January 27, 2022
Pages 1415-1418
Whole Number 75
Photograph
EPHRAM ELLIS SPARKS (1835-1901)
with his brothers
JOHN THOMAS SPARKS (born 1839)
THOMAS MARSHALL SPARKS (born ca. 1847)
ADDITIONAL NOTES on
1.2.5.10.2.1 CALEB SPARKS
of LEWIS COUNTY, KENTUCKY,
and his Descendants
In the Quarterly for September 1970, Whole No. 71, we published an article on Caleb Sparks of Lewis County, Kentucky, and his descendants. 1.2.5.10.2.1 Caleb Sparks was born ca. 1785 (actually: December 3, 1786) and died ca. 1835 in Lewis County, Kentucky. He married Rebecca Wilson, daughter of Ephraim Wilson, on October 19, 1805, in Bourbon County, Kentucky. One of the sons of Caleb and Rebecca (Wilson) Sparks was 1.2.5.10.2.1.4 Joseph Sparks, born March 10, 1813, Since publishing the above article, we have received additional information on this branch of the family from Mrs. Joseph V. Collins of Arvada, Colorado, a great-granddaughter of Joseph Sparks, and from Mrs. Doris L. Miller of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, a great-great-granddaughter of Joseph Sparks.
Mrs. Collins has provided us with the exact date of birth of Joseph Sparks - - whereas on page 1342 we were able only to speculate that he had been born in 1813, we now know that he was born March 10, 1813. According to Mrs. Collins' records, Joseph Sparks was born in Highland County, Ohio. Highland County, Ohio, and Lewis County, Kentucky, are quite near each other, Adams County, Ohio, separating them. 1.2.5.10.2.1.4 Joseph Sparks married Isabella Ellis in Lewis County, Kentucky, on August 16, 1834. (According to the marriage license, the guardian of Isabella Ellis was Joseph Sparks; this elder Joseph Sparks was probably the one whose sketch appears on page 1315 of the June 1970 issue of the Quarterly.) Joseph and Isabella Sparks were living in Lewis County, Kentucky, when the 1850 census was taken. When we prepared the sketch on their family for the September 1970 issue (p. 1342), this 1850 census record was the last reference we had been able to find to Joseph and Isabella Sparks. From Mrs. Collins and Mrs. Miller we have learned, however, that tney moved to Scotland County, Missouri, where they were listed on the 1860 census. Joseph and Isabella (Ellis) Sparks were the parents of the following children:
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.1 Ephraim Ellis Sparks, born May 6, 1835, died January 6, 1901.
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.2 John Thomson Sparks, born ca. 1839.
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.3 Rebecca June Sparks, born ca. 1841; married FNU Miller.
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.4 Mary Elizabeth Sparks, born ca. 1843.
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.5 Aminta Sophia Sparks, born ca. 1845; married FNU McClellan.
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.6 Thomas Marshall Sparks, born ca. 1847.
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.7 Jemima Sparks, born ca. 1849.
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.8 Mahala Catherine Sparks, born ca. 1852.
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.9 Amanda America Sparks, born ca. 1854.
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.10 Sarah Isabel Sparks,
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.11 Infant daughter, died.
A photograph of the three sons of Joseph and Isabella (Ellis) Sparks appears on the cover of this issue of the Quarterly.
Mrs. Collins reports that Joseph Sparks, his wife, and some of their children, are buried in old Black Oak Cemetery north of Granger, Missouri.
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.1 Ephraim Ellis Sparks, oldest son of Joseph and Isabella (Ellis) Sparks, was born in Lewis County, Kentucky, on May 6, 1835, He came with his parents to Scotland County, Missouri, between 1850 and 1860. On February 16, 1860, he married Rebecca Frances Smith, by the Rev. T. D. Boyle; the ceremony was held near Keokuk, in Lee County, Iowa, She was born January 22, 1838, They settled 5½ miles north of Arbela in Scotland County, Missouri. The Civil War began shortly after they were married and Ephraim Ellis Sparks served first in the militia and on August 8, 1864, he enlisted in Co. 1, 39th Regiment of the Missouri Volunteer Infantry in which unit he was promoted to 1st Sergeant. He was discharged in St. Louis on March 75, 1865. He was described at the time of his enlistment as 29 years of age, a farmer by occupation, with blue eyes, dark hair, a fair complexion, and 5 feet 8 inches tall. In 1895 he applied for and received a pension for this service.
Following the Civil War, Ephraim Ellis Sparks was elected a representative from Scotland County to the Missouri Legislature and at a later date was Judge of the County Court of Scotland County. In 1888 he traded 320 acres of his home place in Scotland County for 640 acres in Rush County, Kansas, near the little town of Bison. This trade was with a man named Peter Nelson.
Ephraim Ellis Sparks died on January 4, 1901, and his wife Rebecca died on April 11, 1920, Both are buried in the Lone Star Cemetery west of Bison, Kansas. All of their children except Jennie are also buried there, The children of Ephraim E. and Rebecca F. (Smith) Sparks were:
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.1.1 Annie Isabel Sparks was born February 5, 1861. She married George L. Timken and they had three children:
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.1.1.1 Mabel Timken married Harry A. Schleifer
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.1.1.2 Leslie Timken married Frances Cain
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.1.1.3 William Timken married Clara MNU.1.2.5.10.2.1.4.1.2 Jennie Catherine Sparks was born April 3, 1865, and died December, 9, 1916, at Excelsior Springs, Missouri. She married April 18, 1888, at Azen, MO, David Lupton (born July 7, 1854, died October 16, 1947, from Iowa. They had children:
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.1.2.1 Joseph Sparks Lupton, born July 3, 1889
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.1.2.2 Ellis Lupton
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.1.2.3 Frances Lupton1.2.5.10.2.1.4.1.3 Joseph Sparks was born April 1, 1870, He married Anna Ficken and had two children:,
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.1.3.1 Annie Laura
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.1.3.2 Ellis Sparks.1.2.5.10.2.1.4.1.4 Susan Rebecca Sparks was born January 6, 1872. She married Herman Timken and had children named:
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.1.4.1 Walter J. Timken
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.1.4.2 Mae A. Timken
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.1.4.3 Evelyn A. Timken
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.1.4.4 Joseph E. Timken.Another son of Caleb and Rebecca (Wilson) Sparks was 1.2.5.10.2.1.5 Ephraim Sparks, born ca. 1815. He married Sallie A. Reiley in Lewis County, Kentucky, on August 6, 1837. Ephram's father-in-law, Samuel J. Reiley, was his security for a marriage License and also gave his consent for his daughter, Sallie (or Sarah), she being under 21 years of age. When we listed Ephraim Sparks as a son of Caleb and Rebecca (Wilson) Sparks in the Quarterly of September 1970 (p. 1342) we had no record of him following his marriage. We have since learned that he, like his brother Joseph, went from Kentucky to Scotland County, Missouri, where he was listed with his family on the 1860 census, living very near the family of his brother, Joseph. Their post office was Memphis, Missouri, in Johnson Township. The census was taken on August 2, and the family was listed as follows: (The age given for his wife Sarah (or Sallie) A. Sparks is obviously an error - - she must have been nearly 40 years old in 1860 rather than 30.)
Sparks 1.2.5.10.2.1.5.1 Ephriam E. Sparks 40 Kentucky Farmer $500 " Sarah A. Sparks 30 " " 1.2.5.10.2.1.5.1 Caleb Sparks 20 " Farm laborer " 1.2.5.10.2.1.5.2 James Sparks 18 " " " " 1.2.5.10.2.1.5.3 Christina Sparks 17 " Domestic " 1.2.5.10.2.1.5.4 Rebecca Sparks 15 " " " 1.2.5.10.2.1.5.5 Susannah Sparks 13 " " 1.2.5.10.2.1.5.6 E. W. (male) Sparks 10 " " 1.2.5.10.2.1.5.7 Nancy J. Sparks 7 " " 1.2.5.10.2.1.5.8 Joseph Sparks 2 "
Pages 1486-1487
Whole Number 78FURTHER NOTES ON DESCENDANTS OF
1.2.5.10.2.1.4 JOSEPH AND ISABELLA (ELLIS) SPARKS
In the Quarterly of September 1971 (Whole No, 75, pp. 1416-1418) we published a list of the children of 1.2.5.10.2.1.4 Joseph and Isabella (Ellis) Sparks who moved from Lewis County, Kentucky, to Scotland County, Missouri, between 1850 and 1860, Joseph Sparks was born March 10, 1813, a son of Caleb and Rebecca (Wilson) Sparks. He and Isabella Ellis were married in Lewis County, Kentucky, on August 18, 1834. Since preparing that record, we have learned that tombstones for Joseph and Isabella are to be found in the Black Oak Cemetery, near Memphis, Missouri, in Scotland County. Joseph Sparks died, according to his stone, in December 1875, at the age of 62 years, 8 months and 20 days, while his wife, Isabella Sparks, died on March 25, 1886, at the age of 70 years, 7 months, and 5 days.
In the same article, we listed 1.2.5.10.2.1.4.2 John Thomson Sparks as a son of Joseph and Isabella (Ellis) Sparks, and his picture appeared on the cover of the September 1971 issue with his brothers 1.2.5.10.2.1.4.1 Ephraim E. Sparks and 1.2.5.10.2.1.4.6 Thomas Marshall Sparks. Like his parents, John Thomson Sparks is buried in Black Oak Cemetery near Memphis, Missouri, His tombstone gives his birth date as September 6, 1839; he died on February 20, 1905. He married Chloe A. Calhoun on December 22, 1865. She was born, according to her tombstone beside her husband's, on May 3, 1845, and died on June 15, 1902. A correspondent whose father kept a scrapbook of obituaries from Scotland County newspapers, has copied the following obituary of John Thomson Sparks for us:
"Another one of Scotland County's best citizens passed away at his home just west of Granger, February 20, 1905. John T, Sparks was born in Lewis County, Kentucky, September 6, 1839, moved to Missouri in October 1853, where he resided until his death. He was united in marriage to Chloe A, Calhoun December 22, 1865. Two children were born to them, Bertie and Lutie, who were with him in his last hours. He leaves besides two children to mourn his death two grandchildren, one brother and four sisters and a host of relatives and friends. He was a good man, honored, loved and respected by all who knew him. In 1899, in October, he had a stroke of paralysis from which he never recovered. For years he has been an earnest Christian and a devoted member of the Christian Church.
Another son of 1.2.5.10.2.1.4 Joseph and Isabella (Ellis) Sparks was 1.2.5.10.2.1.4.6 Thomas Marshall Sparks whose picture appeared on the cover of the September 1971 issue of the Quarterly with his two brothers. He is also buried in the Black Oak Cemetery in Scotland County. According to his tombstone, he was born July 22, 1847, and died January 17, 1912.
His wife 's stone gives her name as Elizabeth J. Sparks, born December 2, 1848, died March 22, 1912. Buried near them is an infant daughter, Sarah Sparks, who died September 2, 1877. The marriage record in Scotland County of "Thomas Sparks and Lizzie Searight, February 25, 1875 was probably that of this couple.
A correspondent has also reported that in Ripley County, Indiana, there is a record in the courthouse of a Sarah Sparks who was born in Scotland County, Missouri, on March 31, 1856, and died on April 23, 1902. She married Alfred Harris on May 21, 1877 (he died April 25, 1899), It seems probable that this 1.2.5.10.2.1.4.10 Sarah Sparks was a daughter of Joseph and Isabella (Ellis) Sparks; on page 1417 of the QUARTERLY we listed a daughter named Sarah Isabel Sparks with date of birth unknown.
Page 1877-1880
Whole Number 97AMANDA AMERICA (SPARKS) STEEPLES
1854-1894
DAUGHTER OF JOSEPH AND ISABELLA (ELLIS) SPARKS
With her husband
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN STEEPLES
and their sons ARTHUR and MARION
Picture taken ca. 1889
(View Photograph)
FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING FAMILY OF
1.2.5.10.2.1.4 JOSEPH AND ISABELLA (ELLIS) SPARKS
In the Quarterly of September 1971, Whole No. 75, pp. 1415-1418) we published a list of the children of 1.2.5.10.2.1.4 Joseph and Isabella (Ellis) Sparks who moved from Lewis County, Kentucky, to Scotland County, Missouri, between 1850 and 1860. In an earlier issue, September 1970, Whole No. 71, pp. 1336-1342 we published an article on Caleb Sparks (born ca. 1785, died ca. 1835), father of Joseph Sparks. In a subsequent issue (the June 1972, Whole No. 78, pp. 1486-1487), we published further information on some of the children of Joseph and Isabella (Ellis) Sparks. We are now able to provide additional data on still another child of Joseph and Isabella, their daughter, Amanda Sparks. These data have been provided by descendants, Charles W. Steeples and Jean Steeples Mowrer. Mr. Steeples has also provided us with a copy of the will of Joseph Sparks.
Joseph Sparks was born March 10, 1813, a son of 1.2.5.10.2.1 Caleb and Rebecca (Wilson) Sparks. Joseph died in Scotland County, Missouri, in December, 1875. He wrote his will on September 22, 1871, which was witnessed by Joseph A. Gill and Richard Lewis. He bequeathed to his wife, Isabel Sparks, a portion of his land (about one-half section) which was to be sold following her death and divided among his children. He also left her all of his "household and kitchen furniture, and one pair of work horses to be chosen by her on the place; harness for the same, two milch cows, and enough grain & hay for one year's feed and provision; enough hogs for her support [several words blurred] one corn plow, one stubble plow, one harrow, also all the poultry that may be on the farm at my death, also my family Bible and such other books as she may choose." He directed that the rest of his land (about 230 acres) be sold and the proceeds divided among his children:
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.1 Ephraim Ellis Sparks, born May 6, 1835, died January 6, 1901.
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.2 John Thomson Sparks, born ca. 1839.
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.3 Rebecca June Sparks, born ca. 1841; married FNU Miller.
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.4 Mary Elizabeth Sparks, born ca. 1843.
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.5 Aminta Sophia Sparks, born ca. 1845; married FNU McClellan.
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.6 Thomas Marshall Sparks, born ca. 1847.
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.7 Jemima Sparks, born ca. 1849.
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.8 Mahala Catherine Sparks, born ca. 1852.
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.9 Amanda America Sparks, born February 24, 1854.
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.10 Sarah Isabel Sparks
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.11 Infant daughter, died.Each of his eight children was to receive one-eighth part, except that John Sparks was to receive $260 less than the rest and Mary E. Thomas was to receive $100 less than the rest. Later in his will, Joseph Sparks directed that two of his sons, Ephraim E. Sparks and Thomas M. Sparks, serve as the executors of his estate and that, instead of giving his daughter, Jemima Johnson, her share that they use $570 to purchase a tract of land to be deeded to her "for her sole use during her life and then to revert to her heirs." This will was probated on December 22, 1875.
When we listed 1.2.5.10.2.1.4.9 Amanda Sparks as the ninth child of Joseph and Isabella (Ellis) Sparks on page 1417 of the Quarterly, we could only speculate regarding her birth date. From family records provided by Mr. Steeples and Mrs. Mowrer, we are now able to state that she was born February 24, 1854, in Scotland County, Missouri, and died there on December 4, 1894. Furthermore, her full name was Amanda America Sparks. She was buried in the Black Oak Cemetery in Johnson Township, Scotland County. On October 12, 1876, she was married in Scotland County to Benjamin Franklin Steeples. He was born January 20, 1852, in Clark County, Illinois, the son of Henry and Malinda (Bishop) Steeples. His mother died when he was five years old and when he was eleven his father died as a soldier in the Union Army (January 10, 1863). He was reared in the home of Judge John Thomson. Benjamin Steeples, following the death of Amanda, married, as his second wife, Hallie Jones in 1896. He died on May 17, 1919, and was also buried in Black Oak Cemetery. Benjamin F. and Amanda A. (Sparks) Steeples had three children:
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.9.1 Arthur Steeples, born October 11, 1879, died February 12, 1920. He married Florence C. Hummel on April 16, 1904; she was born April 10, 1881, and died October 5, 1946. Their children were:
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.9.1.1 Mary Amanda Steeples, born September 17, 1908.
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.9.1.2 Robert Hummel Steeples, born November 23, 1912; died November 13, 1975.
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.9.1.3 Elizabeth Jean Steeples, born March 26, 1915.
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.9.1.4 James Benjamin Steeples, born March 14, 1917.
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.9.1.5 Florence Christine Steeples, born November 21, 1818.1.2.5.10.2.1.4.9.2 Marion Steeples, born 1881, died 1944. He married Viola Curry of Granger, Missouri; she was born January 28, 1885, and died August 23, 1958. They had children named:
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.9.2.1 Lavance Steeples, born January 21, 1910, died November 19, 1951.
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.9.2.2 Laverne Steeples, twin of Lavance, born January 21, 1910, died in 1913.
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.9.2.3 Verona Steeples, born May 31, 1915, died June 23, 1974.1.2.5.10.2.1.4.9.3 Wilmer Steeples, born August 20, 1891, died October 28, 1946. He married Marie Hulda Choulett on September 13, 1913. She was born June 11, 1892, and died June 29, 1938. Both are buried in Sedalia, Missouri. Following the death of his wife, Wilmer Steeples married (second) Mrs. Maude Small. The children of Wilmer and Marie Hulda (Choulett) Steeples were:
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.9.3.1 Clara Amanda Steeples, born October 28, 1914.
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.9.3.2 Charles Wilmer Steeples, born April 23, 1916.
1.2.5.10.2.1.4.9.3.3 Benjamin Franklin Steeples, born August 20, 1922.Mr. Steeples has also provided us with a copy of the obituary of 1.2.5.10.2.1.4.6 Thomas Marshall Sparks, son of Joseph and Isabella (Ellis) Sparks. This supplements the information given on page 1487 of the Quarterly, June 1972, Whole No. 78:
"Thomas Marshall Sparks, youngest son of Joseph and Isabel Ellis Sparks, was born in Lewis County, Kentucky, July 22, 1847 and died at this home in Granger, Missouri. January 17, 1912. The parents of the deceased moved from KY. to Scotland Co., Missouri. when the deceased was a small boy and settled 2½ miles north of where Granger is now located, where he has resided.
"On February 25, 1875, he married Elizabeth Searight. He leaves to mourn his death his beloved wife, one daughter Mrs. Vic Davis, 3 grandchildren, 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 institution which he loved very much. While he did not attend the regular, he loved its Principles and especially that one where the open hand of an odd fellow is always extended to a brother. His life was like that of Jo Patha to David, when a man was down and needing help, he was there to assist him, thus exemplifying the character of a good Samaritan.
"Funeral Services were held from the residence, January 20 at 1 P.M. in the presence of a large crowd. J.H. Lane had charge of the service at the house. The I.O.O.F. took charge of the body and tenderly laid it to rest in the Black Oak Cemetery using their impressive ritualistic burial service for the occations."
(from the Memphis Democrat)
Pages 2240-2241
Whole Number 111FURTHER NOTES ON
1.2.5.10.2.1 CALEB SPARKS
OF LEWIS AND NICHOLAS COUNTIES, KENTUCKYby Paul E. Sparks
(Editor's Note: In the September 1970 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 71) pp. 1336-42, we published an article about 1.2.5.10.2.1 Caleb Sparks of Lewis and Nicholas Counties, Kentucky. Further data have been uncovered in Fleming County, Kentucky, about Caleb Sparks which will undoubtedly interest descendants of this man. Fleming County adjoins both Lewis and Nicholas Counties.)
On the 10th day of February 1800, the County Court Clerk of Fleming County was instructed to care for the well-being of two sons of 1.2.5.10.2 William Sparks who had died. The sons were 1.2.5.10.2.1 Caleb Sparks and 1.2.5.10.2.2 Joseph Sparks. The court order, recorded in Court Book B, was as follows:
Ordered that the clerk of the court bind Caleb Sparkes and Joseph Sparkes, infant heirs of William Sparkes, deceased, to William McCormick to learn the art and mistery of Tanning and Currying; whereupon an indenture binding the said Caleb and Joseph to the said William McCormick was produced in court, acknowledgeed by Joshua Stockton, clerk, as aforesaid and the said William McCormick and ordered to be recorded.
The court order was signed by Richard Tilton, Commissioner.
The indentures were recorded on the same day as the court order and can be found in Deed Book A, page 324 and page 325. The indenture for Caleb Sparks was recorded on page 324 and is identical to the indenture for Joseph Sparks which was recorded on page 325 with the single exception that the term of Joseph's apprenticeship was for twelve years from the first day of March 1800. Here is the indenture copied exactly as it appears in the deed book.
This indenture made the tenth day of February Eighteen Hundred between Richard Tilton, Bryan Rout and John Mart, Gentlemen, Justices of the County Court of fleming of the one part and William McCormick of the other part wittnesseth that the said Justices by Virtue of the Power given them by law have placed and Bound out and by these presents do place and bind out Kalip Sparks an infant orphan of William Sparks, Deceased unto said McCormick for full term of seven years from the third of next December ensueing the date heir of to be taught and instructed in the Business of Taning and Currying and the said Apprentice to Dwell Continue and serve the said Master from the date hereof until Seven Years from the third day of next December During all which time the said Apprentice his said Master Well and faithfully shall serve his Secrets keep and all his Lawful Commands everywhere ready obey he shall not do or suffer to be done by others hurt to his said Master but in all things behave himself well as a faithful Apprentice ought to during the aforesaid term of service and the said William McCormick is to Learn or cause him to be taught the said Apprentice the art or Mistery of the Tanning and Currying Business and to procure and provide the said Apprentice Meat drink washing lodging and Wearing Aperal during the term of his Apprenticeship and also to learn the said Apprentice to Read Write and Cipher to the Rule of Three in said Term and At the Expiration of said Term of service to Pay said Apprentice fifty Dollars Worth of Clothing Likewise a Horse and Saddle worth twenty five pounds or other proper to that amount in witness whereof said William McCormick hath hereby Set his hand and seal the Day and Year first above written. Execute in the presence of:
/s/ William McCormick
AAt a Court begun and held for Fleming County on the 10th Day of February 1800, This indenture binding Caleb Sparks to William McCormick was produced in Court and acknowledged by said McCormick and ordered to be recorded.
/s/ Joshua Stockton C.F.C.
An indenture for a minor orphan was not uncommon in early America. The custom was for the court (or a judge) to apprentice the orphan to a citizen of the community who would teach him a trade. In turn, the apprentice would perform tasks for the master. Generally, the apprentice became, to all intents and purposes, a member of the household. The term of the apprenticeship usually lasted until the apprentice's twenty-first birthday, or until the master agreed to shorten the term.
According to the indenture of 1.2.5.10.2.1 Caleb Sparks, his seven-year term of service was to end on December 3, 1807; thus he was born twenty-one years earlier, or on December 3, 1786. His brother, Joseph Sparks, was to serve a twelve-year apprenticeship which was to end on March 1, 1812; thus he was born March 1, 1791.
Both boys (Caleb had just passed his thirteenth birthday; Joseph was soon to be nine) were to be taught to tan hides. A part of the process was known as "currying" which involved dressing the tanned hide by soaking, scraping, beating and coloring. In addition, they were to be taught to read, write, and cipher to the Rule of Three. The latter term was used in those days to denote a method of finding a fourth term of a proportion when the other three terms were known.
1.2.5.10.2 William Sparks, father of Caleb and Joseph, was probably the 1.2.5.10.2 William Sparks, Jr. who was in Bourbon County, Kentucky, in 1786 where he signed a petition asking the Virginia legislature to create a new county. William Sparks, Sr. also signed the petition. William Sparks, Jr. paid taxes in Bourbon County from 1787 to 1797. He probably went with Nicholas County when it was created in 1799.
We have no data concerning 1.2.5.10.2.2 Joseph Sparks, brother of Caleb.
In the June 1970 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 70 pp. 1315-18 we published an article about a 1.2.5.10.11 Joseph Sparks of Lewis County, Kentucky. That Joseph Sparks, however, was born ca. 1777 and married in 1797 in Bourbon County, Kentucky to Anne Wilson.
A Joseph Sparks also served as a soldier in the War of 1812 from August 15 to October 14, 1812. He was from Bourbon County, Kentucky.
Pages 2679-2682
Whole Number 128FAMILY OF 1.2.5.10.11.1 JAMES SPARKS
(ca. 1798-1856)
OF LEWIS COUNTY, KENTUCKY, PUTNAM COUNTY, INDIANA
AND CLAYTON COUNTY, IOWA
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
On pages 1315-1318 of the June 1970 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 70, an article was published about the descendants of 1.2.5.10.11 Joseph Sparks (ca. 1777-1838) of Lewis County, Kentucky. Since the publication of that article, we have received additional information about a son of Joseph Sparks. The son was 1.2.5.10.11.1 James Albert Sparks (ca. 1798-1856) who married Nancy Elizabeth Gilman on March 3, 1820; they were married in Adams County, Ohio, right across the Ohio River from Lewis County, Kentucky. She was a daughter of Henry Gilman. This couple continued to live in Lewis County until ca. 1838 when they moved to Putnam County, Indiana, where they settled at Cloverdale. They stayed there only a few years and then moved to Clayton County, Iowa, where James died on March 6, 1856. His picture appeared on the cover of the December 1959 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 28.
Shortly after the death of her husband, Nancy Elizabeth Sparks (she went by the name of Elizabeth) moved to Olmsted County, Minnesota Territory, taking with her her two youngest children, 1.2.5.10.11.1.8 William Sparks and 1.2.5.10.11.1.11 Mary Sparks. In all probability, Elizabeth made this move to be near her daughter, 1.2.5.10.11.1.1 Martha (Patsey?) (Sparks) Yates, and her sons, 1.2.5.10.11.1.7 Joseph Sparks and 1.2.5.10.11.1.6 Albert Cyrus Sparks. She was living near these children when a special census was taken in 1857 of Olmsted County shortly before Minnesota became the 32nd state in 1858.
Elizabeth Sparks did not remain long in Minnesota, and when the 1860 census was taken of Iowa, she was living at Farmersburg in Clayton County. With her were three sons: 1.2.5.10.11.1.8 William Sparks, 1.2.5.10.11.1.10 Henry Sparks, and 1.2.5.10.11.1.13 John Sparks. The following year, on May 28, 1861, her son, Henry Sparks, enlisted in Company C, 3rd Regiment Iowa Infantry. He contracted acute bronchitus in the early part of 1863, and on April 27, 1863, he received a medical discharge. He returned to his home at Farmersburg, Iowa, where he died on June 10, 1863. (See pages 2694 -2696, Whole No. 128, of the Quarterly for an abstract of his pension file.)
On August 15, 1878, Elizabeth Sparks applied for a Mother's Pension for her son's military service. She was issued Mother's Certificate No. 198,491, and she was placed upon the pension roll. According to affidavits which she made prior to her death, she sold her farm in Iowa in 1866 and returned to Olmsted County. She remained there until 1881 when she again returned to Iowa where she settled at McGregor. On May 2, 1882, at the age of 80 years, she made her final affidavit to support her pension status. She died on September 13, 1885, in Clayton County.
1.2.5.10.11.1 James and Elizabeth (Gilman) Sparks were the parents of thirteen children. All of them were listed on pages 1315-1318 of the June 1970 issue of the Quarterly; the information presented on those pages will not be repeated here. We shall, however, continue to use the same numbering system we used on those pages with the added information that we are now able to provide.
1.2.5.10.11.1.1 Martha ["Patsy"] Sparks was born ca. 1820 in Lewis County, Kentucky. On May 18, 1836, she was married in that county to Joseph L. Yates. Her father gave his consent to the marriage. Joseph was born December 27, 1813, in Meadsville, Pennsylvania. The first child of Patsy and Joseph was born in Lewis County in 1837, but the following year, Patsy followed her parents to Putnam County, Indiana, and it was there that her second child was born.
Patsy and Joseph remained in Putnam County until ca. 1852 when they moved to Marquette County, Wisconsin, and settled at Princeton. They stayed there for two years and then went to Olmsted County, Minnesota, in 1855. Patsy died in that county on January 16, 1895, and Joseph died there on April 5, 1900. They were buried from the Pleasant Grove Christian Church of which they were mem bers. They were the parents of twelve children, but we have learned the names of only nine of them.
1.2.5.10.11.1.1.1 Elizabeth Yates was born ca. 1837 in Lewis County, Kentucky. She married William Collins ca. 1854, and they had at least five children:
1.2.5.10.11.1.1.1.1 Martha J. Collins,
1.2.5.10.11.1.1.1.2 James H. Collins,
1.2.5.10.11.1.1.1.3 Mary Collins,
1.2.5.10.11.1.1.1.4 Hettie M. Collins, and
1.2.5.10.11.1.1.1.5 Joseph E. Collins.Elizabeth (Yates) Collins died on April 23, 1895.
1.2.5.10.11.1.1.2 Mary Jane Yates was born ca. 1838 in Putnam County, Indiana. She married David Overend in 1857. She died on June 13, 1919.
1.2.5.10.11.1.1.3 John Yates was born November 29, 1841, at Cloverdale, Indiana. He died in September 1911 at Pleasant Grove, Minnesota, and was buried in the Evergreen Cemetery. He served in Company H, 6th Regiment Minnesota Infantry during the Civil War. He married Matilda Jane Parks on July 3, 1866, and they had six children, all of whom died in infancy except one son,
1.2.5.10.11.1.1.3.1 Benjamin F. Yates.
1.2.5.10.11.1.1.4 Harriet Yates was born ca. 1845 and died when quite young.
1.2.5.10.11.1.1.5 Joseph Yates, Jr. was born September 16, 1848, in Putnam County, Indiana; he died on December 24, 1928. On July 21, 1868, he married Ella C. Potter and, according to the 1885 census of Olmsted County, they had at least seven children:1.2.5.10.11.1.1.5.1 Julia Yates,
1.2.5.10.11.1.1.5.2 Alvarne Yates,
1.2.5.10.11.1.1.5.3 Martha Yates,
1.2.5.10.11.1.1.5.4 Larue Yates,
1.2.5.10.11.1.1.5.5 Ruel Yates,
1.2.5.10.11.1.1.5.6 Clara Yates, and
1.2.5.10.11.1.1.5.7 Joseph Yates.1.2.5.10.11.1.1.6 Martha Yates was born in 1852 at Princeton, Missouri. She died when quite young.
1.2.5.10.11.1.1.7 Carolyn Yates was born ca. 1854 at Princeton, Missouri. She married Orrin Walker. She died at Livingston, Montana, on April 5, 1945.1.2.5.10.11.1.1.7 Rebecca Yates was born June 19, 1856. She married Franklin Parks on October 13. 1878. She died on December 21, 1907, at Tracy, Minnesota.
1.2.5.10.11.1.1.8 Benjamin F. Yates was born ca. 1860. He married Mattie Lambert on December 19, 1886. He died on September 12, 1942.
1.2.5.10.11.1.2 Allen Sparks, son of James and Elizabeth (Gilman) Sparks, was born June 1, 1822, in Lewis County, Kentucky. His biography was given on pages 1315-1316 of the June 1970 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 70, and an abstract of his Civil War pension file was published on pages 1366-1367 of the December 1970 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 72. In addition, we have received further information about two of his younger children.
1.2.5.10.11.1.2.6 James W. Sparks was born August 24, 1867, in Iowa. He died on March 24, 1913. He married Minnie Walters and they had two children:
1.2.5.10.11.1.2.6.1 Clifford Sparks and
1.2.5.10.11.1.2.6.2 Kenneth Sparks.(Webmaster Note: Previous list says James W. Sparks was born August 26)
1.2.5.10.11.1.2.8 Anna Sparks was born March 7, 1876. She married Jacob Hansel on October 1, 1901. He was born in 1876 and was a son of William Henry and Delia Marie (White) Hansel. Anna and Jacob had two children:
1.2.5.10.11.1.2.8.1 Russell Hansel and
1.2.5.10.11.1.2.8.2 Dale Hansel.1.2.5.10.11.1.3 Barton Sparks was born ca. 1824 in Lewis County, Kentucky. He married Christiana Michael on November 21, 1844, in Putnam County, Indiana. She was born June 30, 1827, in Augusta County, Virginia, and was a daughter of Jacob Michael, a native of Pennsylvania. The first two children of Barton and Christiana were born in Indiana, but when the 1850 census was taken of Marquette County, Wisconsin, Barton and Christiana were living in the village of Pleasant Valley. by 1860, they were in Parke County, Indiana. According to a descendant, Mrs. Mildred Haynie, Barton died in Pratt County, Kansas. After his death, Christiana married Joseph Barker on March 25, 1896. He was the father of Elizabeth Barker who married 1.2.5.10.11.1.3.1 William F. Sparks. (See below.) Joseph Barker was also the father of Amanda E. Barker who married Benjamin Ami Sparks. (See below.) Christiana died on January 13, 1910, in Miller County, Missouri. She and Barton had nine children.
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.1 William F. Sparks was born ca. 1845. He married Elizabeth Barker, a daughter of Joseph Barker, and they had two children:
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.1 Benjamin Sparks and
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.2 Amanda Sparks.1.2.5.10.11.1.3.2 Sarah Jane Sparks was born October 6, 1848, in Indiana. She married Samuel Henry Welch. He was born July 16, 1843. He served in Com pany K, 334th Regiment Indiana Volunteers during the Civil War. He died on July 15, 1905, and Sarah Jane died on January 27, 1910. They were buried in the Wesley Chapel Cemetery in Rice County, Kansas. They had eight children:
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.2.1 Eugenia Welch,
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.2.2 Ida B. Welch,
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.2.3 Barton Welch,
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.2.4 Lerenzo Dan Welch,
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.2.5 Mary Etta Welch,
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.2.6 Mattie Welch,
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.2.7 Henry Edwin Welch, and
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.2.8 Minnia May Welch.1.2.5.10.11.1.3.3 Mary Ann Sparks was born February 6, 1850. She married Jacob Orender on September 12, 1869. He was born in February 1834. He served as a bugler in Company L, 6th Regiment Missouri Volunteers during the Civil War. He died on May 17, 1915, and Mary Ann died on February 10, 1922. They were buried in Eldon, Missouri. They had six children:
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.3.1 John W. Orender,
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.3.2 Joseph M. Orender,
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.3.3 Terri J. Orender,
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.3.4 Lovie M. Orender,
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.3.5 Rosa B. Orender, and
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.3.6 Pearl M. Orender.1.2.5.10.11.1.3.4 Elizabeth C. Sparks was born in December 1852. She married Reuben J. Allen on November 5, 1868, in Carroll County, Missouri. They had at least nine children:
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.4.1 William J. Allen,
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.4.2 Marion Ely Allen,
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.4.3 Susie V. Allen,
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.4.4 Mary J. Allen,
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.4.5 Oliver Allen,
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.4.6 Annie Allen,
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.4.7 Leora A. Allen,
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.4.8 Christine Allen, and
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.4.9 Penelope Allen.1.2.5.10.11.1.3.5 James Sparks was born ca. 1855.
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.6 Benjamin Ami Sparks was born September 5, 1857. He went by the name of "Am." On March 19, 1876, he married Amanda Emiline Barker in Carroll County, Missouri. He died on November 24, 1934, in Wakenda, Missouri. He and Amanda had six children:
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.6.1 Emma Ellen Sparks,
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.6.2 William Edward Sparks,
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.6.3 John Jacob Sparks,
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.6.4 Ida Bell Sparks,
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.6.5 Barton Sparks, and
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.6.6 Golda Mae Sparks. The last named was the mother of Mrs. Mildred Haynie who has been most helpful in providing information about this branch of the Sparks family.1.2.5.10.11.1.3.7 Barton Sparks was born December 9, 1862. He married Martha Alice Logan on November 11, 1883. He died on September 8, 1934, at Waynesville, Missouri. He and Mary Alice had two children:
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.7.1 William Perry Sparks and
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.7.2 Mary Elizabeth Sparks.1.2.5.10.11.1.3.8 Jacob Sparks was born September 7, 1867. He died on August 30, 1897. He married Lily F. Henson, daughter of Thomas R. and Alice Henson. Jacob and Lily had at least one child:
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.8.1 Herman J. Sparks.
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.9 Christine Sparks was born June 4, 1873, in Pulaski County, Missouri. She died on April 7, 1940. She married Andrew Franklin Gan. He was born in March 1868 and was a son of George and Suanna Gan. Christine and Andrew had five children:
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.9.1 George B. Gan,
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.9.2 Herman A. Gan,
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.9.3 Hester A. Gan,
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.9.4 Herbert G. Gan, and
1.2.5.10.11.1.3.9.5 Effie L. Gan.1.2.5.10.11.1.4 James Harvey Sparks, son of James and Elizabeth (Gilman) Sparks, was born on February 8, 1826. His biography appeared on pages 1316 -1317 of the June 1970 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 70. In that account, his year of birth was given as 1830, but this was apparently an error. [Note: Error corrected in Whole No. 70.]
1.2.5.10.11.1.5 Harriet Sparks was born ca. 1828. She married FNU Dickson, probably in Clayton County, Missouri. We have no further information about them.
1.2.5.10.11.1.6 Albert Cyrus Sparks was born on January 8, 1830. His biography appeared on pages 265-266 of the December 1957 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 20.
1.2.5.10.11.1.7 Joseph Sparks was born February 28, 1832. His biography appeared on page 1317 of the June 1970 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 70.
1.2.5.10.11.1.8 Rebecca Sparks was born ca. 1834. She married FNU Moore, ca. 1853. She died in 1856.
1.2.5.10.11.1.9 Henry Sparks was born ca. 1836 in Lewis County, Kentucky. He served in Company C, 3rd Regiment Iowa Infantry and died on June 10, 1863, from acute bronchitus, which he contracted during his military service and for which he received a medical discharge. (See pages 2694 -2696 of this issue of the Quarterly for an abstract of the pension file by which his mother received a Mother's Pension.)
1.2.5.10.11.1.10 William Sparks was born ca. 1838 in Indiana. According to a statement from his mother, he was crippled by "white swelling," or tuberculosis of the bone. In 1869, he married Martha Ann Owens in Olmsted County, Minnesota. She was born July 17, 1854, in Iowa and was a daughter of Francis and Barbara Owens. William died on April 16, 1882, and Martha Ann died on August 13, 1907. They had four children.
1.2.5.10.11.1.10.1 William Henry Sparks was born November 15, 1869. He died on July 26, 1906. In 1893, he married Sarah E. Brown, and they had three children:
1.2.5.10.11.1.10.1.1 Rena May Sparks,
1.2.5.10.11.1.10.1.2 Inez Estelle Sparks, and
1.2.5.10.11.1.10.1.3 William Harold Sparks.1.2.5.10.11.1.10.2 Florence Sparks was born ca. 1876.
1.2.5.10.11.1.10.3 Pearl Sparks was born ca. 1876. She married FNU Davidson.
1.2.5.10.11.1.10.4 James G. Sparks was born in July 1882.1.2.5.10.11.1.11 Mary Sparks was born ca. 1840 in Indiana. On March 13, 1859, she married Hezekiah Niles Stowe in Clayton County, Iowa. He was born ca. 1835 in the state of New York. He died ca. 1872 in Olmsted County, Minnesota. He and Mary had six children.
1.2.5.10.11.1.11.1 James Niles Stowe was born ca. 1859.
1.2.5.10.11.1.11.2 John Hezekiah Stowe was born November 28, 1861, in Clayton County, Iowa. He married Mary Ellen Nowell in 1897. He died on September 17, 1946.
1.2.5.10.11.1.11.3 Harriet Stowe was born in 1863 in Olmsted County, Minnesota.
1.2.5.10.11.1.11.4 George Stowe was born ca. 1867 in Olmsted County, Minnesota.
1.2.5.10.11.1.11.5 Nettie Anna Stowe was born ca. 1869.
1.2.5.10.11.1.11.6 Stanley Stowe was born March 4, 1872, in Olmsted County, Minnesota. He died on February 17, 1875.1.2.5.10.11.1.12 Elizabeth Sparks was born ca. 1842 in Indiana. She married Armisted Kirk. We have no further data.
1.2.5.10.11.1.13 John Sparks was born ca. 1844 in Indiana. Like his brother, William, he was crippled by "white swelling" in one leg. He married Hannah Trowbridge, ca. 1869. She was born ca. 1837 in Ohio and was a daughter of Joseph and Emma (Reilly) Trowbridge. John and Hannah had three children.
1.2.5.10.11.1.13.1 Arizona Sparks was born ca. 1871.
1.2.5.10.11.1.13.2 Bartlett Sparks was born ca. 1873.
1.2.5.10.11.1.13.3 J. J. Sparks was born ca. 1877.