October 2, 2023
Pages 1620-1637
Whole Number 85
44. ISAAC SPARKS, SR., OF ESTILL COUNTY, KENTUCKY
born ca. 1740, Died ca. 1815
AND HIS DESCENDANTS
by Paul E. Sparks
(Editor's Note: The officers of The Sparks Family Association feel obliged to name Mrs. Roberta "Robin" Seibel as the person who deserves much of the credit for this account of the Sparkses of Estill County, Kentucky, and the surrounding area. We know that she is reluctant to share in the credit for the work which has been done to make this article possible, but she has done extensive research on this family, and we are grateful to her for sharing the information with us.
Mrs. Seibel is a great-great-great-great-granddaughter of 44. Isaac Sparks, Sr., and his wife, Catherine Sparks, pioneer settlers of Kentucky, descending through their son, 44.6 Isaac Sparks, Jr., and his wife, Annis (McGuire) Sparks. She lives in Santa Ana, California (92705). She invites correspondence and is quite willing to help in further research.)
44. Isaac Sparks, Senior, was born prior to 1765 according to the 1810 census of Estill County, Kentucky. He was probably nearly seventy years of age when that census was taken, however, because at the May term of the Estill County Court that year (1810), it was ordered that "he be exempt from paying the County Levy in the future on account of age and infirmity." (Estill County Court Book A, page 261) If he were near the age of seventy at that time, he was born ca. 1740-1745. No record has been found that shows his place of birth, nor have we found any record that would indicate the place where he lived prior to his coming to Kentucky. With further research, these matters may be resolved.
As shown in the September 1973 issue of The Sparks Quarterly, Whole No. 83, 44. Isaac Sparks, Sr., was probably living in Kentucky as early as 1777. Most certainly, he paid taxes in Fayette County, Kentucky, in 1787. Another male, above sixteen years of age, was also living in his household that year. Isaac continued to pay taxes in Fayette County until 1792, at which time he became a taxpayer in the newly-created county of Clark. Then, in 1808, he began paying taxes in the new county of Estill, and he continued to pay taxes there until he was exempted in 1810.
In 1811, 44. Isaac Sparks, Sr., bought 78 acres of land, located on White Oak Creek in Estill County, from Thomas Dunaway for $90.00. (Deed Book A, page 70) An indication of the uncertainty of land titles, even as late as twenty years after Kentucky became a state, is the statement included in the deed that if the land were ever lost to a better claim, Dunaway would pay the $90 back to Sparks in trade with no interest charged. Knowing that Isaac Sparks had earlier claims to 2,000 acres of land in Kentucky and had lost or had given up the claims, we can appreciate his wisdom in putting the provision in this deed in 1811. He paid taxes on this tract of 78 acres in 1811, but the following four years the taxes were paid by his wife, Catherine Sparks. Then, until 1825, the taxes were paid by his son, George Sparks.
Isaac Sparks, Sr., apparently died in the early part of 1815. He left no will, so his property was inventoried and disposed of at a public sale. The inventory, taken by Heth Woodland, James Brown, William Bell, and Jesse Cooper, was recorded on May 24, 1815, in Estill County Will Book A, pages 49-52, as follows:
One cow and calf appraised to $ 10.00 One two year old heifer appraise to 6.50 two yearling one heifer one bull 6.00 three piggins appraised to 0.50 five delph plates appraised to 0.75 one pewter dish and one plate 2 tincups 2 knives and forks 3 pewter spoons 1.25 one duch oven & led & hooks appraise to 0.50 one pot appraised to 2.50 one reel appraised to 0.62 one hoe appraised to 0.87½ one bed one blanket one sheet one bed quilt one bed stead
appraised to8.00 One basket & the full of it in wool appraised to 0.50 Three chairs appraised to 0.50 five sheep appraised to 5.75 A month later, on June 24, 1815, Messrs. Bell, Brown, and Woodland made a supplemental inventory of the property of Isaac Sparks, Sr.: One wheel appraised to 1.811/3 One auger appraised to 0.50 One flat iron appraised to 0.62 one coulter appraised to 0.62 One clevis appraised to 0.37 One clevis and link appr 0.37½ One grindstone appraisedaised to 0.50 One churn appraised to 0.37½ three hogs praised to 3.50 One earling heifer appraised to 3.00
The day after the supplemental inventory was taken, June 25, 1815, a public sale was made of the property. Among the buyers were George Sparks, Cathanne Sparks, and Thomas Sparks. George Sparks made a report of the sale at the December term of the Estill County Court that year.
Since 44. Isaac Sparks, Sr., left no will, it is difficult to identify the members of his family. We know that his widow was Catherine Sparks. (Sometimes she was referred to as Cathanne, Cathrena, and Caty.) In all probability, she was also the mother of Isaac's children. Catherine Sparks was born prior to 1765 according to the 1810 census of Estill County, and she was the head of the family on the 1820 census. She apprently died between 1820 and 1830.
We believe that 44. Isaac Sparks, Sr., and his wife, Catherine, were the parents of at least nine children; however, the records which we have found up to the present time identify only four of them. These are
44.2 William Sparks,
44.4 George Sparks,
44.6 Isaac Sparks, Jr., and
44.5 Jenny Sparks.
The probable children include
44.1 Elijah Sparks,
44.3 John Sparks,
44.7 Thomas Sparks,
James Sparks, and
Peggy Sparks.
In the article which follows, we will present the information that we have found thus far about each child and the probable order of birth. We point out, however, that the record of Isaac Sparks, Sr., and his descendants is far from complete.
44.1 Elijah Sparks, probable son of Isaac and Catherine Sparks, was born before 1765, according to the 1810 census of Estill County. Other records, however, seem to place his birth more nearly to ca. 1767. In all probability, he was the male, age 16-21, with Isaac Sparks, Sr., on the 1787 Fayette County tax roll, thus born between 1766 and 1771. He was also probably the other male, age 21 or more, with Isaac Sparks on the 1788 Fayette tax roll which would indicate that he reached age 21 that year. He paid taxes separately in Fayette County in 1791 as an adult male, age 21 years or more.
In 1789, 44.1 Elijah Sparks signed a petition asking the General Assembly of Virginia to create a new county, probably so that the seat of government would be more conveniently located. The proposed county would have resembled Clark County, which was formed three years later, but the General Assembly did not take favorable action on the petition.
Like Isaac Sparks, Sr., Elijah Sparks paid taxes in Fayette County in 1791 and 1793. He apparently lived in a section of Fayette County which was quite near both Madison and Clark Counties, for he paid taxes irregularly in both counties during the next 15 to 20 years. He paid taxes in Clark County in 1794 -96, 1799 -1805, and 1814 -15. He paid taxes in Madison County in 1799 -1800, 1803, and 1811. He was in Madison County on the reconstructed 1800 federal census.
44.1 Elijah Sparks married Rutha MNU, ca. 1793, and their first son, Isaac, and two of his sisters, were born prior to 1800 according to the 1810 Estill County census. Rutha Sparks was born between 1765 and 1775 according to the same census. On August 8, 1801, Elijah Sparks was received "by Expearrance" into the Providence Baptist Church located on Upper Howards Creek in Clark County. On August 18th, the church received his wife, Rutha, also "by experience". Both Elijah and Rutha were dismissed from the church by letter on February 11, 1804. (First Records Book, Providence Baptist Church, 1780 -1833.)
by 1810, 41.1 Elijah and Rutha Sparks had six daughters and one son as shown on the Estill County census of that year. Then, ca. 1815, Elijah apparently died leaving Rutha with an additional son and two more daughters, thus bringing their family to a total of two sons, eight daughters. On April 18, 1818, Rutha gave her consent, as the guardian of her son, Isaac Sparks, for him to marry Jane Malone in Clark County. (M.B. 1, page 152) On the 1820 census of Estill County, she was listed as head of the family. We have no further record of her.
Neither Elijah nor Rutha Sparks left wills, but census and other records indicate that they had the following family:
44.1.1 Daughter1 Sparks born between 1794 and 1800. This could very well be the Catherine Sparks who married Isaac Henry on July 25, 1819, in Estill County. (M.B. A, page 27).
44.1.2 Daughter2 Sparks born between 1794 and 1800.
44.1.3 Isaac Sparks, was born ca. 1799 for he was still a minor and needed the consent of his mother when he married Jane Malone in 1818. He was listed as the head of his family on the 1820, 1830, and 1840 censuses of Estill County, but he was in Owsley County when the 1850 census was taken and also when the 1860 census was taken. (Owsley County was created from Estill, Clay, and Breathitt Counties in 1843.)
The enumeration of the family of Isaac Sparks varies on the 1820, 1830, and 1840 censuses; however, we believe that he and Jane (Malone) Sparks had at least six children and there may have been one or two more. We have been able to learn the names of four of the children:
Other children born to Elijah and Rutha Sparks according to the 1810 and 1820 censuses of Estill County were:44.1.3.1 Son Sparks was born between 1818 and 1820.
44.1.3.2 Margaret "Peggy" Sparks was born ca. 1821. On June 30, 1835, she married Allen Roberts in Estill County. (M.B. A, page 90) When the 1850 census was taken of Owsley County, Peggy and Allen Roberts were living next door to her parents, but when the 1860 census was taken she was listed as a widow. From the census records, Peggy and Allen Roberts appear to have had the following children:
44.1.3.2.1 Hiram Roberts, born ca. 1837.
44.1.3.2.2 John G. Roberts, born ca. 1841.
44.1.3.2.3 Isaac Roberts, born ca. 1845.
44.1.3.2.4 Margaret Jane Roberts, born ca. 1848.
44.1.3.2.5 Moses Roberts, born ca. 1852.44.1.3.3 Sylvester Sparks was born ca. 1825. According to the Vital Records of Owsle County, he married Nancy Ashcraft on September 1, 1773. They were listed on the 1860 census of Owsley County, but they were in Lee County when the 1870 and 1880 censuses were taken. (Lee County was created in 1870 from Estill, Owsley, Wolfe, and Breathitt Counties.) According to these censuses, they had the following children:
44.1.3.3.1 Sarah G. Sparks, born 3 February 1858.
44.1.3.3.2 Daniel Sparks, born December 29, 1859.
44.1.3.3.3 Helen Sparks, born ca. 1862.
44.1.3.3.4 John W. Sparks, born ca. 1863.
44.1.3.3.5 Harriet Sparks, born ca. 1864.
44.1.3.3.6 William Sparks, born ca. 1867.
44.1.3.3.7 Walker Sparks (son), born ca. 1868.
44.1.3.3.8 Eliza Sparks, born ca. 1870.
44.1.3.3.9 Mary Sparks, born ca. 1874.
44.1.3.3.10 Henry W. Sparks, born ca. 1876.44.1.3.4 Perlina Sparks was born ca. 1826. She married John Dunaway and was living with her parents when the 1850 census was taken of Owsley County.Perlina and John Dunaway had at least one child, 44.1.3.4.1 Elizabeth Dunaway, born ca. 1846.
44.1.3.5 Son Sparks was born to Isaac and Jane (Malone) Sparks, ca. 1827.
44.1.3.6 Mary Jane Sparks was born ca. 1830. She married Morton Dunaway on September 19, 1853, and they had at least one child:
44.1.3.6.1 Perlina Dunaway, who died in July 1859 at the age of one year.
44.1.4 Daughter1 Sparks, born ca. 1800.
44.1.5 Daughter2 Sparks, born ca. 1803.
44.1.6 Daughter3 Sparks, born ca. 1806.
44.1.7 Daughter4 Sparks, born ca. 1809.
44.1.8 Son Sparks, born ca. 1811.
44.1.9 Daughter5 Sparks, born ca. 1813.
44.1.10 Daughter6 Sparks, born ca. 1815.The record of the family of Elijah Sparks, probable son of Isaac Sparks, Sr., is far from complete, and we welcome information from any descendant.
44.2 William Sparks, son of Isaac and Catherine Sparks, was born between 1765 and 1775 according to the 1810 census of Estill County; however, since we believe that Elijah Sparks was the oldest child, we have placed the birthdate of William Sparks ca. 1770. Like his father, William Sparks paid taxes in Clark County and then later he paid them in Estill County. From 1796 to 1806, he paid taxes in Clark County, but from 1808 to 1817, he paid taxes on 300 acres of land in Estill County which had been patented by Daniel Boone. From 1818 to 1822, he paid taxes on 100 acres of land only, indicating that he may have sold 200 acres.
Records show that 44.2 William Sparks acted as a bondsman and a witness to several marriages. For example: in Clark County on February 2, 1795, he attested to the consent of James Poor for the marriage of his daughter to John Askins; on January 9, 1796, he acted as bondsman to the marriage of Francis Crouch to Hannah Hatton; on August 5, 1805, he attested to the consent of Adam Hatton for the marriage of his daughter, Molly, to John Clem; and on August 30, 1806, he was bondsman to the marriage of Isaac Goldman and Polly Poore.
William Sparks acted as surety for Francis Crouch when Crouch married Sparks's sister, 44.5 Jenny Sparks, in 1798 in Clark County. Both Isaac and Catherine, or Cathrena, Sparks gave their consent to the marriage of their daughter. William also attested to the consent of William Stivers when Stivers' daughter, Fanny Stivers, married William's brother, 44.4 George Sparks, in 1800 in Clark County.
On November 25, 1805, 44.2 William Sparks married Polly Rogers in Clark County. Peter Goosey, Sr., acted as surety and James Quisenberry was bondsman. (M.B. 1, page 62) Polly Rogers was born between 1784 and 1794, according to the 1810 census of Estill County. The 1810 census also shows that three children had been born since the marriage--two sons and a daughter. When the 1820 census was taken of Estill County, five additional children had been born-another son and four daughters.
William Sparks died ca. 1823. His widow, Polly (Rogers) Sparks, paid the taxes in 1823 and again in 1825, but by 1828, she, too, had died and the Estill County Court appointed Aquilla Riddle as the guardian of four of the children of William and Polly Sparks. The four children named in the court order were:
44.2.7 Samuel Sparks,
44.2.8 Polly Sparks,
44.2.9 Betsey Sparks, and
44.2.10 William Sparks.
(Order Book, 1825 -1831, pages 176 -177) Subsequent to the appointment of Aquilla Riddle as guardian, he, too, died ca. 1837, and it was not until the May term, 1837, of the court that a final settlement was made of the estate of Polly Sparks. (Will Book 2, page 142).
According to census records, eight children were born to William and Polly (Rogers) Sparks prior to 1820. Two children were born to them between 1820 and 1823 when William died. Since only four of them were named in the court order, obviously the others had died, were married, were living with relatives, had moved away, or had another guardian. Even with these limitations, however, we can provide fairly good circumstantial evidence that the other six children not named in the court order were:
44.2.1 John Sparks,
44.2.2 Catherine Sparks,
44.2.3 Susan Sparks,
44.2.4 Louanna Sparks,
44.2.5 Isaac Sparks, and
44.2.6 Daughter Sparks.
Our readers are reminded, however, that the actual proof of the parentage of these children has not been found and that further research is needed.
As mentioned before, one of the descendants of the Estill County Sparkses is Albert Alfonso Sparks. He has reviewed the portion of this article dealing with the possible family of William and Polly (Rogers) Sparks, and he has given the following reaction:
"I would not like to have the data we have found so far on my line of Sparkses (from my grandfather, William Harrison Sparks to the earlier generations) stated as conclusive. My reason is that to do so would discourage further research, if not stop it entirely. I don't think this would be treating the coming generations fairly, and it would not stimulate broad research which, of course, The Sparks Quarterly does.
"In closing, I wish to thank you (Paul E. Sparks), Dr. Bidlack, and especially Mrs. Robin Seibel for the untiring efforts made to help me find the family of my Grandfather Sparks, whom my generation loved so much. All of my generation is gone except for my sister, Belva, and myself. None of them were much publicized folk, but I assure you that they served their country, nation, and society honorably. They never imposed on their fellow-men; neither did they ever call for help and were turned away. All of this makes me proud to be a Sparks."
With the restrictions recited above, we now present what we believe to have been the family of 44.2 William and Polly (Rogers) Sparks:
44.2.1 John Sparks, possibly a son of William and Polly (Rogers) Sparks, was born ca. 1806. He lived in Estill County until Lee County was formed, and then he went with the new county. He was listed on the 1880 census of Lee County and stated that he was born in Kentucky, but that both of his parents had been born in Virginia. He apparently died between 1880 and 1884, for in 1884, his wife sold property by herself in Estill County.
On February 3, 1831, 44.2.1 John Sparks married Nancy Eastis in Estill County. Polly Eastis, mother of Nancy, gave her consent to the marriage. Richard McKinney, who had married Amis (Crouch) Sparks in 1813, was bondsman. (M.B.A, page 74)
According to the 1840 census of Estill County, Nancy (Eastis) Sparks was born between 1810 and 1820, but since she was a minor when she married, she probably was born between 1811 and 1816. She apparently died prior to 1850.
On the 1840 census of Estill County, John and Nancy Sparks were listed with four children - - two sons born between 1830 and 1835, and two daughters born between 1835 and 1840. Also living in the household were three other males - - two born between 1810 and 1820; the other born between 1825 and 1830. If our conjecture is correct as to the parentage of John Sparks, two of the males could have been his brothers, William Sparks and Isaac Sparks.
From census and other records, it seems apparent that 44.2.1 John and Nancy (Eastis) Sparks had at least seven children. Unfortunately, when Nancy died, the family broke up, and it is difficult to place the children with certainty.
On the 1850 census of Estill County, for example, sons
44.2.1.2 William Sparks, age 17, born January 21, 1834 and
44.2.1.6 James Sparks,age 15, born ca. 1835age 10, born ca. 1840, were living in the household of John and Louanna Wallace.44.2.1.5 Sally Ann Sparks, age 13, born ca. 1838, was living in the household of Nathaniel Arvin, while daughter,
44.2.1.7 Nancy M. Sparks, age 7, born ca. 1843, was living with the family of Nancy Blackwell.Not mentioned:
44.2.1.1 John Sparks, age 18, born ca. 1832.
44.2.1.3 Mary "Polly" Sparks, age 14, born ca. 1836.
44.2.1.4 Lewis Sparks, age 13, was born September 17, 1837John Sparks did not appear on the census.
On the 1860 census of Estill County 44.2.1 John Sparks (he gave his age as 50) and son, 44.2.1.4 Lewis Sparks, age 19, born September 17, 1837, were living with the family of John and Louanna Wallace.
by 1870, 44.2.1.4 Lewis Sparks had married and his father was living with him.
In the fall of 1870, 44.2.1 John Sparks married (second) Mary (Hoover) Ingram, and in 1880 John and Mary were in Lee County with daughter,
44.2.1.8 Luvinia Sparks.
According to census data and information furnished to us, we believe the children of John and Nancy (Eastis) Sparks were:
44.2.1.1 John Sparks, was born ca. 1832. We have no further information about him.
44.2.1.2 William Harrison Sparks,
born 1834, died 1906
Son of 44.2.1 John Sparks and Nancy (Eastis) Sparks;
Grandfather of 44.2.1.2.2.7 Albert A. Sparks
44.2.1.2 William Harrison Sparks, was born January 21, 1834, in Estill County and died on May 9, 1906, at Lind, Washington. (For a detailed account of the life of William Harrison Sparks, see the June 1971 issue of The Sparks Quarterly, Whole No. 74.). On August 29, 1857, he married Mahila Poor in Delaware County, Iowa, and they had three children:
44.2.1.2.1 Harriet E. Sparks, was born May 1, 1858. She died in 1864.
44.2.1.2.2 James Allen Sparks, was born March 21, 1860, and died January 20, 1902, at Lind, Washington. On April 10, 1880, he married Levina Jane Bowers and they had the following children:44.2.1.2.2.1 Elta May Sparks, born September 23, 1881. She married Thomas Muir in 1903. She died February 12, 1941.
44.2.1.2.2.2 Leroy Arthur Sparks, born November 18, 1882. He never married. He died October 10, 1904.
44.2.1.2.2.3 Belva Ida Sparks, born September 18, 1884. She married John H. Eubanks in 1907.
44.2.1.2.2.4 Ethel Ora Sparks, born February 18, 1886. She married Lincoln A. Witmer. She died July 19, 1963.
44.2.1.2.2.5 William Amos Sparks, born August 31, 1887. He married (first) Stella Moffit; he married (second) a widow named Ruby Marchand. He died May 3, 1961.
44.2.1.2.2.6 Walter Ross Sparks, born January 2, 1890. He married Selma Anderson in 1924. He died April 29, 1955.
44.2.1.2.2.7 Albert Alfonso Sparks, born March 14, 1892. He married Jessie Harriett Heaton in 1913. He is the author of the article, referred to above, in The Quarterly, about his grandfather, 44.2.1.2 William Harrison Sparks.Albert Alfonso Sparks has a rare talent, inherited apparently from his Sparks ancestors. For generations, the Sparkses of Estill County have been noted for their ability to play stringed musical instruments, such as the violin or mandolin. Robin Seibel has written a charming account of Albert Sparks which we now print in its entirety just as she wrote it:
"Albert, like most of this family, had the natural gift and ability to play well without training. I never saw one (Sparks) play a horn, but they sure knew what to do with any stringed instrument they could put their hands to. They had nice voices, too. When Albert and his brother were children, they furnished the music for the school entertainment. Ray sang while Albert played the organ. Neither had had any lessons at the time. Leroy, Albert's oldest brother, was Albert's chief encouragement. He first bought a mandolin for him, then eventually he bought him a violin.
"On Fourth of July, a dance band came to Lind to provide the holiday music. Albert was fascinated with the violinist and sat there just watching and listening until midnight. After that, he bought some self-teach books. When the family moved to Sunnyside, he was able to have a teacher, and he was soon earning enough from musical engagements to provide for his needs as well as the training. He became the first violinist in a large orchestra. He practiced eight hours a day in his efforts to reach perfection and played engagements in the evenings.
"His devotion and dedication to his music really took him beyond human endurance. His health suffered and he was stricken with tuberculosis at a time when he had a growing family and the responsibility for managing a 3,000-acre wheat farm. Drastic changes had to be made, and Albert and Jessie bought some acreage in the mountains and lived in a tent until they could cut down timber and build a log house with their own hands. For income, he sent east for a special breed of chickens, got some self-teach books and hatched 1500 chicks in an incubator. He learned to take chicken blood tests and to candle eggs and was finally licensed by the state. They had hoped only to eke out a living with the chicks, but it turned out to be a financial success.
"Albert mentions his timidity in telling his story. He says he was always timid in his performances. It expresses so well that non-agressive trait I find so common to this family. Albert and Jessie are devoted to each other. She is an arthritic who gets about in a wheel chair. Albert has to take long walks, or at least used to, so he put a motor on Jessie's chair so she could be with him on those jaunts. They have a marvelous philosophy and a hugh supply of love and understanding which has included my own little family in their affections."
44.2.1.2.2.8 Ray Everett Sparks, son of James Allen and Levina Jane (Bowers) Sparks, was born February 18, 1895. He married Irene Triebwasser in 1921. He died November 5, 1969.
44.2.1.2.2.9 Vernie James Sparks, son of James Allen and Levina Jane (Bowers) Sparks, was born December 21, 1898. He married Leah Strong in 1926. He died June 7, 1970.44.2.1.2.3 William Harrison Sparks, Jr., was born August 27, 1872. He died in 1876.
44.2.1.3 Mary "Polly" Sparks, daughter of John and Nancy (Eastis) Sparks, was born ca. 1836.
44.2.1.4 Lewis Sparks, was born September 17, 1837. On Mary 16, 1853, the Estill County Court ordered that he be an apprentice to Andrew Harris. Lewis was fifteen years old. His father, 44.2.1 John Sparks, consented to the court action. In the order, John Sparks is referred to as Jackson Sparks, and apparently he went by the nickname "Jack".
Lewis Sparks enlisted on August 19, 1861, in Co. D, 7th Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, United States Army. He was discharged October 5, 1864, at Louisville, KY, with a medical disability. He was stricken with "camp fever" which seriously impaired his health and he suffered from lung disease for the rest of his life. According to his military records, he was 5 feet, 10 inches tall and had dark eyes and fair complexion. (See Civil War Pension File No. 809033)
Lewis Sparks served in the same military outfit with Wesley Flynn who became the father-in-law of Lewis Sparks's daughter, 44.2.1.4.7 Candis Sparks. Both Wesley Flynn and 44.6.6 Joseph C. Sparks appointed Lewis to act in their behalf for pensions. The application for a pension from Lewis Sparks shows that Wesley Flynn was his nurse when he became ill at camp.
44.2.1.4 Lewis Sparks lived for some time at Evelyn, KY, which is located on the Lee-Estill County boundary. He also lived at Wagersville, KY, in southern Estill County. On October 21, 1865, he married Dianna Ingram, daughter of William and Mary (Hoover) Ingram, at the home of her parents. His father, 44.2.1 John Sparks, and James Wakefield were witnesses. (M.B. 1854-1871, page 39)
LEWIS SPARKS, 1837-1913
with his wife
DIANNA (INGRAM) SPARKS, 1849-1930
Dianna (Ingram) Sparks was born September 4, 1849, and died February 17, 1930. Lewis Sparks died April 7, 1913. They are buried in the Sparks Cemetery in Estill County. The children of Lewis and Dianna (Ingrain) Sparks were:
44.2.1.4.1 John W. Sparks, born ca. 1866. He married Mary Jane Stevens and they moved to Oregon. She was born ca. 1871. They had at least four children and there may have been more:
44.2.1.4.1.1 Loucinda Sparks.
44.2.1.4.1.2 David Sparks.
44.2.1.4.1.3 Dillard Sparks.
44.2.1.4.1.4 McKinley Sparks.44.2.1.4.2 Mary Elizabeth Sparks, born ca. 1868. She married Jesse Bolin and they had at least one child.
44.2.1.4.3 Sarah B. Sparks, born ca. 1871. She married Jaimes W. Robertson on October 4, 1888, in Jackson County, Kentucky. (M.B. 1858-1896) They had four children.44.2.1.4.3.1 Malcolm Robertson.
44.2.1.4.3.2 Tildon Robertson.
44.2.1.4.3.3 Robert Robertson.
44.2.1.4.3.4 Lena Robertson.44.2.1.4.4 Nancy Jane Sparks, born ca. 1873. She never married.
44.2.1.4.5 Daniel Sparks, born ca. 1876. He never married.
44.2.1.4.6 Rachel Sparks, born ca. 1878. She married (first) John Coin and they had five children. She married (second) Wes Conielson. She died in Ohio.
LEVI FLYNN & WIFE, CANDIS (SPARKS) FLYNN
44.2.1.4.7 Candis Sparks, born April 9, 1880, and died 26 June 1945. On February 3, 1898, she married Levi "Banty" Flynn, son of Wesley and Pauline (Durbin) Flynn. Levi Flynn was born November 26, 1875, and died on November 17, 1973. The children were:
44.2.1.4.7.1 Grace E. Flynn, born ca. 1898. She married Bige Binegar and they had six children.
44.2.1.4.7.2 Molly Flynn, born ca. 1901 and died in 1903.
44.2.1.4.7.3 Cecil Millard Flynn, born ca. 1903. He married Mattie Barker and they had three children.
44.2.1.4.7.4 Addie Lee Flynn, born ca. 1906. She married Everett Parrott and they had three children.
44.2.1.4.7.5 Goldie B. Flynn, born in 1908. She married Charles Williams and they had eight children.
44.2.1.4.7.6 Fairy Flynn, born in 1911. She married Archie Lynch and they had three children.
44.2.1.4.7.7 Herman Flynn, born in 1913. He married Gertrude Crank and they had five children.
44.2.1.4.7.8 Myrtle Flynn, born in 1915. She married Earl Newton and they had two children.44.2.1.4.8 Jerd Sparks, married Julie MNU and they moved to Texas.
44.2.1.4.9 Addie Sparks. She married (first) Tilden Alcorn and they had one child. She married (second) Ezart Ashcraft and they had one child. She married (third) Jim Evans and they had no children. She married (fourth) Levi Richardson and they had no children. She married (fifth) R. E. Foley.44.2.1.4.10 George Sparks. He never married.
44.2.1.4.11 Benjamin H. Sparks. He married Sarah Catherine Durbin and they had six children.
44.2.1.4.12 Lavellen Sparks. She died in infancy.44.2.1.5 Sally Ann Sparks, daughter of John and Nancy (Eastis) Sparks, was born ca. 1838. On March 31, 1854, she married Wallace E. McKinney at the home of Joan Wallace. Witnesses were: Elisha Estes, Jeremiah Moore, and James Sparks. (Estill County M.B. 1852-1856, p. 87 and M.B. 1854-1871, p. 8)
44.2.1.6 James A. Sparks, was born ca. 1840. In all probability, he married Mary Jane Ploughman on October 23, 1855, in Estill County with Henry Ploughman as bondsman. (M.B. 1852-1856, p. 191) He may have been the James A. Sparks who married (his second marriage), at age 21, Nancy Carmichael in Estill County on September 12, 1861. (Vital Records of Estill County)
44.2.1.7 Nancy M. Sparks, was born ca. 1843. She was 17 years old when she married Wallace Tipton on September 12, 1861. He was 21 years old. (Vital Records of Estill County)
As indicated above, 44.2.1 John Sparks married (second) Mary (Hoover) Ingram who was divorced from William Ingram, and who was the mother of Dianna Ingram who married Lewis Sparks (see above). Mary was probably the daughter of Daniel and Dianna Hoover who were living just two families away when the 1870 census was taken of Lee County. Daniel Hoover was born ca. 1800 in Pennsylvania while Dianna Hoover was born ca. 1800 in Tennessee. John and Mary (Hoover) Sparks had one child:
44.2.1.8 Luvinia Sparks was born ca. 1867. She married George Calmes according to information given to us.
44.2.2 Catherine Sparks, probable daughter of William and Polly (Rogers) Sparks, was born ca. 1808. She probably married John S. Williams prior to 1828. The only record we have found of Catherine (Sparks) Williams is a land deed in Estill County, dated October 2, 1868, wherein William Sparks and wife, Susan; Samuel Sparks and wife, Letty; and John S. Williams and wife, Catherine, convey land to Augustin Weber. (Deed hook N, page 492)
44.2.3 Samuel Sparks. It is believed that he was born ca. 1810. He was named as a son of William and Polly Sparks at the August 1828 term of the Estill County Court. On February 9, 1837, he married Letty Bonney in Estill County. (M.B. A, page 106) She was a daughter of John D. and Lucy Jane Bonney who gave their consent to her marriage. She was born ca. 1813. Samuel and Letty Sparks were on both the 1850 and 1860 censuses of Estill County where he was listed as a farmer. His post office was Red River Iron Works, but he lived on Woodwards Creek. The last official record we have found of this couple was the deed referred to above. According to census data, they were parents of the following children:
44.2.3.1 Julia Sparks, daughter of Samuel and Letty (Bonney) Sparks, was born ca. 1838.
44.2.3.2 John William Sparks was born November 13, 1841, and died September 24, 1924. He enlisted on August 15, 1862, in Co. A, 14th Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry, U.S. Army. He was captured at Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, and discharged on September 16, 1863, from a prisoner-of-war camp. He was 5 feet, 7 inches tall and had black eyes, black hair and a fair complexion according to his application for a pension. He was a blacksmith and a farmer. (Civil War Pension File No. 454583)
John William Sparks was married twice. His first marriage was to Nancy Berry on September 23, 1868, in Clark County at the home of Levi Berry. (M.B. 3, page 96) Children:
44.2.3.2.1 Maid Sparks, born March 27, 1870. She lived at Palmer, KY, in northern Estill County near the Clark County line.
44.2.3.2.2 Drama Sparks, born October 21, 1872.
44.2.3.2.3 Ellen Sparks, born May 13, 1875.
44.2.3.2.4 Nelly Sparks, born July 10, 1877.
44.2.3.2.5 Babe Sparks (son), born October 1879.
44.2.3.2.6 Lucy Sparks, born June 14, 1883. She married FNU Elkin and moved to Goldfield, Iowa.After the death of his first wife on May 29, 1891, John William Sparks married (second) Mary Mill (Vaughn) Horn, former wife of Yilliam C. Horn, on June 20, 1893, in Madison County. (M.B. 23, page 272) To this marriage were born:
44.2.3.2.7 Julia Sparks, born May 14, 1894.
44.2.3.2.8 Samuel Sparks, born November 7, 1895. He served in World War I and moved to Cincinnati, OH.
44.2.3.2.9 Gertrude Sparks, born January 20, 1898. She married FNU Harris and lived at Palmer, Kentucky.
44.2.3.2.10 Steven Sparks, born in February 190?.
44.2.3.2.11 Vernetta Sparks, born January 2, 190744.2.3.3 Susan Jane Sparks, was born ca. 1845. She married George Gabbard on January 5, 1864, in Estill County. (M.B. 1854-1871, page 28)
44.2.3.4 Phillip Sparks, was born ca. 1846. He died in August 1852 at the age of six.
44.2.3.5 Nathan J. Sparks, was born ca. 1849.
44.2.3.6 Mary Sparks, was born ca. 1850.
44.2.3.7 Sarah Catherine Sparks, was born ca. 1852.
44.2.3.8 Mariah Sparks, was born ca. 1855.
44.2.3.9 Louvinia Sparks, was born March 27, 1858.
44.2.3.10 James Sparks, was born ca. 1860.44.2.4 Susan Sparks, possibly a daughter of William and Polly (Rogers) Sparks, was born ca. 1811. On December 31, 1835, she married John Eastis in Estill County. (M.B.A, page 86) John Eastis was probably a brother of Nancy Eastis who married 44.2.1 John Sparks in 1831 (see above). Susan (Sparks) Eastis apparently died ca. 1840. Information we have received indicates that she and John had two children:
44.2.4.1 Elizabeth Eastis, was born ca. 1836.
44.2.4.2 Martha Eastis, was born ca. 1838.44.2.5 A daughter Sparks was apprently born to William and Polly (Rogers) Sparks ca. 1813. We have not learned her name.
44.2.6 Louanna Sparks, possibly a daughter of William and Polly (Rogers) Sparks, was born ca. 1815. She married FNU West, ca. 1835 and they had one son:44.2.6.1 William W. West, born ca. 1836. In 1850 he was living with his mother in Estill County.
Louanna (Sparks) West's husband died ca. 1838, and Samuel Tipton was appointed the guardian of William W. West on June 18, 1838. On December 26,1839, Louanna married (second) John Wallace. He was born ca. 1798. In April 1850, John Wallace (now the guardian of William West) apparently became dissatisfied with the way Samuel Tipton had settled his account as the former guardian of William West and asked the Estill County Court to examine the report. Many witnesses were called and the case was finally settled in May 1852 with the court requiring Tipton to pay $97.70 as the former guardian of William West. John and Louanna (Sparks) Wallace were parents of the following children:
44.2.6.2 Tipton Wallace, born ca. 1840.
44.2.6.3 Joseph Wallace, born ca. 1842.
44.2.6.4 Mary J. Wallace, born ca. 1846.
44.2.6.5 Louisa Wallace, born ca. 1848.
44.2.6.6 John Wallace, born July 1854.44.2.7 Mary "Polly" Sparks, daughter of William and Polly (Rogers) Sparks, was born ca. 1817. She was named a daughter of William and Polly Sparks at the August term of Estill County Court. She married Stephen White on April 14, 1839 in Estill County. (M.B. A, page 111) They had one child, Mary F. White, born ca. 1842. Polly (Sparks) White apparently died between 1842 and 1850, for on February 10, 1850, Stephen White married Sally Ann Foreman.
44.2.8 Isaac Sparks, probable son of William and Polly (Rogers) Sparks, was born ca. 1819. At the November term of the Estill County Court, it was ordered that $25.00 be appropriated under the direction of N. Merrill for the support of Isaac Sparks. Again, on December 19, 1831, the Court ordered that "the money appropriated for the support of Isaac Sparks be placed in the hands of Nicholas Merrell, Esq. and by him used for the benefit of the said Sparks." From these court orders, it would appear that Isaac Sparks was an orphan boy, not mature enough to make his own living. If he were a son of William and Polly Sparks, he would be about ten or eleven years old in 1831.
44.2.9 Elizabeth ["Betsey"] Sparks was born ca. 1821. She was named as a daughter of William and Polly Sparks at the August term of the Estill County Court. On June 9, 1837, she married David Adams in Estill County. (M.B. A, page 107) When the 1850 census was taken of Estill County, they were listed with the following family:
44.2.9.1 Sarah A. Adams, born ca. 1839.
44.2.9.2 Polly A. Adams, born ca. 1840.
44.2.9.3 Lucinda Adams, born ca. 1844.44.2.10 William Sparks was born ca. 1824, perhaps posthumously. He was named as a son of William and Polly Sparks at the August term of the Estill County Court. On March 16, 1847, he married Susan Ann Bonney in Estill County. (M.B. A, page 162) Susan Ann was born ca. 1832 and was a sister of Letty Bonney who had married William's brother, 44.2.3 Samuel Sparks, in 1837.
William and Susan Ann Sparks appeared on the 1850 census of Estill County, but by 1860 they were living in the village of Elliston in Madison County where William was described as a farmer and a blacksmith. They had the following family:
44.2.10.1 Catherine Sparks, born ca. 1847.
44.2.10.2 Letty M. Sparks, born ca. 1850.
44.2.10.3 John Francis Sparks, born October 4, 1852.
44.2.10.4 Mary Jane Sparks, born June 29, 1855.
44.2.10.5 Samuel J. Sparks, born June 1, 1858.
44.3 John Sparks,(William John??) probable son of Isaac and Catherine Sparks, was born between 1765 and 1784 according to the 1810 census of Estill County. If, however, he was the third child of Isaac and Catherine Sparks, as we believe, he was born ca. 1772. He paid taxes in Clark County from 1802 to 1806, but he paid taxes in Estill County when it was formed in 1808. He continued to pay taxes in Estill County until 1819 when he apparently moved away. In 1816 and 1817, he paid taxes on 100 acres of land on White Oak Creek. 44.4 George Sparks and 44.2 William Sparks also paid taxes on land on White Oak Creek during those same years.
An interesting account of a custom of early Kentucky is found in the "Estill County Miscellaneous Book" and involves John Sparks. The early settlers had very little fencing (what they had was mostly of split rails) and as a consequence, the livestock was allowed to run at large. Whenever an animal wandered to a strange plantation (a term for farm brought from the eastern seaboard), it could be "taken up," reported to the proper official, and the owner could be required to pay for its care. Here is an entry made on June 29, 1815:
"Taken up by John Sparks living upon White Oak Creek five miles from the town of Irvine a strawberry roan fully two years old a star and snap no brand perceivable two white feet the oft hind foot and near fore foot appraised to $5 before me the 29th day of June 1815. Signed Bentt. Clark, J.P.E.C."
On May 4, 1804, 44.3 John Sparks married Mary ["Polly"] Bradshaw, daughter of James Bradshaw who gave his consent to the marriage. John Greenslate was surety, Edward Kendred was bondsman, and George Bradshaw was witness. (Clark County M.B. 1, page 55) Polly Bradshaw was born between 1784 and 1794, according to the 1810 census of Estill County. by 1810, John and Polly (Bradshaw) Sparks had three children--two sons and a daughter.
The last official record we have found of John Sparks was the record where he paid taxes in Estill County in 1819. He was not on the 1820 census of Estill County, nor was he on the 1820 census of any surrounding counties.
We are hoping that someone reading this brief record of John and Polly (Bradshaw) Sparks will recognized them as ancestors and tell us what eventually happened to them.
44.4 George Sparks, son of Isaac and Catherine Sparks, was born between 1775 and 1784 according to the 1810 and 1820 censuses of Estill County; however, if his birth followed that of John Sparks (above), believed to have been his brother, George Sparks was born ca. 1775. He paid taxes in Clark County in 1800, 1802, and from 1804 to 1806. He paid taxes in Madison County in 1801, 1803, and 1808. Thereafter, he paid taxes in Estill County until 1826, when he apparently left that county.
On January 27, 1800, 44.4 George Sparks married Fanny Stivers in Clark County, Kentucky. His surety was Francis Crouch, a brother-in-law, and his bonds man was Lawrence Owen. Isaac and Cathrena Sparks and Thomas Sparks attested to the consent of William Stivers to the marriage of his daughter. (M.B. 1, page 34) Since Fanny Stivers was not of age, she was born ca. 1780-1785.
There is a good possibility that this was a second marriage for George Sparks. First, when the 1810 census was taken of Estill County, living with him were three children, a male and two females, born between 1794 -1800. Secondly, consider the following: A Sparks family settled in Johnson County, Indiana, prior to 1830. Recently, a descendant of this family, Mrs. Lillian Peterka of Swisher, Iowa, requested information about the family and stated that her great-great-grandfather, William Sparks (born 1799, died 1871) who was listed on the 1850 census of Johnson County, Indiana, was born in Kentucky and that a family record indicated that his mother's maiden had been Stivers. (See The Sparks Quarterly of December 1966, Whole No. 56, pp. 1037-39, for a record of the family of this William Sparks.) The 1830 census of Johnson County has a family headed by a George Sparks which fits the age grouping of the family of George Sparks of Estill County, Kentucky. Thirdly, it is significant that a William Sparks paid taxes in Estill County from 1821 to 1824, but he disappeared from the tax rolls at the same time that the name of George Sparks disappeared. This William Sparks, belived to have been a son of George Sparks and the same William Sparks who settled in Johnson County, Indiana, was called William Sparks, Junior, in Estill County, probably to distinguish him from his uncle, William Sparks. According to the 1820 census of Estill County, William Sparks, Jr., was born between 1794 and 1804; thus he could very well be the 44.4.3 William Sparks (born 1799, died 1871) referred to in the December 1966 issue of the Quarterly. All of these bits of data would tend to support the belief that George Sparks had an earlier marriage, ca. 1794.
On March 15, 1813, George Sparks entered into an agreement with Green Clay, a prominent landholder, to manage a plantation for Clay which was located on White Oak Creek. The agreement was for five years, at the end of which time Sparks was to return the land to Clay with at least five acres cleared and fenced. (Deed Book A, page 273) No record has been found to indicate whether George Sparks completed the agreement, and he may have obtained a release from Clay, for in the early part of 1815, Isaac Sparks, father of George, died and George became the taxpayer (and presumably the manager) of the 78-acre farm which his father had purchased in 1811.
George Sparks continued to pay taxes on the 78 acres until 1825, then, in the fall of that year, he sold his land on White Oak Creek to Aquilla Riddle and apparently left Estill County. (Deed Book D, page 84) As set forth above, there are good reasons to believe that he settled in Johnson County, Indiana.
George and Fanny (Stivers) Sparks had six children born between 1800 and 1810 - - four sons and two daughters. by 1820, four additional sons had been born. In all probability, George Sparks was the father of fifteen or sixteen children. Unfortunately, we have found no records of any of his descendants other than Mrs. Peterka, mentioned above. We would welcome any information our readers may have regarding this family. The children of George Sparks and his first wife, according to the census age grouping, were:
44.4.1 Dau1 Sparks born between 1794 and 1800.
44.4.2 Dau2 Sparks born between 1794 and 1800.
44.4.3 William Sparks, probably a son of 44.4 George Sparks and his first wife, was born in January 1799 according to his tombstone in the Bethlehem Cemetery in Hensley Township, Johnson County, Indiana, near the town of Samaria. The inscription reads: "William Sparkes, born January 1799, died August 5, 1871." In 1934, a granddaughter of William Sparks, then an old lady, wrote that the maiden name of William's mother was FNU Stivers. We believe, however, that it was William's step mother, second wife of George Sparks, whose maiden name had been Stivers. Since George Sparks married Fanny Stivers on January 27, 1800, Fanny was probably like a real mother to William. William Sparks paid taxes in Estill County in 1821, 1822, and 1824. We believe that he came to Johnson County, Indiana, with his father in 1825. He was listed on the 1840 census of Johnson County. On the 1850 census of Johnson County, his age was given as 50. His wife was Nancy Crawford. A record of their children appears on pp.1037-1039 of the December 1966 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 56. The children of George and Fanny (Stivers) Sparks according to census age groups were:44.4.4 Son1 Sparks, born 1800-1810.
44.4.5 Son2 Sparks, born 1800-1810.
44.4.6 Son3 Sparks, born 1800-1810.
44.4.7 Son4 Sparks, born 1800-1810.
44.4.8 Dau3 Sparks, born 1800-1810.
44.4.9 Dau4 Sparks, born 1800-1810.
44.4.10 Son5 Sparks, born 1810-1820.
44.4.11 Son6 Sparks, born 1810-1820.
44.4.12 Son7 Sparks, born 1810-1820.
44.4.13 Son8 Sparks, born 1810-1820.
44.4.14 Dau5 Sparks, born 1820-1825.
44.4.15 Dau6 Sparks, born 1820-1825.
44.5 Jenny Sparks, daughter of Isaac and Catherine Sparks, was born ca. 1780 for she was still a minor when she married Francis Crouch on May 3, 1798, in Clark County. 44.4 William Sparks, her brother, was surety and also attested to the consent of Jenny's parents, Isaac and Catherine, or Cathrena, Sparks. Francis Crouch's bondsman was Lawrence Owen who had also acted as bondsman for George Sparks. (See above) (M.B. 1, page 25) This may have been a second marriage for Francis Crouch, for there is a record of a marriage of Francis Crouch and Hannah Hatten on January 9, 1796, in Clark County. William Sparks was the bondsman for this marriage, also.
by 1810, there were seven children living in the family headed by Francis Crouch, according to the census of Estill County that year. Included was a male, born 1794 -1800, and three males and three females, born between 1800 and 1810. Listed on the census adjacent to Francis Crouch was his brother-in-law, George Sparks. When the 1820 census was taken of Estill County, four more children had been added to the family of Francis Crouch, two sons and two daughters.
We have no further data relative to Jenny Sparks' family.
Editor's Note: This record of the descendants of Isaac Sparks, Sr., and his wife, Catherine Sparks, is continued in the June 1974 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 86.
Editor's Note: This record of the descendants of Isaac Sparks, Sr., and his wife, Catherine Sparks, is also continued in the September 1992 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 159.