July 16, 2023
Pages 450-463
Whole Number 29
29. JOHN SPARKS (ca. 1755-1826) OF UNION COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA
AND HIS DESCENDANTS
At the time of the American Revolution, there were several Sparks families living relatively near each other in the northwestern section of South Carolina in the following adjoining counties: Spartanburg, Union, Laurens, and Newberry. These four counties comprised a large section of what was known at that time as 'Ninety Six District.' This was a turbulent section during the Revolution, and many records were lost or simply not made, which complicates genealogical research. The 1790 census of this area lists the following Sparks families: (The first figure following each name represents the number of white males, including the head of the family, over 16; the second figure represents the number of white males under 16, third figure represents the total number of white females in the household.)
| Laurens County | William Sparkes | 1 - 1 - 2 |
| Newberry County | George Sparks | 1 - 1 - 1 |
| " " | John Sparks | 3 - 2 - 6 |
| " " | Stephen Sparks | 1 - 4 - 3 |
| Spartanburgh County | 17.2.7.5 Josiah Sparks | 2 - 0 - 2 |
| " " | Matt Sparks | 3 - 6 - 3 |
| " " | Samuel Sparks | 1 - 3 - 3 |
| " " | 17.2.7.5.4 Truelove Sparks | 1 - 1 - 1 |
| Union County | John Sparks | 2 - 1 - 4 |
| " " | Saml. Sparks | 1 - 4 - 0 |
| " " | Zachariah Sparks | 1 - 2 - 2 |
It is probable that several, perhaps all, of these families were closely related, some at least having come to South Carolina from Pittsylvania County, Virginia.
Claude E. Sparks, of Union, South Carolina, has gathered a large amount of genealogical material for the Association pertaining to these early South Carolina Sparkses. Here, however, we are limiting our study to the family of John Sparks who was listed on the 1790 census of Union County. Claude E. Sparks is a great-great-grandson of John Sparks.
29. John Sparks was born ca. 1755, probably in Virginia. He served in the American Revolution as a member of the South Carolina Militia in 1780, in a unit commanded by Colonel Thomas Brandon. Proof of this service appears in the documents reproduced on page 452, the originals being in the South Carolina Archives Department, Columbia, S.C. The first, dated January 24, 1787, is John Sparks's request that the State Treasurer in Charleston deliver to Edward Prince whatever payment, with interest, he was entitled to for his service in 1780. (Soldiers had been promised that they would be paid when the State was in a position to do so, and in 1787 these claims were being honored, but a veteran either had to go to Charleston himself, or send a representative, in order to collect.) The other document reveals that John Sparks was entitled to 34 pounds in currency, or 4 pounds, 17 shillings, and 17 pence in sterling; this document also reveals that Edward Prince received this payment on behalf of' John Sparks. Thomas Brandon, John Sparks's old commander, was living near him in Union County in 1787 and signed the first document as a witness (he was a justice of the peace). Edward Prince, whom John Sparks appointed to collect his payment, likewise lived nearby--on the south side of Tyger River not far from Sparks Creek. (See map on page 457.) The Sparks and Prince families were related, at least in later generations. John Sparks lived on the north side of Tyger river.
John Sparks married his first wife, Elizabeth MNU, ca. 1780. No record has been found to reveal her maiden name. On August 16, 1800, John and Elizabeth Sparks joined the Padgett's Creek Baptist Church, being 'received by experience.' This church was located near Padgett's Creek on the Charleston Road in Cross Keys Township, Union County. In 1800 a great revival spread over the entire state and John and Elizabeth were apparently converted at this time.
An old court record reveals that John Sparks was a member of the Union District Grand Jury which convened on November 1, 1803.
No records have been found of John Sparks's buying or selling land in Union County. It is known, however, that he did own a farm on the north side of Tyger River, on the opposite side from the home of Edward Prince and about two miles from the farm owned by Col. Brandon on Fairforest Creek.
Elizabeth Sparks, wife of John, was still living in 1810 when the census was taken for that year, but she died before 1815. On August 10, 1815, John Sparks married, as his second wife, Joyce Putman, widow of James Putman. At the time of the marriage, both parties signed a contract which provided that the property of each should go to his or her respective children by the previous marriage. This document, recorded in Deed Book N, pp. 58-59, in the Union County Courthouse, gives an interesting picture of life at this early period and reads as follows:
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA/ Whereas there is an intension of Marriage between UNION DISTRICT / John Sparks Widower and Joice Putman Widow, the two parties John Sparks and Joice Putman have agreed to Make a Seperate Contract to Secure each Ones estate to their own Children that is now existing, it is therefore agreed by us John Sparks and Joice Putman, to make these presents our firm and Lawfuii Marriage Contract, in the Manner and form as follows first John Sparks do agree to take Joice Putman to be his lawfull Wife Without having any Lawfull claim to any of the estate or property that is hers at the time of their Marriage, Likewise Joice Putman do agree to take John Sparks to be her Lawfull Husband Without having any lawfull claim to any of the estate or property that is his at the time of their Marriage, (to Wit) his Land
 |
[Note: All of page 452 consists of photocopies of records of John Sparks relating to his pension application.]
| one Bay Mare and filley |
| two Cows and Calves |
| and five head of other Cattle |
| eight head of hogs |
| One bed and furniture |
| three potts oven and Skillett |
| twelve pewter plates |
| two dishes and three basons |
| two tables |
| one Cubboard |
| one chest a flock of Sheep |
| plantation tools |
| axes |
| plows |
| hoes |
| &c Knives and forks |
| and all his rights and Credits to Remain altogether in his power only the Common use of the Same during their living and dwelling together: Likewise her estate |
| (to Wit) One Negro woman Named Lucy her two children Anderson and Peggy |
| two beds and furniture |
| two tables |
| one Walnut chest |
| a Walnut Cubboard |
| two Pots |
| a oven and Spider eight Pewter plates |
| four Basins and two dishes |
| a pewter Quart and tea pott |
| a bread baker and fat [i.e. flat Irons] |
| two piggens |
| a Churn |
| a Spinning Wheel |
| three Cows and Calves |
| a Sow and pigs and five other hogs |
| Seven Chairs |
| One Side Saddle |
| One Wire Sifter |
| two Jugs |
&c and all her Rights and Credits, to Remain altogether in her power-only the Common use of the Same during their living and dwelling together.-Witness our hands and Seals this tenth day of August 1815, Signed Sealed and Confirmed in the presence of us
Test/ Ralph Jackson his
Thos S. Greer; John + Sparks (L.S.)
John Hart mark
her
Joice + Putman (L.S.)
mark
This is to Certify that I have Married John Sparks and Joice his wife within Mentioned, agreeable to the Within Written Contract this 10th day of August 1815.
Thos. S. Greer, M.G.
In most instances, John Sparks seems to have signed by mark, but this appears to have been a matter of convenience rather than his inability to write. As is indicated in the following reproduction of a note dated May 24, 1817, John Sparks could write a clear hand when necessary. (This document is preserved in No. 413-159-1--Sum. and Pro. file; petition was entered in Court of Common Pleas at Union Courthouse in April 1821. Marked Nulla bond by Sheriff in October 1822.)
 |
| Three Days after Date I promis to pay John Roshill or order the Sum of thirty Nine Dollars twelve and a half cents baring Interest from the first of January for Value Received this 24th May 1817. |
| John Sparks (L.S.) ] |
29. John Sparks died in Union County in 1826. His second wife, Joyce, was still living at the time of his death. There were no children by this second marriage.
29.1 Sarah Sparks was born ca. 1780. She married Carpentar Simmons sometime between 1800 and 1810. She died in 1837. Carpentar Simmons married, as his second wife, Sarah's sister, Susannah. Apparently there were no children by either marriage.
29.2 Mitchell Sparks was born ca. 1785 and died in 1836. He married Holly Boatman, daughter of Jesse and Sarah Boatman. They were the parents of the following children:
29.2.1 Nancy Sparks, born ca. 1825. She married Cargill Bobo.
29.2.2 Elizabeth Sparks, born ca. 1827. She married Joshau Wilburn.
29.2.3 Susan Sparks, born ca. 1828. She married Zeb Barnett.
29.2.4 Barham Sparks, born January 7, 1830, and died in Union County on December 4, 1900. He married Rosa Elizabeth Hill, who born May 10, 1834, and died March 20, 1899. Their children were named:29.2.4.1 Alice Delia Sparks,
29.2.4.2 Florence Elizabeth Sparks,
29.2.4.3 Octavia Sparks,
29.2.4.4 Walter Barham Sparks,
29.2.4.5 Emma Tecora Sparks,
29.2.4.6 Mary Esther Sparks,
29.2.4.7 Mattie Tullulah Sparks, and
29.2.4.8 Lizzie Elinor Sparks.29.2.5 Sarah Ann Sparks, born ca. 1832. She married Charles Barnett.
29.2.6 John Sparks, born ca. 1834. He died on November 21, 1862, as a soldier in the Confederate Army. He was unmarried.
29.2.7 Mary Sparks, born ca. 1836. She married Giles Barnett.Shortly before his death, 29.2 Mitchell Sparks made his will which was recorded in Union County Will Book B, page 224. It reads as follows:
SOUTH CAROLINA/ In the Name of God Amen: I Mitchell Sparks of the District and State aforesaid, being of Sound
UNION DISTRICT/ and disposing mind and memory, but weak in Body, and calling to mind the uncertainty of Life, and being desirous to dispose of all Such Worldly Estate as it hath pleased God to Bless me with make and ordain this my last Will, in manner following:--that is to say: I desire that all my personal estate Goods and chattles (with the exception herein after excepted) to be mmediately Sold after my decease, and out of the monies arising therefrom all my just Debts, and Funeral expenses be paid: after payment of my Debt's and Funeral Expenses, I Give to my Wife Holly Sparks one third part of my personal Estate during her natural Life or widowhood--and after her decease or marriage to be equally distributed among my Children hereinafter named--I also Give to my Wife, above named intire possession of my Family of Negroes Lands &c and under the consideration of her raising and supporting the Children--until the Eldest of my children become of age and calls for a portion of my Estate, then all my Negroes and their increase to be Judicial men appraised and an equal distribution be made between my Daughters 29.2.1 Nancy, 29.2.2 Elizabeth, 29.2.3 Susan, 29.2.5 Sarayann, and 29.2.7 Mary, and My Son 29.2.4 byram and 29.2.6 John Franklin.I give to my Sons Named: byram and John Franklin, all my Lands to be equally divided between them two, when they arrive at the age of twenty one years or becomes capable of managing for themselves--to be their heirs, and assigns forever--and Lastly I do constitute and appoint my Friend William Sparks Executor of this my Last Will and Testament, in Testimony wherof I have hereunto Set my hand and affixed my Seal, this the 14th day of July 1836. Signed Sealed, published and declared as and for Last Will and testament of the above named Mitchell Sparks in the presence of us. his
Jason Greer Mitchell X Sparks (LS)
Henry Garrett mark
William Lee
29.3 William J. Sparks, son of John and Elizabeth Sparks, was born in Union County, South Carolina, on August 5, 1790. He died on January 11, 1877.
William J. Sparks was a farmer and during his lifetime acquired extensive land holdings in Union County. The earliest record of his purchasing land is a deed dated May 4, 1822, by which he bought 98 ? acres from Robert Boatman for $450.00. In this deed, which is recorded in the Union County Courthouse (Deed Book W, page 165-66), he is called 'William Sparks (son of John).' This land, like his subsequent holdings, was located on the north side of Tyger River, in Boganville Township, and adjoined land owned by Nevel and Jesse Holcomb and John Boatman.
William J. Sparks took an active part in most of the affairs pertaining to the growth and development of the section of country where he lived. On numerous occasions he served as executor or administrator in settling estates of deceased persons, and in a few instances he was named guardian for minor children. He was also active in the military affairs of South Carolina prior to the Civil War, being Captain of a Cavalry Company in the South Carolina Militia. An order issued to him in 1838 has been preserved and reads as following
To Captain William Sparks--
Warn all to the Newman old field for inspection on the 28th day of August 1838. Commission and
non-commission officers the day previous for drill and to elect a muster gronnd. Make your Company
return, see how many Cavalry in your beat. Order out all Free Negroes on the 20th to prepare the field.Signed. J. F. Bailey, Lieut. Col.,
45th Reg.,, S. Carolina.
Along with this order, a complete list of drill instructions was given to him to be used on the day of inspection.
29.3 William J. Sparks was married twice. His first wife, whom he married ca. 1812, was Mildred Boatman, daughter of Jesse and Sarah Boatman. She was born August 18, 1792, in Union County and died in 1833 in Union County. She and William J. Sparks were the parents of nine children. William J. Sparks was married, second, to Mrs. Mary Lee, widow of Thomas Lee. She died on May 1, 1862. Two children were born to this latter union.
As already stated, William J. Sparks was active in most civic and community affairs; however, it is rather strange that he never made a profession of faith, nor became a member of any church, until he was 68 years of age. On October 28, 1858, he joined Lower Fairforest Baptist Church by profession of faith and was baptized. From that time on he took an active part in all church affairs, and on March 24, 1860, he was elected a deacon of the church, which office he held until his death. The church records show that in August, 1876, which was just five months before his death, William J. Sparks was sent as a delegate to the Bethel Baptist Association from his church, at which time he was 86 years of age. He was 87 when he died, and his body was laid to rest in Padgett's Creek Church Cemetery beside the grave of his second wife, Mary Lee Sparks.
A detailed inventory of the property of William J. Sparks was prepared on March 6, 1877, by Y. S. Bobo, Barrum Sparks, and S. Wilburn. Among the interesting items listed were the following 1 Spinning wheel (old), 25 cents; 1 Lot of carpentar tools, $4.00; 1 Lot shoemakers tools, $1.50; 27 Yards homespun, $1.80; 1 Clock, $3.00; 1 Lot of Blacksmith tools, $15.00; 20 Bushels cotton seed, $2.00; 1 Mowing blade, $1.00; and 1 Large kettle, $5.00. Claude E. Sparks now owns the family Bible once owned by William J. Sparks in which the births of his children and several of his grandchildren are listed.
29.3 William J. Sparks and his first wife, Mildred (Boatman) Sparks, were the parents the following children:
29.3.1 John Sparks, born April 23, 1813; died 1844.
29.3.2 Elizabeth Sparks, born April 3, 1816; died April 6, 1896.
29.3.3 Sarah (Sallie) Sparks, born August 24, 1818; died February 10, 1905.
29.3.4 Jesse Sparks, born May 12, 1820; died February 21, 1875.
29.3.5 Carpentar Sparks, born September 28, 1822; died February 5, 1884.
29.3.6 Hiram Sparks, born December 24, 1824; died in youth.
29.3.7 Levi Sparks, born September 29, 1826; died January 4, 1899.
29.3.8 Charlotte Sparks, born April 15, 1829; died August 15, 1885.
29.3.9 Canine Sparks, born August 25, 1832; died in infancy.
His second wife, Mary Lee Sparks, William J. Sparks had the following children:
29.3.10 William T. Sparks, born April 11, 1836; died October 20, 1861.
29.3.11 Amanda Sparks, born November 16, 1839; died March 5, 1906.29.3.1 John Sparks, oldest child of William J. and Mildred (Boatman) Sparks, was born April 23, 1815, and died in 1844. He married a FNU Bailey, a daughter of William Bailey, and they had four daughters. John Sparks was a farmer and he was living near Enoree River, in the southwest part of Union County, on the farm of Jesse Briggs, at the time of his death. According to the church records, John Sparks joined Padgett's Creek Baptist Church by experience on May 19, 1832. Then about one month later, on the third Saturday in June, 1832, Amy Sparks was received as a member of the church by experience. A later entry in the records book shows that on October 18, 1834, John Sparks and his wife were dismissed by letter; however, the given name of the wife is not shown, but it seems fairly certain that she and Amy Sparks were the same person. Both John Sparks and his wife died in either 1844 or 1845, according to some court records on file. His father was appointed administrator of his estate soon after his death; some of the receipts show that he paid $42.64 for doctors' bills; $9.31? for a shroud for Mrs. Sparks; and $8.52 to William Bailey for making two coffins. The four children of John Sparks and wife were:
29.3.1.1 Mildred (or Emely) Sparks; she was probably the Mildred Sparks who was living with the family of Levi Bailey when the 1850 census was taken. Her age was given as 16 in 1850. The family record in William J. Sparks's Bible shows she was born February 10, 1835. She married William Lawson, (better known as Sugar Bill Lawson) and they had four children:
29.3.1.1.1 William S. Lawson;
29.3.1.1.2 Charlie N. Lawson;
29.3.1.1.3 Eliza Lawson who married FNU Gregory; and
29.3.1.1.4 Lizzie Lawson who married FNU Green.29.3.1.2 Mary (or May) Sparks was born February 6, 1837; she was probably the Mary Sparks who was living with the family of William Bailey when the 1850 census was taken, at which time her age was given as 13. She married Jesse Lawson and they had two children, both girls, named
29.3.1.2.1 Lillie Lawson and
29.3.1.2.2 Sallie Lawson;(There is a large number of descendants of both Mildred (Sparks) Lawson and Mary (Sparks) Lawson now living in Union County, South Carolina.)
29.3.1.3 Susan Sparks, born March 7, 1839. Court records show that she married FNU Bobo, but no further information has been found about her or her husband. Apparently she was a widow at the time of her grandfather's death in 1877.
29.3.1.4 Elizabeth Sparks, born June 21, 1841. She married W. F. Barnett sometime after 1862. They were granted letters of dismission from Padgett's Creek Church in 1871, at which time they moved to Wadesville, in Navaro County, Texas, where she was still living in 1877.
Map of Union County, South Carolina, showing the location of the farms of William J. Sparks and his son Levi. 71.4.1 Lloyd Sparks, whose farm is shown, was discussed on page 154 of the Quarterly, September, 1956, Whole No. 15.
29.3.2 Elizabeth Sparks was born in Union County, S.C., on April 3, 1816. She married Jonathan Lee. They had five children as listed below, although there may have been other children. Members of the Lee family still live in South Carolina. Known children:
29.3.2.1 Green Lee.
29.3.2.2 Marion Lee.
29.3.2.3 President Lee (twin of Pennsylvania) moved to Georgia.
29.3.2.4 Pennsylvania Lee (twin of President) moved to Georgia.
29.3.2.5 Ann Lee.29.3.3 Sarah (Sallie) Sparks was born August 24, 1818, and died February 10, 1905. She married William Bailey. They had eight children, perhaps others:
29.3.3.1 H. Green Bailey, married Lena Humphries and had several children.
29.3.3.2 Fannie Bailey, never married.
29.3.3.3 Pauline (or Polly) Bailey, never married.
29.3.3.4 Penny Bailey, married W. T. White; they had no children.
29.3.3.5 Line Bailey, never married.
29.3.3.6 Laura Bailey, never married.
29.3.3.7 Charlie Bailey, married Alice Bailey; they had no children. His wife, Alice, is still living.
29.3.3.8 Elizabeth Bailey, married Jim Brook.29.3.4 Jessee Sparks was born May 12, 1820, and died February 21, 1875. He married Mary Maybery Gibbs when be was 21 years of age; their first child being born in July, 1842. Jesse Sparks was a farmer and in early life he acquired a farm of his own, and at the Lme of his death he owned several tracts. Like his brother, Levi, he was a confederate soldier in the Civil War Between the States. He died before reaching his fifty-fifth birthday, leaving his widow and one child, a daughter, to survive him. His widow, Mary M. Sparks, died nine years later. They were the parents of two children:
29.3.4.1 James Franklin Sparks, born July, 1842. He died before reaching his sixteenth birthday.
29.3.4.2 Mary Louise Sparks, born June 7, 1845, married Lemuel J. Bobo, son of Kindred and Comfort (Free) Bobo. Lemuel Bobo was the brother of Leannah Bobo, who married Levi Sparks. Mary Louise and Lemuel had two children:29.3.4.2.1 Jesse F. Bobo, who lived at Roebuck, in Spartanburg County, after his marriage. He was the father of six children, four sons and two daughters. He was a mail carrier and merchant.
29.3.4.2.2 Corrie Bobo. She married Thomas K. Palmer and lived in Union County until her death. She was the mother five children who lived to maturity, one son and four daughters. One of her daughters, Mrs. Etha P. Harris, now resides at Union, S.C.
The obituary of Jesse Sparks, written by C. B. Bobo, has been preserved; it reads as follows:
"It becomes our painful duty to record the death of one of our most esteemed Citizens, Jesse Sparks, who departed this life on the 21st of February 1875, from typhoid pneumonia, in the 55th year of his age. We seldom have occasion to notice the death of a man of such exemplary character.
"About 26 years ago he made a public profession of religion, by uniting with Lower Fairforest Church. For nearly 15 years he served as Deacon in New Prospect Church. Those who associated with him most know best how well he adorned the profession he had made. Could the sighs and groans, prayers and tears of affectionate and loving friends have raised him, or the kind and unceasing attention of friends and relatives lengthened out his days, the hand of death would have been stayed; but alas! the Divine Maker had ordered it otherwise.
'In the death of Bro. Sparks the church has lost one of its brightest ornaments, Union County, and especially Cross Keys Township, has lost one of its best citizens. While we deeply sympathise with the bereaved widow and numerous friends, we trust our loss is his eternal gain. Let us, therefore, submit to the will of Him who has power to give life and power to take it away. Knowing that--
Death is the common lot of all,
Both young and old must die,
And like the leaves of autumn fall,
And there forgotten lie.'
 |
 |
|
| 29.3.4 JESSE SPARKS | MARY M. SPARKS | |
|---|---|---|
| wife of Jesse Sparks | ||
| (1820-1875) | (1814-1884) |
29.3.5 Carpentar Sparks was born September 28, 1822; he died February 5, 1884. On December 14, 1853, he married Margaret A. T. Hughey, the daughter of Joseph and Mary Hughey. Margaret (Hughey) Sparks died on February 5, 1889. They had no children.
Carpentar Sparks was a rather peculiar type of person, and in his everyday walk in life he usually wanted to have things done his way. It is said that be and his brothers were doing some farm work in the river bottoms one day when something about the plow gears broke and a knife was needed to fix the part. Carpentar was the only one in the group who had a knife, and he was asked to loan his knife for making the repair; this he refused to do, so the brothers started to take the knife from him, but before they could get to him, he took the knife out of his pocket and threw it into the river. On another occasion, just a few years before his death, he was helping his brother, Levi, plant some corn and was instructed to drop one and two grains of corn to the hill. He had planted several rows when his brother noticed that there were three grains in each hill. When he was told that too many grains were being dropped in each hill, Carpenter merely asked if one and two did not make three.
29.3.5 CARPENTAR SPARKS (1822 - 1894)
29.3.6 Hiram Sparks was born December 24, 1824. There is no further record of him and it is assumed that he died in youth.
29.3.7 Levi Sparks was born September 29, 1826, and died January 4, 1899. During the early years of his life the greater part of his duties was helping with the work on his father's farm. In his early manhood he left the home of his father and worked for a few years as a farm overseer for other land owners. Then in the year 1859 he bought a home and farm for himself and family from James F. Ray. This land was located about one mile east of Cross Keys and contained about 113 acres. Several years previous to this time he had married Martha Buchanan, and to this union three children were born. The oldest child, John T. Sparks, died as the result of burns in 1860; he was nearly five years of age. Just a few months after the death of her son, Martha Sparks died before reaching her 27th birthday.
About one year after the death of his first wife, Levi Spanks married, as his second wife, Angeline Gibbs, the widow of James Gibbs. To this union only one child was born, a daughter, named 29.3.7.x Stella Sparks. About six months after the birth of this child, Angeline Sparks died on Christmas day, 1862. At the time of her death she had been married to Levi Sparks less than two years.
Following the death of his second wife, Levi Sparks married his third wife on May 19, 1863. She was Leannah F. Bobo, the daughter of Kindred and Comfort (Free) Bobo. To this union eight children were born, four boys and four girls. Leannah Sparks was a kind and loving mother to her children and a good step-mother to the children of Levi Sparks by previous marriages. She spent the last few years of her life as an invalid, and, after many months of suffering, she passed away on September 3, 1898. She was a faithful wife and bosom companion of her husband, Levi Sparks, for over 35 years. (A portrait of Levi and Leannah Sparks appears on the cover of this ussue of the Quarterly.) The grief over the loss of his wife very likely hastened Levi's death, which occurred just four months after that of his wife.
Levi Sparks was a Confederate soldier during the Civil War Between the States.
The following is a portion of an obituary which appeared in the local newspaper shortly after Levi Sparks died:
'It becomes our sad duty to chronicle the death of one of our best citizens, Mr. Levi Sparks, who died suddenly last Saturday evening. He had been unwell for some time, but was not confined to his bed; and he had gone out towards the lot late in in the evening, where he was found dead by his son a short while later. He seems to have died without a struggle. He was a deacon of Padgett's Creek Church. He had lived a consistent Christian life for many years and was often spoken of as one of the best of men. A few days before his death he remarked to a neighbor that he was trying to wind up his business here and was simply waiting for the call.
'We cannot say that he 'was perfect, but we do say that a world of such characters would liken earth to heaven. It has been said that duties of life or more than life, and having faithfully lived up to this creed by nobly performing every duty, both public and private, which was allotted to him, he was ready to die as one who had done no deed which, dying, be would wish to blot out. The dread summons found him fully prepared, and his death presented the sublime spectacle of one who could truthfully say, I know myself now, and I feel within me a peace above all earthly dignities, a still and quiet conscience.
'In spite of the inclement weather, a large crowd assembled to pay the last tribute of respect to the honored deceased. He leaves five sons and five daughters and a host of relatives and friends to mourn his loss. The funeral services were conducted by his pastor, after which appropriate Masonic services were held, he being one of the oldest members of the Cross Keys Lodge. His remains were laid to rest in Padgett's Creek Church Cemetery.'
by his first wife, Martha (Buchanan) Sparks, Levi Sparks had the following children:
29.3.7.1 Johnnie T. Sparks, born September 27, 1855; died January 26, 1860.
29.3.7.2 Jessee Jones Sparks, born March 3, 1857; died May 22, 1917. He married a FNU Leake of Laurens County, S.C. They had one son,29.3.7.2.1 Joe Sparks. He was a well known newspaper reporter in South Carolina for several years. He was in the life insurance business when he died in January 1947.
29.3.7.3 Aurelia Naomie Sparks, born November 15, 1859; died October 12, 1896. She married Thomas Estes. There were no children.
by his second wife, Angeline Gibbs Sparks, Levi Sparks had the following child:
29.3.7.4 Stella A. Sparks, born June 14, 1862; died December 18, 1942. She married Samuel E. Glenn. They had two sons,
29.3.7.4.1 George Glenn and
29.3.7..4.2 Coy Glenn, both of whom are now living in Union County.by his third wife, Leannah F. (Bobo) Sparks, Levi Sparks had the following children:
29.3.7.5 Alma T. Sparks, born February 26, 1865; died June 20, 1937. She married James N. Norman and they had seven children:
29.3.7.5.1 Louie L. Norman.
29.3.7.5.2 Annie Lou Norman, married Napoleon Hill.
29.3.7.5.3 Myrtle Lee Norman, married Howard Williamson.
29.3.7.5.4 Leon Norman.
29.3.7.5.5 Loy Norman.
29.3.7.5.6 Mary Norman.
29.3.7.5.7 Leila Irine Norman, married Ben Hatcher.29.3.7.6 James N. Sparks, born August 14, 1866; died August 28, 1902. He married Jessie Jones, and they had one daughter,
29.3.7.6.1 Jimmie Nola Sparks. Mrs.Jessie Sparks and her daughter, Mrs. Jimmie Nole Suddeth, now live in Clinton, South Carolina.
29.3.7.7 Leila A. Sparks, born November 4, 1868; died April 20, 1945. She never married.
29.3.7.8 William Mayfield Sparks, born June 6, 1870; died December 14, 1919. He married Jennie Bobo, born April 10, 1872; died March 23, 1943, daughter of Barham and Fannie Virginia (Ray) Bobo. They had the following children
29.3.7.8.1 Claude E. Sparks, born December 11, 1897. (Claude E. Sparks is the family historian and is the one who has prepared this material for publication.)
29.3.7.8.2 Guy B. Sparks, born December 14, 1901; married, first, Jessie Platt, second, Ruth McDowell.
29.3.7.8.3 William J. Sparks, born July 31, 1904; married Sara Sims.
29.3.7.8.4 Mary Louise Sparks, born August 23, 1910. She married Jack F. Burnett.29.3.7.9 Mamie S. Sparks, born June 23, 1872; died December 2, 1948. She married Thomas Arthur Bailey and they had two children:
29.3.7.9.1 Anna Lee Bailey married J. Ernest Sims; and
29.3.7.9.2 Mary Ruth Bailey married Ernest E. Langley.29.3.7.10 C. Bobo Sparks, born April 7, 1874; died 1950. He married, first, Annie Dodd; they had no children. He married, second, Cattie Gibbs. They had two children, twins, one dying in infancy and the other,
29.3.7.10.1 Fannie Lee Sparks, now lives in Union, South Carolina.
29.3.7.11 Clara I. Sparks, born March 8, 1877; died February 18, 1960. She never married.
29.3.7.12 Simpson Levi Sparks, born September 11, 1879; died October 16, 1944. He married Lilla Betsill and they had two children:29.3.7.12.1 Many Lee Sparks and
29.3.7.12.2 Margaret Simpson Sparks. She married D. G. Harrison.29.3.8 Charlotte Sparks was born April 15, 1829; died August 15, 1885. She married Robert F. Ray. Their children:
29.3.8.1 Theodocia (Docia) Ray. She married James A. Wilburn and they had two daughters:
29.3.8.1.1 Auressie Wilburn and
29.3.8.1.2 Beatrice Wilburn.29.3.8.2 Esther Ray. She married Macdonald M. Wilburn, and they had seven children:
29.3.8.2.1 Bryson Wilburn,
29.3.8.2.2 Clarence Wilburn,
29.3.8.2.3 Eddie Wilburn,
29.3.8.2.4 Erastus Wilburn,
29.3.8.2.5 Glover Wilburn,
29.3.8.2.6 Lottie Wilburn, and
29.3.8.2.7 Nellie Wilburn.29.3.8.3 Othelie Ray. She married J. Wiley Humphries. They had the following children:
29.3.8.3.1 Ray Humphries,
29.3.8.3.2 Eva Humphries,
29.3.8.3.3 Bessie Humphries,
29.3.8.3.4 Olive Humphries,
29.3.8.3.5 Bertha Humphries,
29.3.8.3.6 Willie T. Humphries, and
29.3.8.3.7 Lona Mae Humphries.29.3.9 Carline Sparks was born August 25, 1832; died in infancy.
29.3.10 William T. Sparks, tenth child of William J. Sparks (his first child by his second wife, Mary Lee Sparks) was born April 11, 1836; died October 20, 1861. He married Mary Bobo and they had one child,
29.3.10.1 Hirum Micajah Sparks, who married Elizabeth Whitesides. They had sons
29.3.10.1.1 Harry Sparks,
29.3.10.1.2 William Sparks,
29.3.10.1.3 Joseph Sparks,
29.3.10.1.4 James Sparks,
29.3.10.1.5 Eddie Sparks, and
29.3.10.1.6 Charley Sparks;
All are deceased.29.3.11 Amanda Sparks, eleventh child of William J. Sparks (his second child by his second wife, Mary Lee Sparks) was born November 16, 1839; died March 5, 1906. She married Eliphas Bearden and they had three daughters:
29.3.11.1 Minnie Bearden and
29.3.11.2 Mattie Bearden, both of whom died in infancy, and
29.3.11.3 Annie Bearden, who died at about the age of fifteen.
29.4 Susannah, or Susie, Sparks, daughter of John and Elizabeth Sparks, was born ca. 1795. She married, following her sister's death, Carpentar Simmons as his second wife, sometime after 1837. Carpentar Simmons died in 1842, at which time Susannah was still living. There were no children.