January 24, 2022

Pages 4253-4264
Whole Number 165

HAVE WE FOUND THE PARENTS OF JOHN SPARKS (ca. 1772-1858)
OF GREENUP COUNTY, KENTUCKY, AND BUCHANAN COUNTY, MISSOURI?

by Paul E. Sparks



[Webmaster Note: The original number for this family was "26". The new family number is "44". I am using both here until we are certain which is correct.]

The Sparks Family Association was in its infancy when an article about the naming of Sparks, Kansas, was published on pages 75-76 of the June 1955 issue of The Sparks Quarterly, No. 10. According to that article, the village was originally called Highland Station, but it was renamed in 1908 for its oldest citizen, 44.3.8 John Green Sparks, who had been born in 1825. The writer of the article was Derril C. Sparks, a descendant of John Green Sparks.

As related in the article, 44.3.8 John Green Sparks was born March 11, 1825 (or 1826), in Greenup County, Kentucky, and was a son of 44.3 (26) William John Sparks who had born ca. 1772 in Virginia and whose wife had been Mary Jane Green. They had been married ca. 1815, probably in Kentucky, according to this account. She had been born ca. 1783 in Kentucky. In 1825, the couple was in Greenup County, Kentucky.

Subsequent to the publication of this article, several descendants of 44.3 William John and Mary Jane (Green) Sparks began exchanging information about them in an effort to identify their parents. It soon became apparent that no record could be found that bore the given names of "William John" Sparks-he was always referred to as John Sparks. A second difference between the article and the records that were found was the name of "Mary Jane Green." No record has been found that gives Green as the maiden name of the wife of John Sparks, nor Jane as her middle name.

The 1820 census listed John Sparks as head of a family in Greenup County, Kentucky. He and his wife were both enumerated there as in the age category of 26 to 45. Living in the household (quite likely their children) were a male and a female in the age category of 10 to 16, and one male and four females under 10 years of age. (Readers are reminded that it was not until the 1850 census was taken that names, other than the head of each household, were recorded; all members of each household, including the head, were simply enumerated on federal censuses from 1790 through 1840.)

Living near John Sparks in Greenup County in 1820 was the family of Isaac Sparks. In fact, Isaac's name was recorded on the census immediately following that of John Sparks. Isaac and his wife were enumerated in the age category 26 to 45; living in their household (quite likely their children) were one male between 10 and 16 years of age, as well as two males and two females under 10 years of age.

It seems quite probable that John Sparks and Isaac Sparks, who were listed on the 1820 census of Greenup County, Kentucky, were brothers; however, a search there for their parents has not been successful.

Recently, another member of the Sparks Family Association, Michael L. Cox of 1358 Rice Road, Centerville, Indiana, 47330, has advanced the theory that John Sparks and Isaac Sparks were sons of 44. Isaac Sparks, Sr., a pioneer settler of Estill County, Kentucky. Isaac Sparks, Senior, whom we shall designate hereafter as "Old" Isaac, has been the subject of an article that was published in three issues of the Quarterly. Those issues were: the September 1973, Whole No. 83; the March 1974, Whole No. 85; and the June 1974, Whole No. 86.

We are inclined to agree with Mr. Cox's theory and believe our readers will find it to be quite convincing. Both John Sparks and Isaac Sparks, Jr. seem to fit into the family of Isaac and Catherine (MNU) Sparks of early Estill County, Kentucky.

As shown in the information published on pages 1634-1635 of the March 1974 issue of the Quarterly, 44.3 John Sparks, son of "Old" Isaac, was born ca. 1772. He married Mary ["Polly"] Bradshaw in May 1804, in dark County, Kentucky, which borders Estill County on the latter's northern end. The marriage bond for John Sparks and Mary Bradshaw, with Edward Kendred as bondsman, dated May 4, 1804, was recorded in Book 1, page 55 in dark County. She was a daughter of James Bradshaw. When the 1810 census was taken of Estill County, John and Mary were enumerated along with three children, two sons and one daughter under ten years of age. John paid taxes in Estill County from 1808 to 1819, but he was not listed on either the tax roll or on the census of that county in 1820. We believe that he had moved to Greenup County in time to be listed, with his household enumerated, on the 1820 census there, as we noted on the previous page.

As shown in the information published on pages 1640-41 of the June 1974 issue of the Quarterly, Isaac Sparks, son of "Old" Isaac, was born ca. 1783. He married Annis McGuire in March 1809 (marriage bond dated March 8, 1809) in Estill County. When the 1810 census was taken of Estill County, Isaac and Annis had one child, a son. Isaac paid taxes in Estill County from 1812 to 1819; however, he paid no taxes there from 1819 to 1823. He again paid taxes in Estill County from 1823 to 1829, but he paid no taxes there between 1829 and 1833.

(On the tax rolls of Estill County, Isaac Sparks, son of "Old" Isaac, was sometimes designated as ""Isaac Sparks, Senior" in order to distinguish him from his nephew, 44.1.3 Isaac Sparks, born ca. 1799, a son of 44.1 Elijah Sparks. "Old" Isaac Sparks, patriarch of the Estill County Sparkses, had died ca. 1815.)

As stated above, we believe that 44.3 John Sparks and 44.6 Isaac Sparks, sons of "Old" Isaac, left Estill County ca. 1819 and went to Greenup County where their names appeared, and their households were enumerated, on the 1820 census. John remained in Greenup County, but Isaac returned to Estill County, probably because of the death of his wife, Annis. It was there that he married (second) Frances Crawford on August 30, 1824. Then, ca. 1829, Isaac went to Madison County, Kentucky, in time to appear, and his household to be enumerated, on the 1830 census. by 1833, however, he had returned again to Estill County where he continued to live until his death ca. 1846. Isaac and his descendants are described on pages 1640-1666 of the June 1974 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 86.

(John Sparks and Isaac Sparks may have moved from Estill County to Greenup County in order to work in the iron industry. Both counties produced iron in the early 1800s. Both had natural iron ore and limestone, and both had forests to supply charcoal. Today, historical markers commemorate the sites of these early furnaces in both Estill and Greenup Counties. Greenup County, alone, has over a dozen such markers, while Estill County has about half that number.)

An analysis of the census records pertaining to John Sparks and Isaac Sparks show a remarkable similarity to the actual families of these men. In the case of John Sparks, the 1810 census of Estill County provides a foundation for the 1820 and 1830 censuses of Greenup County, based on the enumeration of members of his household in age groups. Similarly, in the case of Isaac Sparks, the 1810 census of Estill County provides a foundation for interpreting his entry on the 1820 census of Greenup County.

The largest obstacle to the acceptance of Mr. Cox's theory, as discussed above, centers around the maiden name of the wife of John Sparks. Was her name Mary Jane Green. or was it Mary ["Polly"] Bradshaw? After several months of correspondence, we have now arrived at the conclusion that there is little, if any, evidence that her name was "Mary Jane Green." Apparently, her maiden name was assumed to be Green because a son was given the name of John Green Sparks.

This assumption appears to have been handed down among several descendants until it became accepted as fact. As noted above, however, we have the official record from dark County, Kentucky, Book 1, page 55, of the marriage bond for John Sparks and Mary Bradshaw dated May 9, 1804, with Edward Kendred as bondsman. (See the Quarterly of March 1963, Whole No. 41, p. 722, for this and other early Sparks marriage bonds in dark County.) It should be kept in mind that John Sparks was married in his "home" county of dark; Estill County was not formed until 1808 from dark and Madison Counties.

Likewise, there appears to be no foundation for the statement that the full name of John Sparks was "William John Sparks." This assumption probably developed from the fact that the first son of John Sparks was named William. No one seems to know how else the given name of William came to be assigned as a forename for John Sparks.

For the reasons set forth above, we are now inclined to believe that the John Sparks in early Greenup County, Kentucky, was the son of Isaac and Catherine Sparks of early Estill County, Kentucky. As stated above, he was born ca. 1772, probably in that area of present-day western Pennsylvania which was claimed by both Pennsylvania and Virginia. He and his spouse, Mary ["Polly"] (Bradshaw) Sparks, had two sons and five daughters when the 1820 census was taken of Greenup County.

On March 29, 1827, John Sparks bought 55 acres of land on Tygarts Creek in Greenup County from David White. White was a resident of Scioto County, Ohio, just across the Ohio River from Greenup County. In the following November, Sparks served on a jury which was concerned with the construction of a water-run grist mill on Tygarts Creek near William Fuqua's old mill site. When his family was enumerated on the 1830 census of Greenup County, another son had been added to the family.

When Carter County was formed in 1838 from the Kentucky counties of Greenup and Lawrence, John Sparks lived in that portion of Greenup County that became a part of the new county. He was enumerated on the 1840 census of Carter County. Four of his children were still at home in 1840, and he now owned 145 acres of land on Tygarts Creek, on which he paid taxes.

About 1845, John Sparks paid his last taxes in Carter County and moved to Missouri where he settled in Centre Township in Buchanan County. When the 1850 census was taken of Buchanan County, he was listed as 77 years of age and a native of Kentucky. His wife, Mary, was listed as 67 years of age and a native of Kentucky.

44.3 John Sparks died in Buchanan County, probably in the late summer of 1858. His son, 44.3.x John G. Sparks, was appointed to administer his estate. Mary Sparks, widow of John, was living in the home of her son, John G. Sparks, in Buchanan County, Missouri, when the 1860 census was taken. She is believed to have died in 1863.

According to census records and information provided by descendants, 44.3 John and Mary Sparks were the parents of at least eight children, all of whom reached maturity, and there is a possibility that they had two more daughters, born between 1815 and 1820, whom we have been unable to find. All of their children were born in Kentucky.

44.3.1 William Sparks, born ca.1806
44.3.2 Frances Sparks, born June 1808
44.3.3 Isaac Sparks, born ca.1810
44.3.4 Dulcena Sparks, born ca.1812
44.3.5 Catherine Sparks, born ca.1818
44.3.6 Abigail Sparks, born November 9, 1820
44.3.7 Martha Sparks, born ca.1820
44.3.8 John Green Sparks, born March 11, 1825

44.3.1 William ["Will"] Sparks, son of John and Mary (Bradshaw) Sparks, was born ca. 1806. He was married twice. His first marriage was to Emmaline Hyde on January 1, 1828, in Greenup County, Kentucky. She had been born ca. 1807 and was a daughter of James Lewis Hyde. She and Will sold land on Beech Fork in Greenup County to Benjamin How land on August 4, 1840, and moved to Missouri where they rented land in Buchanan County. It was there that Emmaline died ca. 1842, probably when her sixth child was born.

Will's second marriage was to Sarah A. (Emmerick) Rector on December 15, 1845, in Buchanan County. She had been born ca. 1822 in Illinois and was a widow with two, possibly three, children by her former marriage. In 1854, Will and Sarah moved their family to Texas where they were in Bosque County when the 1860 census was taken. Will was described on that census as a tavern keeper. In 1862, he and Sarah sold land in Denton County, Texas, and moved to Sebastian County, Arkansas. It was there that they were listed on the 1870 census, and it was probably there that Will died sometime between 1870 and 1880. When the 1880 census was taken, Sarah was shown as married to J. E. Stonestreet and was living in Washington County, Arkansas.

Will Sparks had twelve children, six by each of his marriages.

44.3.1.1 James Lewis Sparks, son of William and Emmaline (Hyde) Sparks, was born on December 25, 1828, in Greenup County, Kentucky, and was obviously named for his maternal grandfather. He was married twice. His first marriage was to Malinda Jane Sullivan on February 14, 1850, in Buchanan County, Missouri. Shortly after the marriage, he and Malinda moved to Denton County, Texas. It was there that Malinda died ca. 1853 when her first child was born. The infant died also.

James Sparks was a farmer, but he was also a schoolteacher. Among his students was a teenage girl named Mary Barbara Emerling. She had been born July 18, 1838, in Illinois and was a daughter of George and Elizabeth Emerling [sometimes spelled Emberling or Emerlin]. She and James were married ca. 1855, probably in Denton County.

With the outbreak of the Civil War, James enlisted in Company E, 18th Regiment Texas Cavalry in January 1862, along with his brothers, Isaac and Bill Sparks. He was severely wounded in the Battle of Franklin, Tennessee, but managed to survive. He was captured in the fall of 1864 and imprisoned at Camp Chase, Ohio. He was released at the end of the war. He died near Lewisville, Texas, on February 2, 1905. He and Mary Barbara had eight children:

44.3.1.1.1 Emaline Elizabeth Sparks,
44.3.1.1.2 Mary Annie Sparks,
44.3.1.1.3 Mildred Helen Sparks,
44.3.1.1.4 Sarah Melvina ["Mellie"] Sparks,
44.3.1.1.5 John Martin Sparks,
44.3.1.1.6 Margaret Jane ["Meg"] Sparks,
44.3.1.1.7 Fannie Leanna ["Lee"] Sparks, and
44.3.1.1.8 George William Sparks.

44.3.1.2 Mary ["Polly"] Ann Sparks was born ca. 1830. She married Richard Moss on April 4, 1844, in Buchanan County, Missouri.

44.3.1.3 Sarah ["Sally"] Sparks, was born ca. 1836.

44.3.1.4 Priscilla Sparks was born ca. 1838.

44.3.1.5 Jesse Isaac Sparks was born ca. 1839 in Kentucky. He married Loretta MNU ca. 1859 and they had a daughter, Elizabeth, born in the fall of 1859. Isaac (as he was generally called) enlisted in Company E, 18th Regiment Texas Cavalry, C.S.A., in January 1862. He died while in the military service on January 7, 1864, at Newman, Georgia. (See the December 1969 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 67, page 1283.)

44.3.1.6 William Sparks, Jr. was born ca. 1840 in Kentucky. He married Glory Ann Emberling ca. 1861. She had been born June 13, 1834, and was a daughter of George and Elizabeth Emberling; thus, she was a sister of Mary Barbara Emberling who was the wife of 44.3.1.1 James Lewis Sparks. (See above.) William and Glory Ann had two children:

44.3.1.6.1 George Sparks and
44.3.1.6.2 Elizabeth Sparks.

He enlisted with his brother, Isaac James Sparks, in Company E, 18th Regiment Texas Cavalry, C.S.A., and, according to a relative, he never returned from the war, nor has any record of his death been found.

As was stated above, after the death of his first wife, Emmaline (Hyde) Sparks, William ["Will"] Sparks married (second) Sarah (Emmerick) Rector in 1845, and they had six children.

44.3.1.7 Benjamin F. Hugh Sparks, son of Will and Sarah (Emmerick) Sparks, was born ca. 1847 in Missouri. Hugh (as he was called) grew to manhood in Texas and is said to have worked there hauling freight with oxen and wagon.

44.3.1.8 Frances ["Franky"] Catherine Sparks was born ca. 1849 in Missouri. She is said to have been married to FNU Smith.

44.3.1.9 Minerva J. Sparks was born ca. 1854 in Texas.

44.3.1.10 Christopher Columbus ["Lum"] Sparks was born September 18, 1856, in Texas. He married Mary Ann Bower on September 12, 1875, in Washington County, Arkansas. She had been born June 2, 1857, and was a daughter of William and Lydia (Newman) Bower. She and Lum lived in Washington County until 1900 when they went to the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma Territory. Lum died in Mayes County, Oklahoma, on November 20, 1932, and Mary Ann died there on June 2, 1942. They had seven children:

44.3.1.10.1 Eddie Sparks,
44.3.1.10.2 Pearl Sparks,
44.3.1.10.3 Ben Sparks
44.3.1.10.4 May Sparks,
44.3.1.10.5 Emma Sparks,
44.3.1.10.7 Willie Sparks, and
44.3.1.10.8 Ida Sparks.

44.3.1.11 Sarah A. Sparks was born in April 1860. She married John Glenn in 1880 in Washington County, Arkansas.

44.3.1.12 Lullia ["Lou"] Sparks, daughter of Will and Sarah (Emmerick) Sparks, was born ca. 1862. She married Samuel Shannon in 1880 in Washington County, Arkansas. She died in 1937.

44.3.2 Frances Sparks, daughter of John and Mary (Bradshaw) Sparks, was born in June 1808. She married Henry Culp in April 1825 in Greenup County, Kentucky. The marriage bond was dated April 12, 1825, with her father acting as bondsman. (The marriage was doubtless performed within a few days following the date of the bond.) Henry had been born ca. 1805 in Kentucky and was a son of Tillman and Hannah D. Culp, natives of Pennsylvania. According to a descendant, Henry and Frances moved across the Ohio River to Scioto County, Ohio, ca. 1831, and then to Buchanan County, Missouri, ca. 1845. They were the parents of nine children.

44.3.2.1 Tillman Green Culp was born February 2, 1827, in Kentucky. He married Alvira Salisbury. He died on December 7, 1907, in Johnson County, Kansas.

44.3.2.2 Henry John Culp may have been born ca. 1829. Apparently he was married twice. His first marriage was to Dulcina MNU ca. 1850. She died in October 1865 in Holt County, Missouri. Henry's second marriage was to 44.3.3.1 Sabrina Abigail (Sparks) Bradshaw on May 8, 1866. She had been born ca. 1834 and was a daughter of Isaac and Lucinda (Thomas) Sparks. (See below) Henry died on December 4, 1894, at Nevada, Missouri. Sabrina died on May 10, 1916.

Relatives say that Henry John Culp had five children, We have not learned the order of their births, nor do we know which of them were a product of Henry's first or second marriage. We have been told that their names were

44.3.2.2.1 General Culp,
44.3.2.2.2 Jackson Culp,
44.3.2.2.3 Susie Culp,
44.3.2.2.4 Mary Culp,
44.3.2.2.5 John A. Culp.

44.3.2.3 Jenetta Culp was born ca. 1830.
44.3.2.4 Mary Culp was born ca. 1831 in Ohio.
44.3.2.5 Matilda Culp was born ca. 1833 in Ohio.
44.3.2.6 Benjamin Culp was born ca. 1835 in Ohio.
44.3.2.7 Susan Culp was born ca. 1837. She is said to have been married to FNU Carter.
44.3.2.8 Mahala Culp was born ca. 1839.
44.3.2.9 Jonathan Culp was born ca. 1841.

44.3.3 Isaac Sparks, son of John and Mary (Bradshaw) Sparks, was born ca. 1810, according to information given on the 1850, 1860, and 1880 censuses. On his tombstone in the Silent Cemetery at DeSoto, Kansas, his birth was inscribed as November 22, 1797. He married Lucinda Thomas in March 1833, in Greenup County, Kentucky. She had been born July 15, 1812, in Kentucky and was a daughter of James Thomas, who acted as bondsman; the marriage bond was dated March 15, 1833. Isaac and Lucinda lived in that portion of Greenup County which became a part of Carter County in 1838, and when the 1840 census was taken, they were enumerated in Carter County. About 1845, they moved to Buchanan County, Missouri, where they were listed on the 1850 and 1860 censuses. They lived near the town of St. Joseph.

Sometime prior to 1880, Isaac and Lucinda moved across the Missouri River to Doniphan County, Kansas. Isaac died on September 10, 1885, probably at the home of his sister, Abigail, in Jefferson County, Kansas. Lucinda died on February 3, 1899. They were buried in the Silent Cemetery at DeSoto, Kansas. They had five children.

44.3.3.1 Sabrina Abigail Sparks, daughter of Isaac and Lucinda (Thomas) Sparks, was born ca. 1834 in Kentucky. She was married three times. Her first marriage was on June 9, 1853, to John N. Bradshaw in Buchanan County, Missouri. He had been born ca. 1834, and he and Sabrina had three children before his death, which occurred in 1860. These children were:

44.3.3.1.1 Isaac W. Bradshaw,
44.3.3.1.2 Mary L. Bradshaw, and
44.3.3.1.3 Harrison ["Harry"] Bradshaw.

Sabrina's second marriage was to John Shepard ca. 1862. The marriage ended in divorce in 1864. The third marriage of Sabrina Sparks was to 44.3.2.2 Henry John Culp on May 8, 1866. He was a son of Henry and Frances (Sparks) Culp. (See above) He died on December 4, 1894, and Sabrina died on May 10, 1916.

44.3.3.2 Jackson Sparks, son of Isaac and Lucinda (Thomas) Sparks, was born ca. 1843 in Kentucky. He was married, but we have not learned the name of his wife. They had at least one child, 44.3.3.2.1 Sarah L. Sparks, born in March 1872.

44.3.3.3 George W. Sparks, son of Isaac and Lucinda (Thomas) Sparks, was born January 18, 1846, in Buchanan County, Missouri. He served in Company G, 43rd Regiment Missouri Infantry during the Civil War and received a pension for his service. (See page 4277 of this issue of the Quarterly for an abstract of his pension file.) After returning from the service, he married Sarah Woods on June 6, 1867, in Buchanan County. She had been born ca. 1846 in Kentucky. She and George had three children before her death, which occurred on December 26, 1873, when their third child was born.

44.3.3.3.1 Rosa Sparks,
44.3.3.3.2 Sarah Sparks, and
44.3.3.3.3 George Sparks.

After the death of Sarah, George Sparks married (second) Mary C. Wilson on January 2, 1879, in Jackson County, Missouri. She had been born ca. 1845 in Illinois. George died shortly after his second marriage, on February 14, 1881, in Fremont County, Iowa. Mary (Wilson) Sparks died on April 28, 1902.

44.3.3.4 Henry J. Sparks, son of Isaac and Lucinda (Thomas) Sparks, was born ca. 1853 in Missouri. He is said to have been married to Anna MNU, and they had seven children:

44.3.3.4.1 Sybil Sparks,
44.3.3.4.2 Robert Sparks,
44.3.3.4.3 Gail Sparks,
44.3.3.4.4 Harold Sparks,
44.3.3.4.5 Jane Sparks,
44.3.3.4.6 Sadie Sparks
, and
44.3.3.4.7 Elsie Pearl Sparks.

Henry Sparks died in 1927 at Olathe, Kansas.

44.3.3.5 Harrison Sparks was born ca. 1855 in Missouri.

44.3.4 Dulcena Sparks was born ca. 1812. She was married twice. Her first marriage was to Thomas Walker on November 19, 1828, in Greenup County, Kentucky. Her second marriage was to Stephen Litteral on October 12, 1833, also in Greenup County. We have not further information about her.

44.3.5 Catherine Sparks, daughter of John and Mary (Bradshaw) Sparks, was born ca. 1818. She was probably named for her paternal grandmother. She married James W. Howard on December 12, 1836, in Greenup County, Kentucky. He had been born ca. 1814 and was a son of Thomas and Nancy (Gardner) Howard. He and Catherine moved to Buchanan County, Missouri, where James died in 1872. Catherine died sometime after 1872. They are said to have had twelve children.

44.3.5.1 Thomas J. Howard was born ca. 1838.
44.3.5.2 Malinda Howard was born ca. 1840. She married FNU Cassell.
44.3.5.3 John G. Howard was born ca. 1842.
44.3.5.4 Mary Ann Howard was born ca. 1844. She married FNU Parker.
44.3.5.5 William Alvin Howard was born ca. 1846.
44.3.5.6 Nancy J. Howard was born ca. 1848. She married FNU Hill.
44.3.5.7 James L. Howard was born ca. 1850.
44.3.5.8 Martha Amanda Howard was born ca. 1852. She married FNU Clink.
44.3.5.9 Henderson J. Howard was born ca. 1855.
44.3.5.10 Raleigh Howard was born ca. 1856.
44.3.5.11 Emily Catherine Howard was born ca. 1858.
44.3.5.12 George W. Howard was born ca. 1860. He married Rachel MNU.

44.3.6 Abigail Sparks, daughter of John and Mary (Bradshaw) Sparks, was born November 19, 1820, in Greenup County, Kentucky. She accompanied her parents to Buchanan County, Missouri, and it was there that she married George Washington Howard on December 19, 1845. He had been born on April 9, 1824, in Kentucky, and was a son of Thomas and Nancy (Gardner) Howard; thus he was a brother of James W. Howard who married Abigail's sister, 44.3.5 Catherine Sparks, in 1836.

According to Mary C. Bowen, a great-great-granddaughter, the Howards were in Buchanan County when the 1850 and 1860 censuses were taken. by 1880, however, Abigail was in Jefferson County, Kansas. She was listed on a special census of that county in 1885. Her brother, Isaac Sparks, was also living in her household and was 76 years old.

Two of Abigail's sons, 44.3.6.7 James Howard and 44.3.6.6 David Howard, participated in the 1889 Oklahoma land run. Abigail and her youngest son, Thomas, followed them soon afterward and filed an application for land in 1893. by 1900, Abigail was living on her homestead, which was located on the boundary line between Kingfisher and Garfield Counties. She died there on June 7, 1901, at the age of 81 years. George W. Howard died on November 13, 1895, in Leavenworth County, Kansas. He and Abigail were the parents of nine children.

44.3.6.1 Nancy Ann Howard was born on November 12, 1846, in Buchanan County, Missouri. She married George W. Crow on December 10, 1863, in Atchison County, Kansas. George died on July 1, 1883, in Washington County, Arkansas. Nancy died on April 16, 1903, in Rogers County, Oklahoma. They had eight children:

44.3.6.1.1 William Crow,
44.3.6.1.2 Abigail Crow,
44.3.6.1.3 Mary Elizabeth Crow. She married Albert Chidester, and they were the grandparents of Mary C. Bowen who has been most helpful in the preparation of this article.
44.3.6.1.4 James Crow,
44.3.6.1.5 John Crow,
44.3.6.1.6 George Crow,
44.3.6.1.7 Charles Crow, and
44.3.6.1.8 David Crow

44.3.6.2 Mary Jane Howard, daughter of George and Abigail (Sparks) Howard, was born in April 1848. She married William Cooper. She died after 1900, probably in Oklahoma.

44.3.6.3 Lucinda F. Howard, daughter of George and Abigail (Sparks) Howard, was born on November 2, 1849. She married James W. Lansdown on March 26, 1873. She died on April 10, 1931, at Wichita, Kansas.

44.3.6.4 John William Howard, son of George and Abigail (Sparks) Howard, was born on March 9, 1853. He was married twice. We have not learned the name of his first wife. His second marriage was to Sophronia Bledsoe. He died on August 12, 1923, and was buried in the state of Washington.

44.3.6.5 George Washington Howard, son of George and Abigail (Sparks) Howard, was born on December 21, 1855. He married Catherine Hubbel. They lived in Douglas County, Kansas, where George died on June 27, 1934.

44.3.6.6 David Jackson Howard, son of George and Abigail (Sparks) Howard, was born in 1856. He married Helen Warhurst. He died in 1923, in Oklahoma.

44.3.6.7 James Isaac Howard, son of George and Abigail (Sparks) Howard, was born on July 5, 1860. He died on July 28, 1894.

44.3.6.8 Amanda Abigail Howard, daughter of George and Abigail (Sparks) Howard, was born September 9, 1862, in Kansas. She married C. H. Egner. She died on December 28, 1932, in Garfield County, Oklahoma.

44.3.6.9 Thomas Edward Howard, son of George and Abigail (Sparks) Howard, was born on April 28, 1864. He married Cynthia Emmaline Taylor. He died on November 4, 1939, in Kingfisher County, Oklahoma.

44.3.7 Martha ["Patsey" ] Sparks, daughter of John and Mary (Bradshaw) Sparks, was born ca. 1820. She married James Litteral on October 29, 1841, in Carter County, Kentucky. When the 1850 census was taken of Buchanan County, Missouri, she was listed in the household of her parents. With her was a daughter, Abigail Litteral, aged 7, born in Kentucky. James Litteral apparently had died prior to 1850. Patsey (Sparks) Litteral probably died ca. 1857-58 since she was not named as an heir in the settlement of her father's estate in 1858.

44.3.8 John Green Sparks, son of John and Mary (Bradshaw) Sparks, was born March 11, 1825. On February 12, 1844, he married Emily Henderson in Carter County, Kentucky. She had been born on March 10, 1826, in Kentucky and was a daughter of Robert William and Eliza (Klink) Henderson. (A History of Carter County. Kentucky, states that Robert William Henderson married Sarah Swim. Perhaps he was married twice.)

The first two children of John and Emily (Henderson) Sparks were born in Kentucky, but ca. 1847 John and Emily moved to Buchanan County, Missouri, probably with his parents. It was there that their other twelve children were born. When the 1850 census was taken, John was renting a farm in Centre Township, but when the 1860 census was taken, he was shown as owning land valued at $6,400. by this time, his father had died, and his mother was living in his household.

At the close of the Civil War, John moved his family across the Missouri River to Doniphan County, Kansas. It was there that the village of Highland Station was renamed "Sparks" in his honor. The story of the renaming was told in the June 1955 issue of the Quarterly.

Emily (Henderson) Sparks died on November 30, 1900. John died on April 3, 1911. They were buried in the lola Cemetery at Sparks, Kansas. As stated above, they were the parents of fourteen children.

44.3.8.1 Eliza Jane Sparks, daughter of John and Emily (Henderson) Sparks, was born January 26,1845, in Carter County, Kentucky. She married Edmund Riley Parker on April 12, 1864, in Buchanan County, Missouri. They had seven children, all born in Doniphan County, Kansas. They were:

44.3.8.1.1 Sarah J. Parker;
44.3.8.1.2 Robert Parker;
44.3.8.1.3 Louis W. Parker;
44.3.8.1.4 Edward Parker;
44.3.8.1.5 Delia Parker;
44.3.8.1.6 James R. Parker; and
44.3.8.1.7 Albert Parker.

This family moved to Yakima, Washington, ca. 1900, and Eliza was living there when her father died in 1911.

44.3.8.2 Robert William Sparks, son of John and Emily (Henderson) Sparks, was born on January 18, 1847, in Buchanan County, Missouri. He married Generva Zenobia Thompson on January 18, 1872, in Doniphan County, Kansas. She had been born July 9, 1854, in Indiana and was a daughter of Joshua W. and Katherine (Milbourne) Thompson. She died on August 6, 1894, shortly after the birth of her tenth child. Robert survived her nearly thirty years, dying on December 23, 1923, also at Sparks, Kansas. They had ten children, including twins who died at birth. The eight who survived were:

44.3.8.2.1 William Sparks;
44.3.8.2.2 Iva Manzma Sparks;
44.3.8.2.3 Silas Sparks;
44.3.8.2.4 Charles Clair Sparks; Charles Clair Sparks married Sus Ella Hitz, and they were the grandparents of Derril Sparks who has been most helpful in the preparation of this article.
44.3.8.2.5 Susie Elmira Sparks;
44.3.8.2.6 Frank Floyd Sparks;
44.3.8.2.7 Robert Ray Sparks; and
44.3.8.2.8 Ellis Evert Sparks.

Photographs of Robert William and Generva Zenobia (Thompson) Sparks, taken on their wedding day on January 18, 1872, as well as the wedding picture of Charles Clair and Sus Ella (Hitz) Sparks, appear below.

Pictures
ROBERT WILLIAM SPARKS GENERVA ZENOBIA THOMPSON
Photographs Taken on Their Wedding Day - January 18, 1872

Picture
CHARLES CLAIR & SUSELLA (HITZ) SPARKS
Photograph Taken on Their Wedding Day - November 25, 1909

44.3.8.3 Sarah Ann Sparks, daughter of John and Emily (Henderson) Sparks, was born on February 2, 1849, in Buchanan County, Missouri. She married Nelson Rawles on February 5, 1867, and they had four children, including an adopted son, Elmer Leyons. The children were: Alice Rawles, John Rawles, and Anne Rawles. Sarah Ann (Sparks) Rawles died in 1923 at Sparks, Kansas.

44.3.8.4 John Henry Sparks, son of John and Emily (Henderson) Sparks, was born on February 11, 1851. He married Cora A. Blair on May 16, 1889, and they had two children:

44.3.8.4.1 Edna E. Sparks and
44.3.8.4.2 John R. Sparks.

44.3.8.5 James Harvey Sparks, son of John and Emily (Henderson) Sparks, was born on February 3, 1853. He married Lucinda Wood on June 18, 1875, in Doniphan County, Kansas. She had been born in Missouri. When the 1880 census was taken of Doniphan County, James was described as a country merchant. He and Lucinda had a three-year-daughter, 44.3.8.5.1 Anna Sparks, and in all probability this couple had other children born to them. They moved to the Houston, Texas, area ca. 1900.

44.3.8.6 Ratliff Sparks, son of John and Emily (Henderson) Sparks, was born April 3, 1855, in Buchanan County, Missouri. He married Eliza Frazier on November 22, 1875, in Doniphan County, Kansas. She had been born ca. 1856 in Nebraska. She and Ratliff had three children:

44.3.8.6.1 James H. Sparks,
44.3.8.6.2 William H. Sparks, and
44.3.8.6.3 Harvey Garfield Sparks.

44.3.8.7 George Cassell Sparks was born on 3 February 1857. He died a few months later.

44.3.8.8 Pleasant Sparks was born October 6, 1858, in Buchanan County, Missouri. He married Martha Ritchie on January 24, 1880, in Doniphan County, Kansas. She had been born in November 1858 in Indiana. She and Pleasant moved to the Houston, Texas, area ca. 1900. Pleasant died in Liberty County, Texas, on December 15, 1937. They had no children.

44.3.8.9 Isaac Edward Sparks was born on 14 November 1860, in Buchanan County, Missouri. He married Mary A. Kelley on April 10, 1888, in Doniphan County, Kansas. They had two children,

44.3.8.9.1 Edward F. Sparks and
44.3.8.9.2 Louis Sparks.

44.3.8.9 Isaac Edward Sparks died in 1938.

44.3.8.10 Thomas Jefferson Sparks was born on 22 February 1863, in Buchanan County, Missouri. He married Julia Frazie on March 13, 1886, in Doniphan County, Kansas. She had been born in December 1864 in Iowa. Tom Sparks died in 1937 at Sparks, Kansas, and Julia died there on March 26, 1954. She and Tom had four children:

44.3.8.10.1 Walter L. Sparks,
44.3.8.10.2 Flossie Sparks,
44.3.8.10.3 Mary Sparks, and
44.3.8.10.4 Thomas Sparks.

44.3.8.11 Mary Catherine Sparks, daughter of John and Emily (Henderson) Sparks, was born May 26, 1864, in Doniphan County, Kansas, and it was there that she married George Washington Miller on March 30, 1880. He had been born on April 30, 1862, in Crawford County, Indiana. He and Mary owned and operated a general store in Sparks, Kansas. They had three children: Ida Sparks, Dillie George Sparks, and Pleasant V. Sparks. Mary (Sparks) Miller was an early member of the Sparks Family Association. She died on April 26, 1954, and was buried at Sparks, Kansas.

44.3.8.12 Alexander Sparks was born on December 14, 1867. He died on November 25, 1881. He never married.

44.3.8.13. An unnamed son Sparks was born to John and Emily (Henderson) Sparks on August 30, 1874; he died on the same day.

44.3.8.14. Hattie Sparks, daughter of John and Emily (Henderson) Sparks, was born on November 7, 1876, in Doniphan County, Kansas. It was there that she married James Samuel Mallows on April 16, 1899. He had been born on November 28, 1870, in Doniphan County and was a son of Samuel and Sarah (MNU) Mallows. Hattie died on April 22, 1951, at Sparks, Kansas. She had no children.

(Editor's Note: This lengthy query has been published with the hope that it may lead to conclusive evidence being found regarding the parents of John Sparks of Greenup County, Kentucky, and Buchanan County, Missouri. As indicated, we are quite convinced that he was a son of Isaac and Catherine (MNU) Sparks of early Estill County, Kentucky, we shall welcome hearing from anyone with evidence either in support of this theory or to the contrary.)

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