October 12, 2023
Pages 2588-2600
Whole Number 125
1.2.5.10.1 JAMES SPARKS
OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
AND
CLINTON COUNTY, INDIANA
by Paul E. Sparks
(Editor's Note: In the June 1963 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 42, there is an article about 1.2.5.10 William Sparks and 1.2.5.5 George Sparks of Washington County, Pennsylvania. At that time, we speculated that they were brothers and natives of Frederick County, Maryland. We have now found a record which proves that this is correct. They were sons of 1.2.5 Joseph and Mary Sparks of Frederick County, and they were probably grandsons of 1.2 William and Mary Sparks who were early immigrants to Talbot and Queen Annes Counties, Maryland. (See This Was The Life, Excerpts from the Judgment Records of Frederick County, Maryland, 1748 -1765, edited by Millard M. Rice, published by the Monocacy Book Co., Redwood City, California, 1979. The record given on 51-52 of this book appears on page 64 of the original Frederick County Judgment Record, 1750 -1751, dated 22 August 1750, and identifies the heirs of Joseph Sparks, died 1749. See also the March 1971 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 73, for further information about the family of William and Mary Sparks of early Queen Annes County, Maryland.)
1.2.5.10 William Sparks, son of 1.2.5 Joseph and Mary Sparks, was born April 27, 1738, in Queen Annes County, Maryland. (See page 1390 of the March 1971 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 73.) He married Martha Moore, a daughter of Alexander and Margaret Moore. (See Deed Book A, page 134 of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.) Among the seven children of William and Martha (Moore) Sparks was a son, 1.2.5.10.1 James Sparks, born ca. 1765, in Frederick County, Maryland. We now present an account of James Sparks and his descendants.
James Sparks, son of William and Martha (Moore) Sparks, was born ca. 1765 in Frederick County, Maryland, and was a young lad when, in 1773, his parents moved by packhorse across the Allegheny Mountains and settled in that area of Pennsylvania which became Washington County in 1781. Here James's father acquired 323 acres of land in Independence Township just a few miles from present-day Ohio County, West Virginia, and it was here that James grew to manhood and learned the trade of carpentry. He was probably the James Sparks who served in the American Revolution as a member of Captain Zadoc Wright's Company of the 2nd Battalion of Washington County Militia.
1.2.5.10.1 James Sparks married Margaret Ray, ca. 1798. She was born ca. 1775 in Talbot County, Maryland, and was a daughter of Thomas and Marjorie (Spear) Ray. (Thomas Ray died in 1807 in Washington County, Pennsylvania, and named in his will a daughter, Margaret, wife of James Sparks.) A brief account of the family of James and Margaret (Ray) Sparks was given in the June 1963 issue of the Quarterly referred to above. Unfortunately, on page 732 of Whole No. 42, there is an apparent error. The year of birth of Margaret (Ray) Sparks was given as 1761. We believe this is incorrect. If she were the mother of twelve children, all born between 1799 and 1815, she would have been 38 years old when her first child was born and 54 years of age when she had her last child. This would have been highly unlikely, if not improbable.
Census records of this couple have been preserved for the years 1800, 1810, and 1820 of Washington County, Pennsylvania, and for 1830 of Richland County, Ohio. These records indicate that Margaret was born between 1774 and 1780, and that James was born between 1765 and 1770. We place her year of birth as ca. 1775 and his year of birth as ca. 1765. The latter is confirmed by the 1850 census of Clinton County, Indiana, on which James's age was given as 85 years.
James Sparks and his family continued to live in Washington County for nearly twenty years, then ca. 1820, they decided to move to Ohio where they settled in that part of Richland County which would become a part of Ashland County in 1846. They lived here for several years, but ca. 1835, James made a final move and joined his sons, Joseph and Thomas Sparks, in Clinton County, Indiana. It was there that Margaret (Ray) Sparks died, probably a year or two after the move. When the 1840 census was taken of Clinton County, James was listed as the head of his household. Enumerated as living in his household was a male whom we are certain was his son, William Sparks, along with William's family.
On April 4, 1840, James Sparks sold 49 acres of land to his son, Thomas Sparks, and a year later, he sold 30 acres to John A. Henderson. When the 1850 census was taken of Perry Township in Clinton County, James was listed in the household of his son, Thomas Sparks. He was then 85 years of age. It is told that on his 90th birthday, he chopped and split 100 fence rails. He died in Clinton County in October 1855. Descendants say that he and his wife were buried in the Loveless Cemetery near Colfax, Indiana; however, no grave markers can be found.
1.2.5.10.1 James and Margaret (Ray) Sparks were the parents of twelve children, all of whom were born in Washington County, Pennsylvania. Many years later, one of the children, Joseph Sparks, recorded the dates of birth of his brothers and sisters, and in the case of his sisters, he also recorded the surnames of their spouses. He used the fly-leaf of a newly-published book, entitled Atlas Map of Fultpn County, Illinois, published by Andreas, Lyter & Company, Davenport, Iowa, in 1871. The names and dates of birth of the children of Joseph Sparks were also recorded in this book, which ultimately came into the possession of a granddaughter of Joseph Sparks, Maude (Sparks) Earnest, a daughter of Thomas J. Sparks. As recorded in this book, the children of James and Margaret (Ray) Sparks were as follows:
1.2.5.10.1.1 Marthy Sparks McCarthy born May 25, 1799
1.2.5.10.1.2 Margaret Sparks Thomas born May 19, 1800
1.2.5.10.1.3 Sarah Sparks Shackel born July 23, 1801
1.2.5.10.1.4 William Sparks born December 29, 1802
1.2.5.10.1.5 James Sparks born June 25, 1804
1.2.5.10.1.6 Margery Sparks Carr born December 28, 1805
1.2.5.10.1.7 Mary Sparks Jones born May 23, 1807
1.2.5.10.1.8 Joseph Sparks born November 23, 1808
1.2.5.10.1.9 Thomas Sparks born September 26, 1810
1.2.5.10.1.10 Robert Sparks born March 23, 1812
1.2.5.10.1.11 Allen Sparks born February 14, 1814
1.2.5.10.1.12 Elizabeth Sparks Loveless born September 30, 1815.1.2.5.10.1.1 Martha ["Patty"] Sparks was born on May 25, 1799. She was probably named for her father's sister. She married FNU McCarthy, probably in Washington County, Pennsylvania. We have no further information about her.
1.2.5.10.1.2 Margaret Sparks was born May 19, 1800. She married a man whose surname was Thomas, probably in Washington County, Pennsylvania. We have no further information about her.
1.2.5.10.1.3 Sarah ["Sally"] Sparks was born July 23, 1801. She married a man whose surname was Shackel, probably in Richland County, Ohio. We have no further information about her.
1.2.5.10.1.4 William Sparks was born December 29, 1802, according to the information recorded by his brother, Joseph Sparks, in the Atlas Map of Fulton County, Illinois, referred to above; however, according to the information inscribed on his tombstone, he was born January 1, 1801. In view of the dates of birth of his three older sisters, we are inclined to accept the date recorded by his brother as correct. He was probably named for his paternal grandfather.
William grew to manhood in Washington County and accompanied his parents to Richland County, Ohio, in the latter part of 1820. It was probably there that he married Catherine Huckley, ca. 1828. She was born January 24, 1808, in Pennsylvania. When the 1830 census was taken of Richland County, she and William had one child, a daughter, born ca. 1829.
Four more children (all sons) were born to William and Catherine before they decided to move westward to Indiana. Their decision to move was probably prompted by encouragement from William's brother, Allen, who had gone to Clinton County, Indiana, where he purchased land in 1833. William arrived in Clinton County in time to purchase a 52-acre tract of land in March 1837 and to get it ready for spring planting. Another son arrived that fall.
1.2.5.10.1.4 William Sparks added a 21-acre tract to his farm in the spring of 1844, but in the fall of 1846, he and Catherine sold it to John Henderson. It is quite likely that they were getting ready to move again, this time to neighboring Tippecanoe County. It also seems likely that William was getting ready to quit farming, for when he moved to Tippecanoe County, he settled in the town of Lafayette where he became a brick-mason. A descendant has a letter which he wrote to a daughter in which he referred to his son building a kiln.
Some unusual events happened in the family of William Sparks during the next decade. Robert, the oldest son, died in 1854, shortly after his 23rd birthday. Son, Francis, married and named his first child William, after his father. It was the second grandchild for William and Catherine - - their daughter, Mary, had a son, Benjamin, born in 1847. Two sons, James and Peter, joined the Union forces in 1862, and James was killed in the Battle of Kenesaw Mountain, Georgia.
Sometime in 1876, William and Catherine made their last move, this time to Missouri where they settled in Moniteau County. Catherine died March 24, 1877, shortly after they arrived there. She was seventy years of age. William survived her by eleven years, dying in a most tragic manner. As published in the California (Missouri) Democrat on February 9, 1888, the account of his death was given as follows:
Mr. William Sparks, who was quite old and feeble, living 22 miles south-east of this place, disappeared Friday from the sight of his family about 11 A.M. A son, Israel, came to the house soon after his father left, and started in pursuit of him, but looking in the wrong directions, as he did, did not find him. The old gentleman not returning at night, the family became alarmed and calling several neighbors, continued the search until 11 P.M., but without success. He was seen some three miles west of his home near dark coming toward this place. On Saturday morning, it was generally known that Mr. Sparks was missing and the whole neighborhood started out is search of him. About 11 A.M., Mr. W. C. Francis found him in Mr. A. D. Snyder's pasture, lifeless. He had evidently been standing by a post for sometime, as there was a hole near it where he stood and stamped his feet. He was only 25 or 30 rods from Abner Brisendine's house and the folks at the house heard his cries of "Oh! Lordy!" but did not go to his relief, as they thought it was some wild "varmint." Esquire Tising held an inquest on the body and the verdict of the jury was that "he came to his death from exposure and fatigue and that he was found by W. C. Francis."
William and Catherine (Huckley) Sparks were buried in Gray's Cemetery near High Point, Missouri. Their tombstones bear the following inscriptions:
| "Kind friends, beware as you pass by; | "She's gone to that world above |
| As you are now, so once was I. | Where saints and angels meet; |
| As I am now so must you be; | To realize our Saviour's love |
| Prepare therefore to follow me." | And worship at His feet." |
William and Catherine (Huckley) Sparks had eleven children. The first five were born in Ohio, probably in Richland County. The other six were born in Indiana.
1.2.5.10.1.4.1 Mary Ann Sparks, daughter of William and Catherine (Huckley) Sparks, was born ca. 1829. She married John Brakefield. Her first child was named Benjamin and lived most of his life with his maternal grandparents, taking their name.
1.2.5.10.1.4.1.1 Benjamin Sparks was born September 20, 1847. He died on December 26, 1899, and was buried in Gray's Cemetery near High Point, Missouri. He never married.
1.2.5.10.1.4.1.2 Silas Brakefield.
1.2.5.10.1.4.1.3 Andrew Brakefield; he married Hattie Sherwin.
1.2.5.10.1.4.1.4 Louisa Brakefield.
1.2.5.10.1.4.1.5 Martha E. Brakefield was born July 12, 1857. She married John Davis, a farmer, in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, and they lived near Romney. She was killed on July 5, 1910, by being thrown from a buggy which overturned when her horse became frightened by an automobile. She and John Davis had at least one child, a son, but we have no further information about this family.
1.2.5.10.1.4.1.6 Alice Brakefield married FNU Hawkins.1.2.5.10.1.4.2 Robert Sparks, son of William and Catherine (Huckley) Sparks, was born August 7, 1831. He married Melissa Rothburn on August 7, 1853. He was drowned in the Wabash River on September 2, 1854, and was buried in the Fink Cemetery in Tippecanoe County.
1.2.5.10.1.4.3 Francis Sparks, son of William and Catherine (Huckley) Sparks, was born (we believe) on January 30, 1833. His obituary, however, gives his year of birth as 1830; based on census records and the dates of birth of his older sister and brothers, we believe the year was actually 1833. He was a small lad when he accompanied his parents to Clinton County. He was about fourteen years old when his parents moved to Tippecanoe County. It was there that he met and married Mary Jane Lamb on May 22, 1857. She was born May 1, 1840, in Indiana, and was a daughter of James and Elizabeth Lamb, natives of New York and Ohio, respectively. Francis was a brick mason, specializing in building flues in houses under construction. He was a member of the United Brethern Church.
1.2.5.10.1.4.3 FRANCIS SPARKS (1833-1918)
In 1861, Francis Sparks and his brothers, James Sparks and Peter Sparks, bought an 80-acre tract of land in Tippecanoe County. On April 11, 1864, James and Peter sold their shares to Francis for $1,333.33. Both James and Peter were in the military service at that time, and James was killed just two months later. Francis sold the land in 1873, but reserved the right to remove his bricks, corn, and any personal property from the land.
Mary Jane (Lamb) Sparks died March 7, 1879, and was buried in the Fink Cemetery in Tippecanoe County. Francis died May 28, 1918, at the home of his son, George, near West Point, Indiana. He was buried at Pyrmont, Indiana. He and Mary Jane had seven children, all of them born in Tippecanoe County except the last one who was born in Missouri.
1.2.5.10.1.4.3.1 William Francis Sparks, son of Francis and Mary Jane (Lamb) Sparks, was born on April 27, 1860. He was a farmer. On March 1, 1888, he married Mary Ann (Fishpaugh) Gilliam at Buck Creek, Indiana. She was born Christmas Day 1861, at Champaign, Illinois, and was a widow, with a six-year-old daughter, Rene Clarissa Gilliam. William died at the home of his son, William, Jr., on November 23, 1934, at San Pierre, Indiana. Mary Ann was killed by a train while crossing the tracks in Lafayette, Indiana, on August 15, 1937. They were buried in the cemetery at San Pierre. They had two children.
1.2.5.10.1.4.3.1 WILLIAM FRANCIS SPARKS
(1860-1934)
and his wife
MARY ANN (FISHPAUGH) SPARKS(1861-1937)
1.2.5.10.1.4.3.1.1 Aletha Mae Sparks, daughter of William Francis and Mary Ann (Fishpaugh) Sparks, was born May 29, 1890, at Buck Creek, Indiana. She married Charles Alberding and they had seven children:
1.2.5.10.1.4.3.1.1.1 Olive Alberding,
1.2.5.10.1.4.3.1.1.2 Wilbur Alberding,
1.2.5.10.1.4.3.1.1.3 Irene Alberding,
1.2.5.10.1.4.3.1.1.4 Ralph Alberding,
1.2.5.10.1.4.3.1.1.5 Estella Alberding. She married Leroy Tetzloff; she has been extremely helpful in the preparation of this section of the article on James Sparks and has furnished copies of all of the photographs reproduced in this issue of the Quarterly.
1.2.5.10.1.4.3.1.1.6 Kenneth Alberding, and
1.2.5.10.1.4.3.1.1.7 Ardella Alberding.1.2.5.10.1.4.3.1.2 William F. Sparks, Jr., son of William Francis and Mary Ann (Fishpaugh) Sparks, was born August 15, 1893. He married Anna Bockhausen on January 8, 1916. He died December 14, 1959, and Anna died April 22, 1979. They were buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery near LaCrosse, Indiana. They had two children:
1.2.5.10.1.4.3.1.2.1 Chester Eugene Sparks and
1.2.5.10.1.4.3.1.2.2 Mary Margaret Sparks.1.2.5.10.1.4.3.2 James S. Sparks, son of Francis and Mary Jane (Lamb) Sparks, was born November 12, 1861. He married Ida Ann Boen on October 25, 1888. She was born on May 17, 1868, at Monitor, Indiana, and was a daughter of Oliver Perry and Virginia (Elzy) Boen. James died January 27, 1928, at Ockley, Indiana, and Ida died in a Chicago hospital on May 11, 1943. They were buried in the Masonic Cemetery at Delphi, Indiana. They had five children.
1.2.5.10.1.4.3.2.1 Verna Sparks was born July 2, 1889, and died the following October
1.2.5.10.1.4.3.2.2 Lena May Sparks was born October 21, 1891. She married Charles Hannell. She died June 13, 1975, and was buried in the Masonic Cemetery at Delphi. She and Charles had one child, Thomas Hannell.
1.2.5.10.1.4.3.2.3 Frank Sparks was born August 15, 1893, and he died in April 1975. He married Emma Hannell in 1916. She was a sister of Charles Hannell. (See the item next above.)
1.2.5.10.1.4.3.2.4 James Russell Sparks (commonly referred to as Russell) was born June 12, 1896. He was a barber and lived in California. He married Vera Hawkins and they had one child, Mary Ann Sparks. Russell died in 1973.
1.2.5.10.1.4.3.2.5 Zelpha Marie Sparks was born March 21, 1898. She worked in Washington, D.C., where she died August 11, 1970. She never married.1.2.5.10.1.4.3.3 Elizabeth Sparks, daughter of Francis and Mary Jane (Lamb) Sparks, was born in 1864. She was married twice. Her first marriage was to William Goodman on January 17, 1884. They had two children. After his death in 1886, Elizabeth married (second) James Henry Shipley on June 19, 1890. He worked for the telephone company and also for a railroad. He died in 1945. He and Elizabeth had two children.
1.2.5.10.1.4.3.3.1 Effie Goodman was born in December 1884. She died March 10, 1886.
1.2.5.10.1.4.3.3.2 Bertha Goodman was born April 7, 1886.
1.2.5.10.1.4.3.3.3 Raymond Shipley was born in October 1896. He lived in Frankfort, Indiana, where he worked for the railroad. He married Louisa May Tiser, and they had five children:1.2.5.10.1.4.3.3.3.1 Clarence Shipley,
1.2.5.10.1.4.3.3.3.2 Marie Shipley,
1.2.5.10.1.4.3.3.3.3 Wilbur Shipley,
1.2.5.10.1.4.3.3.3.4 Robert Shipley, and
1.2.5.10.1.4.3.3.3.5 Leonard Shipley.1.2.5.10.1.4.3.3.4 Leroy Shipley was born February 27, 1903. He married Inez Willford. She was born March 24, 1901, and was a daughter of James M. and Frances (Duncan) Willford. She and Leroy had two children:
1.2.5.10.1.4.3.3.4.1 Leroy Shipley, Jr. and
1.2.5.10.1.4.3.3.4.2 Jane Ann Shipley.1.2.5.10.1.4.3.4 Hester Ann Sparks, daughter of Francis and Mary Jane (Lamb) Sparks, was born September 5, 1866. On March 1, 1890, she married George Samuel Anderson. He was born December 21, 1864, and was a son of George and Caroline (NuPerret) Anderson. Hester died August 14, 1938, and George died September 19, 1954. They were buried in the Masonic Cemetery at Delphi. They had one child.
GEORGE S. and HESTER ANN (SPARKS) ANDERSON
with son and daughter-in-law,
CLARENCE and FAYE (DUFF) ANDERSON
1.2.5.10.1.4.3.4.1 Clarence Anderson was born December 19, 1890. He worked for the Standard Oil Company. He married Faye Marie Duff on March 20, 1913. He died August 17, 1978, and Faye died December 7, 1983. They had one child, Freda.
1.2.5.10.1.4.3.5 Franklin ["Frank"] Sparks, son of Francis and Mary Jane (Lamb) Sparks, was born January 13, 1869. He married Daisy Mae Martz on December 22, 1897, in Clinton County, Indiana. She was born December l, 1875, and was a daughter of Gideon and Snider Martz. She died November 12, 1941, and Frank died on December 15, 1953. They had no children.
1.2.5.10.1.4.3.6 Israel A. Sparks was born on December 28, 1872. He was a carpenter and a contractor. He married Minnie Blanche Akers on September 14, 1898. She was born January 1, 1880, and was a daughter of Johnson and Mary Isabel (Maloy) Akers. Israel died on July 4, 1927, and Minnie died August 12, 1956. They were buried in the Springvale Cemetery at Lafayette, Indiana.
Israel had a knack for designing buildings and then erecting them. He built the school house at Americus, Indiana, and the Widmer home near Montmorenci, Indiana. In 1924, he was the chief architect for the Monon Stone at Monon, Indiana. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias and St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church. He and Minnie had two children.
1.2.5.10.1.4.3.6.1 Harley Francis Sparks was born March 27, 1901. He married Mae Blinn Herr in January 1922. He spent 38 years in Cuba working for the United States Fruit Company as a supervisor of their sugar cane division. In 1958, he was kidnapped by the rebels led by Fidel Castro, and he was not released until1960. He and Mae live near Frankfort, Indiana.
1.2.5.10.1.4.3.6.2 Kenneth Johnson Sparks was born September 14, 1902. He was a mortician and worked for the Bradshaw Funeral Home in Lafayette. He married Ethel Dunn on August 2, 1924. She was born December 31, 1894, and was a daughter of Starr and Martha (Mongold) Dunn. Kenneth died December 15, 1982.
1.2.5.10.1.4.3.7 George Alvester Sparks, son of Francis and Mary Jane (Lamb) Sparks, was born on May 21, 1874, at Manchester, Missouri, and was only six years old when his mother died. He was cared for by his sisters until they married. He became a farmer and generally rented farms in the northwestern part of Indiana. He married Edith Pearl Guinn on February 25,1900. She was born August 20, 1882, and was a daughter of Isaiah M. and Catherine A. (Elzy) Guinn.
About 1923, George Sparks moved his family to Chicago Heights, Illinois, near Dyer, Indiana, where he contracted to buy a farm. He died shortly afterwards on March 15, 1925, and his sons took over the responsibilities of running the farm and helped their mother to rear the family. George's son, Wilbur Sparks, still lives on the farm, and his brother, Lenard Sparks, lives only a short distance away.
Edith (Guinn) Sparks died October 15, 1968, and was buried beside her husband in the Pyrmont Cemetery. She and George had six children.
1.2.5.10.1.4.3.7.1 George A. Sparks, Jr. was born December 7, 1900, at Lafayette, Indiana. He died in January 1901.
1.2.5.10.1.4.3.7.2 Everett Sparks was born January 1, 1902. He died October 3, 1969.
1.2.5.10.1.4.3.7.3 Lawrence Sparks was born April 2, 1908, at Logansport, Indiana. He died October 5, 1980.
1.2.5.10.1.4.3.7.4 Wilbur Sparks was born October 2, 1912, at Buck Creek, Indiana. He never married.
1.2.5.10.1.4.3.7.5 Lenard Sparks was born December 15, 1915, at Buck Creek, Indiana.
1.2.5.10.1.4.3.7.6 Berniece Sparks was born December 9, 1921, at Plainwell, Michigan. She died September 19, 1980.1.2.5.10.1.4.4 William Sparks, son of William and Catherine (Huckley) Sparks, was born ca. 1834 in Ohio. According to the vital statistices of Indiana, he died in 1860 at the age of 24 years. Apparently he never married.
1.2.5.10.1.4.5 James Sparks, son of William and Catherine (Huckley) Sparks, was born in October 1835. He served in the 40th Regiment Indiana Infantry during the Civil War and died from a wound he received during the Battle of Kenesaw Mountain, Georgia, on June 27, 1864. He married Sarah Jane Shell on January 27, 1859, in Tippecanoe County. She was born ca. 1832 in Ohio. She and James had one child. (See page 2601 of the Quarterly, Whole No. 125, for an abstract of his pension file.)
1.2.5.10.1.4.5.1 Olive Celestine Sparks was born September 8, 1860. After her mother's remarriage in 1865, Olive became a ward of Page B. Severson and received a Minor's Pension for her father's military service.
1.2.5.10.1.4.6 Peter Sparks, son of William and Catherine (Huckley) Sparks, was born November 13, 1837, at Lafayette, Indiana. He learned the art of brickmaking from his father. He served in the 40th Regiment Indiana Infantry during the Civil War. (See page 2602 of this issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 125 for an abstract of his pension file.) He married Clara D. Hollon on April 14, 1878, in Moniteau County, Missouri. She was born ca. 1857. Peter died January 1, 1910, and Clara died in 1940. They were the parents of two children.
1.2.5.10.1.4.6.1 Clara Sparks was born October 4, 1884, in Missouri.
1.2.5.10.1.4.6.2 Mary Ellen Esma Sparks was born August 31, 1890, at Lafayette, Indiana. She married FNU Pierson. In 1940 she was living in Colt, Arkansas.1.2.5.10.1.4.7 Catherine ["Katie"] Sparks, daughter of William and Catherine (Huckley) Sparks, was born June 3, 1843, near Thorntown, Indiana. Although she was unable to attend very much school, she managed to get a good education for those days, and her penmanship was excellent. She married John Widmer on December 17, 1863, in Tippecanoe County, Indiana. He was born August 16, 1836, in Berne, Switzerland, but became an American citizen in 1858. He was a farmer. He and Catherine were members of the United Brethren Church.
Seated:CATHERINE (SPARKS) WIDMER Standing, from L-R, are five of her children:
Peter O. Widmer, John C. Widmer, Israel H. Widmer
Josie May (Widmer) Wolf, & Lawrence T. Widmer
About 1877, Catherine and John Widmer moved to Missouri where they lived near St. Louis about five years. During her absence, her father wrote to her frequently and one of his letters has been preserved. Some spelling, punctuation, and grammar have been changed in the copy that follows in order to give it better readability. Here is the letter.
January the 2nd 1880
Well Catherine, my daughter, I have not forgotten you yet, though we are many miles apart. There is not a day that passes but I think of you. I have the pleasure of writing to you and letting you know that I am in tolerably good health at the present, though my crippled limbs hurt me very much when the weather is damp. The weather here yesterday was foggy and drizzling rain.
The rest are all well and I hope when you get this letter it will find you and your family all well and doing well. I would like to see you and your family, and I want you to be faithful. The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong. I think it will thaw out before it freezes again.
The times here are quite dull. Wheat is one dollar and thirteen cents per bushel and corn is twenty cents per bushel. I think they [sic] will do better than they did last year for they have more wheat and corn than they had last year. As for the work here, it is very scarce and wages are low. The boys are talking of making another kiln of brick this coming summer. Their young stock of cattle looks good.
Well the republicans are shipping Negroes into the state of Indiana by the thousands and it is for no good they are doing it. The talk is that they are bringing them here to vote in the next election, but they needn't think they can deceive the old democrat, for he is watching them.
Well, my loving daughter, I will bring this letter to a close. Ever remaining, your loving father.
William SparksJohn Widmer died April 15, 1889, and was buried in the Greenbush Cemetery in Lafayette. Catherine survived him nearly forty years, dying on November 9, 1926. She, too, was buried in the Greenbush Cemetery. She and John had ten children, including two who died at birth.
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.1 Mary L. Widmer was born July 20, 1865. She died May 5, 1866.
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.2 John Charles Widmer was born December 22, 1866. He married Julia Cynthia Dye in Tippecanoe County on December 15, 1888. She was born July 7, 1869. John died in 1918 during the flu epedemic. Julia died June 23, 1933. They had eleven children.
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.2.1 Lloyd Widmer worked for the telephone company. He married and had one child, a son.
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.2.2 Wreatha Widmer married John Hegg. They had no children.
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.2.3 Nina E. Widmer married William C. Southard and they had three children.
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.2.4 Gladys Widmer married Albert Rehle and they had one child named David Rehle.
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.2.5 Estella M. Widmer was born in 1891. She married John Anderson and they had one child,1.2.5.10.1.4.7.2.5.1 John Anderson. He was born in 1914.
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.2.6 Charles Widmer married Martha MNU. He died in 1967.
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.2.7 Harry Widmer married Stella Hahn and they lived near Montmorenci, Indiana. He died during the 1940's. He and Stella had four children:1.2.5.10.1.4.7.2.7.1 Maxine Widmer,
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.2.7.2 Ernest Widmer,
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.2.7.3 Leroy Widmer, and
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.2.7.4 Leona Widmer.1.2.5.10.1.4.7.2.8 George Widmer died in 1918. He had a son named
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.2.8.1 Everett Widmer.
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.2.9 Bessie Widmer lived near Brookston, Indiana. She was married three times. Her first marriage was to John Taylor who died during the the 1920's. They had three children:
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.2.9.1 Robert Taylor
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.2.9.2 Dau1 Taylor
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.2.9.3 Dau2 TaylorAfter John's death, Bessie married (second) Ernest Meyers and they had two children,
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.2.9.4 Gilbert Meyers and
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.2.9.5 Ernest Meyers, Jr.After Ernest's death, Bessie married (third) George Garrigues.
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.2.10 Roy Widmer lives in Royal Oak, Michigan.
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.2.11 Ocie Widmer married Hubert Sutton and they had one child named Jean.1.2.5.10.1.4.7.3 Lawrence T. Widmer was born July 22, 1869. He drowned in the Wabash River sometime during the 1930's.
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.4 Peter Oliver Widmer was born October 22, 1871. He married Carrie Mitchell and they had four children.1.2.5.10.1.4.7.4.1 John Widmer was born March 16, 1900. He married Lula Dexter.
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.4.2 Saddie Widmer was born July 22, 1902. She married Ottis Cadwaladen and they had seven children:1.2.5.10.1.4.7.4.2.1 Gordon Cadwaladen,
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.4.2.2 Barbara Cadwaladen,
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.4.2.3 Dale Cadwaladen,
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.4.2.4 Martha Cadwaladen,
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.4.2.5 Ralph Cadwaladen,
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.4.2.6 Evelyn Cadwaladen, and
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.4.2.7 Richard Cadwaladen.1.2.5.10.1.4.7.4.3 Ruby Widmer married Charles Wray on December 3, 1901.
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.4.4 Dorothy Evelyn Widmer married Harley Cox and they had seven children:1.2.5.10.1.4.7.4.4.1 Patricia Cox,
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.4.4.2 Lewis Cox,
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.4.4.3 Roland Cox,
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.4.4.4 Keith Cox,
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.4.4.5 Margaret Cox,
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.4.4.6 Philip Cox, and
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.4.4.7 Robert Cox.1.2.5.10.1.4.7.5 Ella Louise Widmer was born January 7, 1875, at Baldwin, Missouri. She married Edmund Nelson Greene on August 11, 1903, in Tippecanoe County. They had three children.
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.5.1 Ethel Greene was born June 8, 1904. She never married.
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.5.2 Nelson Edmund Greene was born January 10, 1910. He married Harriet Klaberenges and they had three children:Kenlyn Annett Greene, Carol Greene, and Roger Greene.
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.5.3 Edith Greene married Homer Bramer and they had five children:
Arlene Bramer, Richard Bramer, Robert Bramer, James Bramer, and George Bramer.
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.6 George A. Widmer was born May 1, 1877. He was married twice. His first marriage was to Eva Zufall on November 18, 1901, and they had five children before her death. He married (second) Frances Patton and they had four children.
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.6.1 Roy Widmer died at the age of six years.
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.6.2 Ola Widmer died when quite young.
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.6.3 Albert Widmer.
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.6.4 Russell Widmer was born September 28, 1909. He married Oma Baker on November 25, 1937, and they had three children: Albert Widmer, Catherine Widmer, and Susan Widmer.
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.6.5 Ruth Widmer died when quite young.
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.6.6 Charles Widmer was born April 15, 1919.
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.6.7 Mildred Widmer.
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.6.8 Howard Widmer.
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.6.9 Wanda Widmer.1.2.5.10.1.4.7.7 Josie May Widmer was born February 17, 1880, near St. Louis, Missouri. She died January 9, 1972. She married Peter Wolf on April 14, 1906, in Tippecanoe County, and they had one child.
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.7.1 Naomi Alma Wolf was born January 21, 1909. She married Lowell Shepheard on March 1, 1941. They had no children.
1.2.5.10.1.4.7.8 Israel Herman ["Woody"] Widmer was born September 9, 1886. He died December 24, 1978. He was married twice. His first marriage was to Mary Garrison in 1922 at Danville, Illinois. She died in 1957, and Israel married (second) Ruth Pope in 1967.
1.2.5.10.1.4.8 Isaac Sparks, son of William and Catherine (Huckley) Sparks, was born ca. 1845, and was five years old when the 1850 census was taken of Tippecanoe County, Indiana. He was not listed in his parents' household when the 1860 census was taken; he probably had died by that date.
1.2.5.10.1.4.9 Israel Reuben Sparks, son of William and Catherine (Huckley) Sparks, was born on May 31, 1845. He never married. He accompanied his parents to Missouri where he died May 6, 1900. He was buried in Gray's Cemetery at High Point, Missouri.
1.2.5.10.1.4.10 Barbara Ellen Sparks, daughter of William and Catherine (Huckley) Sparks, was born April 2, 1850. She married George Bungard. She died February 27, 1913, and was buried in Gray's Cemetery at High Point, Missouri. Her husband, George Bungard, was buried beside her, as was a son, born March 20, 1881, who died at birth.
1.2.5.10.1.4.11 Thomas Sparks, son of William and Catherine (Huckley) Sparks, was born ca. 1853. He was seven years of age when the 1860 census was taken of Tippecanoe County and was living with his parents. We have found no further record of him.
1.2.5.10.1.5 James Sparks, Jr., son of James and Margaret (Ray) Sparks, was born June 25, 1804. He accompanied his parents to Ohio and in all likelihood he was married there ca. 1828. We have not learned the name of his wife. They had two children before the death of James Sparks, Jr., which apparently occurred ca. 1833 in Ohio.
1.2.5.10.1.5.1 Joseph Sparks was born ca. 1830. When his father died, he went to live with his uncle, Joseph Sparks, and accompanied that family to Fulton County, Illinois. When the 1850 census was taken, he was 20 years of age and still living in the household of his uncle. We have no further information regarding him.
1.2.5.10.1.5.2 Mary Hester ["folly"] Sparks was born August 24, 1832, in Ohio. She, like her brother, Joseph, was reared in the household of her uncle, Joseph Sparks, after the death of her father. When the 1850 census was taken of Fulton County, Illinois, she was 17 years of age and a school teacher. She was then living in the household of Charles M. and Prudence Garring, ages 27 and 20 years, respectively. She is said to have married and moved to Iowa. We have no further information regarding her.
1.2.5.10.1.6 Marjorie Sparks, daughter of James and Margaret (Ray) Sparks, was born December 28, 1805. She was probably named for her father's sister. On August 12, 1824, she married Benjamin Carr in Richland County, Ohio. We have no further information regarding her.
1.2.5.10.1.7 Mary ["Polly") Sparks, daughter of James and Margaret (Ray) Sparks, was born on May 23, 1807. She married FNU Jones. She is said to have died in Clinton County, Indiana. We have no further information regarding her.
(Editor's Note: This record of the descendants of James and Margaret (Ray) Sparks will be continued in a forthcoming issue of The Sparks Quarterly.)
