks appear in Anne Arundel records except Elizabeth, wife ofThomas Sparks, and the Josiah Sparks mentioned below.

The records of St. Anne?s Parish, Annapolis, Anne Arundel County,Maryland, contain two Sparks items, as follows: (1) Josiah Sparksmarried 15 July 1749 to Penelope Brown, by the Revd. Mr. AndrewLendrum. (2) Samuel, son of Thomas Sparks and Elizabeth his wife, wasborn 29 July 1749. Both Thomas Sparks and Josiah Sparks, with theirfamilies, removed to Baltimore County, Maryland, and were members ofSt. John?s & St. George?s P. E. Church, Harford (then Baltimore)County, Maryland. Josiah Sparks was born c1729 and died, intestate, in1765, Baltimore County, Maryland, with Penelopy Sparks asadaministratrix. Records of St. John's & St. George's P. E. Church,afore-mentioned, show that on the 10th of April, 1770, Aquilla Wylewas married to "Pine" Sparks, widow of Josiah, and by 1781 they wereliving in Shrewsbury Twp., York County, Pennsylvania. Josiah andPenelope Sparks had five sons: Josiah, Matthew, Francis, Elijah andThomas. (A record of Josiah Sparks, Sr., and his descendants, willappear in a forthcoming issue of THE SPARKS QUARTERLY.) The estatepapers for Josiah, 1765, show that he had "No Relation in thisprovince but Thos. Sparks." No other records for Thomas Sparks havebeen found in Baltimore County, except that in 1760 he was granted 38acres in Baltimore County, called the Hawk"s Nest. Thomas Sparks wasborn c.1711, and was either the father (by an earlier wife thanElizabeth) of Josiah (b. c.1729), or his elder brother - - probablythe former.

The only other Sparks item on the records of St. John?s & St. George?sP. E. Church is the marriage, on the 3rd of September 1762, of PhillLock Ellcott and Sarah Sparks. Sarah was probably a daughter of Thomasand Elizabeth Sparks.

There are eleven Sparks deeds or other instruments on record in PrinceGeorge?s County, Maryland, as follows:

(1) Book T, page 682 - 7 February 1738 - John Courts of CharlesCounty, Maryland, Gentleman, to Thomas Sparks, Senior, of the countyaforesaid, planter - 21 year lease - 250 acres part of a tract of landlying in Prince George's County near Rock Creek and kown by the nameof Clean Drinking. /S/ John Courts, Thomas his T mark Sparks.Witnesses: Robt. Yates, Jno. Biscoe. Proven 24 October 1738.
(2) Book Y, page 197 - 25 June l740 - Charles Carroll, of City ofAnnapolis, Maryland, Esquire, to Thomas Sparke of Prince George?sCounty, Maryland, planter 21 year lease - 100 acres - part of a tractof land called Cloven Couse. /S/ Charles Carroll. Witnesses: DanilCarroll, Saml Beall, Senr. Proven 25 June l740

(3) Book EE, page 631 - 13 December l748 - William Fields of PrinceGeorge's County, Maryland, planter, to Mathew Sparks of same, planter- 3000 lbs. of tobacco - 68 acres, called Bedfordshire Carrier. /S/William his X mark Fields. Witnesses: B. Young, L. Young. Proven 13Dec. 1748.
(4) Book RR, page 67 - 27 August 1760 - Benjamin Beall, planter, andwife Sarah, of Prince George's County, Maryland, to Matthew Sparks ofsame, planter - 5 Shillings 109 acres, called Smith?s Neglect. /S/Benjamin Beall, Sarah Beall. Witnesses: Morda, Jacobs, Robert Tyler.Proven 27 Aug. 1760.

(5) Book TT, page 113 At the request of Matthew Sparks the followingCertificate of a Stray was recorded November 25th, 1763. ?Novr. 19th,1763 - Mathew Sparkes brought Before me the subscriber a Small BlackStallion Colt about Ten hand high has a Small Stare in his forehead heComplains that he Trespasses upon his Inclosure.? /S/ Chrisr. Lowndes.

(6) Book BB2. page 228 - 11 November 1767 - John Banks, Sr., ofFrederick County, Maryland, planter, to Thomas Sparks, planter, ofPrince George ?s County, Maryland 55 Pounds 100 acres, called QueeBeck. /S/ John Banks (& wife Mary).

(7) Book CC2. page 136 - 2 February 1775 - James Beck, and wifeRebecca, of Prince George's County, Maryland, planter, to ?MatthewSpark of Thomas? of same 50 Pounds 100 acres, called Pleasant SpringEnlarged. /S/ James Beck, Rebecca Beck. Witnesses~ Chris, Lowndes,Mary Henderson. Proven 2 Feb 1775.

********************
-81-

(8) Book CC2, page 177 - At the request of Samuel Sparks the followingCertificate of a Stray was recorded August 21st 1775. "Prince George?sCounty, Ss. I do hereby Certify that Samuel Sparks brought before methis day a Horse with the following Marks which he took up at Mrs.Berrys Plantation about 14 miles from Upper Marlborough a Bright Bay13½ hands high Branded on the near Shoulder IW natural Pacer and ShortScraped Tail taken up four Weeks ago.?

(9) Book CC2, page 337 - 15 March 1777 - Matthew Sparks, Sr., ofPrince George?s County, Maryland, planter, & wife Eleanor, to RichardBeall, son of Ninian, Sr., of same - 100 Pounds - 109 acres, calledSmith?s Neglect. /S/ Matthew his X mark Sparks, Eleanor her X markSparks. Witnesses: Josa. Beall, Chrisr. Lowndes. Proven 15 March 1777.

(10) Book CC2, page 380 - 30 August 1777 - Thomas Sparks of PrinceGeorge?s County, Maryland, planter, to Solomon Groves of same, planter- 150 Pounds - 100 acres, called Quebeck. /S/ Thos. Sparks, & (wife)Elizabeth Sparks. Witnesses: Chrisr. Lowndes, James Beck.

(11) Book CC2, page 396 - 5 April 1777 - Matthew Sparks of Thomas, ofPrince George?s County, Maryland, to John Hamilton, Sr., of same - 80Pounds - 100 acres - part of a tract called Pleasant Spring Enlarged./S/ Matthew Sparks, & (wife) Margery Sparks. Witnesses: Jos. Beall,Chris. Lowndes. Proven 5 April 1777.

In view of the fact that the counties of Prince George?s and AnneArundel adjoin, it is supposed that the Thomas Sparks who leased landin Prince George?s County in 1738 and 1740 is identical with theThomas Sparks who bought land in Anne Arundel County in 1748 and 1752,sold out by 1756, removed 1755/6 to Baltimore County, and by 1767 toPrince George?s County. This is further supported by the fact that thewife?s name in each instance was Elizabeth.
The 1750 Rent Rolls for Prince George ?s County, Maryland, list butone Sparks: Mr. Matthew Sparks, Bedfordshire Carrier, 68 acres. (Amongthe land owned by Mr. Caleb Dorsey was Sparks Chance and SparksRound.)

The Register of St. John?s or Piscataway Parish, Prince George?sCounty, Maryland, contains the following Sparks data:

Children of Matthew and Elenor Sparks:

Sarah born 23 May 1753
Josiah born 26 Aug. 1761
True Love born 21 July 1764
Children of Matthew and Margery Sparks:
Elizabeth, bapt. 2 Nov. 1766
Jane, bapt. 6 Nov. 1768
In the above Register, True Love Sparks is designated as a female, butis believed to have been a male and identical with the True LoveSparks who married 1788 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, to JaneSparks, and was living in 1790 in Spartanburgh County, South Carolina.
In Volume I of Brnmbaugh?s Maryland Records, is a copy of the 1776Census of Maryland. Among the inhabitants of St. John?s and PrinceGeorge's Parishes, Prince George's County, Maryland, listed on 31August 1776, are two Sparks families:
(1) Thomas Sparks, age 65: 2 males, ages 18 & 14; Elizabeth, age 58; &2 females aged 16 & 14. (2) Mathew Sparks, age 61: 5 males, ages 27,15, 11, and 7; Elinor Sparks, age 45; 2 females, ages 23 & 3.

***************
-82 -

Thus, there were three Sparks families in Prince George s County,Maryland. (1) Thomas Sparks (b, c.l711) and wife Elizabeth (b.c.l718); bought 100 acres in 1767 and sold out in 1777. (2) MatthewSparks (b. c.1715) and wife Eleanor (b. c.1731); bought 68 acres in1748 and 109 acres in l760; sold the 209 acres in 1777 (undoubtedlysold the 68 acres also, but grantee failed to have the deed recorded).(3) Matthew Sparks (son of Thomas) married (c.1765) to Margery; bought100 acres in l775; sold out in 1777.

These Sparks families, having sold out in 1777, removed from PrinceGeorge's County, Maryland. to Pittsylvania County, Virginia, wherethey obtained land in 1778.

Pittsylvania County, Virginia. Deed Book 5, page 211 - 25 February1778 - Sylvester Adams & wife Nansey, of Pittsylvania County,Virginta, to Thomas Sparks of same 110 Shillings (acreage not given)on both sides of Sandy River, /S/ Sylvester Adams Witnesses: GeorgeAdams. Edward Cook, Jonathan Montgomery Church. Proven 17 Aug l779(This is the first and earliest record of the Sparks family inPittsylvania County, Virginia.)

Land Grant Book E, page 441 Richmond, Virginia, shows that on 1 Sept.,1780 Matthew Sparks. for 35 Shillings was granted 305 acres inPittsylvania County, Virginia, on branches of Sandy River by surveydated 13 March 1778. Same book, page 451, shows that on same dateThomas Sparks, for 15 Shillings, was granted 137 acres in same county,on branch of Strawberry Creek, by survey dated 28 May 1780.

The third land grant to a Sparks in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, isto be found in Land Grant Book H, page 250. On 3rd of July 1783Matthew Sparks, for 2 Pounds & 10 Shillings, was granted 496 acres inPittsylvania County, on both sides of Mortons Spring, branch of SandyRiver, by survey dated 30 Apr. 1780.

The forth and last land grant is on record in Land Grant Book 51, page388. Warrant No. 14,050, issued 30 August 1782, and on 6 July 1803granted to Thomas Sparks, 52 acres in Pittsylovania County, Virginia,on Bean's Creek Mountain, Surveyed 1 April 1902.

Pittsylvania County, Virginia, tax lists, both land and personalproperty, begin in 1782 and extend to middle 1800's. Below is alisting of the Sparkses given on the land tax lists from 1782 to 1820:

1782 - Matthew Sparks - 796 acres
...........Thomas Sparks - 350 acres

1783 - (Alterations - Matthew Sparks - 496 acres

1784 - (Alterations - none for Sparkses)

1785 - (Alterations - Thomas Sparks - 162 acres from Thomas Robertson
.................................Mathew Sparks, 496 acres Ditto inDitto (i,e."Rong charged")

1786 - Thomas Sparks - 162 acres
............Samuel Sparks - 100 acres
............Thomas Sparks - 350 acres
............Matthew Sparks - 796 acres
...........(Alterations & Mistakes for 1786 - Samuel Sparks, 100 acresfrom Thomas Robertson)

l787 - Matthew Sparks - 300 acres
..........Thomas Sparks - 350 acres
..........Samuel Sparks - 100 acres
..........Thomas Sparks - 162 acres

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

-83-

1788 - Thomas Sparks - 350 acres
...........Samuel Sparks - 100 acres
...........Matthew Sparks - 300 acres
...........Thos. Sparks (T. Robinson) - 163 acres

1789 - Thomas Sparks - 350 acres
Matthew Sparks - 300 acres
(Davd. Shelton (Tho. Sparks) - 80 acres
(Leon. Sparks (Tho. Sparks) - 83 acres .

(Note that these two tracts owned by Shelton and Leonard Sparks in1789 totaled 163 acres, the tract owned by Thomas Sparks. this ThomasSparks apparently died c.1789 and his land was divided between Shelton& Leonard Sparks.)

1790 - Thomas Sparks - 350 acres
Matthew Sparks - 300 acres
(Davd. Shelton (T.S.) - 80 acres
(Lenard Sparkes (same) - 83 acres

1791 - Thomas Sparks - 350 acres

1792 - Thomas Sparks - 350 acres

1793 - Thomas Sparks - 350 acres

1794 - Thomas Sparks - 350 acres
...........Mathew Sparks (S) - 100 acres

1795 - Thomas Sparks - 350 acres
...........Mathew Sparks (S) - 100 acres

1796 - Missing

1797 - Thomas Sparks - 350 acres
...........Mathew Sparks - 100 acres

1798 - Thomas Sparks - 350 acres
...........Mathew Sparks 100 - acres

1799 - Thomas Sparks - 350 acres
...........Mathew Sparks - 100 acres

1800 - Thomas Sparks - 350 acres
...........Mathew Sparks -100 acres

1801 - Thomas Sparks - 350 acres
...........Mathew Sparks - 100 acres

1802 - Thomas Sparks - 350 acres
...........Mathew Sparks - 100 acres

1803 - Thomas Sparks - 350 acres
...........Matthew Sparks - 100 acres

1804 - Thomas Sparks - 350 acres
...........Matthew Sparks - 100 acres

1805 - Mathew Sparks - 100 acres
...........Thos. Sparks-do. (L.P.) - 52 acres
...........Mathew Sparks - 100 acres

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-84-

l806 - Matthew Sparks - 100 acres
..........Thomas Sparks - Bal.: - 298 acres
..........Thomas Sparks - do. (L. Pat.) - 52 acres
..........Matthew Sparks - 100 acres

1807 - Mathew Sparks - 100 acres
...........Thomas Sparks - 298 acres
...........Thomas Sparks - 52 acres
...........Mathew Sparks - 100 acres

1808 - Missing

1809 - Mathew Sparks - 100 acres
...........Thomas Sparks - 298 acres
...........Thomas Sparks - 52 acres
...........Mathew Sparks - 100 acres
...........John Sparks - 500 acres

1810 - Thomas Sparks - Balance: 198 acres
...........Same - 52 acres
...........George Sutherland, Ext. John Sparkes to pay - 100 acres
...........Mathew Sparks, deceased - 200 acres

1811 - Thomas Sparks - 222 acres
...........Matthew Sparks, deceased - 200 acres

1812 - Matthew Sparks, deceased - 200 acres - South side of SandyRiver
...........Thomas Sparks - 222 acres - Cattail fork Beens Creek

1813 - Thomas Sparks - 222 acres - Cattail fork Beens Creek
...........Matthew Sparks, deceased - 200 acres - S. side Sandy River

1814 - Thomas Sparks - 222 acres - Cattail fork Beens Do. [Creek] - 23miles southwest of courthouse.
............Matthew Sparks, deceased - 200 acres - S. side Sandy River- 20 miles south of courthouse.

1815 - Matthew Sparks, deceased - 200 acres - S. side (Sandy) River -20 miles south of courthouse.
...........Thomas Sparks - 222 acres - Cattail fork of Beens Creek -23 miles southwest of courthouse.

1816 - Thomas Sparks - 222 acres - Cat tail fork of Beens Creek - 23miles southwest of courthouse.
...........Mathew Sparks, deceased - 200 acres - S. side Sandy River -20 miles south of courthouse.

1817 - Mathew Sparks, deceased - 200 acres - S. side of Sandy River -20 miles south-west of courthouse.
...........Thomas Sparks - 27 acres - Sandy River - 18 miles southwestof courthouse

1818 - Thomas Sparks - 27 acres - Sandy River - 18 miles southwest ofcourthouse
............Mathew Sparks, deceased - 200 acres - s. side Sandy River- 20 miles southwest of courthouse.

***************
-85-

1819 - Mathew Sparks, deceased - 200 acres - S. side Sandy River 20miles southwest of courthouse
...........Thomas Sparks - 27 acres - Sandy River - 18 miles southwestof courthouse

1820 - Mathew Sparks, deceased - 200 acres - S. side Sandy River 20miles southwest of courthouse
...........Thomas Sparks 27 acres Sandy River - 18 miles southwest ofcourthouse

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, December 1992, Whole No. 160, pg 4036-4040:

"Thomas Sparks, son of George and Elizabeth (Ricketts) Sparks, wasborn on January 8, 1736, according to the register of St. LukesParish. Apparently he was married about 1757, for when the specialcensus was taken of Queen Annes County in 1776, he was shown as havingsix children, five daughters and one son. His wife apparently diedabout 1776, and he was married (2nd) to Juliana ( ----- ) MeredithSparks, widow of a cousin, James Sparks. (See page 2565 of theDecember 1983 issue of THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, Whole No. 124.)

"The last record in which we have found mention of Thomas Sparks isthe 1783 tax list of Queen Annes County. In this, he was listed as aresident of the "Upper District." We have been unable to identify hisfirst wife or any of his children."

Also see SQ p. 4959 under an article entitled SPARKSES WHO SERVED INTHE AMERICAN REVOLUTION:

"Thomas Sparks (ca. 1736) Queen Anne's Co., MD. (Spouses) (1) ------------,
(2) Juliann Meredith Sparks; he took the Oath of Fidelity, see thearchives of Maryland; See also the Sparks Quarterly p. 2565.

See the SPARKS QUARTERLY, p. 886 for the following marriageinformation: Thomas Sparks & Katherine Jayne, December 24, 1823.(Book I, p. 17) Married by Stephen Wheeler, Baptist minister.

See SPARKS QUARTERLY, June 1991, Whole No. 154, p. 3797:

"Thomas Sparks, son of William and Ann Sparks, was born ca.1766 inNorth Carolina. He was married about 1787 to Rebecca -----. She mayhave been a daughter of Evan Beall (Bell) who died in Wilkes County,North Carolina, in 1794. She died about 1795, and Thomas was married(2nd) to Diana Wilcox about 1800. About 1817, he moved to the areawhere Lee and Scott Counties, Virginia, adjoin, but in 1821, with hisbrother James Sparks, he moved again, this time taking his family tothat part of Floyd County, Kentucky, which helped to form LawrenceCounty shortly thereafter. We believe that both he and Diana diedthere between 1836 and 1840. Thomas Sparks was the father of fourteenchildren, the first four (Hanna, Joseph, Eleanor, and Allen) by hisfirst wife and the last ten by his second wife." (The children areincluded in the family information sheets).

**********

See also SPARKS QUARTERLY, December 1991, Whole No. 156, p. 3853:

"Thomas Sparks, son of William (199) and Ann (200) Sparks, was bornabout 1766, probably in Rowan County, North Carolina. He probablygrew to manhood in Surry County, and it was probably there that he wasmarried to Rebecca --- about 1787. When the census was taken of SurryCounty in 1790, they had two children, a son and a daughter. Rebeccaapparently died about 1795, and Thomas married (2nd) to Dianah Wilcoxabout 1800. We have not found this family on an 1800 census, butThomas' household was enumerated on the 1810 census of Surry County.Living in his house hold in 1810 was his wife along with six males andfour females, all probably their sons and daughters.

"Thomas Sparks paid taxes on 200 acres of land in Surry County in1790. On January 9, 1795, he purchased 200 acres of land from GilbertKeen. He sold this tract to his brother George Sparks (534). OnOctober 8, 1802, he purchased a 100-acre tract which had belonged tohis father from the executors of his father's estate for $150. Hesold this tract to Benjamin Martin, John Spencer, and ThomasCartwright on December 26, 1812. Thomas was present when this deedwas registered in Surry Count y in November 1815.

"These are the only deeds we have found for Thomas Sparks in SurryCounty, although it is apparent that he owned other property. He wastaxed in 1812 on 200 acres; in 1813 on 378 acres; in 1815 on 697 acres(described as "on the waters of Deep Creek"), and in 1816, he wastaxed on 100 acres "which adjoin Jonathan Sparks." His name does notappear on any subsequent tax list, and it seems obvious that he movedfrom Surry County about 1817.

"Thomas Sparks moved to nearby Virginia about 1817 where he settlednear the present-day boundary between Lee and Scott Counties. It wasin Scott County that a daughter, Eleanor, was married to Peter Mauk in1818; however, when the 1820 census was taken, Thomas Sparks waslisted in Lee County. With him, in addition to his wife, were sevenmales and three females, all of whom were probably his children.

"Thomas Sparks did not remain long in Virginia, and by the fall of1821, he and a son, Allen Sparks, were in Floyd County, Kentucky,where each was issued a Kentucky Land Warrant for fifty acres of landon "a fork of Big Blaine Creek." The warrants were dated September 3,1821. Thomas and Allen settled in that portion of Floyd County whichbecame a part of Lawrence County when that county was formed threemonths later, on December 6, 1821.

"In all probability, Thomas Sparks was also accompanied to LawrenceCounty by his brother, James Sparks (189), and James's youngest son,Jesse Sparks (196). Most certainly, at least two other families, oneheaded by Levi Sparks (255) and the other by George Sparks (347), whowere relatives of Thomas and James Sparks, also arrived in LawrenceCounty about 1821. When the 1830 census was taken of Lawrence County,nine men named Sparks were shown as heads of households there.

"On May 24, 1825, Thomas Sparks, Sr. was issued another Kentucky LandWarrant for fifty acres which adjoined his earlier grant. The landwas in Lawrence County and was located on the Middle Fork of LaurelCreek, a stream which flows most of its ten miles through present dayJohnson County before entering Blaine Creek in Lawrence County.Thomas Sparks, Jr. also acquired land that year on Lower Laurel Creek.

"The next to last land transaction we have found involving ThomasSparks, Sr. is a deed made in Lawrence County on March 11, 1836. Heand his wife, Dianah, on March 11, 1836, sold 200 acres of land onLaurel Fork of Big Blaine Creek, recorded in Johnson County, to DavidRose for $400. The last record we have found of Thomas Sparks, Sr. isa deed, recorded in Johnson County but made on September 19, 1837, inLawrence County, by which he deeded 50 acres of land on Lower Fork toNicholas Sparks. Witnesses to the deed were Thomas Sparks and HenryJayne.

"Both Thomas and Dianah (Wilcox) Sparks probably died between 1836 and1840. No record has been found of them on the 1840 census. They leftno wills, nor have we found any administrative records of theirestates. From census records, it seems apparent that Thomas Sparks wasthe father of fourteen children, four of them by his first marriageand ten by his second marriage. We have identified thirteen of them."(Here follows records of children).

**********

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, December 1991, Whole No. 156, pp 3853-54:

THOMAS SPARKS (ca.1766-ca.1837) SON OF WILLIAM AND ANN SPARKS

OF SURRY COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA & LAWRENCE CO., KENTUCKY

By Paul E. Sparks

[Editor's Note: Thomas Sparks, who came to Lawrence County, Kentucky,in 1821, was a son of William and Ann (-----) Sparks about whom anarticle appeared in the QUARTERLY of June 1991, Whole No. 154. Hisparents had disposed of their property in Frederick County, Maryland,in 1764 and had moved to Rowan County, North Carolina, shortlythereafter. The move was made in order for them to join some othermembers of the Sparks family who had left Frederick County a few yearsearlier. William purchased land from his brother, Matthew Sparks, in1765 in Rowan County. Other Sparks families in Rowan County that yearwere headed by Solomon Sparks, Jonas Sparks, and William SampleSparks.

[William and Ann did not stay in Rowan County very long; by 1771 theyhad moved to Surry County, North Carolina. It was there that Williamdied either late in 1801 or early in 1802. His will, which he had madeon December 21, 1801, was probated at the May 1802 term of the SurryCounty Court. He left most of his estate to be "equally and peaceablydivided amongst my children and wife, she taking an equall share withone of the children." He appointed William Wilcox, William Sparks,Thomas Sparks, and George Sparks as executors of the will and"trustees for my wife and other children." Although he did not nameall of his children in the will, we believe that he and Ann had tenchildren: William Sparks, Jr., Matthew Sparks, Rachel Sparks, NancySparks, George Sparks, James Sparks, Thomas Sparks, Margaret Sparks,Benjamin Sparks, and Jeremiah Sparks.

See the June 1991 issue of the QUARTERLY, Whole No. 154, for furtherdetails about William and Ann and their family.]

Thomas Sparks, son of William and Ann Sparks, was born about 1766,probably in Rowan County, North Carolina. He probably grew to manhoodin Surry County, and it was probably there that he was mayried toRebecca ----- about 1787. When the census was taken of Surry County in1790, they had two children, a son and a daughter. Rebecca apparentlydied about 1795, and Thomas Sparks was . married (2nd) to DianahWilcox about 1800. We have not found this family on an 1800 census,but Thomas' household was enumerated on the 1810 census of SurryCounty. Living in his household in 1810 was his wife along with sixmales and four females, all probably their sons and daughters.

Thomas Sparks paid taxes on 200 acres of land in Surry County in 1790.On January 9, 1795, he purchased 200 acres of land from Gilbert Keen.He sold this tract to his brother, George Sparks. On October 8, 1802,he purchased a 100-acre tract which had belonged to his father fromthe executors of his father's estate for $150. He sold this tract toBenjamin Martin, John Spencer, and Thomas Cartwright on December 26,1812. Thomas was present when this deed was registered in Surry Countyin November 1815.

These are the only deeds we have found for Thomas Sparks in SurryCounty, although it is apparent that he owned other property. He wastaxed in 1812 on 200 acres; in 1813 on 378 acres; in 1815 on 697 acres(described as "on the waters of Deep Creek"), and in 1816, he wastaxed in 100 acres "which adjoin Jonathan Sparks." His name does notappear on any subsquent tax list, and it seems obvious that he movedfrom Surry County about 1817.

Thomas Sparks moved to nearby Virginia about 1817 where he settlednear the present-day boundary between Lee and Scott Counties. It wasin Scott County that a daughter, Eleanor, was married to Peter Mauk in1818; however, when the 1820 census was taken, Thomas Sparks waslisted in Lee County. With him, in addition to his wife, were sevenmales and three females, all of whom were probably his children.Thomas Sparks did not remain long in Virginia, and by the fall of1821, he and a son, Allen Sparks, were in Floyd County, Kentucky,where each was issued a Kentucky Land Warrant for fifty acres of landon "a fork of Big Blaine Creek." The warrants were dated September 3,1821. Thomas and Allen settled in that portion of Floyd County whichbecame a part of Lawrence County when that county was formed threemonths later, on December 6, 1821.

In all probability, Thomas Sparks was also accompanied to LawrenceCounty by his brother, James Sparks, and James's youngest son, JesseSparks. Most certainly, at least two other families, one headed byLevi Sparks and the other by George Sparks, who were relatives ofThomas and James Sparks, also arrived in Lawrence County about 1821.When the 1830 census was taken of Lawrence County, nine men namedSparks were shown as heads of households there.

On May 24, 1825, Thomas Sparks, Sr. was issued another Kentucky LandWarrant for fifty acres which adjoined his earlier grant. The land wasin Lawrence County and was located on the Middle Fork of Laurel Creek,a stream which flows most of its ten miles through present-day JohnsonCounty before entering Blaine Creek in Lawrence County. Thomas Sparks,Jr. also acquired land that year on Lower Laurel Creek.

The last land transaction we have found involving Thomas Sparks, Sr.is a deed made in Lawrence County on March 11, 1836. He and his wife,Dianah, sold 200 acres of land on Laurel Creek to David Rose for $400.

Both Thomas and Dianah (Wilcox) Sparks probably died between 1836 and1840. No record has been found of them on the 1840 census. They leftno wills, nor have we found any administrative records of theirestates. From census records, it seems apparent that Thomas Sparks wasthe father of fourteen children, four of them by his first marriageand ten by his second marriage. We have identified thirteen of them.

**********

See the SPARKS QUARTERLY, p. 886 for the following marriageinformation from Lawrence County, Kentucky, Marriage Bonds(1822-1865):
Thomas Sparks & Katherine Jayne, December 24, 1823. (Book I, p. 17)Married by Stephen Wheeler, Baptist minister.

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, June 1957, Whole No. 18, pg. 227 for theJohnson County, Ky. - 1850 Census.

(p. 96) Sparks, Thomas 48 North Carolina (M) Farmer $400
200-200 " Katherine 43 Kentucky (F)
" Sarah 19 " (F)
" Eleanor 17 " (F)
" Margarett 15 " (F)
" Thomas J. 13 " (M)
" Henry 11 " (M)
" Daniel 9 " (M)
" Katherine 6 " (F)
" John 4 " (M)

Also see SQ p. 3797: He was married to Catherine Jayne in 1823.

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, December 1991, Whole No. 156, p. 3868:

"Thomas Sparks Jr., son of Thomas and Dianah (Wilcox) Sparks, was bornon November 8, 1801, in Surry County, North Carolina. He accompaniedhis parents to Lawrence County, Kentucky, and it was there that he wasmarried to Catherine Jayne on December 24, 1823. She had been born onJanuary 15, 1807, and was a daughter of William and Dorcas (Ramey)Jayne. Thomas and Catherine lived near his father on Lower LaurelCreek in that part of Lawrence County that became a part of JohnsonCounty in 1843, but about 1859 they moved to newly-formed BoydCounty, Kentucky. It was there that Thomas died on February 8, 1876.Catherine died in Lewis County, Kentucky, on May 6, 1883 . They hadtwelve children.

See the photograph of Thomas Sparks in Whole Number 143 of the SPARKSQUARTERLY, on page 3286.

SQ pps 2625-6:

" Thomas Sparks, son of James and Margaret (Ray) Sparks, was born onAugust 11, 1810, and was about eleven years old when his parents movedto Ohio. He accompanied them also to Clinton County, Indiana , wherehe bought 40 acres of land on May 18, 1836. The following December,he added another 52 acres to his farm, probably in preparation for hismarriage to Martha Loveless on September 22, 1837. She was born onSeptermbr 21, 1816, in Ohio and was a daughter of Benjamin andCatherine (Besley) Loveless. Her brother, John V. Loveless, marriedher husband's sister, Elizabeth Sparks the following March."

" A biographical sketch is given of Thomas Sparks in A Portrait andBiographical Record of Boone and Clinton Counties, Indiana, publishedin 1895 by the A. W. Bowen & Company of Chicago. It reads in part ,"When twenty-seven years old, he [Thomas Sparks] became a resident ofClinton County, and he is classed among the pioneers of this section.He made the journey from Ohio to Indiana in a wagon, and moved to aplace upon which no improvements of any kind had been made, but intime he cleared a developed a good farm of 140 acres and erectedsubstantial buildings. He was a prominent man of his community , amember of the Methodist Church, and a Whig in his political belief,later a Republican."

"Martha (Loveless) Sparks, wife of Thomas Sparks, died on September 8,1855. Thomas died on April 3, 1879. They were buried in the LovelessCemetery near Colfax, Indiana. They had nine children."

This family is shown in the 1860 Census of Clinton County, IN, PerryTownship. See SQ p. 4445.

SQ p. 5401:

"A son born before 1820 who had left home before the 1840 census wastaken. He may well have been the Thomas Sparks who was married toCatherine Swaim in 1837. The marriage bond, dated February 28, 1837,shows William Z. Sparks as having signed as bondsman. On the 1838 taxlist for the Jonesville District, Thomas Sparks was listed as a whitepoll without land and living next to William Sparks. He appeared inthe same manner on the lists for 1839 and 1840. It seems probable thathe was the Thomas Sparks, age 33 (i.e. born ca.1817) living with hiswife Catherine (also age 33) in Iredell County, Norh Carolina, in1850. (Iredell County adjoins Yadkin County on the south.) Hisoccupation was "Stiller." Their children as listed on the 1850 censuswere: Michael Sparks, age 9; William A. Sparks, age 7; John C. Sparks,age 4; and Adaline J. Sparks, age 1.

**********

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, September 2000, Whole No. 192, pp.5432-5434 for the following article:

THOMAS SPARKS (1816-1863) OF YADKIN COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA

AND YORK COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA

"In The Sparks Quarterly of September 2000, Whole No. 191, pp.5396-5304 appeared an article devoted to William Z. Sparks(ca.1791-1858) of Yadkin County, North Carolina. (Until 1850, YadkinCounty had been part of Surry County.) Based on quite compellingcircumstantial evidence, we believe that William Z. Sparks was a sonof George Sparks who had been born between 1758 and 1760 in FrederickCounty, Maryland; George Sparks had accompanied his parents, Williamand Ann Sparks, on their move to the Forks of the Yadkin, then part ofRowan County, North Carolina, in 1764. (See the QUARTERLY of June1983, Whole No. 122, pp. 2520-24, for an article devoted to GeorgeSparks.)

"William Z. Sparks died in December 1858 in the Jonesville area ofYadkin County where he had spent most of his life. We have notdiscovered the name of his first wife, who was also the mother of hisseven children. Sometime after her death, be tween 1840 and 1850, hewas married, second, to a widow named Mary Benge.

"Of the seven children of William Z. Sparks, we can be certain of theidentity of only two. One was James Sparks who was shown on the 1850census as 21 years of age, still living in his father's household. Theother was Thomas Sparks who was married to Catherine Swaim in SurryCounty, North Carolina, in 1837. The marriage bond for Thomas andCatherine was dated February 28, 1837, and from Bible records thatwill be noted later in this article, we have learned that theirmarriage ceremony took place nine days later, on March 9, 1837. It issignificant that their bondsman was William Z. Sparks, doubtless thefather of Thomas.

"As we noted on page 5401 of the QUARTERLY of September 2000, it isevident that Thomas Sparks was in informal partnership with hisfather, William Z. Sparks, both before and for a period of time afterhis marriage.

"We have not been able to determine the parentage of Catherine (orKatherine) Swaim (sometimes spelled Swain). When the 1840 census ofSurry County was taken, William Z. and Thomas Sparks were living inthe southern part of the county, below the Yadkin River, that wouldbecome Yadkin County a decade later. There, also, were enumerated fiveSwaim (or Swain) families. The heads of these five families were: (1)Michael Swaim, Sr., age 50 to 60, with wife 40 to 50, and 4 children;(2) John Swaim whose household immediately followed that of Michael,Sr., age 50 to 60, with wife 40 to 50, a female 70 to 80, and 7children; (3) William Swaim, age 40 to 50, with wife 30 to 40, and 10children; (4) Solomon Swaim, age 30 to 50, with 7 children; and (5)Moses Swaim, age 20 to 30, with wife in the same age category, but nochildren.

"From the ages of these heads of households, we can be fairly certainthat Catherine (Swaim) Sparks, born in 1816 and therefore 24 years ofage in 1840, was a daughter of either Michael Swaim, Sr. or JohnSwaim. It is interesting that Thomas and Catherine named sons Solomon,Michael, and John. Of these three names, however, only Michael was anunusual name in the Sparks family.

"Thomas Sparks's household, as enumerated on the 1840 census of SurryCounty, then consisted of himself and his wife, along with their firsttwo sons, both of whom were shown as under 5 years. On this 1840census, the name of Thomas Sparks appeared just before that of WilliamZ. Sparks.

"By the time that the 1850 census was taken, Thomas and CatherineSparks had moved with their children to Iredell County, which adjoinsYadkin County on the south. Thomas' occupation was given as "Stiller."(See Census record on page 603, SQ)

"By 1857 Thomas Sparks had moved with his family to York County, SouthCarolina, the northern boundary of which is the southern boundary ofthree North Carolina counties: Cleveland, Gaston, and Mecklenburg.

"Recently we received from Louise Pettus of 708 Harrell St., RockHill, South Carolina, who descends from Thomas and Catherine (Swaim)Sparks, the results of her research on this family in York County,South Carolina. Through her, we have also obtained copies of familyrecords contained in two 19th-century Bibles now owned by anotherdescendant of Thomas and Catherine, Pat Rodgers Murphy. The older ofthese two Bibles was published in 1846 by the New York Bible Society,and on a blank page at the beginning of the New Testament appear thedates of birth of Thomas and Catherine, with their date of marriage.Following, on the same page, were recorded the names and birth datesof their six children, Because the Bible was published in 1846, weknow that only the last two children could have been entered at thetime they were born. The information about the parents and the birthsof their first four children, and probably, also, the last two, weresurely copied from another, earlier, record.

"The second Bible owned by Mrs. Murphy was published in 1851. Itappears to have been owned first by a man named John A. Marion. At alater date, this Bible came into the possession of Marion DeKalbRodgers and his wife, Adeline Josephine Sparks, daughter of Thomas andCatherine. In this 1851 Bible there is what Mrs. Murphy has describedas "a very fragile piece of paper" containing, also, the record ofbirths of Thomas and Catherine (Swaim) Sparks, their marriage, and thebirths of their six children. Besides this "fragile piece of paper"there is a smaller sheet giving the date of death of Thomas Sparks andthe death dates of four of his children.

From these two Bible records, we learn the following: Thomas Sparkswas born on December 25, 1816, and Catherine Swaim was born on April11, 1816. They were married on March 9, 1837. (In the Bible publishedin 1846, Catherine's name was written "Catharn Sparks" while on thesheet in the the 1851 Bible her name was written "Katharine Swain.")The dates of birth for their six children are the same in both ofthese records.

1. Solomon Sparks was born December 25, 1837.
2. Michael Sparks was born December 14, 1839.
3. William Ashley Sparks was born June 24, 1841.
4. John Calvin Sparks was born July 21, 1843.
5. Adeline Josephine Sparks was born April 11, 1849.
6. Martha Ellen Sparks was born November 22, 1851.

The deaths recorded on the small piece of paper in the 1851 Biblewere:

Thomas Sparks died Nov.23, 1863.
Wm. A. Sparks died March 5, 1863.
Martha Sparks died Oct. 11, 1853.
Solomon Sparks died December 19, 1853.
Michael Sparks died Nov. 4, 1861.

Thus, of the six children of Thomas and Catherine (Swaim) Sparks, two(Solomon and Martha) died as children, while two others (WilliamAshley and Michael) died as young men, both at the age of 21, Thecause of Michael's death on November 4, 1861, is not known. WilliamAshley Sparks was a victim of the Civii War.

**********

SPARKS QUARTERLY, March 1994, Whole No. 165, p 4276:

"Thomas Sparks, son of Jesse and Nancy Sparks, was born on March 11,1827 , in Lawrence County, Kentucky. He was married to Dianna Sparks,and they had nine children: Sarah, Jesse Allen, Richard, Thomas,William, Nelson, Clarinda, Nancy and Perlina.

!NOTES:
SQ 3866: Thomas Sparks, son of Allen and Elizabeth (Kozee) Sparks ,was born
about 1835. He was married to Margaret "Peggy" Johnson on August 9 ,1858, in
Johnson County, Kentucky. She had been born about 1837 in Kentucky .She and
Thomas lived in Lawrence County where they were listed on the 1860, 1870, and
1880 censuses. According to these records, they had eight children.

SQ 2569-70:

"Thomas Sparks, son of Levi Sparks, was born on October 3, 1836. Afterhis father's death, he went to Jeffersonville, Indiana, to go toschool. Thomas Sparks lived with his brother, Levi Sparks, Jr., andbecame a clerk in his store. When Levi died in 1875, Thomas and hisbrother Nathan Sparks, became successors to the store. Thomas wasquite prominent in the Masonic Lodge in Jeffersonville. He was amember of the Episcopal Church." See photograph of Thomas taken ca.1900 on page 2570).

"Thomas Sparks lived with his brother, Levi Sparks, Jr. and became aclerk in his store. When Levi died in 1875, Thomas and his brother,Nathan Sparks, became successors to the store. Thomas was quiteprominent in the Masonic Lodge in Jeffersonville. He was a member ofthe Episcopal Church. On April 15, 1879, he married Orra McClure. Shewas born on February 23, 1857, and died on May 24, 1905.
Thomas died on June 10, 1915. They had two children, a child who wasborn on August 18, 1883, and
who died in infancy; and David McClure Sparks, born on April 30, 1885.He died on April 11, 1948."

SPARKS QUARTERLY, pg 4470:
"Thomas Sparks, son of Sam and Sarah (Deal) Sparks, was born on April23, 1841, in Winston County, Mississippi, and was almost grown wh enhe went with his parents to Lampasas County, Texas, in 1857.

When the Civil War broke out, he enlisted on April 5, 1862, in CompanyD , 17th Regiment Texas Infantry, Confederate States Army, along withhis brother, Martin Van Buren Sparks. He promptly caught the measles. A company muster-roll for April 5-June 30, 1862, has the followingentry: "Tom Sparks, absent with measles." Later, on the muster-rollfor Nov.-Dec. 1862, he was listed as "Present-sick." On April 1,1865, he was carried on the muster-roll as "On detached service." Agranddaughter, Nancy (Sparks) Lawrence, said that he had been woundedby a Minie ball and furloughed home to recover. He was on his wayback to join his regiment when the war ended.

"Tom Sparks returned to Lampasas County where, in 1867, he registeredto vote in Precinct No. 1 along with his father, Sam Sparks, and hisbrother, John Sparks. Three years later, he was married in LampasasCounty to alice Eugenia Coffey on March 10, 1870. She had been bornon September 26, 1853, in Texas and was a daughter of Cyrus and MaryAnn (Gibson) Coffey. When the 1870 census was taken of LampasasCounty, Tom and Alice were listed in a household near his father .His real estate was valued then at $1,000, and he had personalproperty valued at $600.

"In the early 1870s, Tom Sparks and his brother, John Sparks, drovefour "gigantic" herds of cattle from Texas to Wyoming; however, hecontinued to live in Lampasas County until the early 1880s. Hisfamily was enumerated twice on the 1880 census. It appeared on thecensus of Lampasas County and also on the census of Knox County.Since Knox county is a considerable distance from Lampasas County andin the northwest direction, perhaps Tom and his family were then ontheir way to Idaho while the census was being taken.

"A descendant says that Tom Sparks purchased a three-thousand-acreranch near American Falls, Idaho, probably in the early 1880s. He wasa member of the last territorial legislature of the Idaho Territoryand represented Oneida County when it comprised a large portion ofsoutheastern Idaho. (Idaho became the 43rd state in 1890.) Hesuffered a severe loss of cattle during the memorable winter of1889-1890. (See notes of his younger brother, Gov. John Sparks).

"The role of Tom Sparks in the business affairs of his brother, JohnSparks, is not clear. In 1885, in dictating some autobiographicalnotes, John recalled that in 1872 "in company with my brother, I drovecattle to Wyoming and sold them at a good profit." It seems fairlycertain that Tom made several cattle drives with John during the1870s. It seems equally certain that Tom managed some properties forhis brother. This, however, is about all of the knowldege that wehave about their relationship.

"Tom Sparks died on January 4, 1892, in Idaho. Alice survived him byforty years, dying on April 12, 1932, at Pocatello, Idaho. They werethe parents of eight children."

SQ pp 4561-2:

"Thomas Sparks, son of Jesse and Susan (Cornell) Sparks, was born onMay 26, 1842, in Tennessee. He served in Company A, 16th RegimentTexas Cavalry, C.S.A., during the Civil War. (See the page from hisdiary below [SQ p. 4561).

"After he returned from military service, Thomas Sparks was married toMrs. Hannah (Weeks) Sparks on December 25, 1867, in Cooke County,Texas. She had been born on November 16, 1830, in Illinois and was thewidow of William J. Sparks who had died in 1865. (See page 2649 ofthe September 1984 issue of the QUARTERLY, Whole No. 127, forinformation about her earlier marriage.) She and Thomas had one childbefore her death, which occurred on March 6, 1875.

"After the death of Hannah (Weeks) Sparks, Thomas was married to JennyRothrock in 1884. They apparently had no children. Thomas died in1924 at Weatherford, Oklahoma. Jenny died there in 1927.

Information concerning the children of Danial Sparks, Thomas DanielSparks and Thomas Alexander Sparks was provided by Matthew Driggers ofHouston, Texas in May, 2002 (drigge_d@fbnet.net) He stated, "Much ofthe older information back to Daniel Sparks and Julia Justice, I foundin our family bible and census records."

.

!NOTES:
SQ pg 2779: "Thomas Allen Sparks, son of Andrew and Mary Ann (Alle n)
Sparks, was born on July 2, 1849. He was married on December 15, 1867,
to Cynthia L. Parmely in Nacogdoches County, Texas. She had been born
about 1851 in Tennessee and was a daughter of Mitch and Margaret (Powers)
Parmely. When the 1880 census was taken of Nacogdoches County, Thomas
and Cynthia had four children and, in all probability, they had other
children born to them later. Thomas died on August 10, 1928.
(1) Minnie Sparks born about 1869;
(2) John Sparks born about 1872;
(3) Mariana (or Marianna) Sparks born about 1875;
(4) Thomas B. Sparks born about 1877."

.
!NOTES:
SQ pg 4472: He was married and had a son, Thomas Sparks.

SQ pg 2781:

"Thomas Benton Sparks, son of Richard and Elizabeth (Cooper) Sparkswas born on Augut 28, 1829, in Yazoo County, Mississippi. (At leastone record has the date as February 3, 1829.) He was probably namedfor Thomas Hart Benton, United States Senator from Missouri, whohelped the settlers of the territories obtain government land. ThomasSparks was a small boy when he accompanied his parents to NacogdochesCounty, Texas, and it was there that he grew to manhood. It was alsothere that he was married to Phereby Ann Mildred ("Milly") MahalaSmith on June 20, 1850 . She was born on December 19, 1831, in FayetteCounty, Tennessee.

"After the settlement of the estates of his parents in 1851, ThomasSparks, along with his brother, Stephen, moved to McLennan Countywhere he settled a few miles north of Waco. He was elected clerk ofthe Bosque Baptist Church in 1855, and in the summer of 1872 he waselected as the first clerk of the newly-formed Rock Creek BaptistChurch. He died a few months later, on October 27, 1872, and he wasburied in the church cemetery . The age inscribed on his tombstone is43 years, 9 months, and 24 days. After his death, Milly married RobertLoughridge in 1874. She died on April 16, 1908. She and Thomas hadeight children."

SQ 4652:

"...Benton (as he was called) and Irene lived near Fielden, Kentucky,and their children attended the Whites Creek School."

A photograph of Thomas appears in the SPARKS QUARTERLY for June 1989,Whole No. 146, p. 3408.

.

!NOTES:
SQ 3204:
"Thomas Claborn Sparks was born on July 14, 1898, in Comanche Coun ty,
Texas, and it was there that he was married to Manolia Jane Patton on
December 9, 1917. She had been born on June 14, 1898, in Montgomery
County, Arkansas, and was a daughter of Archie and Idella (Morphew) Patton.
Thomas died on March 31, 1983, at Temple Texas. He and Manolia Jan ehad
five children:
Neda G., Claude D., Ira W., Dorothy J. and Gladys. Neda and Gladys have
been most helpful in the preparation of this portion of this article."

.
!NOTES:
SQ pg 3408: They had three children: Carol, Darlene, and Thoma sSparks.

.
!NOTES:
SQ pg 3360: "...He married and had at least three children. Eli cSparks
(his name was probably Alexander); Craf Sparks (his name may have been
Crawford); Math Sparks (his name was probably Matthew.)

See the SPARKS QUARTERLY, June 1979, Whole No. 106, pg 2115 for theCivil War Pension Application of Thomas E. Sparks as follows:

"THOMAS E. SPARKS, son of Isaiah H. and Sarah (Clayborn) Sparks, wasborn about 1845. He married (1st) Martha Curtis and (2nd) Margaret J.Adams. He served in Company C, 1st Regiment Arkansas Infantry . FileDesignations: Inv. Cert. No. 958,001; Wid. Cert. No. 497,498.

"Thomas E. Sparks apparently made application for an invalid pensionlate in 1887, for on January 24, 1888, the Bureau of Pensions askedthe War Department to verify his military service. Sparks claimedthat he had enlisted on February 12, 1963, in Company C, 1st RegimentArkansas Infantry at Jasper, Arkansas, and had been discharged at Ft.Smith, Arkansas, on August 10, 1865. He said that in September 1863he had a disabling heart disease while on duty at Van Buren, Ark., andthat he also had another attack in January 1865.

"On February 4, 1888, the War Department replied to the request .Thomas E. Sparks was enrolled on July 1, 1863, at Jasper, Arkansas ,in Company C, 1st Regiment Arkansas Infantry for a period of threeyears and he was mustered out with his company on August 10, 1865 , atFt. Smith, Arkansas. The regimental hospital records showed a ---Sparks admitted in October 1864 and returned to duty. On November 28,1864, a --- Sparks was admitted with an incis wound which kept himthere until December 4, 1864, when he was returned to duty. OnFebruary 16, 1865, Thomas Sparks was admitted and given treatment andreturned to duty. A --- Sparks was admitted on April 4, 1865, andtreated until August 9, 1865, and then returned to duty. Three othermen named Sparks were carried on the company rolls, Jesse Sparks ,George W. Sparks, and Balis E. Sparks.

"Thomas E. Sparks was not issued a pension after his initialapplication, so on August 31, 1895, he reapplied. He was now 50 yearsof age and a resident of Hinds (?), Chickasha Nation, Indian Territory. He again claimed a disability of the heart caused by militaryservice. He appointed George E. Lemon, Washington, D.C., as hisattorney . J. B. Daggs and R. S. Floyd witnessed his signature. OnApril 26 , 1898, Sparks was issued Invalid Certificate No. 958,001;however, he never received a pension payment because he died onJanuary 7, 1898 , just a few months before the approval.

"Margaret J. Sparks, widow of Thomas E. Sparks, apparently madeapplication for a widow's pension immediately after his death, for onfebruary 21, 1898, the Newton County, Arkansas, Clerk, W. L. Curtis, sent a copy of the marriage of M. J. Adams and T. E. Sparks on June 26, 1887, as recorded on page 275 of Marriage Book B. About the same time, E. W. Sparks, age 60, of Chancel, Arkansas, testified that shehad been the midwife when three of Thomas Sparks's children were born. The first of these was Joseph Henry Sparks, born to Thomas andMartha Sparks on April 20, 1886. The next child she delivered wasEtta may Sparks, born to Thomas and Margaret Sparks, on April 1, 1888. The last child she delivered was Ben Harrison Sparks who was bornto Thomas and Margaret Sparks on January 15, 1890.

"On April 16, 1898, N. H. Burris, age 30, and R. J. Burris, age 22 ,residents of Newberry, Tobucksy County, Indian Territory, testifiedthat they had known Margaret Sparks for eight years and knew that shenow had no income except that which she received from her daily labor. They said she had five children dependent upon her, ranging in agefrom six to thirteen years.

"On October 1, 1898, James B. Sparks and Rebecca Bures of New Berg ,Indian Territory, swore that they had known Thomas Sparks and MargaretAdams before their marriage and that they had always lived together asman and wife after their marrige in 1888. George W. Sparks, Chancel,Arkansas, also testified that he was well acquainted with MarthaSparks, wife of Thomas E. Sparks, and was present when she died in thewinter of 1887. He was also well acquainted with Margaret Adams andknew that she was never married before she married Thomas E. Sparks.

"The last document (in chronological order) sent from the pension fileof Thomas E. Sparks is an application for a widow's pension made on orabout June 11, 1900, by Margaret Sparks. She was age 47 and aresident of New Berg, Coal County, Indian Territory. She said thatshe had been married to Sparks on June 27, 1887, by Thomas E. Beth allat Limestone Valley, Arkansas. Sparks had previously been married toMartha Curtis, but she had died. The children of Thomas Sparks whowere under age of sixteen were: Joe Sparks, born on July 27, 1886;Ettie Sparks, born on April 27, 1888; Harrison Sparks, born on June 7,1890; and Chester Sparks, born on February 28, 1892. She appointedMilo B. Stevens & Company, Washington, D.C., as her attorneys . C. W.Hardwick and Johnson Fryier witnessed her make her mark. She wasissued a pension under Widow's Certificate No. 497,498."

*****
See also SQ pg 4886: "Mrs. Graham has also provided birth and deathdates for Sarah Jane Sparks's brother Thomas E. Sparks. (See pp.3690-91 of the QUARTERLY of December 1990.) We had indicated therethat Thomas E. Sparks had been born about 1845, and we did not knowthe date of his deth. Mrs. Graham reports that his gravestone in theAtwood Cemetery (old Newberg Cemetery) at Atwood, Hughes County,Oklahoma, gives his birth date as February 15, 1842, and his deathdate as January 7, 1897."

.

!NOTES:
SQ pg 2785: "Thomas Hawkins ("Hawk") Sparks, son of Thomas and Mil ly
(Smith) Sparks, was born about 1861. According to information give nto us
by a relative several years ago, he was married twice. HIs first marriage
was to a widow, Jane McAdeen. They had no children. His second marriage
was to Nannie --- by whom he had four children: (1) Charles Sparks; (2) Elmo
Sparks; (3) Dulice Sparks; she married C. C. Clurtis and lived in California;
(4) David Sparks."

See the SPARKS QUARTERLY, March 1968, Whole No. 61, p. 1132 for the1850 census of Tippah County, Mississippi showing the following:

Vol. 7A, p. 570A (1142) Enumerated on December 6, 1850 [JS: Livingnext door to his parents Ephriam and Sarah Sparks.]

SPARKS, Thomas J. 33 (M) Kentucky Farmer
Penelope 30 (F) North Carolina
Eliza 16 (F) Tennessee
Martha 14 (F) "
Benjamin F. 12 (M) "
Sarah T. 9 (F Mississippi
Joseph 7 (M) "
Joan 4 (F) "
James 6/12 (M) "
McMillen, Doke 22 (M) Tennessee

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, December 1991, Whole No. 156, p. 3871:

"Thomas J. Sparks was a blacksmith. He served in the 2nd RegimentKentucky Cavalry during the Civil War, and it was probably during hismilitary service that he met his future wife, Matilda D. (---). Theywere married about 1866 in Hart County, Kentucky, where they lived therest of their lives. Matilda died on September 11, 1889, and Thomasdied on March 24, 1907 .

See the SPARKS QUARTERLY, December 1991, Whole No. 156, pp. 3882-83for an abstract of the Civil War Pension Application of Thomas J.Sparks, reproduced below.

"They had five children:

a. Laban T. Sparks was born about 1867. He apparently died before1898.

b. Catherine "Katie" M. Sparks was born on June 12, 1869. She wasmarried to George Washington Brown about 1888. He had been born inJuly 1857 in Kentucky. George and Katie lived at Seymour, Kentucky,where they had six children. Katie died in 1905 and was buried in theBrown family cemetery about one mile south of Rowletts, Kentucky.George died about 1935. We have learned the names of only three oftheir children: Arthur, Jack and Allie O.

c. George H. Sparks was born on October 2, 1870.

d. Anna J. Sparks was born on June 7, 1875. She married Robert J.Kenny.

e. Eleanor "Nellie" G. Sparks was born on March 18, 1878."

CIVIL WAR PENSION APPLICATION

THOMAS J. SPARKS, son of Thomas and Catherine (Jayne) Sparks, was bornin December 1836 in Lawrence County, Kentucky. He was married toMatilda D ------ about 1868 in Hart County, Kentucky. He served inCompany E, 2nd Regiment Kentucky Cavalry. File Designation: Inv.Cert. No. 527,720.

"On November 12, 1879, Thomas J. Sparks, age 43, a resident ofSeymour, Hart County, Kentucky, applied for an invalid pension. Hestated that he had enlisted on July 1, 1861, in Company E, 2ndRegiment Kentucky Cavalry, commanded by Col. Laveal H. Ruseau, andhad served until discharged at Nashville, Tennessee, on September 26,1864. He was then 5 feet, 11 inches tall and had a dark complexion,black hair, and hazel eyes. He said that at Lookout Mountain,Georgia, on January 1, 1864, he had contracted rheumatism because ofexposure to the inclemencies of the weather. The disease hadgradually grown worse until he was now able to do only two-thirds ofthe labor he was required to do as a blacksmith. Since leaving theservice, he had resided in Boyd and Hart Counties, Kentucky. Heappointed F. J. Taylor as his attorney, and A. Miller and T. G. Hazellwitnessed the application.

"The War Department confirmed Sparks's military service on July 6,1881. He had been enrolled as a "private-farrier" in Company E, 2ndRegiment Kentucky Cavalry on July 14, 1861, at Camp Joe Holt, Indiana.He had been present for duty until December 1863 when he had beenplaced on detached duty as an escort to Gen. Geary. He had returnedfrom that service on July 8, 1864, and had been mustered out with hisdetachment on September 16, 1864, at Nashville, Tennessee. He had norecord of any disability.

"Sparks apparently encountered some difficulty in obtaining an invalidpension. On December 15, 1890, he made an affidavit that he was theclaimant under pension application No. 333,484 and that he could notfurnish further evidence of his service-connected disability becausehe could not find the Regimental Surgeon who had treated him. OnMarch 25, 1892, he again made an affidavit that he was unable tofurnish further physician's evidence of his disability. Since leavingthe service, he had been treated by Dr. S. P. Taylor of Bear Wallow,Kentucky, who had died in 1873-1874. Dr. Taylor had told Sparks thathis disease was incurable and so, in the interest of his family, hehad spent no more money on further treatment.

"The affidavits apparently convinced the Bureau of Pensions of theworthiness of his claim, for Sparks was issued a pension under InvalidCertificate No. 527,720; however, there is nothing among the "selectedpapers" from his file sent to us by the National Archives to indicatethe date of approval or the amount of his pension.

"Thomas J. Sparks responded to a questionnaire from the Bureau ofPensions on May 4, 1898. He said that he had been married to MatildaD. Sparks in Hart County, Kentucky, by Edward Smith, and that she haddied on September 11, 1889, at Bear Wallow, Kentucky. He had notremarried. He had four living children:
Catherine M. Sparks, born June 12, 1869
George H. Sparks, born October 2, 1870
Anna Sparks, born June 7, 1873
Nellie G. Sparks, born March 18, 1878

"When Thomas J. Sparks died on March 24, 1907, he was receiving apension of $30.00 per month."

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, Jun 1984, Whole No. 126, 2621:

"He was a twin brother of John Wesley Sparks. Thomas completed acommon school education in Fulton County, Illinois, and then heattended Lombard College at Galesburg, Illinois. He later studied atHowe's Academy at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. In 1864, he began "reading law"with S. Corning Judd at Lewistown, Illinois and was admitted to thebar. He then went to Central City, Nebraska, where he practiced lawfor six years.

"According to a History of McDonough County, Illinois, edited byAlexander McLean in 1907, Thomas Jefferson Sparks was an active memberof the Democratic Party and was elected City Attorney of Bushnell,Illinois, for several years. He was also elected as a representativeto the 38th General Assembly of Illinois. The history cited aboveconcludes his biography as follows: "Socially, Mr. Sparks is connectedwith the Masonic fraternity. Around his strenous life he has built awall of public confidence, and his qualities of mind and heard aresuch as may well be emulated by the men of a younger generation."

[JS note: A photograph of Thomas Jefferson Sparks appears on page2621 of the QUARTERLY.]

!NOTES:
SQ 3869: Thomas "Tom" Jefferson Sparks was married to Mary Elizab eth
Baldridge on August 15, 1872, in Floyd County, Kentucky. She had been born
about 1853 and was a daughter of Thomas and Martha (Wilbourn) Baldridge. Tom
and Mary Elizabeth lived in Johnson County where they reared six children. She
died there in 1913, and Tom died there on March 10, 1932. Their children were:
William, Daniel, Martha, Richard, John, and Venia.

See the SPARKS QUARTERLY, December 1961, Whole No. 36, p. 608, for the1850 census of Yancey County, North Carolina, for the followingenumeration:
(p. 426}
598-631
Sparks, Thomas M. 45 North Carolina Farmer $1200
Jeremiah T. 7 " "
Joseph M. 5 " "
Matthew L. 3 " "
Mary A. 40 " "
Cyntha A. 15 " "
Nancy M. 13 " "
Sarah A. E. 9 " "
Mary E. 1 " "

!DEATH:
UNION COUNTY, KENTUCKY DEATH RECORDS, 1911-1950, FHL976.9885 V38h , pg4:
"Sparks, Thomas M. (b) Sept. 14, 1870-(d) Oct. 16, 1912- F.M.- Mary Alice
Thomas-Catholic."

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

(The article begins with information concerining the parents of ThomasMarshall Sparks, adds information about his brother, John ThompsonSparks, and continues as follows:)

Another son of Joseph and Isabella (Ellis) Sparks was Thomas MarshallSparks whose picture appeared on the cover of the September 1971issue of the QUARTERLY with his two brothers. He is also buried in theBlack Oak Cemetery in Scotland County. According to his tombstone, hewas born July 22, 1847, and died January 17, 1912.

His wife's stone gives her name as Elizabeth J. Sparks, born December2, 1848, died March 22, 1912. Buried near them is an infant daughter,Sarah Sparks, who died September 2, 1877. The marriage record inScotland County of Thomas Sparks and Lizzie Searight, February 25,1875 was probably that of this couple.

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

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, March, 1973, Whole No. 81, p. 1547:

A FURTHER NOTE ON THOMAS MARSHALL SPARKS, 1847-1912

On page 1487 of the June 1972 issue of the QUARTERLY, Vol. XX, No. 2,Whole No. 78, we published some biographical data on Thomas MarshallSparks, son of Joseph and Isabella (Ellis) Sparks, who was born inLewis County, Kentucky, and died in Scotland County, Missouri, OurPresident, Dr. Paul E. Sparks, recently found a genealogical workcalled the Searight Family by William Seawright published in 1893, andon page 72 of this work the wife of Thomas Marshall is identified asElizabeth J. Searight, daughter of William and Mary (Knox) Searight;she was born December 2, 1848, and died March 22, 1912. They had onechild, Mary Isabella Sparks, born November 10, 1881.

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

See the following article found in THE SPARKS QUARTERLY for March,1977, Whole No. 97, pp. 1879-80:[Note: The first portion of thisarticle is found in the notes for Amanda's father Joseph.]

"Mr. Steeples has also provided us with a copy of the obituary ofThomas Marshall Sparks, son of Joseph and Isabella (Ellis) Sparks.This supplements the information given on page 1487 of the QUARTERLY(June 1972, Vol. XX, No. 2, Whole No. 78):

"Thomas Marshall Sparks, youngest son of Joseph and Isabel EllisSparks, was born in Lewis County, Kentucky, July 22, 1847 and died atthis home in Granger, Mo. Jan. 17, 1912. The parents of the deceasedmoved from Ky. to Scotland Co., Mo. when the deceased was a small boyand settled 2 1/2 miles north of where Granger is now located, wherehe has resided.

"On Feb. 25, 1875, he was married to Elizabeth Searight. He leaves tomourn his death his beloved wife, one daughter Mrs. Vic Davis, 3grandchildren, one having died in infancy. He also leaves two sisters,Mrs. T. W. Thomas and Mrs. L. J. McClellan, both of Phillips County,Kansas, and many others who reside in Missouri, Kansas & Kentucky.

"T.M. Sparks was an honored member of the I.O.O.F., an institutionwhich he loved very much. While he did not attend the regular, heloved its Principles and especially that one where the open hand ofan odd fellow is always extended to a brother. His life was like thatof Jo Patha to David, when a man was down and needing help, he wasthere to assist him, thus exemplifying the character of a goodSamaritan.

"Funeral Services were held from the residence, Jan. 20 at 1 P.M. inthe presence of a large crowd. J.H. Lane had charge of the service atthe house. The I.O.O.F. took charge of the body and tenderly laid itto rest in the Black Oak Cemetery using their impressive ritualisticburial service for the occations."

(from the Memphis Democrat)

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

The following information was provided by James J. Sparks, brother ofThomas V. Sparks:

Thomas Virgil Sparks was born on January 31, 1930, in CommunityHospital, Long Beach, California. He attended St. Matthew'sElementary School, Jefferson Junior High School, and Woodrow WilsonHigh School, all in Long Beach. He graduated from Wilson in 1948.He was an outstanding athelete and received atheletic letters infootball, baseball and track. He was all-league in baseball andall-city in football where he played fullback on the varsity team at aweight of 145 pounds. Wilson was a large high school havingapproximately 1500 students in attendance.

Several months after graduation, Tom enlisted in the United StatesArmy for a tour of two years duty. He received his basic training atFort Ord, California, near Monterey. He was assigned to the InspectorGeneral's Department and sent to Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, where heremained during his entire tour of duty. When the Korean War brokeout in June, 1950, his tour of duty was extended for one year and hewas discharged in the summer of 1951 at Fort Bliss.

He returned to school to obtain an undergraduate degree. He joinedhis brother Jim at UCLA where he majored in business administrationwith a minor in education. He graduated in 1954 with a bachelor' sdegree in business and he obtained a secondary credential in educationwhich qualified him to teach high school. On September 5, 1955 hemarried Ann Brunskill whom he had met at UCLA where she was alsomajoring in education. She had been born in Fullerton, California, onJune 24, 1935, and was the daughter of Donovan V. Brunskill andElizabeth (Schweinfest) Brunskill. Following their graduation, Tomwas employed as a teacher at La Habra High School in La Habra,California, and they purchased a home nearby.

Tom took postgraduate courses at UCLA in Business Administration andEconomics. He left teaching and became employed in the bankingprofession. After working for a time at Wells Fargo Bank and at theTransamerica Company, he was employed by First Interstate Bank wherehe was to spend the remainder of his career. He was extremelysuccessful and became a Regional Commercial Loan Administrator andSenior Vice President prior to his resignation in about 1985.

Tom died of cancer on May 31, 1999, and was buried in the Veteran'sCemetery at Hemet, California. Ann continues to teach in theFullerton School District. His Social Security number was 558-34-4731. His last residence was 92545 Hemet, Riverside, CA

U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca.1775-2006 U.S. Veterans Gravesites,ca.1775-2006
Name: Thomas Virgil Sparks
Service Info.: CPL US ARMY KOREA
Birth Date: 31 Jan 1930
Death Date: 31 May 1999
Service Start Date: 15 Jun 1949
Interment Date: 3 Jun 1999
Cemetery: Riverside National Cemetery
Cemetery Address: 22495 Van Buren Boulevard Riverside, CA 92518
Buried At: Section 50 Site 5761

Source Information:

National Cemetery Administration. U.S. Veterans Gravesites,ca.1775-2006 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.comOperations Inc, 2006.
Original data: National Cemetery Administration. Nationwide GravesiteLocator

Thomas Zachary Sparks was born at Long Beach Memorial Hospital onThursday, November 17, 1994. He was baptised at St. Charles CatholicChurch on Sunday, July 7, 1996.

SPARKS QUARTERLY, September, 1989, pps 3466-68:

"Tillman Sparks, son of Willoughby and Polly Sparks, was born on July24, 1837, at Ouachita Cove in Hot Springs County, Arkansas. He accompanied his parents on their frequent moves in Arkansas andTennessee and had attained manhood when they finaly settled in Texas.It w as there, in Falls County, that he was married to Elcy Pevehouson May 13, 1861, just one month after the start of the Civil War atFort Sumpter, South Carolina.
"Elcy (her name was also spelled Alcey, Alcy, Eliza, and Elsie) wa sborn on October 16, 1845, in Fort Bend County, Texas, and she was adaughter of Abraham and Mary (Hodge) Pevehous (or Peaveyhouse).Descendants remember her as a very beautiful, red-haired woman. Hermother, Mary Hodge, was a descendant of Alexander Hodge, aRevolutionary War soldier who had served in the South Carolina militiaunder Francis Marion, the "Swamp Fox." The family of Alexander Hodgewas one of the original 300 families in Stephen Austin's Colony whichsettled Texas in 1825. (A photograph of Elcy and Tillman appears onpage 3467 of the Sparks Quarterly.)
"Shortly after his marriage, Tillman Sparks enlisted in Company B ,Waller's Regiment, Green's Brigade of Texas Cavalry, ConfederateStates Army, along with his brother, Bailey Sparks. Tillman wascaptured on June 30, 1864, in Concordia Parish, Louisiana, whiledefending a bridge so that his fellow soldiers could cross. He waslisted on the prisoner-of-war roster at Ship Island, Mississippi,until November 5, 1864, when he was sent to the Elmira, New York,Prison Camp. He was received there on November 19, 1864. Hisdescription on the POW roster stated that he was 5 feet, 10 inchestall, and that he had a dark complexion, light hair, and blue eyes...
"Years later, Tillman told his son, Jim, about the Elmira Prison . Itwas located on a river which was iced over during the winter of1864-65. The buildings were old barracks that were too small to housethe 10,000 prisoners, and many of the prisoners were forced to live intents. In addition to the severe cold, the food was scant and poorlyprepared, and their clothing was unfit for the climate. The deathrate was high -- nearly five percent each month.
"Somehow, Tillman Sparks managed to survive, and at the end of the warhe returned to Texas. He walked barefoot most of the way home, hisshoes were worn out. Sometimes he was able to catch a ride. It tookhim several months to rejoin his wife and two children.
"For a time after his return, Tillman lived in Johnson County, butwhen the 1880 census was taken, he was in Eastland County. Soonthereafter, he moved to Parker County. When he applied for aConfederate pension from the state of Texas in 1909, he stated that hehad lived in Parker County for thirty years. He died there in thevillage of Buckner on October 23, 1812, and was buried in the HillsCemetery.
"After her husband's death, Elcy Sparks applied for a Widow's Pensionfrom the state of Texas. In 1913, she moved to Henderson County to bewith her daughter, Necie Bell (Sparks) Mayhew. She died there onSeptember 27, 1919, from a fall. She was buried in the Tool Cemetery. A sandstone marker reads: "Mrs. T. Sparks." Although Tillman andElcie had twelve children, only six of them lived to reach maturity."

SQ p. 817: Marriage record of Tillman and Susan E. (Murray) Sparkson May 6, 1874.

SQ pg 3943:
"Tillman Sparks, son of Elisha and Susanna (Pridemore) Sparks, wa sborn on March 27, 1850, in Johnson County, Kentucky. He was marriedtwice. His first marriage was to Susan E. Murray on May 6, 1874, inJohnson County at the home of Sam Murray (her father). She had beenborn on January 18, 1853, in Johnson County and was a daughter ofSamuel and Sarah Jane (Stambaugh) Murray. Tillman and Susie (as she was called) lived on that part of Hood Creek which is in LawrenceCounty. There, they had nine children.
Sometime between 1900 and 1910, Tillman and Susie moved to GreenupCounty, Kentucky, where Susie died on February 27, 1914. Tillman wasmarried (2nd) to Mrs. Mary "Polly" Carpenter about 1918, and they hadone child, a daughter. Tillman died on June 9, 1929, in Ashland,Kentucky."

SQ pg 3944: They had four children: William, Raymond, Rosie, andCharles Sparks.

SQ pg 3470: They lived in Breckenridge, Texas. They had six children: Willie Mae, Roy M., Alfred, Ruby, Geraldine, and Oscar.

SQ 1088:
Timothy Sparks, son of Jonas and Mary (Brown) Sparks, was born about1828;
he died in Smyth County, Va. He married Jane Lyon (or Lyons); theywere the
parents of the following children:
(1) Joshua Sparks, married Sarah Marinda Jolly;
(2) Austin Sparks;
(3) Mary Jane Sparks;
(4) Nancy Catherine Sparks;
(5) Cynthia Sparks;
(6) Susan Sparks;
(7) Shadrick Sparks, born about 1869;
(8) Sarah Sparks.

SQ 3272:

"Timothy Sparks, son of Jonas and Mary (Brown) Sparks, was born inJanuary 1823 in Wilkes County, North Carolina. He married Jane Lyon,probably about 1845. She was born in January 1826 and was a daughterof Solomon Lyon. Timothy and Jane were listed on the 1860 census ofWilkes County, but by 1870 they were in Tazewell County, Virginia,where they were listed on the census of that year. Timothy died inSmyth County, Virginia, in 1907. Jane died there in 1919. They hadeight children."

SMYTH COUNTY VIRGINIA CEMETERYS, VOL. II (1994):
"The Sparks Cemetery is in Rich Valley, east of Black Hill. It can beseen from the intersection where Rt. 16 and Rt. .42 divide. Thecemetery is located between the two roads and are about 1/4 mile eastof the intersection on a small hill.
"The cemetery is fenced near an abandoned house. Rocks inside andoutside the fence indicate other graves are here." Informationcollected on February 5, 1993 reveals the following markers:
SPARKS, Timothy b. 1820 d. 1904
SPARKS, JANE b. 1823 d. 1919
nee LYONS wife of Timothy Sparks."

.

!NOTES:
SQ 3272: "Timothy Shadrach Sparks was born in April 1870. He married
and had at least two children according to census records of Tazewell
County.
(1) Ary L. (or Ida J.) Sparks was born in November 1893
(2) Glenn E. Sparks was born in June 1896."

SQ pg 2649: Tinsy Paralee Sparks, daughter of William and Hanna (Weeks) Sparks, was born on September 16, 1854, at Cypress, Texas. Shedied on June 1, 1929, at Norman, Oklahoma. She married (1st) Samuel C. Forsythe on May 29, 1872, in Cooke County, Texas. Shortlythereafter, Samuel died. There were no children born to thismarriage.

On January 6 1876, Tinsy married (2nd) Charles Morgan McClain, awidower with a 10-year-old daughter, Mary Belle. Charles had servedin the Confederate States Army and had been married (1st) to MaryCatherine McMurray in Carthage, Tennessee. She had died on September4, 1866 . Charles served as a member of the State ConstitutionalConvention to establish the state of Oklahoma, and McClain County ofthat state was named for him. He and Tinsey had five children.

Troy died in the great influenza epidemic of 1918 according to hisniece, Laurel Vivian Sparks who send an email (ednasporch@yahoo.com)in June, 2005 with information on her grandfather James MeredithSparks and his descendants.

.
!NOTES:
SQ pg 3697: He (Roscoe) was a farmer, but also did carpenter work .He and Trudy were Baptists. Their children were: Raymond, Cecelia ,Randall, Franklin, and Jay.