February 10, 2022
Pages 1017
Whole Number 55
DEATH TAKES J. KENT SPARKS
It is with deep regret that we report the passing of J. Kent Sparks of Linden, Perry County, Tennessee. A charter member of The Sparks Family Association, Mr. Sparks died in a Nashville hospital on August 7, 1966, at the age of 78 years.
J. Kent Sparks was born July 17, 1888, in Perry County, Tennessee, near where his great-grandfather had settled about 80 years earlier. Mr. Sparks married Miss Bess Edwards, who survives him, as do also their two daughters, Elizabeth (Mrs.Willie Hudson) and Jessie (Mrs. David Walker). Elizabeth has one daughter named Ann Elizabeth Hudson, and Jessie has two daughters, Elizabeth Walker and Sara Kent Walker.
J. Kent Sparks was the son of Jesse and Manerva (Ledbetter) Sparks. Jesse was the only son of Jesse and Folly (Patterson) Sparks. J. Kent Sparks's great-grandfather, the first 1.2.1.2.2.8 Jesse Sparks, was a son of 1.2.1.2.2 Matthew and Sarah Sparks (see the Quarterly of June 1961, Whole No. 34, pp. 556-566.) 1.2.1.2.2.8 Jesse Sparks, was born July 23, 1773, in North Carolina and died in Perry County, Tennessee, on January 5, 1858. He moved from North Carolina to Georgia with his father following the American Revolution, but ca. 1810 he moved to Tennessee, purchasing land in Hickman County in 1810. He was married twice, first to Elizabeth Jones and, following her death ca. 1818, he married, second, Susan May. He had ten children by his first wife and eight children by his second wife.
One of J. Kent Sparks's most prized possessions was the family Bible which had belonged to his great-grandfather containing the birth records of the eighteen children. Mr. Sparks copied this for the Association, adding records of marriages where possible. This record follows:
Jesse Sparks, son of Matthew and Sarah Sparks, was born July 23, 1773. He married (first) Elizabeth Jones, who was born in Georgia on April 10, 1774. They were the parents of the following children:
1.2.1.2.2.8.1 Sally Sparks, born December 23, 1796. She married John Homer of Perry County.
1.2.1.2.2.8.2 Nancy Sparks, born December 14, 1798. She married Samuel Thomas of Hardeman County, Tenn.
1.2.1.2.2.8.3 Edai Sparks, born February 19, 1801. She married FNU Hale from Arkansas.
1.2.1.2.2.8.4 Betsy Sparks, born February 24, 1803. She married Richard Brown of Hickman County, Tenn.
1.2.1.2.2.8.5 Polly Sparks, born October 22, 1805. She married Abner Coleman of Perry County.
1.2.1.2.2.8.6 James Jefferson Sparks, born April 14, 1808. He married Rhoda Murphree of Hickman County, Tenn.
1.2.1.2.2.8.7 Jesse Sparks, Jr., born February 13, 1811. He married Mrs. Polly (Patterson) Horner of Perry County.
1.2.1.2.2.8.8 John Valentine Sparks, born March 15, 1813. Died in youth, apparently.
1.2.1.2.2.8.9 Patsy Sparks, born August 22, 1814.
1.2.1.2.2.8.10 Ann Sparks, born January 20, 1817. Never married.by his second wife, Susan May, Jesse Sparks had the following children:
1.2.1.2.2.8.11 Nathan Sparks, born August 28, 1819.
1.2.1.2.2.8.12 Philip Matthew Sparks, born October 29, 1820. Died young.
1.2.1.2.2.8.13 Absolam Sparks, born April 25, 1822. Married Malinda McClain.
1.2.1.2.2.8.14 Hannah Sparks, born January 29, 1824. Married Levi Murphree.
1.2.1.2.2.8.15 Susan Sparks, born February 24, 1826. Married FNU Cotham.
1.2.1.2.2.8.16 David Sparks, born January 23, 1827.
1.2.1.2.2.8.17 Catherine Sparks, born August 21, 1828. Married FNU Reeves.
1.2.1.2.2.8.18 Jonathan Sparks, born November 25, 1834. Married Parálee Dickson.