August 4, 2023
Pages 1794-1812
Whole Number 93
DESCENDANTS OF 20.1 WILLIAM SPARKS (ca. 1760-ca. 1834)
OF ADAIR COUNTY, KENTUCKY
by Paul E. Sparks
[Note:Corrections in the December 1990 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 152, pp. 3681-86 relating to William Sparks of Adair County are made here, preceeded by three asterisks [***].
(Editor's Note: During 1975, we published abstracts of records of various types pertaining to the branch of the Sparks family that lived in Adair County, Kentucky.
(See pages 1720-29 of the March issue, Whole No. 89;
pages 1735-36 of the June issue, Whole No. 90;
pages 1763-71 of the September issue, Whole No. 91; and
pages 1782-90 of the December issue, Whole No. 92.)
Making use of these and other official records, along with many family records supplied by descendants, Dr. Paul E. Sparks has prepared a history of this family, the first part of which follows.)
The first record that we have found of the Sparkses who came to the Adair County area of Kentucky is a "headright claim" made on April 21, 1799, by 20.1 William Sparks for 104 acres of land on Leatherwood Creek in Green County. This section of Kentucky (south of Green River) had been reserved by the state of Virginia for her soldiers, but in 1795 Kentucky, new a sovereign state, opened these lands to any person over 21 years of age who had a family. Such persons were entitled to no less than 100 nor no more than 200 acres, but they had to be bona fide settlers on the land for at least one year before they could come into actual possession; thus William Sparks settled there sometime prior to 1799. About two weeks after making his first claim, he was granted an additional 200 acres on the East Fork of the Little Barren River, probably on Leatherwood Creek which is a tributary of East Fork in Green County. (In 1801, this part of Green County became a part of a new county named Adair in honor of General John Adair, a prominent governmental leader in early Kentucky.)
20.1 William Sparks was born ca. 1760, probably in Prince Georges County, Maryland, and he very likely went as a small lad with his parents to Pittsylvania County, Virginia, ca. 1777. We are not certain about the name of his father since the only clue we have was furnished by descendants in Jasper County, Iowa, in 1894. According to a history of Jasper County published at that time, the name of the father of William Sparks of Adair County was also William Sparks. If this information is correct, without doubt the elder William Sparks was a son of either 18.5 Matthew Sparks or 18.4 Thomas Sparks. (See the Quarterly of September 1955, Whole Number 11 and the Quarterly of March 1956, Whole Number 13.)
We have not learned the date nor the place of the marriage of 20.1 William Sparks to Mary MNU, but it was ca. 1781 in North Carolina. We have no clue regarding Mary's maiden name. Their first child, 20.1.1 Matthew W. Sparks, was born on January 14, 1783, in North Carolina according to information given to us by descendants. Then, prior to 1799, the family moved to Kentucky and settled in Green County on Leatherwood Creek. William and Mary Sparks continued to live there until their deaths, which apparently occurred ca. 1834.
Adair County tax records show that William Sparks paid taxes from 1807 to 1833. In 1820, for example, he entered the following items subject to taxation: one white tithe; 150 acres, valued at $6.00 per acre; 50 acres, valued at 25¢ per acre; and two horses valued at enough to bring the total of taxable property to $1,000. William sold property on two occasions. On December 23, 1825, he sold a tract of 129 acres on Leatherwood Creek to R.M. Montgomery for $200. About one month later, on January 27, 1826, he sold another tract of 31½ acres to William O. Wheat for $80.
In December 1820, the Adair County Court agreed to permit 20.1 William Sparks (now referred to as Senior) to have two apprentices, William Bates and Matthew Bates, in his home until they became 21 years of age for the purpose of instructing them in the "art and mistery of farming" and further "to provide sufficient meat, drink and wearing apparel... and teach them... Reading, Writing and Common Arithmetic... and at the expiration of the term to give one complete suit of clothes and to pay unto each 3 pounds 10 shillings." It was also agreed that Sparks should take another apprentice, Polly Rose, until her 18th birthday and to teach her the art of spinning, weaving, and housekeeping. In all likelihood, the male apprentices are the males, born between 1810 and 1820, enumerated in the household of William Sparks when the 1830 census was taken of Adair County.
Neither William Sparks nor his wife, Mary, left a will, but from census, marriage, and historical records, and from information given by descendants, we have a list of their children which we believe to be fairly accurate and complete. Our readers are reminded, however, that we are uncertain about the order of the births of some of their children.
20.1.1 Matthew W. Sparks, son of 20.1 William and Mary (MNU) Sparks, was born January 14, 1783, in North Carolina. Although we have found no official reference made to a middle name, descendants refer to him as 20.1.1 Matthew Wright Sparks. According to these same descendants, he married Mary ["Polly"] Robinson on August 21, 1802. She was born in North Carolina on August 15, 1783.
Matthew Sparks apparently did not accompany his father to Kentucky, for his oldest child, 20.1.1.1 William Sparks, was born in North Carolina in 1804. by 1806, however, he had moved to Kentucky where his second son, 20.1.1.3 John R. Sparks, was born March 16, 1806. On April 23, 1807, both Matthew and his father paid taxes in Adair County - - he paid on 50 acres and his father paid on 200 acres. Both farms were located on Leatherwood Creek. We have not found a record of the acquisition of Matthew's land; perhaps it was given to him by his father and no deed was every recorded.
Matthew Sparks took an active part in the governmental affairs of Adair County. he was appointed overseer of the road in his part of the county on several occasions. The road for which he was responsible went from Big Creek to the Burkesville Road. He was a farmer, and on the 1850 census he stated that he was 67 years of age and that he had been born in North Carolina.
Polly (Robinson) Sparks apparently died prior to 1849, for on April 6, 1849, Matthew Sparks married Elizabeth Mosby. He stated that he was 66 years of age and she stated that she was 48 years of age. They were married by Spencer James, a brother-in-law of Matthew. (M.B. 2-6, page 141)
On December 14, 1855, 20.1.1 Matthew Sparks, as an heir of William Sparks, deceased; sold his undivided interest in a tract of land on Leatherwood Creek to William L. Walker. Elizabeth Sparks, his wife, agreed to the sale. (Deed Book P, page 561) The next day, other heirs of William Sparks sold their interest in the land to William L. Walker, also. The sale of the land was probably made in preparation for Matthew to join two of his sons in Jasper County, Iowa. In 1856, according to a history of Jasper County, Matthew left Adair County and went to Iowa where he joined his sons, 20.1.1.3 John R. Sparks and 20.1.1.6 Truelove M. Sparks, who had settled there in 1845. It was there, on March 29, 1867, that Matthew Sparks died at the age of 84 years and was buried in Swan Cemetery near Lynnville.
All of our sources of information (census data, marriage records, published histories, and family records furnished by descendants) indicate that Matthew and Polly Sparks were the parents of thirteen children, but thus far we have been able to make definite identification of only eight of them, four sons and four daughters, and probable identification of one other, a daughter.
20.1.1.1 William Sparks was born ca. 1804 in North Carolina. He came to Leatherwood Creek in Adair County with his parents when he was a small boy and he lived there all of his life. He married Elizabeth Cochran [NOTE: her name was actually Nancy Cochran] ca. 1828. She was born ca. 1810 and was a daughter of Thomas Cochran, a Revolutionary War soldier. William Sparks was a farmer.
According to a history of Kentucky written in 1887, William Sparks died on January 25, 1878, "a consistent Christian and a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church." His wife, Elizabeth, died ca. 1870 at the age of sixty. They were the parents of eleven children.
20.1.1.1.1 Thomas Sparks was born ca. 1829. He was not living with his parents when the 1850 census was taken of Adair County.
20.1.1.1.2 Matthew Sparks was born on January 25, 1831. On March 26, 1849, he married Mary Ann (England) McNeeley in Adair County. They were married by Spencer Janes, a Baptist minister. (M.B. 2-6, page 141) Mary Ann was born ca. 1826 and was a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Askew) England. She was the widow of John McNeeley by whom she had three children:
James M. McNeeley born ca. 1845;
Elizabeth Jane McNeeley born ca. 1847; and
Martha Ann McNeeley born ca. 1848. (See below.)Matthew Sparks moved to Indiana in 1860 and in 1861 he enlisted in the 49th Regiment Indiana Infantry where he served until his discharge for illness in 1863. (See the abstract of his pension file in the March 1975 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 89.) After his release from the service, he returned to Adair County where, on November 21, 1865, he and Mary Ann bought an 88-acre farm on the headwaters of Big Creek. Here, Mary Ann died in 1867. They had two children:
20.1.1.1.2.1 William Sparks was born ca. 1858 in Adair County. He was still single when the census was taken in 1880.
20.1.1.1.2.2 Susan E. Sparks was born ca. 1862.On January 21, 1869, Matthew Sparks married (second) Juliet Akin, a daughter of Joseph K. and Nancy B. (Fowler) Akin. Matthew was 34 years of age and it was his second marriage; Juliet was 24 years of age and it was her first marriage. James S. Akin was the bondsman. (M.B. 5, p. 201) To this marriage, five children were born:
0.1.1.1.2.3 George Ann Sparks was born ca. 1869. She married Charles E. Kingrey on November 7, 1894.
20.1.1.1.2.4 Mary Ellen Sparks was born ca. 1872. On March 17, 1892, she married J. W. Sampson in Adair County. He was 27 years old and she was 21. It was the first marriage for both. (M.B. 14, p. 252)
20.1.1.1.2.5 Moses S. Sparks was born ca. 1874. In 1895 he married Annice Stotts in Adair County; the month and the day were not recorded. (M.B. 16, p. 74)
20.1.1.1.2.6 Josiah William Sparks was born February 24, 1879.
20.1.1.1.2.7 Victoria Sparks was born August 11, 1882.Juliet (Akin) Sparks apparently died between 1882 and 1892, for on September 11, 1892, 20.1.1.1.2 Matthew Sparks married Melvina McGinnis, the widow of G. B. McGinnis, Jr. The marriage was performed by the Rev. Russell Harvey at the home of G. B. McGinnis, Sr. (M.B. 14, p. 316).
According to a history of Kentucky published in 1887, 20.1.1.1.2 Matthew Sparks was a highly successful farmer and businessman. He owned "a fine farm of 215 acres, well improved, with good residence and outbuildings, and four other farms of 390 acres, besides a saw and grist mill. His estate, worth $10,000, is the result of his own industry and economy, as he began without a dollar. He and Mrs. Sparks and two of the daughters are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and in politics he is a Democrat."
Matthew Sparks died at his home at Fairplay, Kentucky, on June 7, 1893.
20.1.1.1.3 Biddy Ann Sparks, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Cochran) Sparks, was born ca. 1832. On September 4, 1852, she married Franklin McKinney in Adair County by the Rev. Spencer Janes. Both of them stated that they were single and that they were born in Adair County. (M.B. 2-6, p. 168) Franklin was born ca. 1817. When the 1860 census was taken, they had three children:
20.1.1.1.3.1 Louisa Jane McKinney was born December 10, 1853.
20.1.1.1.3.2 Polly Ann McKinney was born October 10, 1856.
20.1.1.1.3.3 William M. McKinney was born ca. 1859.20.1.1.1.4 James Riley Sparks was born ca. 1834. He married Gracey H. Janes in 1858 in Barren County, KY, and they had at least one child,
20.1.1.1.4.1 William Sparks born June 9, 1859.
20.1.1.1.5 Mary Ann Sparks was born ca. 1837. She married Thomas Walker according to a history of Kentucky.
20.1.1.1.6 Susan Sparks was born ca. 1839. She married John Mitchell according to a history of Kentucky.
20.1.1.1.7 Nancy Jane Sparks was born ca. 1841. She married James Johnson according to a history of Kentucky.20.1.1.1.8 William W. Sparks was born ca. 1843. He served in the 16th Regiment Indiana Infantry during the Civil War. (See the abstract of his military file in the March 1975 issue of The Sparks Quarterly, Whole No. 89.) He apparently did not marry and died ca. 1893.
20.1.1.1.9 Elizabeth Sparks was born ca. 1846. She married Frank Saters according to a history of Kentucky.
20.1.1.1.10 Martha Jane Sparks was born ca. 1850. She married John Helstead according to a history of Kentucky.
20.1.1.1.11 Sarah Ann Sparks was born ca. 1850. She married FNU Saters according to a history of Kentucky.
20.1.1.2 Dau1 Sparks, whom we have been unable to identify, was born to Matthew and Polly (Robinson) Sparks between 1800 and 1810.
20.1.1.3 John R. Sparks, son of 20.1.1 Matthew and Polly (Robinson) Sparks, was born on March 16, 1806 in Green County, Kentucky; descendants believe that the initial "R" stands for his mother's maiden name. On October 6, 1828, he married Elizabeth Matthews, daughter of William and Mary Matthews in Morgan County, Illinois. Elizabeth was born in Green County, Kentucky, on January 7, 1806. Her mother was born in Pennsylvania ca. 1773 and she died in Jasper County, Iowa, in 1855.
John R. Sparks left Adair County ca. 1826 and went to Morgan County, Illinois, where, after his marriage, he bought a farm. In 1836, he sold the farm and moved to "government" land in Lee County, Wisconsin Territory, which would become Iowa Territory in 1838. Prior to 1840, he and John B. Thompson founded the village of Columbus in Van Buren County on the north side of the Des Moines River near Copper Creek, but it failed of permanancy. The legislature also authorized him to build a dam while he was in Lee County.
In March 1845, John made his final move, going from Van Buren County to newly formed Jasper County where he entered 320 acres of government land on the North Fork of the Skunk River near present-day Lynnville. There, with the help of his sons, he added to the farm until he owned 500 acres of choice farming land. It was also there that in 1846 (the year Iowa became the 29th state) he built the first flour mill in Jasper County on the Skunk River.
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| 20.1.1.3 JOHN R. SPARKS, Deceased | ELIZABETH SPARKS,Deceased |
| Born in Adair Co., KY., March 16, 1806 Settled in Jasper Co., 1845. Died August 17, 1886 |
Born January 7, 1806. Settled in Jasper Co. March 1845 Died June 7, 1886 |
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| SITE OF ORIGINAL SPARKS MILL WITH OLD WATERWHEEL AND WOODEN DAM |
John R. Sparks was active in business and governmental affairs. The first Board of Commissioners of Jasper County consisted of Joab Bennett, Manly Gifford and John R. Sparks. One of their first responsibilities was to lay off the courthouse square at Newton and borrow enough money to build the courthouse. In 1865, Sparks and several neighbors joined a business firm from Chicago in leasing land on Crocus Creek in Adair County, Kentucky, for the purpose of digging for coal, oil, salt-water and iron. If oil was struck, the business was to pay $300 per year for a flow of ten barrels per day. We do not know how the business venture turned out.
John R. Sparks was also a founder of the Claim Protection Society of Lynn Grove which was established at a meeting held on his farm in 1846. At that meeting, a clerk was elected whose job was to make a plat of the precinct on which all claims were noted, and the claims were also registered on a separate piece of paper. Any newcomer to the community was advised to inspect the plat and determine whether the land in which he was interested was already claimed. In that way, Jasper County escaped much of the "claim jumping" that was prevalent elsewhere in Iowa.
A history of Jasper County, published in 1894, contains a biography of John R. Sparks which states: "During the days of the old-line Whig party, he was very active in politics, and on the birth of the Republican party, he voted for Fremont. He was honored with different offices, among them being that of County Commissioner. In the progress of education and religion he was greatly interested and was always ready to support all laudable enterprises. He was one of the most highly respected and honored men in the county, and was widely known, the family being the second to locate in this part of the country."
John R. Sparks died on August 17, 1886, just two months after the death of his wife, Elizabeth (Matthews) Sparks, on June 7, 1886. They are buried in Woodland Cemetery in Jasper County.
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20.1.1.3 John R. Sparks (of Jasper County, Iowa), should not be confused with 17.2.2.1.x John R. Sparks of Macoupin County, Illinois. The latter was also born in 1806, but in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, and was a son of 17.2.2.1 Matthew and Nancy (Sutton) Sparks. He married Elizabeth Bradshaw in 1833 in Morgan County, Illinois. Undoubtedly, the two men were related, perhaps as close as second or third cousins. For further information about Matthew and Nancy (Sutton) Sparks, see the March 1962 issue of The Sparks Quarterly, Whole No. 37.)
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20.1.1.3 John R. Sparks and Elizabeth (Matthews) Sparks had eleven children, but three of them died in early childhood. They were:
20.1.1.3.1 Jeremiah S. Sparks was born in Morgan County, Illinois, on August 8, 1829. He accompanied his parents to Iowa in 1836 and attended district schools there. He became a successful farmer. On October 2, 1851, he married Nancy M. Simms in Jasper County. She was born in Logan County, Kentucky, on September 30, 1829, one of ten children born to David and Elizabeth (Elstom) Simms. Jeremiah and Nancy lived in Lynn Grover Township.
A history of Jasper County, published in 1894, gave this description of Jeremiah S. Sparks: "After his marriage our subject settled on his present farm, then wild and uncultivated land, erected a log cabin 18 by 18 feet in dimensions, and made his home there until 1862, when the present substantial and comfortable abode was built. The original estate comprised eighty acres and he now has in his possession 320 broad and fertile acres. He at one time had over 500 acres, but has sold a little at a time until it has diminished to its present acreage."
"Mr. Sparks is a stalwart Republican. He cast his first Presidential vote in 1852. He has held local offices in his township, and is a man honored and respected by all. Mr. and Mrs. Sparks are connected with the Methodist Protestant Church and are active and valued members, he holding an office in the same. Our subject and his father were the principal builders of the church."
Jeremiah S. Sparks died on January 27, 1903, in Jasper County. His wife, Nancy, died a year later, on January 22, 1904. They were the parents of seven children
20.1.1.3.1.1 Mary E. Sparks was born July 7, 1852. On December 20, 1874, she married B. P. Roten and they had two children.
20.1.1.3.1.2 Martha Paninah Sparks was born February 28, 1854. She married Joseph B. Sylvester on December 9, 1881.
20.1.1.3.1.3 David J. Sparks was born April 1, 1857. He is said to have married and to have had six children, but we have been unable to get further information.
20.1.1.3.1.4 Albert L. Sparks was born October 7, 1859. On November 2, 1879, he married Rosa Hamilton and they had three children.
20.1.1.3.1.5 John H. Sparks was born December 19, 1862. He married Emma Andrews.
20.1.1.3.1.6 Benjamin M. Sparks was born April 3, 1865, and died while quite young.
20.1.1.3.1.7 Nellie L. Sparks was born April 24, 1867. She married Perry O. Maxom.20.1.1.3.2 Margaret W. Sparks was born October 31, 1830, in Morgan County, Illinois. She accompanied her parents to Iowa where, on August 3, 1849, she married Jesse Hammer by James F. New, a justice of the peace. Theirs was the second marriage performed in Jasper County. Jesse was born October 4, 1820, in Jefferson County, Tennessee, and he was a son of Elisha Hammer. Jesse Hammer was married four times, the marriage to Margaret W. Sparks being the second one. Margaret died on November 24, 1860, and was buried in the Saran Cemetery in Jasper County. Jesse died on September 2, 1873, at Richland, Iowa. They had six children.
20.1.1.3.2.1 Elizabeth Lucinda Hammer was born June 2, 1851. She died in infancy.
20.1.1.3.2.2 Marion R. Hammer was born January 26,1853. He married Mary Emma Dooley on October 22, 1876, and they had at least one child. Marion R. Hammer, Sr., was a physician. He died in 1940.
20.1.1.3.2.2.1 Marion R. Hammer, Jr. born in 1878, who became an attorney, and
20.1.1.3.2.2.2 Jesse Marion Hammer.20.1.1.3.2.3 Samuel Lafayette Hammer was born July 13, 1854. He married Phoebe Minthorn, a sister of Huldah Minthorn. Hulda Minthorn married Jesse Hoover and they were the parents of Herbert Hoover, the 31st President of the United States. After the death of his parents, Herbert Hoover lived for awhile with his aunt and uncle, Samuel and Phoebe Hammer, and he accompanied them when they moved to California. Samuel Hammer died in 1941.
20.1.1.3.2.4 Jasper Fremont Hammer was born April 8, 1855. He died in 1925.
20.1.1.3.2.5 Martha Ellen Hammer was born May 23, 1858. She married Lewis Guthrie and they had two children. Martha Ellen died in 1946.
20.1.1.3.2.5.1 Jesse J. Guthrie
20.1.1.3.2.5.2 Margaret Guthrie.20.1.1.3.2.6 Mary Emma Hammer was born June 2, 1860. After the death of her mother, she lived with her maternal grandparents, John and Elizabeth Sparks. She died at Winfield, Kansas.
20.1.1.3.3 Matthew T. Sparks was born November 5, 1834, probably in Morgan County, Illinois. On October 6, 1857, he married Martha Starr in Jasper County. When the Civil War broke out, he enlisted in the 5th Regiment Iowa Infantry in July 1861 and served until his death three years later in the Andersonville (Georgia) Prison on July 9, 1864. He is buried in Grave 3060 at that site. (See the abstract of the pension file for his service in the March 1975 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 89.) Matthew and Martha (Starr) Sparks were the parents of three children:
20.1.1.3.3.1 John James Sparks was born August 16, 1858.
20.1.1.3.3.2 Elizabeth J. Sparks was born December 26, 1859.
20.1.1.3.3.3 Matthew W. P. Sparks was born November 2, 1861.20.1.1.3.4 Peninah Sparks was born December 3, 1835, probably in Morgan County, Illinois, and came to Iowa with her parents. On April 10, 1856, she married Thomas Sherman in Jasper County. He was born at Brimfield, Mass., on September 6, 1828. She died on January 17, 1911. Her husband died on April 10, 1909. They were the parents of at least eight children. We have not learned the order of birth of the last five of them.
20.1.1.3.4.1 Sarah E. Sherman was born ca. 1857. On October 11, 1883, she married H. M. Gove, a son of Sabine and Harriet (Kendle) Gove.
20.1.1.3.4.2 Nettie Sherman was born ca. 1859. On March 11, 1885, she married T. L. Gove, a son of Sabine and Harriet (Kendle) Gove.
20.1.1.3.4.3 John H. Sherman was born March 23, 1861 and died in 1927. On December 23, 1887, he married Anna L. Shoop, daughter of William H. and Sarah E. (Hiles) Shoop.20.1.1.3.4.4 Lewis H. Sherman was born after 1860. He married Amy J. Smith.
20.1.1.3.4.5 William A. Sherman was born December 21, 1868 and died in 1870
20.1.1.3.4.6 Edwin S. Sherman was born April 10, 1870, and died in 1938. He married Dora Patterson.
20.1.1.3.4.7 Frederick M. Sherman was born July 12, 1872, and he died in 1948. He married Ella Andreas on October 10, 1899.
20.1.1.3.4.8 Franklin O. Sherman was born November 1, 1876, and he died in 1945. He married Clara Mae Forsythe on January 10, 1898.Peninah and Thomas Sherman both died in Jasper County. He died in 1909 and she died in 1911.
20.1.1.3.5 William Henry Sparks was born October 10, 1840. He enlisted in the 5th Regiment Iowa Infantry in July 1861 and served until his death on September 1, 1864, apparently in the Andersonville (Georgia) Prison. (See the abstract of his military records in the May 1975 issue of The Sparks Quarterly, Whole No. 89) William Henry Sparks apparently never married.
FAMILY OF JOHN BARRY AMANDA MIRTIS (SYLVESTER) SPARKS
Picture taken ca. 1905 Top row, L-R: Effie (Mallory) Sparks, Nancy Willimina (Sparks) Bushong, Hugh Bushong, Orpha Emma Sparks, Joseph Burnham, Daisy Ann (Sparks) Burnham, Ada Elizabeth (Sparks) Howell Middle row, L-R: Ralph Sparks, Amanda Mirtis (Sylvester) Sparks, John Barry Sparks, Albert H. Howell Bottom row, L-R: Lavern Sparks born 1901;Albert Sparks born 1903; and Glenn Howell born 1899
20.1.1.3.6 John Barry Sparks was born May 29, 1842, in Lee County, Iowa Territory. On November 22, 1877, he married Amanda Mirtis Sylvester in Jasper County. She was born in Logan County, Illinois, on August 29, 1851, and was a daughter of Dickson and Ann Sylvester.
Following his marriage, John Barry Sparks lived for a few years on his father's farm, but ca. 1880 he moved to his own farm. Then, after the death of his father in 1886, he bought out the other heirs and moved back to the old homeplace where he engaged in mixed farming and stock raising. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Protestant Church. He was a member of the Lynnville Masonic Lodge and in politics he was a Republican. He died on May 3, 1918, in Jasper County; his wife died there on June 8, 1927. They were the parents of six children.
20.1.1.3.6.1 Daisy Ann Sparks was born August 25, 1878 and died on July 28, 1957. She married Joseph A. Burnham and they had one child, a daughter.
20.1.1.3.6.2 Ada Elizabeth Sparks was born August 28, 1880, and died on September 5, 1959. She married A. H. Howell; they had a son and a daughter.
20.1.1.3.6.3 Ralph Sylvester Sparks was born August 27, 1881, and died December 6, 1950. He married Effie Miranda Mallory, a daughter of Dewitt Madison and Sarah Catherine (Jumper) Mallory on August 14, 1900. She was born May 31, 1882, and she died on December 6, 1967. They had seven children:
20.1.1.3.6.3.1 Laverne Millard Sparks,
20.1.1.3.6.3.2 Albert John Sparks,
20.1.1.3.6.3.3 Elmer DeWitt Sparks,
20.1.1.3.6.3.4 Doyle Sabin Sparks,
20.1.1.3.6.3.5 Erma Orpha Sparks,
20.1.1.3.6.3.6 Ralph Clair Sparks, and
20.1.1.3.6.3.7 Lorene Lonora Sparks.20.1.1.3.6.4 Nancy Wilhelmina Sparks was born December 27, 1882 and died on December 16, 1915. She married Hugh Lawton Bushong on December 8, 1901. He was born January 14, 1882, and he died on January 20 1939. They had two daughters.
20.1.1.3.6.5 Ernest T. Sparks was born August 25, 1887, and died on February 22, 1888.
20.1.1.3.6.6 Orphia Emma Sparks was born October 9, 1888. She married Marion R. Hammer, Jr., on November 11, 1918. She died on May 10, 1972. He was a grandson of Orphia's aunt, Margaret (Sparks) Hammer. (20.1.1.3.2 Margaret W. Sparks)
20.1.1.3.7 Elizabeth S. Sparks, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Matthews) Sparks, was born November 23, 1844, and died on January 5, 1923, in Des Moines, Iowa. She married Andrew E. Noble on May 19, 1872, in Jasper County. They had two children, a son and a daughter.
20.1.1.3.8 Samuel T. Sparks was born August 27, 1847, in Jasper County and it was there that he married Sarah Cordelia Butrum on March 19, 1868. She was born July 5, 1848, and was a daughter of Andrew and Nancy Butrum. In May 1864, Samuel Sparks enlisted in the 48th Regiment Iowa Infantry and served until his discharge in October 1864. (See the abstract of his pension file in the March 1975 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 89.) Samuel and Sarah were the parents of five children:
20.1.1.3.8.1 Eva May Sparks was born May 30, 1869, and she died on June 26, 1936. She married Fred Krohn and they had one child, a daughter, 20.1.1.3.8.1.1 Reva Krohn.
20.1.1.3.8.2 Charles Wesley Sparks was born September 11, 1871, and died on October 2, 1932. He married Cecyl Rose Gove, a daughter of William Sabin and Amarilla (Allen) Gove, and they were the parents of three children:
20.1.1.3.8.2.1 Avonel B. Sparks,
20.1.1.3.8.2.2 Harriet W. Sparks, and
20.1.1.3.8.2.3 Charles R. Sparks.20.1.1.3.8.3 Frank B. Sparks was born December 12, 1874, and died on March 17, 1948. He married Jennie May Gove, a sister of Cecyl Rose Gove, on November 23, 1899, and they had twelve children:
20.1.1.3.8.3.1 Gladys E. Sparks
20.1.1.3.8.3.2 Elva B. Sparks
20.1.1.3.8.3.3 Samuel Gove Sparks
20.1.1.3.8.3.4 Frank Hazen Sparks
20.1.1.3.8.3.5 Harold C. Sparks
20.1.1.3.8.3.6 Sara A. Sparks
20.1.1.3.8.3.7 Russell W. Sparks
20.1.1.3.8.3.8 Albert G. Sparks
20.1.1.3.8.3.9 Wilbur J. Sparks
20.1.1.3.8.3.10 Ward W. Sparks
20.1.1.3.8.3.11 Merle Ted Sparks
20.1.1.3.8.3.12 Betty Lou Sparks.20.1.1.3.8.4 Carrie Belle Sparks was born November 27, 1877.
20.1.1.3.8.5 Clifford Jerry Sparks was born October 5,1885.Samuel and Sarah (Butrum) Sparks both died in Jasper County. He died on March 18, 1905, and she died on May 22, 1928.
20.1.1.4 Jeremiah Sparks, son of Matthew and Polly (Robinson) Sparks, was born ca. 1808 and he died on July 15, 1859, at the age of 51 years, 7 months, and 20 days. On July 20, 1827, he married Rachel Janes in Adair County, Kentucky, by Elijah King. (M.B. 1, page 107) They lived on Leatherwood Creek where Jeremiah purchased 66 acres of land. The land sold for $20 per 100 acres. Jeremiah and Rachel Sparks had nine children before her death ca. 1845.
20.1.1.4.1 Son Sparks whose name we have not learned was born to Jeremiah and Rachel ca. 1829.
20.1.1.4.2 Nancy Sparks was born ca. 1830. On January 9, 1849, she married Jordan England in Adair County, KY, by the Rev. Spencer Janes. (M.B. 2-6, p. 141) Jordan England was born ca. 1829 and was a son of James and Nancy (Cochran) England. Nancy and Jordan lived on Red Lick Creek where, in 1860, they had four children:
20.1.1.4.2.1 Rachel England was born ca. 1851.
20.1.1.4.2.2 William R. England was born ca. 1854.
20.1.1.4.2.3 Sarah Margaret England was born July 9, 1857.
20.1.1.4.2.4 Mary Elizabeth England was born ca. 1859.20.1.1.4.3 Margaret Sparks was born ca. 1833. On August 21, 1855, she married James Romines in Adair County, KY. She was over the age of 21 and it was her first marriage. The bondsman was William A. Reece. (M.B. 3, p. 74) Margaret and James lived on Red Lick Creek where, in 1860, they had three children:
20.1.1.4.3.1 Nancy W. Romines was born August 10, 1856.
20.1.1.4.3.2 Polly Romines was born ca. 1858.
20.1.1.4.3.3 Greenup Romines was born ca. 1860.20.1.1.4.4 Sarah Ann Sparks, daughter of Jeremiah and Rachel (Janes) Sparks, was born ca. 1835. She married William A. Reece ca. 1852. He was born ca. 1825. They had at least five children:
20.1.1.4.4.1 John Reece was born ca. 1853.
20.1.1.4.4.2 George Washington Reece was born August 17, 1854.
20.1.1.4.4.3 Preston Berry Reece was born November 6, 1856.
20.1.1.4.4.4 Rachel Reece was born ca. 1859.
20.1.1.4.4.5 Amanda Ellen Reece was born March 6, 1861.20.1.1.4.5 Mary "Polly" E. Sparks was born ca. 1836. On December 29, 1853, she married Daniel T. England in Adair County, KY. She was 17 years old and he was 22. (M.B. 3, p. 59) He was born April 21, 1831, and was a son of John Thomas and Elizabeth (Askew) England. Polly and Daniel lived at Breeding, KY, where they had at least eight children:
20.1.1.4.5.1 Mary Elizabeth England was born October 29, 1854.
20.1.1.4.5.2 Sarah A. England was born April 11, 1856. In August 1874, she married Isaac Whitfield Reece in Metcalfe County, KY, and they had at least one child, a son:20.1.1.4.5.2.1 Isaac Luther Reece, who was born September 18, 1887. Undoubtedly there were other children.
20.1.1.4.5.3 Jeremiah England was born July 22, 1859.
20.1.1.4.5.4 Richard England was born ca. 1860.
20.1.1.4.5.5 Rachel England was born ca. 1861.
20.1.1.4.5.6 Greenup England was born ca. 1863.
20.1.1.4.5.7 George S. England was born ca. 1866.
20.1.1.4.5.8 James A. England was born ca. 1869.20.1.1.4.6 Gracey Sparks was born ca. 1838. We have no more information about her.
20.1.1.4.7 Jeremiah M. Sparks was born March 27, 1839. He married Sirena Dooley in 1860 in Adair County, KY. Witnesses were M. England and S. Dooley. (M.B. 2-6, p. 223) Sirena was born April 11, 1840. Jeremiah was a farmer on Leatherwood Creek. He and Sirena were members of the Chestnut Grove Christian Church and they are buried in the church cemetery. She died on December 30, 1916, and he died on July 11, 1920. They were parents of at least seven children.
20.1.1.4.7.1 Rachel Sparks was born November 1, 1861.
20.1.1.4.7.2 Greenup W. Sparks was born ca. 1865. On October 16, 1887, he married Sallie E. Petty in Adair County, KY. He said he was 22 years of age and that he was born in Washington County, KY. She was 18 years of age. It was the first marriage for both. (M.B. 12, p, 380).
20.1.1.4.7.3 Mary Jane Sparks was born ca. 1868. On August 21, 1888, she married George O. Reece in Adair County, KY. He was 20 years old and his father, J. C. Reece, gave his consent. She was 21. They were married at the home of her father, J. M. Sparks. (M.B. 12, p. 582)
20.1.1.4.7.4 Stephen Dudley Sparks was born in September 1871. He married Lou Ann England ca. 1893. She had been born August 3, 1875, and was a daughter of Amos and Sarah (MeKinney) England. Stephen and Lou Ann had eight children:
20.1.1.4.7.4.1 Jeremiah M. [" Jerry"] Sparks was born on April 16, 1894. He married Della Roach. She was born ca. 1885 and was a daughter of Henry H. and Rachel Margaret (Sparks) Roach. (See Item VI, A, 7, d, on page 1865 of the December 1976 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 96.).
Jerry and Della had one child, 20.1.1.4.7.4.1.1 Clarence J. Sparks.
20.1.1.4.7.4.2 Vera Ann Sparks was born in May 1896. She married Ervin Sparks, and they had two children, both of whom died young.
20.1.1.4.7.4.3 Amos Orbin Sparks was born in July 1899. He married lone Johnson and they had two children:20.1.1.4.7.4.3.1 Amos Sparks, Jr.
20.1.1.4.7.4.3.2 Oleta Sparks. Oleta died when she was quite young.20.1.1.4.7.4.4 Rena Sparks was born September 10, 1904. She married Stoney Witt, and they had four children:
20.1.1.4.7.4.4.1 Hansel E. Witt
20.1.1.4.7.4.4.2 Henry D. Witt
20.1.1.4.7.4.4.3 Eva Nell Witt
20.1.1.4.7.4.4.4 Doyle Witt.20.1.1.4.7.4.5 Lora Bell Sparks was born April 20, 1906. She married Charles E. Smith, and they had three children:
20.1.1.4.7.4.5.1 Margaret L. Smith.
20.1.1.4.7.4.5.2 Doris Smith.
20.1.1.4.7.4.5.3 Charles F. Smith20.1.1.4.7.4.6 Otis Sparks was born ca. 1908 and died at the age of one year.
20.1.1.4.7.4.7 An unidentified child was born to Stephen and Lou Ann Sparks ca. 1910.
20.1.1.4.7.4.8 Artie Marie Sparks was born March 25, 1913. She married byron Nance. They had four children:20.1.1.4.7.4.8.1 Harold Nance
20.1.1.4.7.4.8.2 Glen Nance
20.1.1.4.7.4.8.3 Darrell Nance
20.1.1.4.7.4.8.4 Patricia Ann Nance20.1.1.4.7.5 Nancy E. Sparks was born ca. 1875. She married George England on April 13, 1893, at the home of her uncle, David J. Sparks. She was 18 and he was 19 years of age. (M.B. 15, p. 6)
20.1.1.4.7.6 Adda L. Sparks was born ca. 1877.
20.1.1.4.7.7 Lue S. Sparks was born ca. 1879.20.1.1.4.8 Rachel M. Sparks was born ca. 1841. In November 1858, she married George McCloskey in neighboring Cumberland County, KY. She gave her age as 20 and he gave his age as 24.
20.1.1.4.9 Greenup S. Sparks was born ca. 1845. In April 1861, he enlisted in the 2nd Regiment KY. Light Artillery and served until November 1865. (See the abstract of his pension file in the March 1975 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 89. A few days after he returned from the service, he married Mary Ann England on December 14, 1865. They were married by Meredith Roach and their witnesses were Joseph Jesse and William Reece. (M.B. 2-6, p. 274) Greenup and Mary Ann had at least one child and there may have been others. He died on September 1, 1898.
20.1.1.4.9.1 Nancy E. Sparks born ca. 1869.
Rachel (Janes) Sparks, wife of 20.1.1.4 Jeremiah Sparks, apparently died shortly after the birth of their son, 20.1.1.4.9 Greenup S. Sparks. On May 6, 1847, Jeremiah Sparks married as his second wife, in Adair County, KY, Jane Janes. Her uncle, Spencer Janes, performed the wedding ceremony. (M.B. 2-6, p. 128) To this union, at least three children were born and there may have been others.
20.1.1.4.10 A. P. Sparks, daughter of Jeremiah and Jane (Janes) Sparks, was born ca. 1848.
20.1.1.4.11 David J. Sparks, was born ca. 1854. He married Loumira A. Janes in Adair County, KY, on August 10, 1876. He gave his age as 21 and Loumira said that she was 17. Jeremiah M. Sparks was the bondsman. It was the first marriage for both. (M.B. 8, p. 288).(Correction Note: He was a son of 17.2.7.6.2 John R. and Priscilla (Reece) Sparks of Adair County as set forth on page 2179 of the March 1980 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 109.).
20.1.1.4.11 Napole
on B. Sparks, son of Jeremiah and Jane (Janes) Sparks, was born May 9, 1856.20.1.1.5 Sarah "Sally" Sparks, daughter of Matthew and Polly (Robinson) Sparks, was born ca. 1810. On November 20, 1830, her father gave his consent for her to marry Samuel Rose. They were married by Elijah King. (M.B. 1, p.126) When the 1840 Adair County census was taken, they had three sons and two daughters. They did not appear on the 1850 census and probably moved away.
SARAH (GUESSFORD) SPARKS 20.1.1.6 TRUELOVE M. SPARKS born: 1809, died: 1883 born: 1812, died: 1887
20.1.1.6 Truelove M. Sparks, son of Matthew and Polly (Robinson) Sparks, was born August 15, 1812, in Adair County, KY. Descendants say that the initial "M" stood for Milton. He left Adair County ca. 1826, probably with his brother, 20.1.1.3 John R. Sparks, and went to Morgan County, Illinois. There, on September 26, 1832, he married Sarah "Sally" E. Guessford. She was born in Adair County, KY, on July 27, 1809.
Truelove and Sally Sparks lived on a farm on Indian Creek in Morgan County when their first child was born in 1833, but ca. 1836 Truelove and his brother, 20.1.1.3 John R. Sparks, went to Iowa where they finally settled down in Lynn Grove Township in Jasper County. Here, Truelove and Sally Sparks farmed and reared a family of twelve children, nine of whom attained maturity.
20.1.1.6.1 Stephen J. Sparks was born August 28, 1833, in Morgan County, Illinois, and accompanied his parents to Iowa while still a small boy. There, in Jasper County, he married Martha Ann Loten (or Lawton) on April 1, 1858. To this marriage two children were born:
20.1.1.6.1.1 Amanda Sparks born January 24, 1859.
20.1.1.6.1.2 Martha A. Sparks born in October 1861, died at the age of two years.Martha Ann (Loten) Sparks died in December 1861 at the untimely age of 21, and the following August, Stephen Sparks enlisted in the 40th Regiment Iowa Infantry. (See the abstract of his pension file in the March 1975 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 89.) After his discharge from the service in July 1863, he returned to Jasper County where, on December 26, 1863, he married Rebecca (Gile or Guile) Wolf, widow of George Wolf. Rebecca was a daughter of Samuel and Eliza Gile (or Guile), and the mother of two small children, Eliza Wolf and Calvin Wolf.
Stephen and Rebecca Sparks lived on a 200-acre farm in Lynn Grove Township where he bought and shipped cattle to Chicago on an extensive scale; he became known as one of the leading stockmen in central Iowa. In 1912, the following tribute was given to him in Past and Present of Jasper County, Iowa: "Mr. Sparks joined the Masons at Camp Polk, Iowa, in 1862... and he belongs to the Lebanon Lodge at Lynnville. He is also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. In politics he stands for the best interests of the county regardless of party. He served 22 years as road supervisor and 20 years as school director, his long service in these positions being sufficient evidence of his high standing in his home community.... Among other commendable acts was the giving of $1000 to aid in building the local Christian Church of which he and his estimable wife are worthy members...."
Stephen Sparks died on July 29, 1918, and his wife, Rebecca, died on August 26, 1927. They were the parents of six children.
20.1.1.6.1.3 Sarah M. Sparks was born December 19, 1864. She married Charles Monroe and they were living in Mahaska County, Iowa, in 1912.
20.1.1.6.1.4 William P. Sparks was born May 20, 1867. He was living in Grinnell, Iowa, in 1912.
20.1.1.6.1.5 Laura M. Sparks was born May 30, 1870. She married A. Hawkett of Grinnell, Iowa. He was a carpenter.
20.1.1.6.1.6 Perry M. Sparks was born May 11, 1873. He was living on his parents' farm in 1912.
20.1.1.6.1.7 Clara B. Sparks was born November 15, 1877 and died in 1880.
20.1.1.6.1.8 Stephen Jasper Sparks was born October 4, 1880. He was living at Sturgis, South Dakota, in 1912.20.1.1.6.2 John R. Sparks was born on August 30, 1834, in Morgan County, Illinois. As a small boy, he came with his parents to Iowa. He married Mary E. Cartwright on April 1, 1858, in Jasper County. Census records indicate that John and Mary had at least five children and there may have been others.
20.1.1.6.2.1 Isaac N. Sparks born ca. 1859.
20.1.1.6.2.2 Sarah E. Sparks born ca. 1861.
20.1.1.6.2.3 Cynthia L. Sparks born ca. 1863.
20.1.1.6.2.4 Huldah E. Sparks born ca. 1867.
20.1.1.6.2.5 John M. Sparks born ca. 1870.20.1.1.6.3 William Preston Sparks was born January 4, 1836, in Lee County, Wisconsin Territory (later the state of Iowa). On May 22, 1855, he married Angelina Harriet Burnham, daughter of Rodney and Mary (Shields) Burnham, in Jasper County. She was born July 31, 1838, at Carthage, Illinois. William and Angelina had sixteen children:
20.1.1.6.3.1 Mary Frances Sparks was born March 1, 1856, and died on March 1, 1946, in Poweshiek County, Iowa. She married Moses Van Gorkum on August 16, 1874.
20.1.1.6.3.2 Sarah M. Sparks was born July 28, 1857, and died on October 11, 1859.
20.1.1.6.3.3 Margaret Jane Sparks was born January 2, 1859, and died on November 30, 1937. She married Marshall Meredith on December 13, 1877.20.1.1.6.3.4 Stephen A. Sparks was born August 18, 1860, and died on November 29, 1934. He married Minnie J. Shepherd on July 8, 1883. She was a daughter of Samuel and Amanda Shepherd and was born in Hendricks County, Indiana, ca. 1866.
20.1.1.6.3.5 Eliza E. Sparks was born February 11, 1862, and died on September 11, 1839. She married William Shepherd on September 21, 1881. He was a brother of Minnie J. Shepherd and was born in Indiana ca. 1857.
20.1.1.6.3.6 Curtis John W. Sparks was born July 12, 1863, and died on February 11, 1916.20.1.1.6.3.7 George W. Sparks was born March 16, 1865, and died on April 4, 1947. He married Ella White on November 14, 1888. She was born ca. 1867 and was a daughter of Wyatt and Emwna (Edwards) White.
20.1.1.6.3.8 Elizabeth E. Sparks was born August 11, 1866, and died on May 21, 1941. On November 4, 1884, she married Boston A. Turner, son of Walter and Martha R. (Simms) Turner.20.1.1.6.3.9 Florence Rebecca Sparks was born March 25, 1868, and died on December 8, 1955.
20.1.1.6.3.10 Amanda M. Sparks was born June 24, 1870, and died in April 1949.
20.1.1.6.3.11 William P. Sparks was born October 7, 1871, and died on May 27, 1948. He married Hester Katherine Shaffer on February 22, 1893. She was born May 9, 1871, and died on March 18, 1935.20.1.1.6.3.12 Harriet A. Sparks was born November 28, 1873, and died on November 24, 1955.
20.1.1.6.3.13 Milton Truelove Sparks was born June 12, 1876, and died on August 18, 1957.
20.1.1.6.3.14 Eddie Elmer Sparks was born April 20, 1878, and died on November 23, 1950. He married (first) Ida Mae Beason on July 17, 1899, and they had one child, a son. She died on August 23, 1902. He married (second) Myrtle Ellen Elliott, daughter of Orlando Asa and Hannah (Humphreys) Elliott, on August 1, 1906 and they had seven children. She was born March 25, 1880, and died on February 27, 1951.20.1.1.6.3.15 Freddie B. Sparks was born January 17, 1881, and died on December 14, 1920.
20.1.1.6.3.16 Edna R. Sparks was born December 17, 1883, and died in November 1928.William Preston Sparks died on July 21, 1913, at Lynnville, Iowa. His wife, Angelina, died on October 8, 1908.
20.1.1.6.4 Thomas J. Sparks was born November 14, 1837, and died on September 10, 1845.
20.1.1.6.5 Jeremiah J. Sparks was born March 11, 1839, in Morgan County, Illinois. On October 22, 1861, he enlisted in the 4th Regiment Iowa Cavalry and served until he was discharged in December, 1864. (See the abstract of his pension file in the March 1975 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 89.) On February 22, 1866, he married Sally Rayborn in Jasper County, Iowa. She was born in Highland County, Chio, in 1844. When the 1870 Jasper County census was taken, Harrison Rayborn, age 56 born in Ohio, was living with Jeremiah and Sally; he may have been Sally's father. At least two children were born to this union (perhaps there were others).
20.1.1.6.5.1 Frederick Sparks was born ca. 1868.
20.1.1.6.5.2 Harry Sparks was born ca. 1870.Sally (Rayborn) Sparks apparently died prior to 1915, for in that year Jeremiah Sparks married Mary (Mick) Gosnell, widow of Hiram Gosnell. Jeremiah Sparks died on June 29, 1917.
20.1.1.6.6 Martin Van Buren Sparks was born April 30, 1841, and died on September 5, 1845.
20.1.1.6.7 Mary E. Sparks was born December 18, 1842. She married Benajah "Ben" Corson on July 15, 1858. [Note: See below for correct spelling of Benajah Corson's name and a list of their children.]
20.1.1.6.8 Angelina F. Sparks, daughter of Truelove and Sally (Guessford) Sparks, was born December 24, 1845. She married John Potter on October 11, 1866.
20.1.1.6.9 George W. Sparks was born February 8, 1847, in Lee County, Iowa. On October 3, 1864, he enlisted in the 10th Regiment Iowa Infantry and served until he was mustered out on August 15, 1865. (See the abstract of his pension file in the June 1975 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 90.) After leaving the service, George married Amanda J. Butram (or Berthram) can August 29, 1867, by the Rev. Elisha Flaugh, a Methodist minister. Amanda was born ca. 1812 in Illinois. To this marriage three children were born:
20.1.1.6.9.1 Dora Sparks was born in August 1871.
20.1.1.6.9.2 Alberta Sparks was born December 14, 1874.
20.1.1.6.9.3 Herbert Sparks was born ca. 1876 and died when quite young.George and Amanda (Butram) Sparks were divorced in 1905, and he later married Nancy Cadwell. She died in 1912. George Sparks died sometime after March 10, 1922.
20.1.1.6.10 Eliza E. Sparks was born September 6, 1848, and died in 1934. She married Lucian Butram on August 29, 1867.
20.1.1.6.11 Margaret A. Sparks was born January 13, 1850, and she died on November 14, 1865.
20.1.1.6.12 Truelove Milton Sparks, Jr. was born February 1, 1853, and died in 1927. He married Francina Edwards in 1874.After the death of his wife, Sally (Guessford) Sparks, on May 24, 1883, 20.1.1.6 Truelove Sparks married Margaret (Miller) Eller. It was the third marriage for her. He died on December 2, 1887, in Jasper County, Iowa.
20.1.1.7 Susan Sparks, probable daughter of Matthew and Polly (Robinson) Sparks, was born ca. 1813 in Kentucky. She married Smith Wooten ca. 1833 and they had eleven children:
20.1.1.7.1 William Wilbur Wooten was born March 3, 1834. In 1856, he married Rebecca Janes, daughter of Thomas J. Janes. She was born March 27, 1838. To this union nine children were born:
20.1.1.7.1.1 John Calvin Wooten born ca. 1857, died when quite young.
20.1.1.7.1.2 James Taylor Wooten born in 1858. He married Elizabeth Patterson in 1877.
20.1.1.7.1.3 William Milum Wooten born ca. 1860. He married Clarinda Bell Glidewell.
20.1.1.7.1.4 Spencer B. Wooten born June 18, 1862. He married (first) Lucinda F. England and married (second) Zannie Ellen Gilpin.
20.1.1.7.1.5 Silas M. Wooten born ca. 1865.
20.1.1.7.1.6 Thomas S. Wooten born ca. 1867.
20.1.1.7.1.7 Mary G. Wooten born ca. 1870.
20.1.1.7.1.8 Martha Vianna Wooten born ca. 1873.
20.1.1.7.1.9 Ethel Wooten born in 1877. She married Millard Janes.20.1.1.7.2 Truelove Wooten was born ca. 1835. He was a Confederate soldier during the Civil War.
20.1.1.7.3 Smith A. Wooten was born ca. 1836.
20.1.1.7.4 Middleton Wooten was born ca. 1838.20.1.1.7.5 Matthew R. Wooten was born on January 25, 1844. He fought on the Union side during the Civil War. In 1865, he married Mary A. England, a daughter of James and Nancy (Cochran) England. They had at least three children.
20.1.1.7.5.1 Jacob Wooten born ca. 1866.
20.1.1.7.5.2 Sarah Wooten born ca. 1867.
20.1.1.7.5.3 James Wooten born ca. 1868.Matthew Wooten died on April 23, 1923. Both he and his wife, Mary, are buried in the Antioch Church Cemetery on Sparks Ridge in Adair County, KY.
20.1.1.7.6 John M. Wooten was born ca. 1842 in Kentucky.
20.1.1.7.7 Polly Wooten was born ca. 1846 in Missouri. She married Jeff Dials.
20.1.1.7.8 Frederick Wooten was born in 1848 in Illinois. He married Barbara MNU.
20.1.1.7.9 Susan Wooten was born in 1849 in Illinois. She married David Moneyham.
20.1.1.7.10 Eliza Jane Wooten was born in 1855 in Illinois. She married Ben Franklin.
20.1.1.7.11 Elizabeth Wooten was born ca. 1858.20.1.1.8 Nancy A. Sparks was born ca. 1815 in Adair County, KY. On June 5, 1836, she married William Roberts. Her father gave his consent and the marriage was performed by her uncle, Spencer Jones. (M.B. 1, p. 154)
20.1.1.9 Dau2 Sparks whom we have been unable to identify was born to Matthew and Polly (Robinson) Sparks between 1815 and 1820.
20.1.1.10 Son1 Sparks whom we have been unable to identify was born to Matthew and Polly (Robinson) Sparks between 1815 and 1820. (Webmaster Note: this may be Matthew R. Sparks, discussed in Whole No. 104.)
20.1.1.11 Dau3 Sparks whom we have been unable to identify was born to Matthew and Polly (Robinson) Sparks between 1815 and 1820.
20.1.1.12 Mary Ann Sparks was born ca. 1823. On November 7, 1843, she married Benjamin Wilcox in Adair County. Her father gave his consent and the marriage was performed by her uncle, Spencer Janes (M.B. 2-6, p. 115) When the 1850 census was taken of Adair County, Benjamin and Mary Ann (Sparks) Wilcox had three children (there were probably others).
20.1.1.12.1 Mary Wilcox was born ca. 1845.
20.1.1.12.2 Susan Wilcox was born ca. 1847.
20.1.1.12.3 Elizabeth Wilcox was born ca. 1849.20.1.1.13 Martha ["Patsey"] Jane Sparks, daughter of Matthew and Polly (Robinson) Sparks, was born ca. 1825. On December 31, 1842, she married William Berry in Adair County. Her father gave his consent and the marriage was performed by her uncle, Spencer Janes. (M.B. 2-6, p. 104)
20.1.2 Sarah Sparks, daughter of William and Mary (MNU) Sparks, was probably born between 1785 and 1790. She married Lazarus Jesse in Adair County on April 12, 1806. Her father gave his consent and the marriage was performed by Jeremiah Abell. (PM. B. 1, p. 10)
Lazarus and Sarah (Sparks) Jesse appeared on the 1830 and 1840 censuses of Adair County, but they did not appear on the 1850 census. According to the census records of 1830 and 1840, they were the parents of ten children, six sons and four daughters, all born between 1807 and 1830. We have not learned any of their names.
Page 1856
Whole Number 96
DESCENDANTS OF 20.1 WILLIAM SPARKS OF ADAIR COUNTY, KENTUCKY
by Paul E. Sparks
(Editor's note: This is a continuation of the article begun in the March 1976 issue of the Quarterly. In that issue, we presented a brief sketch of the life of William Sparks (born ca. 1760, died ca. 1834) of Adair County, Kentucky, and two of his children and their descendants: Matthew and Sarah. Here we present data on the remainder of his children: Mary, Elizabeth, Selah, John, Elihu, Cynthia, Cathanne, and Jehu.)
20.1.3 Mary ["Polly"] Ann Sparks, daughter of 20.1 William and Mary (MNU) Sparks, was born ca. 1786 in North Carolina. Prior to coming to Kentucky ca. 1800, she married Nathaniel England. He was born in North Carolina ca. 1785 and was probably a son of Jonathan England.
We have found few official records of Polly and Nathaniel. They were living by themselves when the 1850 census was taken of Adair County. Nathaniel described himself as a farmer and said that he was 64 years old; Polly was 63. On December 15, 1855, Polly, along with certain other heirs of 20.1 William Sparks, agreed to sell a portion of her father's estate and Nathaniel concurred. She died in 1858.
A descendant of Polly and Nathaniel England, Ernest J. England, Cape Coral, Florida, has collected data about this family for many years and has agreed to share these with us. According to him, Polly and Nathaniel had thirteen children, all of whom attained maturity. They were:
20.1.3.1 Jeremiah England, son of Polly and Nathaniel England, was born ca. 1800. He married Nancy Fulmer ca. 1823 and they moved to Washington County, Ind. They had at least ten children, but only the youngest five have been identified. The five oldest children were born between 1825 and 1835. The others were:
20.1.3.1.6 Andrew England was born ca. 1836 in Washington Co., Ind. The 1880 census of that county lists him with his wife, Rhoda, age 30, and two daughters:
20.1.3.1.6.1 Jane England, age 17, and
20.1.3.1.6.2 Ida England, age 2.The disparities of the ages of these children and his wife indicates that Rhoda was not his first wife, and there may have been other children of whom we have no record.
20.1.3.1.7 James England was born ca. 1838. He married Nancy MNU born ca. 1845 in Kentucky and when the 1880 census was taken, they were in Jackson Co., Indiana, with the following family:
20.1.3.1.7.1 Henry W. England born ca. 1862.
20.1.3.1.7.2 Sarah M. England born ca. 1867.
20.1.3.1.7.3 Alexander England born ca. 1868.
20.1.3.1.7.4 Frances England born ca. 1876.
20.1.3.1.7.5 Charles W. England born ca. 1878.20.1.3.1.8 Henry England was born ca. 1839.
20.1.3.1.9 John W. England was born ca. 1841. He married Mary LNU and when the 1880 census was taken of Jackson Co., Indiana, they had the following children:
20.1.3.1.9.1 Susannah England born ca. 1865.
20.1.3.1.9.2 William W. England born ca. 1867.
20.1.3.1.9.3 Alexander England born ca. 1869.
20.1.3.1.9.4 John C. England born ca. 1872.20.1.3.1.10 Jeremiah England was born ca. 1844. He married Nancy MNU and they were in Jackson Co., Ind., when the 1880 census was taken. With them were the following children:
20.1.3.1.10.1 Edward England born ca. 1869.
20.1.3.1.10.2 Minnie England born ca. 1872.
20.1.3.1.10.3 Stella England born ca. 1878.20.1.3.2 William C. England, son of Polly and Nathaniel, was born ca. 1802. He married Eda Cochrane in 1825 in Green Co., KY, and they moved to Illinois and then on to Missouri. We have no further information about them.
20.1.3.3 John Thomas England was born ca. 1804. In 1824, he married Elizabeth Askew, daughter of John Askew, in Adair County. John and Elizabeth had three children:
20.1.3.3.1 Mary Ann England was born ca. 1826 in Adair Co. She married John McNeeley ca. 1844 and they had three children prior to his death which apparently occurred ca. 1848.
20.1.3.3.1.1 James M. McNeeley was born ca. 1845. He is said to have been killed during the Civil War while serving in the Union Army.
20.1.3.3.1.2 Elizabeth Jane McNeeley was born ca. 1847. She married James James.
20.1.3.3.1.3 Martha Ann McNeeley was born ca. 1848. She married John England.After the death of her husband, John McNeeley, 20.1.3.3.1 Mary Ann married (second) Matthew Sparks, son of William and Elizabeth (Cochrane) Sparks, on March 26, 1849. To this union two children were born before Mary Ann's death in 1867.
(Editor's note: When Kentucky, History of the State, was published in 1887 by Perrin, Battle & Kniffin, a biography of Matthew Sparks was given on page 1001. Named as his parents were William and Elizabeth (Cochran) Sparks. Recently, we found the marriage record of the parents of Matthew Sparks in Green County, KY. They were married on July 19, 1825. The license was issued to William Sparks and Elizabeth Cochran. William's father, Matthew Sparks, gave his consent and Elizabeth's father, Thomas Cochran, gave his consent. We are pleased to correct this error which is nearly 100 years old. See also pages 1796-1798 of the March 1976 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 93 where corrections should also be made and where the children of Matthew and Mary Ann (McNeeley) Sparks are named.)
20.1.3.3.2 Milton England, son of John and Elizabeth England, was born on October 2, 1828, in Adair Co. He died on February 3, 1913. On January 22, 1850, he married Zerelda Jane Burlin Janes, daughter of Thomas M. Janes. She was born December 13, 1832, and died on November 27, 1890. This couple had ten children:
20.1.3.3.2.1 Lucy Jane England born December 16, 1850.
20.1.3.3.2.2 John M. England born December 5, 1852. He never married.
20.1.3.3.2.3 William T. England born February 15, 1855.
20.1.3.3.2.4 Preston B. England born August 2, 1858.
20.1.3.3.2.5 Daniel England born August 28, 1860.
20.1.3.3.2.6 James Watson England born September 6, 1863. He married Amanda Alice Henegar and they had a son, Ernest England. Ernest England was the father of Ernest J. England who has been so helpful in the preparation of this article.
20.1.3.3.2.7 Dorinda England born March 7, 1866.
20.1.3.3.2.8 Fayett England born December 29, 1867.
20.1.3.3.2.9 Lafayett England born August 30, 1871.
20.1.3.3.2.10 Nathaniel England born September 13, 1876.20.1.3.3.3 Daniel T. England was born April 21, 1831. He married 20.1.1.4.5 Mary ["Polly"] Sparks, daughter of 20.1.1.4 Jeremiah and Rachel (Janes) Sparks, on December 29, 1853, in Adair County and they had at least eight children. (See above for this family.)
20.1.3.4 James England was born ca. 1806. He married Nancy Cochran in 1827 in Adair County and they had ten children.
20.1.3.4.1 Jordan England was born ca. 1829. On January 9, 1849, he married 20.1.1.4.2 Nancy Sparks, daughter of 20.1.1.4 Jeremiah and Rachel (Janes) Sparks. They had at least four children.
20.1.3.4.1.1 (20.1.1.4.2) Rachel England was born ca. 1851.
20.1.3.4.1.2 (20.1.1.4.2) William R. England was born ca. 1854.
20.1.3.4.1.3 (20.1.1.4.2) Sarah Margaret England was born on July 9, 1857.
20.1.3.4.1.4 (20.1.1.4.2) Mary Elizabeth England was born ca. 1859.20.1.3.4.2 Sarah J. England was born ca. 1832. In 1853, she married Jacob Reece, son of David and Elizabeth (Janes) Reece. Jacob was born ca. 1832 in Illinois. His father was born in South Carolina. Sarah and Jacob had five children.
20.1.3.4.2.1 James P. Reece born ca. 1854.
20.1.3.4.2.2 Nancy P. Reece born ca. 1856.
20.1.3.4.2.3 John W. Reece born ca. 1858.
20.1.3.4.2.4 Andrew J. Reece born ca. 1860.
20.1.3.4.2.5 William Reece born ca. 1865.20.1.3.4.3 Elizabeth England was born ca. 1835. She married Thomas Jefferson Barnes.
20.1.3.4.4 Levi England was born ca. 1837.
20.1.3.4.5 Martha J. England was born ca. 1841.
20.1.3.4.6 Jos. S. England was born ca. 1842.
20.1.3.4.7 Mary A. England was born ca. 1844.
She married Matthew Wooten, son of Smith and 20.1.1.7 Susan (Sparks) Wooten, and they had three children. (See page 1811 of the March 1976 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 93, for this family. On that page Nancy Cochran's given name was erroneously written Elizabeth.)20.1.3.4.8 John T. England was born ca. 1846.
20.1.3.4.9 James M. England was born ca. 1848.
20.1.3.4.10 Albert W. England was born ca. 1853.20.1.3.5 Timothy England was born ca. 1811 in Kentucky. On April 12, 1832, he married 17.2.7.10 Mary "Polly" Sparks, daughter of 17.2.7 Josiah and Susannah (Phillips) Sparks, in Adair County. They were married by the Rev. Spencer Janes. (M.B. 1, p. 134) They had two children before Polly died in 1840.
20.1.3.5.1 Martha ["Patsey"] England was born ca. 1833 in Adair County.
20.1.3.5.2 William Walton England was born ca. 1839. He married Amanda Ann Janes in 1852 in Adair County. He was killed during the Civil War.After the death of his first wife, Polly, Timothy England married Elizabeth Perryman, daughter of Rhoda Perryman. Elizabeth was born ca. 1820 in Kentucky. Her mother was born ca. 1792 in North Carolina. Timothy and Elizabeth had five children.
20.1.3.5.3 George P. England was born ca. 1841.
20.1.3.5.4 Charles England was born ca. 1843.
20.1.3.5.5 John England was born ca. 1844.
20.1.3.5.6 Mary A. England was born ca. 1847.
20.1.3.5.7 Rhoda E. England was born ca. 1848.Timothy England was shot and killed accidentally by a brother with whom he was hunting squirrels in the spring of 1851.
20.1.3.6 Ellsworth ["Elzy"] England, son of Polly and Nathaniel England, was born ca. 1813 in Kentucky. In 1832, he married Frances Askew in Adair County. They lived on Red Lick Creek, a branch of the East Fork of Little Barren River, where they reared five children.
20.1.3.6.1 William M. England, son of Elzy and Frances, was born April 5, 1838, in Adair County. He was known as "Preacher Bill." About 1858, he married Annie Romines and they had seven children:
20.1.3.6.1.1 Nancy F. England born ca. 1859.
20.1.3.6.1.2 Joseph T. England born December 21, 1861, died November 2, 1929.
20.1.3.6.1.3 James T. England born December 2, 1862, died in 1933.
20.1.3.6.1.4 Amanda England born ca. 1865.
20.1.3.6.1.5 Ann L. England born ca. 1867.
20.1.3.6.1.6 Emily England born ca. 1869.
20.1.3.6.1.7 Susan England born ca. 1873.20.1.3.6.2 James R. England was born ca. 1845. He was known as "Jim Muggins." He married Nancy Janes, a daughter of Thomas J. Janes, and they had ten children:
20.1.3.6.2.1 Cynthia England born ca. 1866.
20.1.3.6.2.2 Mary Jane England born ca. 1867.
20.1.3.6.2.3 Annie B. England born ca. 1869.
20.1.3.6.2.4 LeRoy England born ca. 1871.
20.1.3.6.2.5 Luther C. England born ca. 1872.
20.1.3.6.2.6 Susan A. England born ca. 1873.
20.1.3.6.2.7 Lulie B. England born ca. 1874.
20.1.3.6.2.8 Noah H. England born ca. 1877.
20.1.3.6.2.9 Emma E. England born ca. 1878.
20.1.3.6.2.10 Henryetta England born ca. 1880.20.1.3.6.3 Daniel England was born ca. 1846.
20.1.3.6.4 Amos England was born May 28, 1845. He was a Civil War veteran. He married Sally McKinney ca. 1865 and they had twelve children:
20.1.3.6.4.1 Caldonia England born May 10, 1867.
20.1.3.6.4.2 Dicia England born January 1, 1869.
20.1.3.6.4.3 William Elzy England born March 26, 1870.
20.1.3.6.4.4 Alice England born October 16, 1873.
20.1.3.6.4.5 Charles England born October 26, 1874.
20.1.3.6.4.6 Lou Ann England was born August 31, 1875. She married 20.1.1.4.7.4 Stephen Dudley Sparks ca. 1893.
20.1.3.6.4.7 Nancy Belle England born October 15, 1877.
20.1.3.6.4.8 John "Buck" England born November 30, 1879.
20.1.3.6.4.9 Les A. England born July 14, 1882.
20.1.3.6.4.10 Mary L. England born March 18, 1884.
20.1.3.6.4.11 Burl A. England born February 12, 1886.
20.1.3.6.4.12 Myrtle England born May 15, 1888. She married Less England, a son of James Watson England and a grandson of Milton England. (See C, 2, f above)20.1.3.6.5 John H. England was born ca. 1852.
20.1.3.7 Martha ["Patsey"] England was born ca. 1815 in Kentucky. In 1839, she married William H. England in Adair County by the Rev. Spencer Janes. William was born in Kentucky ca. 1814, but whether he was from the same branch of the England family as Patsey, we have not learned. He and Patsey moved to Illinois, but returned to Kentucky later. They were non-residents of Kentucky when the estate of Nathaniel was settled in 1862. Their children were:
20.1.3.7.1 M. A. England born ca. 1843 in Illinois.
20.1.3.7.2 P. J. England, (daughter) born ca. 1845 in Illinois.
20.1.3.7.3 James H. England born ca. 1846 in Illinois.
20.1.3.7.4 J. C. A. England (son) born ca. 1847 in Kentucky.
20.1.3.7.5 Elzy England (son) born ca. 1850 in Kentucky.Patsey England died sometime between 1850 and 1860 and William remarried and reared a second family in Illinois. He died there ca. 1890.
20.1.3.8 George W. England was born ca. 1816 in Illinois. In 1839, he married Nancy Janes, a daughter of Littleberry Janes. Littleberry was a native of Virginia and an early settler on the East Fork of Little Barren River. He was married in Washington Co., KY, in 1801. George and Nancy (Janes) England spent their lives in Adair County where they reared seven children.
20.1.3.8.1 George H. Y. England born ca. 1841.
20.1.3.8.2 M. B. England (daughter) born ca. 1842.
20.1.3.8.3 Eliza Jane England born ca. 1846.
20.1.3.8.4 Thomas J. England born ca. 1849.
20.1.3.8.5 Margaret ["Peggy"] England born ca. 1851.
20.1.3.8.6 Jeremiah England born ca. 1853.
20.1.3.8.7 Greenup England born ca. 1857.20.1.3.9 Alexander England was born ca. 1817 in Indiana. In 1840, he married Sally Reece in Adair County and they had seven children.
20.1.3.9.1 Mary England born ca. 1843.
20.1.3.9.2 Nancy England born ca. 1845.
20.1.3.9.3 Elizabeth England born ca. 1847.
20.1.3.9.4 Barbara England born ca. 1850.
20.1.3.9.5 William T. England born ca. 1853. He married Isabelle MNU and they lived in Fayette County, Illinois.
20.1.3.9.6 Rebecca J. England born ca. 1855.
20.1.3.9.7 Martha D. England born ca. 1859.20.1.3.10 Mary Ann England was born ca. 1819 in Kentucky. In 1841, she married John B. Janes and they had eight children.
20.1.3.10.1 Malissa J. C. Janes born ca. 1844.
20.1.3.10.2 Hamilton O. A. Janes born ca. 1845.
20.1.3.10.3 Mary E. Janes born ca. 1847.
20.1.3.10.4 Greenup Janes born ca. 1848.
20.1.3.10.5 Amanda E. Janes born ca. 1850.
20.1.3.10.6 Rachel Janes born ca. 1852.
20.1.3.10.7 Nancy M. Janes born ca. 1854.
20.1.3.10.8 Malinda Janes born ca. 1858.20.1.3.11 Nancy England, daughter of Nathaniel and Polly (Sparks) England, was born ca. 1823 in Kentucky. In 1841, she married Mordecai W. Jesse in Adair County, and they had twelve children:
20.1.3.11.1 Mary B. Jesse was born ca. 1842.
20.1.3.11.2 Calvin M. Jesse was born ca. 1844.
20.1.3.11.3 William Jesse was born ca. 1846.
20.1.3.11.4 Paulina M. Jesse was born ca. 1848.
20.1.3.11.5 Sally Ann Jesse was born ca. 1850.
20.1.3.11.6 Robert Jesse was born ca. 1852.
20.1.3.11.7 John W. Jesse was born ca. 1854.
20.1.3.11.8 Benjamin Jesse was born ca. 1856.
20.1.3.11.9 George A. Jesse was born ca. 1858.
20.1.3.11.10 Nancy N. J. Jesse was born ca. 1860.
20.1.3.11.11 Eliza Jesse was born ca. 1862.
20.1.3.11.12 James H. Jesse was born ca. 1865.20.1.3.12 Daniel England, son of Polly and Nathaniel England, was born ca. 1824, probably in Kentucky. In 1843, he married Rebecca Janes in Adair County and they were the parents of nine children.
20.1.3.12.1 Permelia England born ca. 1845.
20.1.3.12.2 Albert England born ca. 1847.
20.1.3.12.3 Mary England born ca. 1850.
20.1.3.12.4 Polly Ann England born ca. 1853.
20.1.3.12.5 Juliana England born ca. 1855.
20.1.3.12.6 Joseph England born ca. 1856.
20.1.3.12.7 Jeremiah England born ca. 1859.
20.1.3.12.8 Joan B. England born ca. 1863.
20.1.3.12.9 Nellie B. England born ca. 1866.20.1.3.13 Elizabeth ["Betsy"] Ann England, daughter of Polly and Nathaniel England, was ca. 1825 in Kentucky. In 1842 she married George Reece in Adair County they were the parents of four children.
20.1.3.13.1 Amanda E. Reece born ca. 1844.
20.1.3.13.2 Louisa A. Reece born ca. 1846.
20.1.3.13.3 George Alford Reece born ca. 1848.
20.1.3.13.4 Isaac Reece born ca. 1851.George Reece apparently died between 1850 and 1854, for when Betsy died in she was a widow. William Reece was appointed guardian of Amanda and Isaac; Elzy England was appointed guardian of Louisa; and William England was apointed guardian of George Alford Reece.
20.1.4 Elizabeth Sparks probably was born between 1785 and 1790. She married Thomas Bristoe on October 6, 1806, in Adair County. Both her father and mother were named on the marriage license. (M.B. 2-6, page 94) We have no further information about this couple.
20.1.5 Selah Sparks, probable daughter of William and Mary (MNU) Sparks, probably was born between 1785 and 1790. On December 1, 1808, she married Nathan Whittemore in Adair County. Matthew Sparks, probably her brother, was the bondsman. (Filson Club record) We have no further information about this couple.
20.1.6 John Sparks was born ca. 1790 in North Carolina according to information given on the 1850 and 1860 censuses of County. He may have been given the middle initial "C", for on one occasion he was referred to as Ja See Sparks. He paid taxes for the first time in Adair in 1811. On August 21, 1816, he married Nancy Barnes, daughter of William Barnes. Matthew Sparks, John's brother, and J. Abell were bondsmen, and Jeremiah performed the marriage ceremony. (M.B. 1, page 45) Nancy was born ca. 1798 in Virginia.
John and Nancy lived on Leatherwood Creek quite near that area of Adair County which became a part of Metcalfe County in 1860. He was a farmer. In 1843, he testified to the Adair County Court that he had the following taxable items: one tithe; 196 acres of land, worth $120; 2 horses, worth $50; and four children between the ages of five and sixteen. He served as overseer of the road from Columbia, the county seat, to the East Fork of the Little Barren River in 1824 as a replacement for John Isbell who had died. He also assumed that post in 1834, replacing Meredith Roach, who later became his son-in-law.
In 1860, 20.1.6 John Sparks was listed on the census as 70 years of age and born in North Carolina. With him was his wife, Nancy, age 65 and born in Virginia, and their daughter Lucinda Sparks, age 32. John did not appear on the 1870 census and he probably died between 1860 and 1870. Nancy was living with her daughter, Emeline, the wife of James L. Moore. In 1880, Nancy, now aged 81, was still living with the Moore family in the Gradyville community.
Joel Brummett, Long Beach, California, has shared a letter with us which sheds a personal light on the family of John Sparks. The letter was written in February 1857 by Elijah Kinnaird of Edmonton, Metcalfe Co., KY, to his brother, Charles, in Buchanan Co., Nebraska. A few statements pertain to the family of John Sparks. "Uncle John Sparks last daughter is married the other day. Except Lucinda, she is still weakly. Joe Sparks was married at Xmas the 3rd time to Norman Shirleys. Norman killed himself when in a deranged state of mind."
The last daughter referred to was Amanda Sparks, who married William T. Bragg on January 10, 1857, while the Joe Sparks is Josiah Sparks who married Malinda Shirley on December 25, 1856.
Neither John nor Nancy left wills, but from census data and information furnished descendants, we believe they had ten children, three sons and seven daughters. We ask our readers to report any discrepancies in this list.
20.1.6.1 Burley Ann Sparks was born ca. 1817 in Green Co., KY. She probably took the name of Burley Ann to distinguish her from her cousin, Biddy Ann Sparks. On March 12, 1845, Ann Sparks married Meredith Roach in Adair County by William J. Traylor. (M.B. 2-6, page 122) Meredith (sometimes designated as Merida or Merriday) was born ca. 1814 in Rockingham Co., N.C., and was a son of David and Jane (Hampton) Roach, both natives of Virginia. This was the third marriage for Meredith. His first marriage was to Eliza Jane Estes in 1838 by whom he had two children,
20.1.6.1.1 John Frank Roach and
20.1.6.1.2 Eliza Jane Roach.His second marriage was to FNU Wilson.
Burley Ann and Meredith lived on Leatherwood Creek where he was a farmer and also a Baptist preacher. He performed many marriage ceremonies in Adair Co. He died in 1867 and was buried in the Old Roach Graveyard near Big Creek Church about two miles west of Gradyville. Burley Ann died sometime after the 1880 census was taken. She and Meredith were the parents of ten children.
20.1.6.1.1 Nancy Ermine Roach probably was born in January 1846. She married John H. England in 1872 in Adair County, and they had seven children.
20.1.6.1.2 Lucinda Roach probably was born in December 1846. She married Daniel England in 1869 in Adair County and they moved to Hill County, Texas. They had five children.
20.1.6.1.3 William Austin Roach was born November 16, 1847. In 1866, he married Amanda Brown Dulin, a daughter of Matthew and Ellen (DeMunbrun) Dulin. William farmed in Adair Co. until 1896 when he moved his family by wagon to McLennan Co., Texas, where they settled on a farm near McGregor. William died on January 19, 1922, and Amanda died on November 24, 1923. They are buried in the Old Perry Cemetery near Moody, Texas. They were the parents of seven children, all of whom were born in Adair County.
20.1.6.1.3.1 Annlizzie Green Roach was born July 4, 1868, and died on August 13, 1962. She married Charles E. Hartman in 1896 and they had two children,
20.1.6.1.3.1.1 Lillian Hartman and
20.1.6.1.3.1.2 Meador R. Hartman.20.1.6.1.3.2 Eddie Mona Roach was born February 15, 1870. She married James W. Coffey in 1891. They lived in Adair County where they had twelve children:
20.1.6.1.3.2.1 George W. Coffey,
20.1.6.1.3.2.2 Florence Coffey,
20.1.6.1.3.2.3 Lawrence D. Coffey,
20.1.6.1.3.2.4 Mary E. Coffey,
20.1.6.1.3.2.5 Mary Susan Coffey,
20.1.6.1.3.2.6 Clarence Coffey,
20.1.6.1.3.2.7 Evie E. Coffey,
20.1.6.1.3.2.8 John L. Coffey,
20.1.6.1.3.2.9 William H. Coffey,
20.1.6.1.3.2.10 Cora Coffey,
20.1.6.1.3.2.11 Leslie P. Coffey, and
20.1.6.1.3.2.12 Fannie M. Coffey.20.1.6.1.3.3 William Keen Roach was born May 28, 1872. In 1898, he married Lidya Mae Casey. He was a Baptist preacher. He died in 1945 and was buried at Beggs, Oklahoma. He and Lidya had eleven children:
20.1.6.1.3.3.1 Nancy A. Roach,
20.1.6.1.3.3.2 Burton N. Roach,
20.1.6.1.3.3.3 Ethel Mae Roach,
20.1.6.1.3.3.4 Fred Lee Roach,
20.1.6.1.3.3.5 William K. Roach,
20.1.6.1.3.3.6 Effie N. Roach,
20.1.6.1.3.3.7 Woodrow W. Roach,
20.1.6.1.3.3.8 Garnett Roach,
20.1.6.1.3.3.9 Burley E. Roach,
20.1.6.1.3.3.10 Clarence W. Roach, and
20.1.6.1.3.3.11 Charles E. Roach.20.1.6.1.3.4 Meredith Neal Roach was born June 12, 1875, and he died in 1938. In 1894, he married Matilda Alice Walbert and they had five children:
20.1.6.1.3.4.1 Clora Roach,
20.1.6.1.3.4.2 Olis Roach,
20.1.6.1.3.4.3 William E. Roach,
20.1.6.1.3.4.4 Nellie Roach, and
20.1.6.1.3.4.5 Lucille Roach.20.1.6.1.3.5 John Burton Roach was born July 15, 1878, and died in 1956. He married Nora E. Pepper in 1906 and they had five children:
20.1.6.1.3.5.1 John B. Roach,
20.1.6.1.3.5.2 Eudora B. Roach,
20.1.6.1.3.5.3 L. Mona Roach,
20.1.6.1.3.5.4 Meredith D. Roach, and
20.1.6.1.3.5.5 James Roach.20.1.6.1.3.6 Sally Payne Roach was born September 11, 1882. In 1902, she married Trammel Hicks. They had no children. Sally died on March 8, 1908, and was buried in the Old Perry Cemetery near Moody, Texas.
20.1.6.1.3.7 Effie Lear Roach was born March 8, 1888, and died on June 6, 1972. She never married, but she reared two children of her nephew, Meador R. Hartman, after the death of their mother in 1928.
20.1.6.1.4 Martin Warner Roach was born February 18, 1851. In 1875, he married Nancy Frances England and they had six children, all of whom were born in Adair County. In 1901, Martin moved his family to McLennan Co., Texas, and settled on a farm near his brothers. There, on May 22, 1910, Nancy Frances died. Their six children were:
20.1.6.1.4.1 John Alvin Roach was born April 21, 1878. He married Liza Jones in 1904 in McLennan County and they had four children:
20.1.6.1.4.1.1 Ruby Lee Roach,
20.1.6.1.4.1.2 Clarence A. Roach,
20.1.6.1.4.1.3 John C. Roach, and
20.1.6.1.4.1.4 Frank T.Roach20.1.6.1.4.2 Minnie Alice Roach was born March 2, 1881. She married Willie Quitman Montgomery in 1899 in Adair County and they had three children:
20.1.6.1.4.2.1 Harlan R.Montgomery,
20.1.6.1.4.2.2 James B. Montgomery, and
20.1.6.1.4.2.3 Paul Montgomery.20.1.6.1.4.3 Emma Ellen Roach was born in August 1885. She married J. C. McKinney.
20.1.6.1.4.4 Etta Moss Roach was born October 1, 1887. In 1904, she married Calvin Luther Stephens and they had six children:
20.1.6.1.4.4.1 Evie E. Stephens,
20.1.6.1.4.4.2 Grace M. Stephens,
20.1.6.1.4.4.3 Ione P. Stephens,
20.1.6.1.4.4.4 Hazel L. Stephens,
20.1.6.1.4.4.5 Frances T. Stephens, and
20.1.6.1.4.4.6 C. Geraldine Stephens --all girls.20.1.6.1.4.5 Rosa Lou Roach was born December 20, 1890. In 1907, she married Daniel Govenor Stephens and they had seven children:
20.1.6.1.4.4.1 John L. Stephens,
20.1.6.1.4.4.2 Billie Inez Stephens,
20.1.6.1.4.4.3 Emma A. Stephens,
20.1.6.1.4.4.4 Clifford D. Stephens,
20.1.6.1.4.4.5 Grace T. Stephens,
20.1.6.1.4.4.6 Alex J. Stephens, and
20.1.6.1.4.4.7 Jimmie D. Stephens.20.1.6.1.4.6 LaEuna Pearl Roach was born March 20, 1893. In 1913, she married Alex J. Dooley and they had one child:
20.1.6.1.4.6.1 Darys J. Dooley.
After the death of his first wife, Nancy Frances, in 1910, Martin Roach married Mrs. Lillie M. Gorman on April 12, 1911, in Moody, Texas. They had one child:
20.1.6.1.4.7 Londell Roach was born June 1, 1913, and died on October 19, 1919.
20.1.6.1.5 Amanda F. Roach was born November 22, 1851, and she died on January 11, 1908. In 1872, she married Hugh Thomas Jesse in Adair County and they had six children:
20.1.6.1.5.1 Arlena Jesse was born ca. 1873. She married Tommy Thompson.
20.1.6.1.5.2 Amanda Belle Jesse was born ca. 1876 and died in 1962. She married Will Flatt and they had ten children.
20.1.6.1.5.3 Ermine Jesse was born September 15, 1889 and died on July 18, 1963. She married Acie A. Warner and they had a son, Paul Warner.
20.1.6.1.5.4 Etta Jesse married Roy Garmon.
20.1.6.1.5.5 Dee Jesse married Jody Kaylor.
20.1.6.1.5.6 Valerie Jesse married Tom Shirley.20.1.6.1.6 Nimrod R. Roach was born on September 22, 1854, and he died on August 13, 1940. On October 15, 1876, he married Lucy Clark DeMunbrun in Adair County. She was born December 9, 1850. They were the parents of nine children.
20.1.6.1.6.1 Magdalena "Maggie" Delaney Roach was born August 8, 1877, and died on August 7, 1955. She married John William Jesse on August 9, 1894, and they had nine children:
20.1.6.1.6.1.1 Clarence Jesse,
20.1.6.1.6.1.2 Emma Jesse,
20.1.6.1.6.1.3 Merida Jesse,
20.1.6.1.6.1.4 Lania Jesse,
20.1.6.1.6.1.5 Lawrence Jesse,
20.1.6.1.6.1.6 Lucy Clark Jesse,
20.1.6.1.6.1.7 Arnold Jesse,
20.1.6.1.6.1.8 William Jesse, and
20.1.6.1.6.1.9 Delma Jesse.20.1.6.1.6.2 Finis Roach was born April 21, 1879, and died on February 3, 1959. He married Anna Belle Jesse on October 2, 1900, and they had nine, children:
20.1.6.1.6.2.1 Zoraida Roach,
20.1.6.1.6.2.2 Ada Roach,
20.1.6.1.6.2.3 Oda Roach,
20.1.6.1.6.2.4 Ruby Roach,
20.1.6.1.6.2.5 Willie Roach,
20.1.6.1.6.2.6 Schuyler Roach,
20.1.6.1.6.2.7 Isla Roach, and
20.1.6.1.6.2.8 Harold Roach.20.1.6.1.6.3 Susanna Roach was born May 5, 1881, and died on January 13, 1971. She married Matthew Akin on October 4, 1900, and they had six children:
20.1.6.1.6.3.1 Ina Akin,
20.1.6.1.6.3.2 Vina Akin,
20.1.6.1.6.3.3 Lawrence Akina,
20.1.6.1.6.3.4 Nimrod J. Akin,
20.1.6.1.6.3.5 Stella Akin, and
20.1.6.1.6.3.6 Genola Akin.20.1.6.1.6.4 Lula Roach was born August 12, 1883, and died on 26 January married Finis Matthew Coomer on October 5, 1905, and they had two children:
20.1.6.1.6.4.1 Delsie Coomer and
20.1.6.1.6.4.2 Delphus Coomer.20.1.6.1.6.5 Thomas Roach was born September 9, 1884, and died on October 20, 1955. He married Nancy Betsey Rowe on December 22, 1917. They had no children.
20.1.6.1.6.6 William Meredith Roach was born September 14, 1887, and died November 30, 1897.
20.1.6.1.6.7 Enos Roach was born August 17, 1888, and died on November 6, 1888.
20.1.6.1.6.8 Mary Roach was born February 17, 1890, and died on November 26, 1975. She married John Edward Janes on May 23, 1918, and they had one son:
20.1.6.1.6.8.1 James A. Janes.
20.1.6.1.6.9 Arnold Herman Roach was born October 15, 1891, and he died on December 7, 1966. He married Launah Pearl Janes on December 28, 1917. After her death, he married Lola Willa Wood on November 11, 1921, and they had one child:
20.1.6.1.6.9.1 Herman Wood Roach.
Lucy Clark (DeMunbrun) Roach died on October 19, 1929, and on December 3, 1933, Nimrod Roach married (second) Fannie Elizabeth Loy.
20.1.6.1.7 Henry Hamilton Roach born May 27, 1855. In 1877, he married Rachel Margaret (Sparks) England, widow of Albert W. England, and a daughter of John R. and Priscilla (Reece) Sparks. Henry and Rachel Margaret moved their family to McLennan Co., Texas, ca. 1900. She died there on December 27, 1917, and he died on August 19, 1924. They are buried in the Old Perry Cemetery near Moody, Texas. They had five children:
20.1.6.1.7.1 Lee Roy Roach was born October 19, 1878. He married Lenora Howard in Texas and they had two children:
20.1.6.1.7.1.1 Elmore Roach and
20.1.6.1.7.1.2 Leona Roach.20.1.6.1.7.2 Fillmore Roach was born November 13, 1882. He married Lula Nancy Henegar and they had six children:
20.1.6.1.7.2.1 Cora M. Roach,
20.1.6.1.7.2.2 Flora E. Roach,
20.1.6.1.7.2.3 Ernest N. Roach,
20.1.6.1.7.2.4 Rosa L. Roach,
20.1.6.1.7.2.5 Ella D. Roach, and
20.1.6.1.7.2.6 Evelyn Roach.20.1.6.1.7.3 Ella Roach was born ca. 1885. She married (first) Minnis Howard and (second) George Harper. She had no children.
20.1.6.1.7.4 Della Roach (twin sister of Ella) was born ca. 1885. She married 20.1.1.4.7.4.x Jeremiah "Jerry" Sparks, a son of 20.1.1.4.7.4 Stephen Dudley and Lou Ann (England) Sparks. They had one child:
20.1.6.1.7.4.1 Clarence J. Sparks.
20.1.6.1.7.5 Ellis Roach was born May 25, 1890. She married John W. Hendrick and they had three children:
20.1.6.1.7.5.1 Arthur H. Hendrick, 20.1.6.1.7.5.2 Ethel L. Hendrick, and
20.1.6.1.7.5.3 Gracie J. Hendrick.20.1.6.1.8 Annette E. Roach born March 18, 1858. In 1881, she married William Lazarus Janes and they had one child,
20.1.6.1.8.1 Viola Janes.
20.1.6.1.9 Meredith E. Roach was born November 22, 1859. He apparently did not live to maturity.
PHOTOGRAPH of BENJAMIN GIDEON ROACH FAMILY Standing, from L-R: Robert A. Reece, Clara Roach, James M. Roach, and Callie Roach. Sitting, from L-R: George Roach, Benjamin Gideon Roach, Sarah Ann (Simpson) Roach, and Lucien W. Roach.
20.1.6.1.10 Benjamin Gideon Roach was born June 26, 1861. On January 15, 1884, he married Sarah Ann (Simpson) Reece, widow of George W. Reece. She was born February 5, 1862, and was a daughter of James and Mary Ann (Coffey) Simpson. (Sarah Ann and George W. Reece had one child, a son, Robert A. Reece born December 5, 1880.) Benjamin and Sarah Ann moved their family to McLennan County, Texas, in 1890 and settled near McGregor. They lived there until their deaths, which occurred for him on March 13, 1926, and for her on July 2, 1953. They prospered in Texas, accumulating 1200 acres of rich farm land. He was known as a shrewd businessman in buying and selling mules. He would also buy corn by the carload and sell it to local farmers. In 1917, he was one of the organizers of the First State Bank of McGregor and served as a director until his death. Benjamin and Sarah Ann (Simpson) Roach were the parents of five children:
20.1.6.1.10.1 Clara Roach was born November 1, 1884, in Adair County. She married John B. Taylor in 1902 in McLennan Co., Texas. He was born November 11, 1880. They had six children:
20.1.6.1.10.1.1 Mabel Taylor,
20.1.6.1.10.1.2 Benjamin R. Taylor,
20.1.6.1.10.1.3 Roy Lee Taylor,
20.1.6.1.10.1.4 Carl L. Taylor,
20.1.6.1.10.1.5 Lucien W. Taylor, and
20.1.6.1.10.1.6 Sarah L. Taylor.20.1.6.1.10.2 James M. Roach was born August 20, 1887. In 1906, he married Julia S. Manning and they had two children, Herschel L. Roach and Thomas L. Roach. After the death of his wife, Julia, in 1933, James married (second)Imogene Robinson. He died in 1956.
20.1.6.1.10.3 Callie Roach was born April 18, 1890. She married Henry R. in McLennan Co., Texas. They had no children.
20.1.6.1.10.4 George Roach was born December 27, 1893, at McGregor, Texas. married Maurine Gillean and they had one child, a son:
20.1.6.1.10.4.1 Jack G. Roach.
20.1.6.1.10.5 Lucien Warner Roach was born September 14, 1895. He married Addie Horn and they had one child, a son:
20.1.6.1.10.5.1 James W. Roach.
20.1.6.2 William Walton "Walt" Sparks, believed to have been a son of John and Nancy (Barnes) Sparks, was born ca. 1820. On July 26, 1841, he married Lucinda Gibson in Adair County by John M. Blair. (M.B. 2-6, page 100) She was born ca. 1821 and was a daughter of Job Gibson. Job died on Leatherwood Creek on July 23, 1853, at the age of 75.
Walt and Lucinda settled down to housekeeping on Leatherwood Creek quite near his boyhood home. He was a farmer and also a physician. In 1951, W. Bertress Sparks, of Columbia, KY, had the mortar-and-pestle which his great-grandfather used in preparing his medicine. Walton eras also active in community affairs. He was an overseer of his county road; he was a justice of the peace, and he was elected keeper of the county poorhouse in 1864. He and Lucinda owned a considerable amount of land, some of which she inherited from her father. They had eight children:
20.1.6.2.1 Emily Sparks, daughter of Walt and Lucinda (Gibson) Sparks, was born ca. 1842. She married Daniel England on August 20, 1866, by John W. Sexton at the home of her parents. Witnesses were William R. Wooten and William R. Cumpton. (M.B. 2-6, page 293) Daniel may have been a son Ellsworth England (see above).
20.1.6.2.2 Charles Weedon "Weed" Sparks, son of Walt and Lucinda (Gibson) Sparks, was born ca. 1844. He enlisted in the 13th Regt. Kentucky Cavalry in 1863 and served until his discharge in 1865. (See the abstract of his pension file which was published in the March 1975 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 89.) Weed Sparks was also responsible for the establishment of two post offices in Adair County. (See the December 1954 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 8.)
Weed Sparks was married five times, but he had children by only two of his wives. His first wife was Nancy J. Royse (or Rose) whom he married on October 5, 1865, at the home of Sarah Royse (or Rose). They were married by Meredith Roach and the witnesses were William M. Roach and John Prock. (M.B. 2-6, page 277) They had three children before Nancy died on August 27, 1877:
20.1.6.2.2.1 John Wess Sparks was born November 3, 1866, and died in 1954. He married Mary Jane Emory and they lived at Hardyville, KY, where they had two children,
20.1.6.2.2.1.1 Cora Lee and
20.1.6.2.2.1.2 Charles Basil.20.1.6.2.2.2 Myrtie Sparks was born ca. 1872. She married Winfield T. Garrison on August 23, 1888. Their bondsman was C. W. Sparks. (M.B. 12, p. 576)
20.1.6.2.2.3 Charles Sparks was born May 1, 1875. He married Harriet Gill and they had seven children:20.1.6.2.2.3.1 Myrtie Frances Sparks,
20.1.6.2.2.3.2 W. Bertress "Buck" Sparks,
20.1.6.2.2.3.3 John Wess Sparks,
20.1.6.2.2.3.4 Charles Arbie Sparks,
20.1.6.2.2.3.5 Harlan Sparks,
20.1.6.2.2.3.6 Tidy Sparks, and
20.1.6.2.2.3.7 Clifton Clovis Sparks.
 |
| FAMILY of CHARLES AND HARRIET (GILL) SPARKS |
| From L-R: John Wess Sparks, Charlie Sparks, Myrtie F. Sparks, Harriet (Gill) Sparks holding Harlan Sparks, W. Bertress Sparks, Sarah Frances (Landers) Gill, Charles Arbie Sparks. |
After the death of his wife, Nancy (Rose) Sparks, Weed Sparks married (second) Sarah Davis on October 1, 1877, in Green Co., KY. They were divorced on November 22, 1879. On November 11, 1880, Weed Sparks married (third) Nancy J. Sullivan in Russell Co., KY. She died on August 18, 1882.
On November 14, 1882, Weed Sparks married Laura J. Mooneyham in Adair County. He was age 38, a blacksmith, and it was his 4th marriage. She was age 18, and it was her first marriage. They were married at the home of Daniel Mooneyham. (M.B.11, p. 60) They had three children:
20.1.6.2.2.4 Knall (or Nall) Sparks was born August 27, 1885. He went to Wheelright, Texas.
20.1.6.2.2.5 Walton Sparks was born September 8, 1891. In 1954, he was living in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, where he owned and operated a furniture moving company.
20.1.6.2.2.6 Josiah K. Sparks was born February 20, 1894.Laura (Mooneyham) Sparks died on April 20, 1898, and shortly afterward, Weed Sparks went to Texas. There, on February 3, 1899, he married Mrs. R. M. McCollum in Grayson County. They were divorced in 1903 and Weed Sparks returned to Adair County where he established a post office which he named for himself, Weed, Kentucky. He died on March 15, 1905.
20.1.6.2.3 Josiah S. Sparks was born ca. 1847. He married Mary S. MNU and they moved to Nebraska. They had at least one child, a son:
20.1.6.2.3.1 Wesley K. Sparks born ca. 1875.
20.1.6.2.4 James A. Sparks was born ca. 1851.
20.1.6.2.5 Elizabeth Norman Sparks was born March 11, 1853.
20.1.6.2.6 Lenora L. J. Sparks was born November 25, 1855.
20.1.6.2.7 William W. Sparks was born in April 1858.
20.1.6.2.8 Lucinda Alice Sparks was born ca. 1865. She married Robert Granville Wilson on September 15, 1887, at the home of her parents in Adair County, KY. (M.B. 12, p. 364).Lucinda (Gibson) Sparks died prior to September 1886, for on September 2, 1886, Walt Sparks married Mrs. Sarah Frances (Landers) Gill. He was age 65 and a physician. She was 47 years of age. It was the second marriage for both of them. She was the mother of Harriet (Gill) Sparks, wife of 20.1.6.2.2.3 Charles Sparks. (See above.)
20.1.6.3 Lucinda Sparks was born ca. 1823. She apparently never married.
20.1.6.4 Josiah Sparks, probable son of John and Nancy (Barnes) Sparks, was born on September 30, 1825, according to information furnished by a descendant, William P. Sparks, of Edmonton, KY. Josiah was a farmer and a blacksmith. He lived on Leatherwood Creek in that part of Adair County which became a part of Metcalfe County in 1860. He was married four times according to information we have received, but we have no record of the first marriage which apparently took place ca. 1845-48.
In 1849, Josiah Sparks married Elizabeth A. Dooley in Adair County. The day and the month were not recorded in the marriage book in the county courthouse. (M.B. 2-6, p. 144) Elizabeth was a daughter of Isham and Dicey Dooley and was born ca. 1827. The Dooleys gave the newly-married couple 50 acres of land on Leatherwood Creek on April 10, 1850, for the "natural love and affection for their son-in-law and their daughter." Josiah and Elizabeth had three children:
20.1.6.4.1 Stephen Dudley Sparks was born in January 1850. He married Martha MNU ca. 1875, probably in newly-formed Metcalfe County, Kentucky. When the 1880 census was taken of Metcalfe County, he and Martha had three childen; there may have been other children born to them later.
20.1.6.4.1 Mary F. Sparks was born ca. 1876.
20.1.6.4.2 James W. Sparks was born ca. 1878.
20.1.6.4.3 Clay C. Sparks was born in the spring of 1880.20.1.6.4.2 Elizabeth A. Sparks was born ca. 1852.
NANCY JANE (SPARKS) JESSE (1855-1933)
20.1.6.4.3 Nancy Jane Sparks was born January 13, 1855. On February 28, 1871, she married James Jesse in Adair Co. Her father gave his consent to the marriage, and Joseph Jesse, father of James, did likewise for his son. The bondsman was William Jesse. (M.B. 6, p. 295) James Jesse was born April 3, 1851, and died on March 18, 1918. Nancy died on January 16, 1933. They are buried in the Cottage Hill Cemetery in Collin Co., Texas. They were the parents of four children.
20.1.6.4.3.1 John William Jesse was born July 26, 1872, and died in April 1945. He married Nettie Henegar and they had a family, but we have learned none of their children's names.
20.1.6.4.3.2 Annie Elizabeth Jesse was born October 14, 1876, and she died in 1966. She married Ambrose Klinglesmith and they had three children.
20.1.6.4.3.3 Myrtle B. Jesse was born January 18, 1879, and died on April 24, 1879.
20.1.6.4.3.4 Verba Jesse was born August 3, 1885, and died on August 29, 1964. She married Augusta Garland Button on September 23, 1911, and they had:
20.1.6.4.3.4.1 William Garland Button, and
20.1.6.4.3.4.2 Jean Rae (Button) Cantrell.Elizabeth A. (Dooley) Sparks, wife of Josiah Sparks, died in 1855, and on December 25, 1856, 20.1.6.4 Josiah Sparks married (third) Malinda (Collier) Shirley, widow of Norman Shirley. Both of them were 31 years old. Cager Creel was the bondsman. (M.B. 4, p. 129) Malinda brought four children to the marriage:Mary E. Shirley, Ann M. Shirley, Henrietta Shirley, and John F. Shirley. Josiah and Malinda had two children,
20.1.6.4.4 Millard Fillmore Sparks was born February 29, 1858. He died on September 19, 1930, in Metcalfe Co., KY. He married Anna Berta Fraser on December 20, 1882. She was born March 1, 1859, and was a daughter of Louis H. and Mary Jane (Dulin) Fraser. Millard and Anna had one child:
20.1.6.4.4.1 Herbert E. Sparks was born August 2, 1885. He died on March 3, 1937. He married Inez Boston and they had five children.
Anna Berta (Fraser) Sparks died on December 19, 1894. On November 8, 1899, Millard Sparks married (second) Elvira E. Penick. She was born July 9, 1871, and was a daughter of Wilford and Venie B. (Walkup) Penick. Millard and Elvira had five children.
20.1.6.4.4.2 Jack P. Sparks was born August 3, 1900. He died on July 5, 1970. He married Eula Bunch.
20.1.6.4.4.3 Sally C. Sparks was born April 30, 1902. She married Leonard Pierce.
20.1.6.4.4.4 Venie McChesney Sparks was born July 13, 1904. She married Payne Wren.
20.1.6.4.4.5 Ruby Magdalene Sparks was born January 17, 1906.
20.1.6.4.4.6 Carter Collier Sparks was born October 7, 1910. He married Mary Frances Lane and they had one child.20.1.6.4.5 Jefferson Dudley Sparks was born July 9, 1861. He went to Texas.
Malinda (Collier) Sparks died on November 16, 1884, and was buried in Metcalfe County. On September 20, 1885, 20.1.6.4 Josiah Sparks married Mrs. Margaret Fletcher in Adair County. He was 59 years of age and it was his fourth marriage. She was 40 years of age and it was her second marriage. (M.B. 11, p. 614) To this union one child was born:
20.1.6.4.6 Leona Sparks, daughter of Josiah and Margaret (MNU) Sparks, was born ca. 1886. She is said to have married FNU Gilmore and lived in Oklahoma.
Josiah Sparks died on May 15, 1900. He was buried in the Bell Cemetery on the edge of Adair County where it joins Metcalfe County and quite near the farm which he received from his in-laws, Isham and Dicey Dooley.
20.1.6.5 Mary "Polly" Ann Sparks, daughter of John and Nancy (Barnes) Sparks, was born ca. 1828. On September 21, 1856, she married Solomon Addison Henegar in Adair County. Nimrod Barnes was the bondsman. (M.B. 4, p. 77) Addison was a son of Solomon and Rachel (Sparks ?) Henegar, natives of North Carolina. Polly Ann and Addison lived at Gradyville where they reared six children:
20.1.6.5.1 Josiah Henegar born ca. 1853.
20.1.6.5.2 Eliza J. Henegar born ca. 1860.
20.1.6.5.3 Ardla F. Henegar born ca. 1861.
20.1.6.5.4 Amanda Alice Henegar born ca. 1863; she married James Watt England.
20.1.6.5.5 John Lewis Henegar born August 22, 1864. On December 10, 1890, he married Lucy Jane Franklin, daughter of William M. and Elizabeth Jane (Kirk) Franklin. John and Lucy Jane had eight children, but we have not learned their order of birth. The oldest child was probably20.1.6.5.5.1 Carrie Ethel Henegar who was born on September 27, 1893. She married Milo Dean Mosier. Other children were:
20.1.6.5.5.2 Frank Henegar,
20.1.6.5.5.3 Laude Henegar,
20.1.6.5.5.4 Kenneth Henegar,
20.1.6.5.5.5 Charles Henegar,
20.1.6.5.5.6 Cora Alice Henegar,
20.1.6.5.5.7 Vernice Henegar, and
20.1.6.5.5.8 Minnie Eliza Henegar.20.1.6.5.6 Nancy A. Henegar, daughter of Polly Ann and Addison Henegar, was born ca. 1867.
Polly Ann (Sparks) Henegar died in 1868 and Addison Henegar married Eliza Jane Roach, daughter of Meredith and Eliza Jane (Estes) Roach. (See 6.1, above)
20.1.6.6 Son1 Sparks was born to John and Nancy (Barnes) Sparks between 1825 and 1830 whom we have not been able to identify.
20.1.6.7 Eliza Jane Sparks was born ca. 1834. On November 6, 1855, she married William R. Cumpton in Adair County. He was 21 years of age and she was also age 21; however, her father gave consent to the marriage. Their bondsman was Nimrod Barnes. (N.B. 3, page 198) Eliza Jane and William lived on Crocus Creek when their first child
20.1.6.7.1 John D. Cumpton, was born July 7, 1856.
20.1.6.8 Harriet Margaret Sparks, daughter of John and Nancy (Barnes) Sparks, was born ca. 1835. On January 21, 1856, she married Isaac Henegar in Adair County. Her father gave his consent to the marriage and Nimrod Barnes was the bondsman. The note of consent reads as follows: "Cleark of Adar Co Ky Pleas let iSaac Hineger hav lisons to marry harret Sparks. Jasee Sparks his mark. P.K. Barnes Isaac Henegar. January 21 1856." (M.B. 3, p. 214) Isaac Henegar was born ca. 1831 in Mecklenberg Co., N.C., and was probably closely related to Solomon Addison Henegar who married Harriet's sister, Polly Ann Sparks. Harriet and Isaac lived at Gradyville and had six children when the 1870 census was taken of Adair County.
20.1.6.8.1 John M. Henegar born ca. 1857.
20.1.6.8.2 Nimrod Henegar born November 7, 1858.
20.1.6.8.3 Eliza A. Henegar born ca. 1861.
20.1.6.8.4 Meredith Henegar born ca. 1865.
20.1.6.8.5 Stephen W. Henegar born ca. 1867.
20.1.6.8.6 Cansady Henegar born ca. 1869.20.1.6.9 Emmaline Sparks was born ca. 1837. On March 20, 1856, she married James Lewis Moore in Adair County. Her father gave his consent and Jeremiah H. Roach was the bondsman. The note of consent reads as follows: "Mr. Clerk of Adair Co Ky please to let James L moor have licens to marry Emaline Sparks March the 19, 1856. John Sparks Jeremiah H.M. Roach James L. Moore." (M.B. 4, p. 5) James L. Moore was born ca. 1838 in Russell Co., KY. He and Emmaline lived at Gradyville where, by 1880, they had a family of nine children.
20.1.6.9.1 Cansady Moore born in September 1858; she died on January 25, 1859.
20.1.6.9.2 John H. Moore born ca. 1860.
20.1.6.9.3 Lewis W. Moore born ca. 1863.
20.1.6.9.4 Love L. "Lutisha" Moore born ca. 1865.
20.1.6.9.5 Hugh T. Moore born ca. 1868.
20.1.6.9.6 Martha A. Moore born ca. 1870.
20.1.6.9.7 Charles B. Moore born ca. 1872.
20.1.6.9.8 Sallie W. Moore born ca. 1874.
20.1.6.9.9 Nancy E. Moore born ca. 1876.20.1.6.10 Amanda Sparks was born ca. 1839. On January 10, 1857, she married William T. Bragg in Adair County. Both had the consent of parents. The witness was Robert Sparks. (M.B. 4, p. 139) Robert Sparks may have been the unidentified son of John and Nancy who was born between 1825 and 1830; however, we have found no other reference to a Robert Sparks of that period of time in Adair County. William T. Bragg was a son of Thomas M. and Hester (MNU) Bragg. When the 1880 census was taken of Adair County, Amanda and William had ten children:
20.1.6.10.1 James Martin Bragg born ca. 1857.
20.1.6.10.2 William H. Bragg born ca. 1859
20.1.6.10.3 Martha A. Bragg born ca. 1861.
20.1.6.10.4 Thomas H. Bragg born ca. 1864.
20.1.6.10.5 John H. Bragg born ca. 1866.
20.1.6.10.6 Wilford Bragg born ca. 1869.
20.1.6.10.7 Tilford Bragg born ca. 1869.
20.1.6.10.8 Elijah Bragg born ca. 1871.
20.1.6.10.9 Wesley Bragg born ca. 1873.
20.1.6.10.10 Loujency Bragg born ca. 1877.
20.1.7 Elihu Sparks, probable son of William and Mary (MNU) Sparks, was born between 1794 and 1804 according to census data; however, if he were a son of William and Mary, he was quite likely born ca. 1794 in North Carolina. (On the 1810 census of Adair County, William Sparks had a male, born between 1794 and 1800, in his household.) Elihu Sparks married Rosa Bailey in Adair County on December 14, 1814. She was a daughter of William Bailey (a Filson Club record). Rosa was born between 1794 and 1804.
When the 1820 census was taken of Adair County, Elihu Sparks had a son and two daughters. by 1830, however, he was in Morgan County, Illinois. With him, in addition to his wife, were the following:
1 female, born 1800 -10;
1 male and 1 female, born 1815 -20;
1 male and 1 female, born 1820 -25; and
1 male born 1825 -30. In all probability,
Elihu went to Morgan County with his nephews, 20.1.1.3 John R. Sparks and 20.1.1.6 Truelove M. Sparks, in the late 1820's. (See above.)
Elihu Sparks apparently settled in that area of Morgan County which became a part of Scott County in 1839, for the last record we have found of him on the 1840 census of Scott County, Illinois. With him, in addition to his wife, were the following: 1 female, born 1820-25; 1 male born 1825-30. Also appearing on the 1840 census of Scott County was James Sparks, born 1810-20, and his wife. He could very well have been a son of Elihu Sparks.
From these census data, it appears that Elihu and Rosa (Bailey) Sparks had six children, four sons and two daughters. We have no further information about this family.
20.1.8 Cynthia Sparks was born ca. 1799 in Kentucky. On March 16, 1824, she married Spencer Janes in Adair County. Her father was named in the marriage record. The marriage ceremony was performed by Elijah King. (M.B. l, page 92) Spencer Janes was born ca. 1804 in Tennessee. He was a Baptist preacher and performed many marriages in Adair County.
Cynthia and Spencer were the parents of five children before her untimely death which occurred between 1835 and 1838. All of her children were named when a portion of the estate of William Sparks, her father, was sold in 1855. (Deed Book P, page 562)
20.1.8.1 Mary Ann Janes was born ca. 1825. She married Thomas G. Walker ca. 184?. He was born in Illinois ca. 1820. When the 1850 census was taken of Adair County, they had four children. There may have been others.
20.1.8.1.1 S. C. Walker born ca. 1844.
20.1.8.1.2 M. A. Walker born ca. 1845.
20.1.8.1.3 M. D. Walker born ca. 1847.
20.1.8.1.4 M. E. Walker born ca. 1850.20.1.8.2 William Dudley Janes was born ca. 1828. He married Sarah Jesse, daughter of Benjamin Jesse, ca. 1858. William was a Mexican War veteran. He lived in Illinois from ca. 1861 to 1868, but then moved to Crawford Co., Kansas, where he died in 1907. He and Sarah had seven children:
20.1.8.2.1 John T. Janes born ca. 1860 in Kentucky.
20.1.8.2.2 Silas Westerfield Janes born ca. 1863 in Illinois. He died in 1944.
20.1.8.2.3 Mary Ellen Janes born ca. 1865. She married Joe McGonigee.
20.1.8.2.4 William David Janes born ca. 1868 in Kansas.
20.1.8.2.5 Harriet Janes born ca. 1871 in Crawford County, Kansas.
20.1.8.2.6 Joseph A. Janes born ca. 1873.
20.1.8.2.7 Jennie Isabelle Janes born ca. 1876. She married Oscar Oberg.20.1.8.3 Thomas Seymour Janes, son of Spencer and Cynthia (Sparks) Janes, was born ca. 1830. In 1851, he married Celina Moseby and they had ten children. Thomas died in 1912.
20.1.8.3.1 Nancy J. Janes born ca. 1852.
20.1.8.3.2. Mary Janes born ca. 1854.
20.1.8.3.3 William Dudley Janes was born ca. 1856. He married Obedience Fudge in 1875 and they had twelve children. William died in 193920.1.8.3.3.1 S. B. Janes born ca. 1877.
20.1.8.3.3.2 W. E. Janes born ca. 1879.
20.1.8.3.3.3 M. E. Janes born ca. 1883.
20.1.8.3.3.4 Leonard Janes born ca. 1886.
20.1.8.3.3.5 Thomas Fillmore Janes was born ca. 1888. He married Mona England and they had three children:20.1.8.3.3.5.1 Biddy Janes,
20.1.8.3.3.5.2 Evelyn Janes, and
20.1.8.3.3.5.3 Bernice Janes.20.1.8.3.3.6 J. Edward Janes was born ca. 1892. He married Mary Roach and they had one child, a son,
20.1.8.3.3.6.1 James A. Janes. (See above)
20.1.8.3.3.7 Rosetta Janes born ca. 1894.
20.1.8.3.3.8 C. B. Janes born ca. 1896.
20.1.8.3.3.9 Hobson Janes born ca. 1897. He married Mabel Tabor.
20.1.8.3.3.10 Hattie Lee Janes born ca. 1901. She married Gillum Akin and they had three children:20.1.8.3.3.10.1 Mabel Akin,
20.1.8.3.3.10.2 Ray Akin, and
20.1.8.3.3.10.3 Ralph Akin.20.1.8.3.3.11 Clara Belle Janes born ca. 1903. She married Roy Jesse.
20.1.8.3.3.12 Louis Garnet Janes born ca. 1905. He married Ruby Coomer.20.1.8.3.4 Maria A. Janes born ca. 1858.
20.1.8.3.5 Sarah Janes born ca. 1861.
20.1.8.3.6 Grace Janes born ca. 1863. She married George Jesse.
20.1.8.3.7 Lee W. Janes born ca. 1865.
20.1.8.3.8 Thomas S. Janes born ca. 1869.
20.1.8.3.9 Ellen D. Janes born ca. 1872.
20.1.8.3.10 James C. Janes was born ca. 1874. He died in 1927. He married Lou Estes and they had two children:20.1.8.3.10.1 Lulu Janes and
20.1.8.3.10.2 Nettie Janes.20.1.8.4 Gracey Janes, daughter of Spencer and Cynthia (Sparks) James, was born ca. 1833.
20.1.8.5 Silas P. Janes was born ca. 1835.
After the death of his wife, Cynthia (Sparks) Janes, Spencer Janes married Nancy Roberts in 1838. She was the widow of William Roberts.
20.1.9 Cathanne Sparks, daughter of William and Mary (MNU) Sparks, was born ca. 1801 in Kentucky. On February 7, 1824, she married Scotland McGlasson, son of Joseph and Doshia McGlasson, in Adair County by Elijah King. Her father was named on the marriage record, as were the parents of her husband. Jehu Sparks, probably her brother, and William Barnes were the bondsmen. (M.B. 1, p. 86) We have no further data regarding this couple.
20.1.10 Jehu Sparks, probable son of William and Mary (MNU) Sparks, was born ca. 1803. (On the 1810 census of Adair County, William Sparks had a male, born between 1800 and 1810, living in his household.) The first record we have found of Jehu (sometimes also spelled Jehue) Sparks is on the marriage record of Cathanne Sparks and Scotland McGlasson in 1824. (See 20.1.9, above) In that same year, Jehu was also taxed as a male over 21 years of age.
Jehu Sparks continued to pay poll taxes intermittently in Adair County for several,years; however, it was not until 1835 that he paid taxes on any land. In that year he paid taxes on 85 acres of land on Leatherwood Creek valued at $175. He paid no taxes in 1836, but in 1837 he paid taxes on 1128 acres of land, also on Leatherwood Creek. In 1840, he paid taxes on 1138 acres, but the following year the acreage was reduced to 100 acres and then to 90 acres in 1842. He paid poll taxes in 1843, 1844, 1850, 1851, 1852, 1856, and 1857. Finally, he paid taxes on 196 acres of land on Prices Creek in central Adair County in 1857.
(It is interesting to note that in 1836, 20.1.6 John Sparks, son of 20.1 William, also paid taxes on 89 acres of land on Leatherwood Creek, and that in 1838 he was taxed on 1200 acres also on Leatherwood Creek. From 1845 to 1847, he was taxed on 196 acres of land on Prices Creek. If we compare these tax records with those given above for Jehu Sparks, it appears that these two men were assuming the tax payments on the same tracts of land, with one man paying taxes one year and the other paying the taxes the following year. Obviously, the two men were quite closely related.)
Jehu Sparks apparently did not marry, nor did he appear on either the 1820, 1830, 1840, or 1850 censuses of Adair County. The only records we have found of him, other than his tax records, are in the proceedings of a lawsuit he had with Kitty Ann Fraser, and others, over a tract of land. The land was sold by Thomas Dehoney, Commissioner of Chancery, on September 5, 1849, at the Adair County courthouse at an open auction. The highest bidder was Kitty Ann Fraser with a bid of five dollars.
(Editor's note: This concludes the article about the descendants of William Sparks (born ca. 1760, died ca. 1834) of Adair County, Kentucky. We welcome additional data pertaining to William Sparks and his descendants from our readers.)
Page 4578-4579
Whole Number 172
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT MARY E. (SPARKS) CORSON
A DESCENDANT OF WILLIAM SPARKS (ca. 1760-ca. 1834)
OF ADAIR COUNTY, KENTUCKY
[Editor's Note: The March 1976 and December 1976 issues of the Quarterly, Nos. 93 and 96, respectively, contained articles about 20.1 William Sparks (ca. 1760- ca. 1834) of Adair County, Kentucky, and some of his descendants. In these articles, over two hundred of William's great-grandchildren were named, including Mary E. Sparks, daughter of his grandson, Truelove Sparks. Since the publication of those articles, additional information has been received about the descendants of Mary E. Sparks. Our informant is Kathy Wolfe, 2733 East High Street, Davenport, Iowa, 52803. For the sake of uniformity, the same alpha-numeric outline has been retained. See pages 1809 and 1925 of the Quarterly.]
20.1.1.6.7 Mary E. Sparks, daughter of 20.1.1.6 Truelove and Sally (Guessford) Sparks, was born December 18, 1842, in Lee County, Iowa. She married Benajah Thompson ["Ben"] Corson on July 15, 1858, in Jasper County, Iowa. He had been born July 31, 1832, in Alien County, Ohio, and was a son of Eli Eldridge and Hannah (Smith) Corson. His given name is also spelled "Benajoh."
Sarah E. ["Sally"] Guessford (or Gessford), mother of Mary E. Sparks, was born in 1809 and was a daughter of Joel and Elizabeth Guessford, natives of Maryland and Kentucky, respectively. Joel Guessford was in Casey County, Kentucky, in 1810 and 1820. He went to Morgan County, Illinois, where he was listed on the 1830 census. He was in Lee County, Iowa, when the 1850 census was taken, and in 1870 he was in Van Buren County, Iowa.
The Corson family is said to have emigrated to Cape May County, New Jersey, in the mid-1600s and was probably of Swedish descent. A comprehensive and well-documented account of this family was written by Orville Corson, Middletown, Ohio, in 1939 in a book entitled Three Hundred Years With the Corson Families in America.
Benajah Corson was twenty-six years old when he was married, and Mary E. Sparks was sixteen. They went to housekeeping in Jasper County, and it was there that their first six children were born. They moved to Missouri in 1868, but by 1874 they were back in Iowa, where they settled in Crawford County. Ben died on November 26, 1910. He was buried in the Iowa Township Cemetery in Crawford County. Mary died on March 23, 1922, and she was buried beside her husband. They had seven children.
20.1.1.6.7.1 Truelove Milton Corson was born on August 5, 1859, in Jasper County, Iowa. He was named for his maternal grandfather, 20.1.1.6 Truelove Milton Sparks. He married Cornelia Belle (Langham) Ferrell on May 13, 1880, in Crawford County, Iowa. She had been born May 18, 1858, in Clinton County, Iowa, and was a daughter of George and Mary (Ferr) Langham. She was the widow of Clinton Ferrell to whom she had been married on November 11, 1875. He had been killed by lightning in 1876. Truelove Corson died on November 14, 1927, and Cornelia died in 1939. They were members of the Congregational Church. They had two children:
20.1.1.6.7.1.1 Herbert Henry Corson and
20.1.1.6.7.1.2 George Edward Corson. He married Gladys Jane Kenley, and they were the grandparents of George Corson Wolfe, husband of Kathy Wolfe, who has furnished this additional information on this branch of the Sparks family.20.1.1.6.7.2 Eli Eldridge Corson was born October 6, 1860, at Lynnville, Iowa. He married Delana Ann Ferrell on December 12, 1884. She was a sister of Clinton Ferrell. (See Item 7, a, next above.) Eli died in 1933 and was buried with his wife, Delana, in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Shelby County, Iowa. They had six children:
20.1.1.6.7.2.1 Viola Mable Corson
20.1.1.6.7.2.2 Schuyler Eli Corson
20.1.1.6.7.2.3 Guy Wendell Corson
20.1.1.6.7.2.4 Ruby Beryl Corson
20.1.1.6.7.2.5 Pearl Mae Corson
20.1.1.6.7.2.6 Leslie Howard Corson.20.1.1.6.7.3 Jeremiah J. ["Jerry"] Corson was born in 1862. He married Etta Flaugh, and they moved to Cedar County, Nebraska. They had two children:
20.1.1.6.7.3.1 Earl H. Corson and
20.1.1.6.7.3.2 Stella P. Corson.20.1.1.6.7.4 Ulysses Simpson Grant Corson was born December 22, 1863, in Jasper County, Iowa. He married Augusta Southwick on November 26, 1885, in Crawford County, Iowa. They moved to Cedar County, Nebraska. Grant Corson (as he was called) died on February 2, 1952. He and Augusta had nine children, including three unnamed children who died at birth. The remaining six were:
20.1.1.6.7.4.1 Paul R. Corson
20.1.1.6.7.4.2 Claudia Leona Corson
20.1.1.6.7.4.3 Elsie Corson
20.1.1.6.7.4.4 Eldridge Leislay Corson
20.1.1.6.7.4.5 Wilbur Corson and
20.1.1.6.7.4.6 Leo Corson.20.1.1.6.7.5 Daughter Corson who was a twin of Grant Corson, daughter of Ben and Mary (Sparks) Corson who died at birth.
20.1.1.6.7.6 Charles P. Corson was born May 26, 1866, at Lynnville, Iowa. He married Ida Grubbs on July 9, 1887, in Crawford County, Iowa. He died in 1937 in Nebraska. He and Ida had four children:
20.1.1.6.7.6.1 Floyd Ray Corson;
20.1.1.6.7.6.2 Leara Corson;
20.1.1.6.7.6.3 Maude Corson; and
20.1.1.6.7.6.4 Walter Corson.20.1.1.6.7.7 Albert ["Bert"] Corson was born in July 1876 in Crawford County, Iowa. He was married twice. His first marriage was to Edna E. Davis on June 23, 1898, and they had a daughter, Lilly Corson. His second marriage was to Stella Davis, and they had one child, a daughter, Lola Corson.
Page 1925
Whole Number 99
FURTHER DATA ABOUT DESCENDANTS OF 20.1 WILLIAM SPARKS
(ca. 1760-ca. 1834) OF ADAIR COUNTY, KENTUCKY
We have received additional information from Dick Clifford, Keyes, Oklahoma, regarding a descendant of William Sparks of Adair County, Kentucky. William was the subject of an article which appeared in the March 1976 of the Quarterly, Whole No. 93. On page 1809 of that issue, data were given about a great-granddaughter of William, 20.1.1.6.7 Mary E. Sparks. She was a daughter of 20.1.1.6 Truelove and Sally (Guessford) Sparks. She married Benejah T. Corson on July 15, 1858. Mr. Clifford called our attention to the error in the spelling of Benejah's surname which should be CORSON and not Carson. Children of Benejah and Mary E. (Sparks) Corson were:
20.1.1.6.7.1 Truelove Corson born 1859 in Jasper County, Iowa. He married Belle Farrell in 1880.
20.1.1.6.7.2 Eli Eldredge Corson born 1859 in Jasper County, Iowa. He married Dilannah Farrell in 1884.
20.1.1.6.7.3 Charles Corson born 1862 in Jasper County, Iowa.
20.1.1.6.7.4 Grant Corson born 1865 in Jasper County, Iowa.
20.1.1.6.7.6 Jessie Corson born 1870 in Jasper County, Iowa.
20.1.1.6.7.7 Albert Corson born 1876 in Crawford County, Iowa