August 16, 2023
Pages 706-718
Whole Number 41
THE DESCENDANTS OF 23.4 JAMES SPARKS (1813-1903)
OF WRIGHT COUNTY, MISSOURI
by James L. Sparks
In the September, 1962, issue of The Sparks Quarterly, beginning on page 661, appeared an abstract of the documents on file in the National Archives relating to the application of Anna (Smith) Sparks for bounty land. This claim was based on the service of her husband, 23. Richard Sparks, in the War of 1812. One of the children of Richard and Anna (Smith) Sparks was 23.4 James Sparks, born July 4, 1813. The following article represents an attempt to trace the descendants of James Sparks.
Although my name appears above as the author of this sketch, I actually deserve credit only for compiling the data in this order. The persons who deserve most of the credit are my grandfather, A. B. Sparks, who spent many years gathering material on the family; Mrs. J. B. (Rosa) Sparks of Parsons, Kansas, who carefully preserved my grandfather's records and made them available to me, and Mr. William F. Arnall, of Hartville, Missouri. In fact, Mr. Arnall deserves more credit than anyone else because he has been gathering genealogical material on the Sparks family for many years. He also deserves much credit for his labor and foresight in protecting Wright County cemeteries and burial places of members of the Sparks family. In a number of instances, he has personally purchased grave markers to mark the burial places of our people. I should like to take this means of thanking Mr. Arnall publicly for his hospitality to me as a guest in his home while I gathered data on the clan. I think the Association as well as all of the descendants of "Uncle Jimmie Sparks" owe Mr. Arnall an eternal Thank You. I also wish to thank the many living grandchildren of James Sparks who have helped in the compilation of this article.
23.4 James Sparks, son of 23. Richard and Anna (Smith) Sparks, was born on July 4, 1813, in Iredell County, North Carolina, and died on March 10, 1903, at Hartville, Wright County, Missouri. He was buried in the Mt. Zion (Pinchem) Cemetery, ten miles east of Hartville. In the past there has been some question regarding the year of his birth, but most records support the belief that it was 1813. In 1892, James Sparks applied for a pension based on his service in the war with the Cherokee Indians (in which the Indians were forced to go to reservations west of the Mississippi River) in 1837. He stated that he was then (1892) seventy-nine years of age and that he had served as a corporal in the company commanded by Capt. G. W. Laffery in the regiment commanded by Col. byrd comprised of Tennessee Mounted Volunteers. He stated that he had been twenty-four years old in 1837; that he enlisted in February, 1837, for one year at Chattanooga, Tennessee, then called Ross's Landing, and that he was discharged in July or August, 1837, at Chattanooga. He stated that when he enlisted he was 5 feet 8 inches tall, with blue eyes, black hair and a dark complexion; that he had been a farmer by occupation and that he had been born in Iredell County, North Carolina. He stated that after the war he lived in Hamilton County, Tennessee, for two years, then in Bledsoe County, Tennessee, for four years, and then in Wright County, Missouri, for fifty years. For many years James Sparks was Justice of the Peace in the town of Hartville, in Wright County.
James Sparks was married four times. He married first, in 1837 in Tennessee, Elizabeth Matthews who died in 1844. She was buried in the Nunn Cemetery two miles east of Hartville, Wright County, Missouri. James Sparks married, second, Delilah E. Seagraves who died in 1888. (A portrait of Delilah (Seagraves) Sparks appears below.) James Sparks married, third, Sarah L. Hutsell; they were divorced between 1892 and 1894. He married, fourth, Mary Aim Bivian in 1894. James Sparks had children only by his first two wives.
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| Delilah (Seagraves) Sparks |
James Sparks and his first wife, Elizabeth Matthews, had two children:
23.4.1 Mary (Polly) Ann Sparks, born August 4, 1840, in Bledsoe County, Tennessee.
23.4.2 James Richard Sparks, born July 24, 1841, in Laclede County, Missouri.James Sparks and his second wife, Delilah Seagraves, had the following children, all born four miles east of Hartville, Wright County, Missouri.
23.4.3 Martha Jane Sparks, born September 10, 1854.
23.4.4 William (Bill) Gray Sparks, born ca. 1856.
23.4.5 Elizabeth Carolina (Caroline) Sparks, born January 8, 1859.
23.4.6 Thomas J. Sparks, born May 26, 1861.
23.4.7 Sarah Louisa Sparks, born May 26, 1862 (or 1864).
23.4.8 Jacob Baylor Sparks, born December 24, 1866.
23.4.9 Alfred (or Allord) Burton Sparks, born June 26, 1869.
23.4.10 Missouri Evalyn Sparks, born November 20, 1872 (or 1867-68).23.4.1 Mary (Polly) Ann Sparks, eldest child of James and Elizabeth (Matthews) Sparks, was born August 4, 1840, in Bledsoe County, Tennessee, and died on February 28, 1917, at her home five miles north of Norwood, Wright County, Missouri, and was buried in the Mt. Zion (Pinchem) Cemetery ten miles east of Hartville, Wright County, Missouri. She was married, first, in 1860 to Baylor B. B. Calhoun who died during the Civil War; he was a private in Company B, 8th Missouri Cavalry, and was hospitalized in the Veterans Hospital, Little Rock, Arkansas, at the time of his death on April 27, 1865. He was buried in the Little Rock National Cemetery. Mary (Polly) Ann Sparks had one child by her first husband, a daughter who died as an infant. She married, second, the Rev. Malroy (Mat) Jackson Arnall, who was born October 13, 1847, and died March 21, 1916. There were no children by this marriage.
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| The Rev. Malroy and Mary (Polly) Ann (Sparks) Arnall |
23.4.2 James Richard Sparks, son of James and Elizabeth (Matthews) Sparks, was born July 24, 1841, in Laclede County, Missouri. He was a soldier in the Union Army during the Civil War. His discharge, dated June 9, 1865, and signed by Capt. J. S. Hanilton, reveals that he was a corporal in Capt. Dalrymple's company (G) in the 24th Regiment of Missouri Infantry Volunteers. He had been enrolled on May 4, 1862, to serve three years. He was described as being five feet, five inches tall, of a light complexion, with blue eyes, light hair, and he was a farmer by occupation. James Richard Sparks died at his home five miles north of Norwood, Wright County, Missouri, on March 8, 1894, and was buried in the Curtis Cemetery north of Norwood. He was married twice. He married, first, in October, 1860, Sarah Louisa Barnett, daughter of William and Margaret Jane (Sanders) Barnett; she was born April 23, 1845, and died March 7, 1875, five miles north of Norwood. She was also buried in the Curtis Cemetery. James Richard Sparks married, second, Susan Ann Abshere, on October 18, 1876. She was born in 1846. James Richard Sparks and his first wife, Sarah Louisa Barnett, were the parents of the following children:
23.4.2.1 Mary Ann Sparks, daughter of James Richard and Sarah Louisa (Barnett) Sparks, was born November 20, 1864, east of Hartville, Wight County, Missouri. She died August 11, 1869, in the fifth year of her age.
23.4.2.2 Margaret Jane Sparks, daughter of James Richard and Sarah Louisa (Barnett) Sparks, was born January 11, 1867, east of Hartville, Wright County, Missouri. She died January 6, 1904, in Mansfield, Missouri. In 1883, she married Isaac Newton Arnall who was born November 15, 1862, in Franklin County, Missouri, and died March 9, 1938, at Hartville, Missouri. They were the parents of the following children:
23.4.2.2.1 A. J. Arnall, born April 23, 1886; died as an infant on September 10, 1887.
23.4.2.2.2 George W. Arnall, born August 13, 1887; died October 10, 1923.
23.4.2.2.3 Benjamin H. Arnall, born May 26, 1889; married Minnie A. Roberts.
23.4.2.2.4 William L. Arnall, born June 23, 1891; died October 20, 1892.
23.4.2.2.5 William F. Arnall, born March 13, 1895, at Mansfield, Wright County, Missouri. He now lives at Eartville. He was originally named Willie Finas Sparks, but he states that "everybody except the family call me William. I did not like the name Willie, so just assumed the name William." He was married on April 18, 1920, in Parsons, Kansas, to Beatrice G. Piatt, daughter of Charles H. and Elizabeth (McAfee) Piatt. She was born December 25, 1901, in Washington County, Ohio. Mr. Arnall served in the U.S. Army during World War I. He enlisted on May 1, 1918, in the 66th Operating Engineers with which unit he went to France; be returned to the United States in August, 1919, and was honorably discharged on August 19, 1919. A portrait of Mr. Arnall taken while he was a soldier in France appears on the following page.
23.4.2.2.6 Bessie A. Arnall, born February 27, 1898; died December 14, 1916.
23.4.2.2.7 Dewey W. Arnall, born September 12, 1899; died March 5, 1900.
23.4.2.2.8 Frank Arnall, born April 2, 1901; married Anna Phillips.
23.4.2.2.5 W. F. Arnall, American Soldier in France in 1918
23.4.2.3 William B. Sparks, son of James Richard and Sarah Louisa (Barnett) Sparks, was born May 24, 1870, east of Hartville, Wright County, Missouri, and died as an infant on July 14, 1871.
23.4.2.4 James Alfred Sparks, son of James Richard and Sarah Louisa (Barnett) Sparks, was born December 27, 1871, east of Hartville, Wright County, Missouri, and died on December 11, 1946. He was married on March 16, 1892, to Verba Jane Spencer, daughter of John Spencer, who was born May 20, 1867, in Roane County, Tennessee, and died on October 30, 1954. They were the parents of the following children, all born at Norwood, Wright County, Missouri, except Isaac who was born in Arkansas.
23.4.2.4.1 James Richard Sparks, born January 15, 1893; married Lillie York.
23.4.2.4.2 Sarah Louisa Sparks, born January 15, 1893 (twin); married on March 18, 1912, Dave Loyd.
23.4.2.4.3 Susan Arm Sparks, born August 31, 1895; married Jesse Dear.
23.4.2.4.4 Isaac Clarence Sparks, born May 23, 1898; he married, first, on December 24, 1917, Clara Bell Foster; he married, second, in 1941, Mattie Johnson.
23.4.2.4.5 Margaret Jane Sparks, born February 16, 1903; married November 23, 1919, Marion Harrison Sanders.
23.4.2.4.6 William G. Sparks, born July 20, 1904; married in September, 1925, Jeipha Anderson.
23.4.2.4.7 Mary Elizabeth Sparks, born October 15, 1905; married, first, on August 14, 1925, Fredrick Garner; married second, on October 6, 1951, Carl Leeper.
23.4.2.4.8 Joseph Jackson Sparks, born March 8, 1907; married Elizabeth Coffman
23.4.2.4.9 May Belle Sparks, born May 1, 1908; married Linus Dake.
23.4.2.4.10 Francis Melvina Sparks, born May 26, 1910; married in September, 1952, Bedford Cobb.23.4.2.5 Andrew Jackson (Jack) Sparks, son of James Richard and Sarah Louisa (Barnett) Sparks, was born January 1, 1874, east of Hartville, Wright County, Missouri; he died in 1950. He married Frances M. Moore, who was born October 30, 1876, and died in 1947. They were the parents of the following children:
23.4.2.5.1 George A. Sparks, born September 26, 1896.
23.4.2.5.2 Dicea L. Sparks, born March 25, 1899.
23.4.2.5.3 Leo Sparks, born June 27, 1903.
23.4.2.5.4 John W. Sparks, born October 24, 1904.
23.4.2.5.5 Mary M. Sparks, born February 21, 1907.
23.4.2.5.6 William H. Sparks, born December 20, 1908.
23.4.2.5.7 Martha A. Sparks, born May 8, 1911.
23.4.2.5.8 Louisa J. Sparks, born August 20, 1913.
23.4.2.5.9 Floyd E. Sparks, born August 26, 1916.
23.4.2.5.10 Lora Bell Sparks, born December 13, 1918.
23.4.2 James Richard Sparks and his second wife, Susan Ann Abshere, were the parents of the following children:
23.4.2.6 JOHN SPARKS OF NORWOOD, MISSOURI
(one of our oldest members)WITH HIS GREAT-GRANDDAUGHTER, CHEREL LENN PRUITT John Sparks, above, son of Richard and Susan Ann (Abshere) Sparks, was born on September 28, 1878. Cherel Lenn Pruitt, his great-granddaughter, was born on February 21, 1963. Mr. Sparks celebrated his 85th birthday last September.
23.4.2.6 John Anderson Smith Sparks, son of James Richard and Susan Ann (Abshere) Sparks, was born September 28, 1878, north of Norwood, Wright County, Missouri. He is a member of The Sparks Family Association and lives at Norwood, Missouri. He was married on March 10, 1907, to Vernie Ellen Raney, who was born April 22, 1888. They were the parents of the following children:
23.4.2.6.1 Nellie Sparks, born March 4, 1915.
23.4.2.6.2 Bob Sparks, born February 8, 1918.
23.4.2.6.3 Beulah J. Sparks, born July 30, 1920.
23.4.2.6.4 May Del Sparks, born July 31, 1929.
23.4.2.6.5 Doris Sparks, born February 2, 1931.23.4.2.7 Sarah L. Sparks, daughter of James Richard and Susan Ann (Abshere) Sparks, was born February 28, 1881, north of Norwood, Wright County, Missouri, and died November 9, 1946. She married in February, 1900, Marve Dugger or Dugar.
23.4.2.8 William Brody Gray Spark was born January 26,1883, north of Norwood, Wright County, Missouri, and died November 6, 1959. He married December 19, 1907, Elizabeth Owens.
23.4.2.9 Lizza Sparks was born April 25, 1885, north of Norwood, Wright County, Missouri. She died as an infant, about two years old.
23.4.2.10 Mellisa Evelyn Sparks was born August 31, 1887, north of Norwood, Wright County, Missouri, and lived at 801 Morris Ave., Mt. Grove, Missouri. She was married on March 16, 1909, to Elias Montgomery Fletcher, who was born January 18, 1883, and died on November 17, 1957. They were the parents of the following children:
23.4.2.10.1 Ruth Susan Fletcher, born January 9, 1910.
23.4.2.10.2 Rancle Lowell Fletcher, born October 22, 1911.
23.4.2.10.3 John Wilton Fletcher, born May 15, 1913.
23.4.2.10.4 Edna Pauline Fletcher, born December 19, 1915.
23.4.2.10.5 Clinton Fred Fletcher, born July 21, 1920.23.4.2.11 Rosetta Sparks was born February 4, 1890, north of Norwood, Wright County, Missouri. She lived in California. She married Pete Ussery.
23.4.3 Martha Jane Sparks, daughter of James and Delilah (Seagraves) Sparks, was born four miles east of Hartville, Wright County, Missouri, on September 10, 1854. She died on May 28, 1926, at her home in Springfield, Greene County, Missouri, and was buried in Greenlawn Cemetery at Springfield. She was married ca. 1879 to James Benjamin Freeman, who was born in Kentucky on March 28, 1861; he was a son of James Benjamin Hile Freeman; he died January 3, 1939, and was also buried in the Greenlawn Cemetery. They were the parents of the following children:
23.4.3.1 James Thomas Hile Freeman was born March 5, 1880, east of Hartville, Wright County, Missouri. He lived in Springfield, Missouri. In the spring of 1905 he married Taney Beatrice Staples. They had the following children:
23.4.3.1.1 Thomas E. Freeman.
23.4.3.1.2 James G. Freeman.
23.4.3.1.3 Bessie E. Freeman.
23.4.3.1.4 Opal Delillah Freeman.
23.4.3.1.5 Florance A. Freeman.23.4.3.2 Sarah Delilah Elizabeth Freeman was born March 30, 1883, east of Hartville, Missouri. She died October 14, 1959. On December 12, 1906, she married Charles D. Mills
23.4.3.3 Willis J. K. B. Freeman was born March 30, 1883, east of Hartville, Wright County, Missouri. He died on January 18, 1893, when the family home burned.
23.4.3.4 Edward C. Freeman was born November 18, 1886, east of Hartville, Wright County, Missouri. He died on January 18, 1893, when the family home burned.
23.4.3.5 Mary A. Freeman was born June 30, 1868, east of Hartville, Wright County, Missouri, and died November 25, 1889.
23.4.4 William (Bill) Gray Sparks, son of James and Delilah (Seagraves) Sparks, was born in Wright County, Missouri, ca. 1856. He died on December 1, 1891, in Wright County, Missouri, and was buried in the Mt. Zion (Pinchem) Cemetery near Hartville, Wright County, Missouri. He married Alice Frances (Fannie) Jackson, who was born June 20, 1859, in Wright County. She died June 20, 1940, in Longmont, Boulder County, Colorado, and was buried in Mountain View Cemetery in Longmont. She was a daughter of Dr. William and Sally (Walker) Jackson. Following the death of William Gray Sparks, she married Amos Perry Smalley. William Gray and Alice Frances (Jackson) Sparks were the parents of the following children:
23.4.4.1 William Sparks was born before 1881 at Hartville, Wright County, Missouri. He died at birth.
23.4.4.2 Lizzie Sparks was born before 1881 at Hartville, and died at birth.
23.4.4.3 Lillian Margrett Sparks was born February 18, 1881, at Hartville, Missouri, and lived at Oroville, California. She was married on July 2, 1897, to James Earl Church; she married, second, William Chester Carnes.
23.4.4.4 John William Sparks was born January 29, 1884, at Hartville, Missouri. He lived in Tanganoxie, Kansas. He married Elizabeth Southland in 1907.
23.4.4.5 James Richard Sparks was born in 1886, at Hartville, Missouri.23.4.4.6 Della Lulu Sparks was born November 20, 1888, at Hartville, Missouri. She lived in Canon City, Colorado. Her husband's name is W. D. Rule.
23.4.4.7 Ada Sarah Sparks was born January 19, 1890, in Hartville, Missouri. She was married on December 25, 1910, to Elmer Claude Akers. They are the parents of the following children:
23.4.4.7.1 Anna Belle Akers, born January 2, 1912.
23.4.4.7.2 William Claude Akers, born November 9, 1913.
23.4.4.7.3 Bessie Akers, born October 3, 1916.
23.4.4.7.4 Stephen C. Akers, born August 22, 1923.
23.4.4.7.5 Alice Bonita Akers, born December 3, 1932.23.4.4.8 Benjamin Gray Sparks was born in 1891, in Hartville, Missouri; he died in 1903.
23.4.5 Elizabeth Carolina (Caroline) Sparks, daughter of James and Delilah (Seagraves) Sparks, was born four miles east of Hartville, Wright County, Missouri, on January 8, 1859. She died in Kansas City, Kansas, on November 21, 1927, and was buried in the Maple Hill Cemetery in Kansas City, Kansas. She married John D. Glenn, who was born in Tennessee on May 25, 1845; he was a son of William and Sarah (Allison) Glenn. He died November 8, 1912, in Kansas City and was also buried there in the Maple Hill Cemetery. They were the parents of the following children.
23.4.5.1 Jacob Lee (Jake) Glenn was born in Wright County, Missouri, on July 17, 1886; he died November 8, 1947. He never married.
23.4.5.2 Martha Catherine (Katy) Glenn was born in Wright County, Missouri, on August 4, 1888. On August 14, 1924, she married William Wiley.
23.4.5.3 James Hose Webb Glenn was born in Wright County, Missouri, date not known. He died as an infant.
23.4.5.4 Hester Ann (Ester) Glenn was born in Wright County, Missouri, on July 13, 1902. She married Edward Lee (Jack) Whittaker on September 14, 1918.
23.4.5.5 Andrew Farmer Glenn was born in Wright County, Missouri, date not known. He died when three years of age.
23.4.6 Thomas J. Sparks (some descendants believe his middle name was Jackson while others believe it was Jefferson), son of James and Delilah (Seagraves) Sparks, was born four miles east of Hartville, Wright County, Missouri, on May 26, 1861. He died on February 1, 1937, at his home in Chanute, Neosho County, Kansas, and was buried in the Elrnwood Cemetery there. He was married twice. His first wife's name was Nancy Caudle and by her he had three children.
Following the death of his first wife, he married, second, Amanda Elizabeth Grogan, daughter of Ambros Marion and Caroline (Owens) Grogan. She was born November 30, 1881, in Hartyule, Missouri, and lived in Chanute, Kansas. Thomas J. and Nancy (Caudle) Sparks had the following children:
23.4.6.1 Fred Ellis Sparks was born in Hartville, Missouri, on October 4, 1892, and died in the Wadsworth Veterans Hospital in Wadsworth, Kansas. He was buried at Chanute, Neosho County, Kansas. He was married on November 5, 1921, to Grace Belle Scott, daughter of William Emmett and Prudence (Johnson) Scott. She lived in Wichita, Kansas. They were the parents of:
23.4.6.1.1 Gerald Edward Sparks, born December 17, 1922, in Chanute, Neosho County, Kansas.
23.4.6.1.2 Noel Emmett Sparks, born August 29, 1924, in Chanute, Kansas.
23.4.6.1.3 Merrol Ellis Sparks, born August 7, 1927, in Elgin, Chautauqua County, Kansas.23.4.6.2 Mary Delilah Sparks was born ca. 1893 in Hartville and died as a child in May, 1899.
23.4.6.3 Docia Bell Sparks was born December 15, 1894, in Hartville, Missouri; she died July 4, 1961. She married November 24, 1911, Jessie Howard Rush.
by his second wife, Amanda E. Grogan, Thomas J. Sparks had the following children:
23.4.6.4 John Marion Sparks was born at Mansfield, Wright County, Missouri, on January 29, 1902, and lived in Orient, Iowa. On April 26, 1937, he married Molley Grasmick. They have an adopted daughter.
23.4.6.5 Ruth Margaret Sparks was born at Mansfield, Wright County, Missouri, on February 14, 1905, and lived in Fresno, California. On April 14, 1920, she married Elijah Clifford Caudle, son of William Hughes and Mattie (Forest) Caudle; he was born in Norwood. Missouri, on January 19, 1899. They are the parents of the following children:
23.4.6.5.1 Clifford Eugene Caudle, born August 23, 1921, in Norwood, Missouri; he married Bette Jean Schulte on November 18, 1943.
23.4.6.5.2 Robert Morris Caudle, born November 30, 1922, in Chanute, Kansas; he married Willamae Derryberry on June 2, 1949.
23.4.6.5.3 William Leroy Caudle, born August 7, 1924, in Waco, Texas; he married Irene Johnson on June 3, 1959.
23.4.6.5.4 Nina Ruth Caudle, born November 4, 1934, in Waco, Texas, and died as an infant on November 11, 1934.23.4.6.6 Hazel Lorene Sparks was born at Chanute, Neosho County, Kansas, on July 1, 1907, and lived in Chanute, She married Clifford Ruben Holman on January 2, 1927. He was born July 29, 1905.
They have one son:
23.4.6.6.1 Donald Eugene Holinan, born February 25, 1929, in Leanna, Allen County, Kansas. He married Dorothy June Phillips on February 27, 1949.
23.4.6.7 Howard Joseph Sparks was born in Chanute, Kansas, on December 14, 1911, and lived in Fresno, California. He is unmarried.
23.4.6.8 Ethel Lucille Sparks was born in Chanute, Kansas, on December 2, 1913, and died as a child on October 11, 1922.
23.4.6.9 Thelma Frances Sparks was born in Chanute, Kansas, on February 5, 1919, and is still living. She married, first, Lester Rathburn; second, John L. Verhelst.
23.4.6.10 Effie Marie Sparks was born in Chanute, Kansas, on June 23, 1921, and still lives in Chanute. She married Donald Clifford Cornell on June 26, 1936.
23.4.6.11 Harold Wayne Sparks was born in Chanute, Kansas, on October 2, 1923, and still lives in Chanute. He married Peggy Joan Barnum on December,18, 1949.
23.4.7 Sarah Louisa Sparks, daughter of James and Delilah K. (Seagraves) Sparks, was born at her parents' home four miles east of Hartville, Wright County, Missouri, on May 26, 1864. She died in Wright County ca. 1943. She married Alfred Newton (Boie) Moore; he was born in 1852 and died in 1939. They were the parents of the following children, all born near Hartville, Missouri:
23.4.7.1 Sarah Aletha Moore, married Isaac Binkley.
23.4.7.2 Minnie Moore, married Charley Stacey.
23.4.7.3 Pearl Moore, married Arthur E. Dugger.
23.4.7.4 Finis Moore, married Fannie Woods.
23.4.7.5 Ora Moore, married Richard Carder.
23.4.7.6 Blanche Moore.
23.4.7.7 Neal Moore, married Gladis Hopkins.
23.4.8 Rev. Jacob Baylor Sparks was born at his parents' rural home near Hartville, Wright County, Missouri., on December 24, 1866. He died on May 1, 1947, at 2200 Hock St., Parsons, Labette County, Kansas. He was marrIed on March 5, 1894, in his sister Missouri's home in Hartville, to Rosa Ann Bohannon, daughter of John and Nancy (Bennett) Bohannon. She was born March 5, 1879, near Hartville, and lived in Parsons, Kansas. They were the parents of the following children:
23.4.8.1 Josephene Ann Sparks was born November 5, 1895, near Hartville, Missouri. She married James Earl Garrison on March 26, 1922; he was a son of William Luther and Emma Jane (Roader) Garrison, and was born May 4, 1895. They now live in Parsons, Kansas, and are the parents of the following children:
23.4.8.1.1 Delpha Naline Garrison was born in Skiatook, Tulsa County, Oklahoma., on June 26, 1922; she was married on March 7, 1942, to Robert Charles Cox.
23.4.8.1.2 Norma Rose Garrison was born in Chanute, Neosho County, Kansas, on April 31, 1927; she was married on June 13, 1948, to Glen Leslie Hamilton.
23.4.8.1.3 Glen Earl Garrison, was born in Chanute, Neosho County, Kansas, on June 12, 1933; he was married on March 5, 1954, to Linda Heing.23.4.8.2 Verba Edith Sparks, daughter of Jacob B. and Rosa Ann (Bohannon) Sparks, was born near Hartville, Wright County, Missouri, on January 9, 1899, and lived in Chanute, Kansas. She was married on February 24, 1923, to Rex Smith.
23.4.8.3 Reba Lucille Sparks, daughter of Jacob B. and Rosa Ann (Bohannon) Sparks, was born in Chanute, Neosho County, Kansas, on November 5, 1905, and lived in Chanute, Kansas. She married Fred M. Gillihan.
23.4.9 Alfred (or Alford) Burton Sparks, son of James and Delilah K. (Seagraves) Sparks, was born at his parents' rural home near Hartville, Wright County, Missouri, on June 26, 1869; he died on March 22, 1936, in the Oklahoma Masonic Home in Guthrie, Logan County, Okia. He was married twice. He married, first, Alabama Elizabeth Angel, on January 3, 1894, in Semour, Webster County, Missouri. He married, second, Sally Henrietta LaPrade.
by his first wife he had two children:
23.4.9.1 Victor Ego Sparks, son of Alfred (or Alford) B. and Alabama E. (Angel) Sparks, was born east of Hartville, Missouri, on January 13, 1895. He lived in Oregon. He was married twice. He married, first, on September, 7, 1923, Dr. Rachel Carleton; he married, second, Melba Day on June 10, 1939, in Reno, Nevada. The latter was born January 4, 1915. Victor Ego and Rachel (Carleton) Sparks had two children:
23.4.9.1.1 Mildred Jean Sparks, born in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 16, 1925, now living in Portland, Oregon. She married Claude Gates.
23.4.9.1.2 James (Jim) Edward Sparks, born in Minneapolis, MN., on October 4, 1927, now lives in California. He married Janet Peake.23.4.9.2 Lester Leo Sparks, son of Alfred (or Alford) B. and Alabama E. (Angel) Sparks, was born in Seymour, Webster County, Missouri, on April 10, 1897. He died as an infant, on June 22, 1898.
by his second wife, Sally Henrietta (LaPrade) Sparks, Alfred (or Alford) B. Sparks had the following children:
23.4.9.3 Alton Burnett (Jack) Sparks, son of Alfred (or Alford) and Sally H. (Laprade) Sparks, was born in Copan, Washington County, Oklahoma, on April 9, 1905, and lived in California. He has been married three times. He married, first, Florence Beulah Pope, daughter of James Milton and Frances Silas (Cantley) Pope, on March 10, 1928. She was born October 5, 1908, in Perkins, Payne County, Oklahoma, and died June 20, 1929. She died at the birth of their only child. Alton B. Sparks married, second, Irene Diebler, and third, Mrs. Irene Evelyn (DeMott) Thompson. Alton Burnett and Florence Beulah (Pope) Sparks had one child:
23.4.9.3.1 James LaPrade Sparks, born June 20, 1929, in Bartlesville, Washington County, Oklahoma. He now lives in Lincoln, Nebraska and is the author of this article. He was married on May 22, 1960, to Lois Glee Parry.
Alton Barnett and Irene Evelyn (DeMott) Sparks had one child:
23.4.9.3.2 Joe Fred Sparks, born November 20, 1943, in Los Angeles, California. He is now in the U.S. Army.23.4.9.4 Dalphon (Dal) Clinton Sparks, son of Alfred (or Alford) and Sally H. (LaPrade) Sparks, was born in Copan, Washington County, Oklahoma, on April 9, 1905. He was married in Hillsboro, Sierra County, New Mexico, on May 27, 1936, to Verna Marie Laumbach, daughter of Daniel and Emma Margaret (Henkens) Laurnbach. She was born October 8, 1909, on her parents' ranch near Roy, Harding County, New Mexico. They live in Springer, New Mexico, and have two children:
23.4.9.4.1 Gerald Clinton (Jerry) Sparks, born in Las Vegas, San Miguel County, New Mexico, on April 19, 1937. He was married on June 6, 1958, to Betty Gail Miller.
23.4.9.4.2 Janet Elaine Sparks, born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on December 18, 1940. She was married on May 2, 1960, to Ezra David Ikenberry.23.4.9.5 Mary Alice Sparks, daughter of Alfred (or Alford) and Sally H. (LaPrade) Sparks, was born February 17, 1921, in Copan, Washington County, Oklahoma. She was married on June 4, 1938, at Bernalillo, San Doval County, New Mexico, to David Leonard Hethcoatt, son of Grover Cleveland and Belva Lockwood (Robb) Hethcoatt. He was born April 3, 1919, at Lawrence, Douglas County, Kansas. They now live at McArthur, California. They have two children:
23.4.9.5.1 Jack Edward Hethcoatt, born September 13, 1940, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
23.4.9.5.2 Belva Jill Hethcoatt, born December 17, 1943, in Collinsville, Tulsa County, Oklahoma.
23.4.10 Missouri Evalyn Sparks, daughter of James and Delilah K. (Seagraves) Sparks, was born near Hartville, Wright County, Missouri. (She was born November 30; some members of the family believe she was older than her brother Alfred (or Alford) and was born in 1867 or 1868, while others believe she was born in 1872.) She died on May 19, 1947, and was buried in the Woodland Cemetery, Compton, California. She was married four times. Her first husband's name was Andrew Caudle; her second husband was Neil Duggan; her third husband was Robert Holt; and her fourth husband was FNU Simpson. by her first husband, Missouri Evalyn Sparks had two children:
23.4.10.1 Gertrude Caudle, daughter of Andrew and Missouri Evalyn (Sparks) Caudle, was born April 3, 1893, in Wright County, Missouri. She now lives in Willowbrook, California. She married R. B. Spencer.
23.4.10.2 Elsie Caudle, daughter of Andrew and Missouri Evalyn (Sparks) Caudle, was born in Wright County, Missouri. She married FNU Robb.
by Her second husband, Neil Duggan, Missouri Evalyn Sparks had two children:
23.4.10.3 Minta Duggan was born February 9, 1900, in Wright County, Missouri; she married FNU Brown.
23.4.10.4 William Theodore Duggan was born in 1903, in Okinulgee County, Oklahoma. He is no longer living.