October 2, 2023
Pages 2294-2304
Whole Number 114
FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE FAMlLY OF
44.4 GEORGE SPARKS (ca. 1777-ca. 1853)
OF ESTILL COUNTY, KENTUCKY, AND BROWN COUNTY, INDIANA
(Editor's Note: In the March 1974 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 85, we began a two-part article about the descendants of 44. Isaac Sparks (ca. 1740-ca. 1815) of Estill County, KY. Since the conclusion of that article in the June 1974 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 86, new data have been uncovered which shed additional light on the origin of this branch of the SPARKS family, and which also provide a substantial extension of the list of descendants of one of 44. Isaac Sparks' sons, 44.4 George Sparks.
In addition to the material referred to above, our readers will also find data about this branch of the family in two other issues of the Quarterly. On page 991 of the June 1966 issue, Whole No. 54, are the persons named SPARKS who were listed on the 1860 census of Putnam County, Missouri. Then on page 1392 of the March 1971 issue, Whole No. 73, are the marriages of persons named SPARKS in Putnam County, Missouri, from 1849 to 1869.
There can be little doubt that Isaac Sparks, named above, came from Pennsylvania to Kentucky. In 1850, his son, 44.4 George Sparks, was listed on the census of Brown County, Indiana. He gave Pennsylvania as his birthplace. George and his wife, Fanny (Stivers) Sparks, were living in the household of their youngest daughter, Rose Anna, and her husband, George Admire. George Sparks was 73 years of age, while his wife, Fanny, was 70 years of age according to this 1850 census. Fanny was listed as a native of Pennsylvania also.
Isaac Sparks was very likely the Isaac Sparks who appeared on the 1773 tax list of Tyrone Township in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. (Bedford County was formed in 1771. Two years later, in 1773, Westmoreland County was formed from Bedford County.) When the 1773 tax list of Bedford County was published in the Pennsylvania Archives, 3rd Series, Vol. 22, page 52, the name of Isaac Sparks was printed as Isaac Parks - a not uncommon error. by 1783, Isaac Sparks was living in Franklin Township Westmoreland County. He paid taxes that year on 100 acres of land, 1 horse, 3 cattle, and 6 sheep. The total number of inhabitants in his household was given as seven.
Assuming that two of the members of the household of Isaac Sparks in 1783 were himself and his wife, the other five members were probably their children. This fits fairly well the family of Isaac Sparks which was in Estill County, KY, in the late 1700's and early 1800's. According to the article which appeared in the March 1974 issue of the Quarterly, Isaac Sparks and his wife, Catherine, had, five children who were probably born prior to 1783. These were:
44.1 Elijah Sparks, born ca. 1767;
44.2 William Sparks, born ca. 1770;
44.3 John Sparks, born ca. 1772;
44.4 George Sparks, born ca. 1777; and
44.5 Jenny Sparks, born ca. 1780.
It is also quite possible that Isaac Sparks is the same man who was appointed as a constable in Yahogania County, Virginia, on December 23, 1776, and again on August 26,1777. (See "Minutes of Court of Yahogania County" published in Records of the District of West Augusta, Ohio County, and Yahogania Virginia by the Ohio State University Printing Dept. in Columbus in 1970, p.80 and page 97.) (Our readers are reminded that this area was claimed by both Pennsylvania and Virginia, and that Yohogania County embraced all of Westmoreland County, PA, and also portions of Washington, Fayette, Allegheny, and Beaver Counties.)
There is also a strong possibility that Isaac Sparks was closely related to 7. William Sparks who also paid taxes in Franklin Township in Westmoreland County, PA. This 7. William Sparks was the subject of an article in the March 1968 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 61. William Sparks died in 1788 and left a will in which he named his Children. They were:
7.1 Isaac Sparks, born November 24, 1768,
7.2 William Sparks,
7.3 James Sparks,
7.4 Rachel Sparks,
7.5 Margaret Sparks,
7.6 Elizabeth Sparks,
7.7 Sarah Sparks,
7.8 John Sparks
7.9 Ann Sparks.
The 7.1 Isaac Sparks who was the son of William was born November 24, 1768, and died in or near Cincinnati, Ohio, on August 21, 1834. (See the Quarterly of September 1971, Whole No. 75, p. 1421.) One can speculate that the Isaac Sparks who was born ca. 1740 and who moved to Kentucky was a brother of the William Sparks who died in Pennsylvania in 1788. We have no proof of such a relationship, however.
We realize that the foregoing does not constitute irrefutable proof that the Isaac Sparks of Pennsylvania and the Isaac Sparks of Estill County, Kentucky, were the same person. We do want to establish this position as a point of conjectural reference. Perhaps one of our readers can add data to the conjecture which will erase all doubt.
There is no doubt, however, that 44.4 George Sparks was a son of 44. Isaac and Catherine Sparks. George Sparks was married twice. His first marriage was ca. 1795. We have not learned the name of his wife, but they apparently had three children, the youngest born in January 1799. George married (second) Fanny Stivers on January 27, 1800, in Clark County, Kentucky, and they had eleven children, eight sons and three daughters. (See page 1635-37 of the March 1974 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 85, for other information about the family of George and Fanny (Stivers) Sparks.
At the time the article about George and Fanny (Stivers) Sparks was written, we were able to identify only one child, William Sparks, who was born to George and his first wife. Since the publication of that article, we have been able to make positive identification, of several other children as well as to make some probable identifications. Here is a list of the children of George Sparks:
44.4.1 Catherine Sparks
44.4.2 Frances "Franky" Sparks
44.4.3 William Sparks
44.4.4 An unidentified son
44.4.5 An unidentified daughter
44.4.6 An unidentified son
44.4.7 An unidentified son
44.4.8 Sarah Ann Sparks
44.4.9 James Sparks
44.4.10 Daniel Sparks
44.4.11 John Sparks
***44.4.12 Richard Sparks*** Incorrect
44.4.12 George Sparks, Jr.
44.4.13 Rosa Anna Sparks
44.4.1 Catherine Sparks, probable daughter of George Sparks and his first wife, was born ca. 1796, and was probably named for her grandmother Sparks. She married Isaac Henry on July 25, 1819, in Estill County, Kentucky. When the 1820 census was taken of Estill County, she was apparently widowed, for she was listed as the head of her household as Kitty Henry.
44.4.2 Frances "Franky" Sparks, probable daughter of George Sparks and his first wife, was born ca. 1798. She married James Crouch on October 28, 1824, in Estill County, Kentucky. When the 1830 census was taken of Estill County, they had four children, a son born ca. 1825; and two sons and one daughter,born between 1825 and 1830.
44.4.3 William Sparks, son of George Sparks and his first wife, was born in January 1799. He married Nancy Crawford ca. 1820, probably in Estill County, KY. He was listed on the 1820 census of Estill County, and he paid taxes there from 1821 to 1824. He then apparently joined his father and moved to the area of Indiana where Brown, Bartholomew and Johnson Counties come together. He was listed on the 1830 census of Bartholomew County, but by 1840 he was in Johnson County where he remained until his death on August 5, 1871. He and Nancy were the parents of nine known children. (See also pages 1037-1039 of the December 1966 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 56, for other details about this family.)
44.4.3.1 Luanna Sparks was born May 16, 1821, in Estill County, KY. She accompanied her parents to Johnson County, Ind., where, on April 25, 1839, she married William Hogg. He was born May 8, 1787, in Cork, Ireland, and he died in April 1880, in Putnam County, Missouri. Luanna (Sparks) Hogg died May 29, 1910. She and William were buried in the Hogg Cemetery, near Graysville, Missouri. According to a descendant, they had thirteen children who reached maturity.
44.4.3.1.1 Francis "Frank" Hogg was born October 29, 1840, at Morgantown, Indiana. He married Ellen Ann Brown on April 4, 1861, in Putnam County, Missouri. He died December 22, 1915, at Hartford, Missouri.
44.4.3.1.2 Susan Hogg was born July 9, 1843. On March 17, 1861, she married 44.4.11.2 Talton E. Sparks in Putnam County. He was a son of 44.4.11 John and Delila (Demar) Sparks. (See below)44.4.3.1.3 William Hogg was born on August 4, 1845. He died March 13, 1863, while serving in the Union Army during the Civil War.
44.4.3.1.4 James Hogg was born on June 20,1848. He married Mary Ann MNU and they had five children:44.4.3.1.4.1 Julia Ann Hogg married Colman Fowler and they had three children:
44.4.3.1.4.1.1 Orville Fowler;
44.4.3.1.4.1.2 Pauline Fowler married FNU McKim; and
44.4.3.1.4.1.3 Laura Fowler married FNU Richmond.44.4.3.1.4.2 Vernie Hogg married FNU Savage.
44.4.3.1.4.3 Jonathan Hogg married and had six children:44.4.3.1.4.3.1 James Hogg,
44.4.3.1.4.3.2 Aral Hogg,
44.4.3.1.4.3.3 Nova M. Hogg,
44.4.3.1.4.3.4 Monte Hogg,
44.4.3.1.4.3.5 Sadie Mae Hogg, and
44.4.3.1.4.3.6 Nina Bell Hogg.44.4.3.1.4.4 Lonnie Hogg married FNU Victor.
44.4.3.1.4.5 Mary Hogg married FNU Gipson and they had six children:44.4.3.1.4.5.1 Selma Gipson married FNU McQueen;
44.4.3.1.4.5.2 Okal Gipson;
44.4.3.1.4.5.3 Everett Gipson;
44.4.3.1.4.5.4 Colman Gipson;
44.4.3.1.4.5.5 Gene Gipson;
44.4.3.1.4.5.6 Opal Gipson.44.4.3.1.5 Nathaniel Hogg was born July 16, 1850. He married Sarah Ellen Hukeby on August 6, 1873. She was born August 21, 1856, and she died April 7, 1941. Nathaniel died April 11, 1928. They had nine children:
44.4.3.1.5.1 Luanna Hogg was born ca. 1876. She married James Vincent.
44.4.3.1.5.2 Edward Hogg was born in May 1879.
44.4.3.1.5.3 Edith Hogg was born ca. 1880.
44.4.3.1.5.4 William Hogg died in 1972.
44.4.3.1.5.5 Carl Hogg.
44.4.3.1.5.6 George Hogg.
44.4.3.1.5.7 Nancy Hogg was born in 1890. She married FNU Morton.
44.4.3.1.5.8 Mooty Hogg married FNU West.
44.4.3.1.5.9 Tisco Hogg was born in 1896. He died December 18, 1978.44.4.3.1.6 Talton Emery "Em" Hogg was born on May 30, 1852. On December 28, 1873, he married Missouri R. Wade. She was born on February 22, 1858, and died December 17, 1880. After her death, Em Hogg married Celia Ann Cain on November 19, 1882. She was born February 22, 1863, and she died on December 9, 1937. Em Hogg died in 1938. by his first marriage he had two children and by his second marriage he had twelve children.
44.4.3.1.6.1 Mary Ida Hogg was born June 9, 1875. She died June 12,1964. She married Allen Williams and they had two children,
44.4.3.1.6.1.1 Ailey Williams and
44.4.3.1.6.1.2 Mearl Williams.44.4.3.1.6.2 Flora Anna Hogg married FNU McFarland.
44.4.3.1.6.3 Fannie Jane Hogg married FNU Morgan.
44.4.3.1.6.4 Alice Victory Hogg married FNU Vincent.
44.4.3.1.6.5 Clarence Izear Hogg was born July 11,1886.
44.4.3.1.6.6 Offie Hogg was born February 3, 1888. She died August 8, 1937. She married Delbert West
44.4.3.1.6.7 Margaret E. Hogg was born June 27, 1890. She died September 4, 1891.
44.4.3.1.6.8 William Thomas Hogg was born May 12, 1893. He married Nellie L. Collins and they had two children. William died January 8, 1968.44.4.3.1.6.8.1 Pharis Hogg and
44.4.3.1.6.8.2 Carminieta Hogg.44.4.3.1.6.9 James Edward Hogg was born July 14, 1894. He married Mahala E. Collins.
44.4.3.1.6.10 Alva L. Hogg was born January 9, 1896.
44.4.3.1.6.11 Ernie Laton Hogg was born January 9, 1898.
44.4.3.1.6.12 Lovisa Hogg was born October 27, 1899. She married FNU Brown.
44.4.3.1.6.13 Chester M. Hogg was born December 5, 1901. He married Nellie Capps and they had three children:44.4.3.1.6.13.1 Santa C. Hogg,
44.4.3.1.6.13.2 Irvin L. Hogg, and
44.4.3.1.6.13.3 Leona V. Hogg.44.4.3.1.6.14 Belle Gladys Hogg was born June 19, 1908. She married FNU Himmerman.
44.4.3.1.7 Absalom Hogg was born January 20, 1854. He married Sarah MNU and they had six children:
44.4.3.1.7.1 Edward Hogg,
44.4.3.1.7.2 Oma Hogg,
44.4.3.1.7.3 Ott Hogg,
44.4.3.1.7.4 Vada Hogg,
44.4.3.1.7.5 Richard Hogg, and
44.4.3.1.7.6 Martha Hogg.44.4.3.1.8 Oliver Perry Hogg was born January 24, 1856. He died September 24, 1873.
44.4.3.1.9 Edward Hogg was born January 14, 1858. He married Mary Ramsey and they had four children.44.4.3.1.9.1 Neal M. Hogg married Maggie Suttier and they had a daughter, Nola Hogg.
44.4.3.1.9.2 Pearl Hogg was born in 1881.
44.4.3.1.9.3 Luanna Hogg was born in 1888.
44.4.3.1.9.4 Susan Hogg married Jesse McFarland and they had thirteen children:44.4.3.1.9.4.1 Glenn McFarland,
44.4.3.1.9.4.2 Earl McFarland,
44.4.3.1.9.4.3 E. J. McFarland,
44.4.3.1.9.4.4 Ailey McFarland,
44.4.3.1.9.4.5 Dennis McFarland,
44.4.3.1.9.4.6 Vane McFarland,
44.4.3.1.9.4.7 C.O. McFarland,
44.4.3.1.9.4.8 Paul McFarland,
44.4.3.1.9.4.9 Dee McFarland,
44.4.3.1.9.4.10 Mary McFarland,
44.4.3.1.9.4.11 Anna Belle McFarland,
44.4.3.1.9.4.12 Edith McFarland, and
44.4.3.1.9.4.13 Grace McFarland.44.4.3.1.10 Aaron Hogg was born October 17, 1858. He died before 1870.
44.4.3.1.11 Latham C. Hogg was born October 17, 1860. He died September 24, 1933. He married 44.4.11.1.6 Martha E. Robbins, daughter of John and 44.4.11.1 Nancy Jane (Sparks) Robbins, on June 9,1887. (See below)
44.4.3.1.12 John Richard Hogg was born July 16, 1861. He died December 18, 1940. He married Emmaline Cain and apparently they had no children.
44.4.3.1.13 Thomas Hogg was born December 27, 1863. He died March 24, 1941. He married Ella Bolander and they had six children:44.4.3.1.13.1 Frank A. Hogg,
44.4.3.1.13.2 Myrtle Hogg,
44.4.3.1.13.3 Mabel Hogg,
44.4.3.1.13.4 Erastus Hogg,
44.4.3.1.13.5 Everett Hogg, and
44.4.3.1.13.6 Clonnie Hogg.
KATHERINE T. (SPARKS) DUNHAM
and her husband BARTON S. DUNHAM
44.4.3.2 Katherine T. "Kate" Sparks, daughter of William and Nancy (Crawford) Sparks,was born ca. 1825. She may have been named for her great-grand-mother, Catherine Sparks of Estill County, KY. Kate married Barton "Bart" Dunham on January 30, 1846, in Johnson County, Ind. It was his second marriage. He and Kate had three children.
44.4.3.2.1 David Barton
44.4.3.2.2 "Sis" Barton married FNU Shepherd.
44.4.3.2.3 Daughter Barton whom we have been unable to identify44.4.3.3 Fanny Jane Sparks was born ca. 1827. On May 20, 1847, she married Richard Ferguson in Johnson County, Ind. They were the parents of five children, three sons and two daughters. We have not learned their names.
44.4.3.4 James Sparks was born on March 30, 1831, in Johnson County, Ind. He served in Company D, 82nd Regiment Indiana Infantry. (See the March 1981 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 113, for an abstract of his pension application file.) On January 16, 1850, he married Elizabeth Richmond in Johnson County, Ind. She was born ca. 1827 in Kentucky. After the Civil War ended, James and Elizabeth moved to Grinnell, Iowa. They had nine children:
44.4.3.4.1 Fanny Sparks was born July 5, 1850. She married John Sloan.
44.4.3.4.2 Abigail Sparks was born July 20, 1851. She married Nelson Frost.
44.4.3.4.3 Edward Sparks was born September 28, 1852.
44.4.3.4.4 Barton Sparks was born December 5, 1855.
44.4.3.4.5 Luanna Sparks was born February 21, 1857.
44.4.3.4.6 Andrew Sparks was born April 21, 1858.
44.4.3.4.7 William P. Sparks was born October 18, 1859. He married Rosa MNU.
44.4.3.4.8 Crawford Sparks was born June 22, 1866.
44.4.3.4.9 Catherine Sparks was born April 22, 1869.44.4.3.5 Elizabeth Sparks, daughter of William and Nancy (Crawford) Sparks, was born ca. 1833 in Indiana. On January 2, 1851, she married Abraham P. Leggins (Logan?) in Johnson County, Ind. They had eight children, but we have learned none of their names. Elizabeth married, second, Marshall Schrongham by whom she had two children.
44.4.3.6 Edward Sparks was born March 20, 1836, in Indiana and died November 10, 1933, in Maysville, Dekalb County, Missouri. He was married twice. He married Elizabeth A. Pitcheron March 24, 1856, in Johnson County, Md. She had one child, but both she and the child died. Edward married, second, Mary Ann Betner on November 25, 1857, in Johnson County. She was born October 22, 1840, in Indiana and died November 3, 1932, in Maysville, Missouri. She was a daughter of Jacob and Deborah (Huntsinger) Bittner or Betner. The marriage of Edward and Mary Ann was performed by the Rev. John W. Ragsdale on November 27, 1857. Edward was usually called by his nickname, "Ned."
In 1863, Edward moved to Missouri and the following year to Iowa, then back to Indiana. In the early 1890's, Edward and Mary Ann moved to Missouri where two of their married children were living. When he was in his sixties, he met with a serious accident. He and Mart Thomas had driven a team to Maysville, Missouri., and on the way home the horses ran away. The men were thrown out of the buggy and Edward's hip was broken. There was no one to set it, and it was believed that he was too seriously hurt to recover. He did recover, however, and spent the last thirty years of his life in a wheel chair. In 1932, Edward became confined to his bed and Mary Ann cared for him although she was almost blind, but very alert. She died November 3, 1932, and was buried at Fairport Cemetery near Maysville. When friends and neighbors came to call on Edward following his wife's death, he told them, "We walked hand in hand for 75 years. Now she has found a better hand." He died a year later, on November 10, 1933, and was buried next to his beloved wife. They were the parents of the following children:
44.4.3.6.1 Martha M. Sparks, born June 3, 1861, in Indiana, and died June 12, 1938, in Indiana. She married Willis Ault and they had two children,
44.4.3.6.1.1 Chester Ault and
44.4.3.6.1.2 Dora Ault.44.4.3.6.2 Margaret C. Sparks born April 16, 1863, in Johnson County, Ind., and died September 28, 1934, in Urbana, Benton County, Iowa. She married William Petro and they had the following children:
44.4.3.6.2.1 Vida Opal Petro,
44.4.3.6.2.2 Earl McDonald Petro,
44.4.3.6.2.3 Bertha Ann Petro,
44.4.3.6.2.4 Victor I. Petro,
44.4.3.6.2.5 LeRoy Ralphard Petro,
44.4.3.6.2.6 Tilson Petro,
44.4.3.6.2.7 Leona Petro,
44.4.3.6.2.8 Elbie Petro,
44.4.3.6.2.9 Covie Petro,
44.4.3.6.2.10 Ruth Petro, and
44.4.3.6.2.11 Lois Cecile Petro.
BRECKENRIDGE SPARKS (1865-1935)
son of 44.4.3.6 EDWARD and MARY ANN (BETNER) SPARKS
44.4.3.6.3 Breckenridge Sparks, born June 18, 1865, in Iowa; died September 24, 1935, in Maysville, Missouri. He married Ida Urich and they had children named:
44.4.3.6.3.1 Lawrence Sparks,
44.4.3.6.3.2 Edith Sparks,
44.4.3.6.3.3 Harlan Sparks,
44.4.3.6.3.4 Donald Sparks,
44.4.3.6.3.5 Lois Sparks, and
44.4.3.6.3.6 Forrest Sparks.44.4.3.6.4 Lucy B. Sparks, born April 17, 1868, in Iowa; died January 5, 1894. She married Keller and lived in St. Joseph, Missouri. They had one son named
44.4.3.6.4.1 Philip Keller.
44.4.3.6.5 Jacob Sparks, born August 29, 1881, in Indiana. He married Myrtle Beckwith and had children:
44.4.3.6.5.1 Fern Sparks,
44.4.3.6.5.2 Loren Sparks, and
44.4.3.6.5.3 Carl Sparks.44.4.3.7 William C. Sparks, son of William and Nancy (Crawford) Sparks, was born July 20, 1838, in Johnson County, Ind. He served in Company A and Company C, 7th Regiment Indiana Cavalry. (See the March 1981 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 113, for an abstract of his pension file.) On May 31, 1859, he married Miranda Whitaker in Johnson County, Ind. She was born ca. 1840 in Indiana. William and Miranda continued to live in Johnson County until after the death of his father in 1871 when they moved to Putnam County, Missouri., probably to be near his Sparks relatives. He went to Arkansas in 1894 and to the Oklahoma Territory in 1897. He died in a Soldiers Home in Arkansas sometime after 1916. Children:
44.4.3.7.1 Matilda J. Sparks was born in March 1860 in Indiana.
44.4.3.7.2 Jefferson T. Sparks was born ca. 1863 in Indiana.
44.4.3.7.3 Mary E. Sparks was born ca. 1866 in Indiana.
44.4.3.7.4 George W. Sparks was born ca. 1869 in Indiana.
44.4.3.7.5 Susan R. Sparks was born ca. 1872 in Missouri.
44.4.3.7.6 Luanna Sparks was born ca. 1875 in Missouri.
44.4.3.7.7 William C. Sparks, Jr. was born ca. 1877 in Missouri.44.4.3.8 Margaret Ann Sparks was born September 18, 1841, in Johnson County, Ind. There, on March 19, 1860, she married Jesse W. Bolt. She died January 15, 1861, probably at the birth of their son. She was buried in the BethIehem Cemetery in Johnson County.
44.4.3.9 Absalom Sparks was born March 10, 1844, and died August 23, 1932. He married Mary Ellen Dine in April 1865. She was born February 6, 1849, and died December 22, 1927. They had four children.
44.4.3.9.1 Rebecca Catherine Sparks was born January 31, 1866, and died on October 10, 1933. She married Lewis Allen and had seven children.
44.4.3.9.2 Margaret Anna Sparks was born January 5, 1868, and died November 6, 1878. She was buried in the Bethlehem Cemetery in Johnson County, Ind.
44.4.3.9.3 Joseph Ambrose "Brose" Sparks was born October 22, 1869, and died in 1946. He married Effie Oliver on January 16, 1901, and they had one son. Brose and Effie lived in Morgantown, Ind.44.4.3.9.3.1 Lloyd Oliver Sparks.
44.4.3.9.4 William Alonzo Sparks was born November 6, 1871. He married Lizzie Jacobs. They had two daughters:
44.4.3.9.4.1 Pearlie Marie Sparks, who married Arnold Smith, and
44.4.3.9.4.2 Violet Hazel Sparks, who married Bert Nevil.
44.4.4 Son1 Sparks
44.4.5 Son2 Sparks
44.4.6 Daughter Sparks
44.4.7 Son3 Sparks
We have been unable to identify these 4 children. They were born to George and Fanny (Stivers) Sparks between 1800 and 1810. by 1820, one son and the daughter were no longer living in the household of George Sparks; they may have married and left home or died. The other two sons were still in the household in 1820, but when the 1830 census was taken, they, too, were no longer in the household.
44.4.8 Sarah Ann Sparks, probable daughter of George and Fanny (Stivers) Sparks, was born between 1800 and 1810. She married William Cardwell on January 14, 1838, in Brown County, Ind. They were married by Thos. M. Adams, a justice of the peace.
44.4.9 James I. Sparks was born ca. 1809 in Kentucky, and was a young man when he accompanied his parents to Johnson County, Ind. It was there that he married Elizabeth Ferguson on February 14, 1839. She was born ca. 1819 in Kentucky. James followed his brothers to Missouri ca. 1849 and was in Putnam County when the 1850 census was taken. He was still in Putnam County when the 1860 census was taken and was listed as a farmer. He apparently died ca. 1875 for Elizabeth, his widow, married Andrew Richmond on December 31, 1877. James and Elizabeth had eight children.
44.4.9.1 Nancy Jane Sparks was born ca. 1840 in Johnson County, Ind. On October 16, 1856, she married Daniel Morgan in Putnam County, Missouri. She is probably the Nancy Morgan who died in 1859 and was buried in the Rose Cemetery in Putnam County.
44.4.9.2 John C. Sparks was born ca. 1843 in Indiana. He served in Company C, 2nd Regiment Missouri State Militia, in the Civil War. (See the March 1981 issue of the Quarterly Whole No. 113, for an abstract of his pension file.) On April 20, 1865, he married Susan Jane Dilks in Putnam County, Missouri, by his uncle, Daniel Sparks, a justice of the peace. John died February 17, 1883, and Susan died March 26, 1906. According to his pension file in the National Archives, they had seven children, but we have learned the names of only four of them.
44.4.9.2.1 Laura B. Sparks was born December 7, 1870, in Putnam County, Missouri.
44.4.9.2.2 Sarah Jane Sparks was born on June 30, 1877, in Putnam County, Missouri.
44.4.9.2.3 Everett J. Craben (?) Sparks was born July 7, 1879, in Shawnee County, Kansas.
44.4.9.2.4 Myrtle Sparks was born August 22, 1881, in Shawnee County, Kansas.44.4.9.3 Emily "Milly" Sparks was born ca. 1845 in Indiana.
44.4.9.4 Levi Collins "Bud" Sparks was born in August 1847 in Indiana. On March 18, 1875, he married Tabitha E. Vincent in Putnam County, Missouri. She was born in May 1858 in Missouri and was a daughter of John "Jack" and Elizabeth (Corneilson) Vincent, and a sister of Rena Vincent who married 44.4.9.5 Vess Sparks (see below.) Bud Sparks died in 1922 and Tabitha died in 1927. They were buried in the Glendale Cemetery, Des Moines, Iowa. They had six children, all born in Putnam County, Missouri.
 |
| LEVI C. SPARKS (1847-1922) with wife TABITHA (right), with her hand on his shoulder and (left) RENA (VINCENT) SPARKS, widow of Sylvester Sparks |
44.4.9.4.1 Minnie F. Sparks was born ca. 1876. She died in 1924. She married Sam Maginnis.
44.4.9.4.2 Everett Elton Sparks was born in August 1878. He died in 1954. He married Emma Franklin
44.4.9.4.3 David Sylvester Sparks was born on June 1, 1880. On April 9, 1903, he married Delilah Albright at Unionville, Missouri. She was born February 4, 1890, at Mendota, Missouri, and was a daughter of Henry and Florence (Pickins) Albright. Delilah died April 29, 1948, and David died August 26, 1960. They were buried in the Webb Cemetery, Spring Hill, Iowa. They were the parents of six children.44.4.9.4.3.1 Homer Lee Sparks was born May 25, 1904, and died July 9,1978. He was married twice. His first marriage was to Jennie Faust on January 18, 1925, and to this marriage two children were born. He married, second, Mary Ella Morse on May 27, 1939. She was born May 20, 1916, and was a daughter of Samuel and Grace Morse. Homer and Mary Ella had four children, all born in Warren County, Iowa.
44.4.9.4.3.1.1 David L. Sparks was born July 26, 1925. He married Elma Joy Cooper and they had three children:
44.4.9.4.3.1.1.1 Sharon Sparks,
44.4.9.4.3.1.1.2 Matthew Sparks, and
44.4.9.4.3.1.1.3 Roxanne Sparks.44.4.9.4.3.1.2 Richard L. Sparks was born October 18, 1931. He married Donna Brown and they had seven children:
44.4.9.4.3.1.2.1 Richard Sparks,
44.4.9.4.3.1.2.2 Debra Sparks,
44.4.9.4.3.1.2.3 Dianne Sparks,
44.4.9.4.3.1.2.4 Daniel Sparks,
44.4.9.4.3.1.2.5 Joseph Sparks,
44.4.9.4.3.1.2.6 Brenda Sparks,
44.4.9.4.3.1.2.7 Dennis Sparks.44.4.9.4.3.1.3 Gary LeRoy Sparks was born September 12, 1940. He married Loyce Jean Curtis and they have two children:
44.4.9.4.3.1.3.1 Laura Lynn Sparks and
44.4.9.4.3.1.3.2 Beth Michelle Sparks.44.4.9.4.3.1.4 Betty Lynn Sparks was born in March 1942; she died in December 1942.
44.4.9.4.3.1.5 William L. "Bill" Sparks was born April 28, 1943. He married and has one daughter,44.4.9.4.3.1.5.1 Tammy Sparks.
44.4.9.4.3.1.6 Edna Louise Sparks was born November 12, 1944. She married, first, James Edwards and, second, Arnold Shackelford. She has three children:
44.4.9.4.3.1.6.1 Sheila Edwards,
44.4.9.4.3.1.6.2 Sonya Edwards, and
44.4.9.4.3.1.6.3 Brian Edwards.44.4.9.4.3.2 Neal Ray Sparks, son of David Sylvester and Delilah (Albright) Sparks, was born December 23, 1905, and died in 1964. He married Alice Woods.
44.4.9.4.3.3 Edna Bell Sparks was born June 27, 1907. She married, first, Bert Ray and, second, Joe Moore.
44.4.9.4.3.4 Helen Mandy Sparks was born February 21, 1910. She married Johnny Llewellyn.
44.4.9.4.3.5 Icyle Adeline Sparks was born September 29, 1916. She married Merle Rinard and they had two children: Jack Rinard and Donna Rinard.
44.4.9.4.3.6 Jacob Donald Sparks was born January 29, 1924. He married Imogene Short and they have two children:44.4.9.4.3.6.1 Linda Sparks and
44.4.9.4.3.6.2 Nancy Sparks.44.4.9.4.4 Haley Elizabeth Sparks was born in February 1884. She married, first, FNU McClure. She married, second, C. Tibbet, and she married, third, F. Powell.
44.4.9.4.5 Edna Sparks was born in March 1887 and died January 20, 1980. She married George Parker.
44.4.9.4.6 Maude Bell Sparks was born in February 1890 and died October 25,1976. She married Martin Haines.44.4.9.5 Sylvester "Vess" Sparks, son of James and Elizabeth (Ferguson) Sparks, was born ca. 1849 in Indiana and was carried as a baby to Missouri. It was there in Putnam County that he married Hannah Serena "Renat' Vincent on July 25, 1875. (See above.) She was born in May 1860. Vess Sparks was injured in a mining accident ca. 1898 and died from the injuries about three weeks later. Rena married Ben Swearingen in 1910. She died in June 1923. She and Vess had six children:
44.4.9.5.1 James Ezekiel Sparks was born January 1, 1877, and died in 1950.
44.4.9.5.2 Caleb Hester "Cale" Sparks was born in November 1879 and died March 16, 1920. He married Pearl Goren and they had two children:44.4.9.5.2.1 Henry Sparks and
44.4.9.5.2.2 Golda Sparks.44.4.9.5.3 Gertrude Sparks was born ca. 1881. She may have married FNU Percantile. She apparently died prior to 1900.
44.4.9.5.4 Julius Deuteronomy Sparks was born in June 1884. He married Minnie Johnson.
44.4.9.5.5 Barbara Ethel Inez Sparks was born December 25, 1888. She married Jesse Lynn in 1917.
44.4.9.5.6 Lela Parlee Sparks was born May 30, 1896. She was about one and one-half years old when her father died from his injuries sustained in the mining accident. She married William Francis Biggs.44.4.9.6 Mary Sparks was born ca. 1852 in Missouri.
44.4.9.7 George Sparks was born ca. 1854.
44.4.9.8 Cornelius "Neal" Sparks was born in May 1860. He married Mary Ellen West on April 21, 1878, in Putnam County, Missouri. She was born March 3, 1860, and died May 18, 1930. She was buried in the Rose Cemetery, Graysville, Missouri. Neal and Mary Ellen had one child,44.4.9.8.1 Laura Sparks, who was born ca. 1879. She married M. W. Hurley and they had two children:
44.4.9.8.1.1 Rozetta Hurley and
44.4.9.8.1.2 Minnie Hurley.
(Editor's Note: This record providing further information regarding the family of 44.4 George Sparks (ca. 1777-ca. 1853) of Estill County, KY, and Brown County, Ind., will be continued in the next issue of the Quarterly. There we shall provide information on the following additional children of 44.4 George Sparks:
44.4.10 Daniel Sparks, born August 26, 1810;
44.4.11 John Sparks, born ca. 1814; (Wrong...44.4.11 Richard W. Sparks, born or about January 13, 1816);
44.4.12 George M. Sparks, born ca. 1818; and
44.4.13 Rosa Ann Sparks, born ca. 1822.)
(Webmaster's Note: 44.4.12 Unidentified son of George and Fanny (Stivers) Sparks born between 1815 and 1820. When we published the first portion of this article, we stated that this son was named Richard. Subsequently we discovered that the Richard Sparks whom we had assumed was the son of George and Fanny and who was living in Johnson County, Indiana, in 1850, was actually a native of Henry County, Kentucky, and in no way connected with George and Fanny (Stivers) Sparks.)
Continue to 'Further Information' in Whole No. 115.