October 19, 2023
Pages 2914-2928
Whole Number 135
1.2.5.2 JOSEPH SPARKS, jr (ca.1730-1809) OF FREDERICK COUNTY, MARYLAND
and BEDFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
by Paul E. Sparks
(Editor's Note: It is quite logical to assume that the persons named SPARKS who were in early Frederick County, Maryland, when it was formed from part of Prince George's County in 1748, were descendants of 1.2 William Sparks who had died in 1709 in Queen Anne's County, Maryland. Two of the records which tie the two counties together pertain to 1.2.1.2 William Sample Sparks who was in Queen Anne's County prior to 1736 and who was in Frederick County in 1749. Other records pertain to 1.2.5 Joseph Sparks, born ca. 1690 and son of 1.2 William Sparks [died 1709], who very probably was the Joseph Sparks who died in Frederick County in 1749. Perhaps records will be found someday to prove that this assumption is correct. For further information about the Sparkses of early Maryland, see the March 1971 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 73.)
1.2.5.2 Joseph Sparks, jr., the patriarch of the Sparkses of Bedford County, Pennsylvania, was born ca. 1730, probably in Queen Anne's County, Maryland, and was a son of 1.2.5 Joseph and Mary Sparks. 1.2.5 Joseph Sparks, Senior died intestate in the spring of 1749 in Frederick County, Maryland, and his wife, Mary Sparks, was appointed as his administratrix. An inventory of his personal property was recorded on May 1, 1749, by Joseph Wood and William Carmack. 1.2.1.2 William Sample Sparks and Rachel Sparks attested to the inventory as "kinn" of the deceased. (John Frederick Dorman, an authority of Maryland genealogy, has noted (p. 275) in Genealogical Research: Methods and Sources, published in 1980, that: "Maryland colonial inventories are unique in that they were signed by the two nearest of kin and two greatest creditors. The relatives frequently were brothers or brothers-in-law, rather than children, and it is sometimes possible to establish family connections through these signatures when other records fail to identify the family of the deceased.") On June 21, 1749, Mary Sparks presented the inventory of her husband's property to the Frederick County Court as a "just and perfect" one. Later that year, on November 20th, she made a final settlement of the estate.
In addition to his property, Joseph Sparks left a large family consisting of seven sons and five daughters, and the following year (1750) the children apparently asked for their share of his estate. This action may have been prompted by the large size of the family and the necessity for some of the children, especially the boys, to move away from Frederick County to look for larger and perhaps more fertile farming land. Shortly after the death of Joseph Sparks, Sr., at least two of the older sons were married, and others were making plans to get married, thus it is easy to conclude that the children became impatient to get their share of their father's estate. (Unlike today, in colonial times heirs living at a distance from the deceased had a very difficult time collecting their share of an estate.) Whatever the reason, it probably became necessary for the children of Joseph Sparks to ask the Frederick County Court to intervene on their behalf.
The following memorandum was adopted by the Frederick County Court at its August term of 1750:
Memorandum this day towit : The twenty second day of August Anno Dom seventeen hundred and fifty. Mary Sparks, Col. Henry Munday and Thomas Wilson (Toms Creek) of Frederick County entered into and executed a certain writing obligatory in one hundred and fifty three pounds, one shilling, current money, to be paid unto Solomon, Joseph, Charles, Jonas, Jonathan, William, George, Merum, Mary, Ann, Rebecka and Sarah Sparks on condition that the above bounden Mary Sparks, or some person on her behalf, shall and do well satisfie and pay unto the above named Solomon, Joseph, Charles, Jonas, Jonathan, William, George, Merum, Mary, Ann, Rebecka and Sarah Sparks, their executors, administrators, assigns or lawful guardian or guardians, their respective parts or portions of Joseph Sparks, deceased, his estate according to Act of Assembly in such cases made and provided.
Shortly after the apportionment of the estate of Joseph Sparks, three of his sons, Solomon, Jonas, and probably Jonathan, went southward to western North Carolina where they settled in Rowan County. (See the December 1955 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 12 and the March 1964 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 45, respectively, for further accounts of Solomon and Jonas Sparks.) Three others sons of Joseph Sparks, George, Charles, and William, went to Pennsylvania where they settled in what ultimately became Washington County. (See the June 1963 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 42, for a further account of these three men.) We have no further information about the five daughters of Joseph and Mary Sparks of Frederick County, Maryland.
The remaining son, 1.2.5.2 Joseph Sparks, Jr, who is the subject of this article, was one of the oldest (if not the oldest) of the children of 1.2.5 Joseph and Mary Sparks, and perhaps because of his position as the head of the family, he very likely remained with his mother in the area where the family had settled in Frederick County. Here it was that 1.2.5.2 Joseph Sparks married Mary McDaniel, apparently ca. 1752. She probably was born in the 1730's and was a daughter of James and Rebecca McDaniel. (When James McDaniel died in 1775 in Frederick County, he named as one of his daughters, Mary Sparks.)
On November 21, 1752, Joseph Sparks patented fifty acres of land which he named "Sparks Delight" and which was located on the east side of Beaver Dam Branch. (In the colony of Maryland, each patentee had the right to choose a name for his tract of land, and this name became part of the official record.) The land was a part of the holdings of Lord Baltimore, and Joseph Sparks agreed to pay a rent of two shillings twice each year to Baltimore's agent, Benjamin Tasker. The rent was to be paid at the City of St. Marys on the feast day of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary (March 25) and the feast-day of St. Michael, the Archangel (September 29). Ten years later, on February 8, 1762, Joseph Sparks and his wife, Mary, relinquished their claim to this land to Hugh Evans for twenty pounds.
("Sparks Delight," which was bought and sold by Joseph Sparks, should not be confused with another tract of land, also called "Sparks Delight" and also located in Frederick County which was patented by William Sparks on July 11, 1749. Both patents called for fifty acres. Their deed descriptions have been platted and measured carefully by a modern computing technique. In the case of the "Sparks Delight" patented by Joseph Sparks, the grant actually measures 52.7 acres, while "Sparks Delight" patented by William Sparks actually measures 47.8 acres. The tracts have different descriptions and when drawn to scale have quite dissimilar configurations.)
In the fall of 1760, Joseph Sparks decided to move northward from Beaver Dam Branch to the waters of Big Pipe Creek, and on November 19th he purchased 100 acres of land from Raphael and Elenor Taney of St. Mary's County, Maryland, for 45 pounds. The land was originally patented in 1743 by John Digges who had named it "Brothers Agreement." (This patent was originally a fairly large tract of land, but had been divided into many smaller tracts. In District No. 6 of Frederick County in 1798, nearly one-third of the land owners paid taxes on land which had been a part of "Brothers Agreement.") Joseph's land was located on the "south side of a branch of Piney Creek commonly called Joseph Sparks Branch and about twenty rods west of said Sparks's spring which emties itself into the said branch." It was further described as the "parcell of land laid out for Charles Sparks, being part of the re-survey of 'Brothers Agreement'." A year later, Sparks added an adjoining 50 acres to his farm which he bought from Taney for 21 pounds.
Minutes of the early Frederick County Court give some insight into the community activities of Joseph Sparks. He was a witness to the will of Thomas Harris on October 2, 1757. He was a member of the Grand Jury at the August term of court in 1763. At the November 1769 term, he was appointed by the court as overseer of the road from Big Pipe Creek to Taneytown. The following year, he made an affidavit that he had attended a trial as a witness for the court for two days. The March 1779 term of court appointed him as overseer of the main road from Big Pipe Creek to the "temporary line of the boundary between Maryland and Pennsylvania."
About 1774, 1.2.5.2.1 Joseph Sparks, III, son of 1.2.5.2 Joseph and Mary (McDaniel) Sparks, and now about twenty years of age, went to Pennsylvania where he purchased land in Providence Township in Bedford County. The land was located south of the Juniata River. He was probably accompanied by his brothers, 1.2.5.2.2 James Sparks and 1.2.5.2.5 Solomon Sparks, for all three brothers were in Bedford County during the Revolutionary War, and both 1.2.5.2.1 Joseph Sparks, III and 1.2.5.2.5 Solomon Sparks served in a military unit known as the Rangers. This unit had the responsibility of guarding the frontier from hostile Indians who were allies of Great Britain. Many years later, Solomon Sparks recalled that his company remained in Bedford County during 1782 and that, after the war ended, he went back to Maryland and lived there about two years before returning to Bedford County. (See pages 59-61 of the March 1955 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 9, for an abstract of his pension file.)
1.2.5.2 Joseph Sparks, Jr. apparently did not accompany his sons to Pennsylvania, or, if he did, he did not stay there very long before returning to Frederick County in Maryland. When the 1790 census was taken of Frederick County, he was listed as head of a household consisting of himself, a male under the age of sixteen, and three females. In 1798, he paid taxes on 146 acres of land described as "Part of The Re-Survey of Brothers Agreement" and which was valued at 200 pounds.
On April 30, 1800, Joseph Sparks sold his land in Frederick County to James Fisher. Both men were identified as "of Frederick County." The land was composed of two adjoining tracts located on the Joseph Sparks Branch which was a tributary of Piney Creek. Joseph signed the deed by making his mark. There was no dower release to the document; undoubtedly Joseph's wife, Mary (McDaniel) Sparks, was dead by this time. Perhaps it was her death that prompted the sale.
After the sale of the land, Sparks went to Bedford County, Pennsylvania, arriving there in time to be listed on the 1800 census. Living in his household was one female, aged 26 to 45. This was, in all probability, his daughter, Chloe Sparks.
In the winter of 1808/09, Joseph Sparks became ill, and he made his will on March 13, 1809. To his oldest son, Joseph, Jr., he left his bed, bed-clothing, etc. To his sons, James and Solomon, and to his daughters, Mary, Rebeckah, Susannah, Elizabeth, and Sarah, he left three pounds each. To his youngest daughter, Chloe, and her heirs, if any, he left the rest of his personal and real property. If she should die without heirs, the property was to be sold (providing a majority of the remaining heirs agreed) and the estate to be divided among the remaining heirs. He named as his executors, his son, Joseph Sparks, Jr., and his daughter, Chloe Sparks. Amos McDaniel, Peter McDaniel, and Joseph O'Neal witnessed the will which was probated on April 3, 1809.
Joseph and Mary (McDaniel) Sparks had nine children, three sons and six daughters. Joseph, Jr., the eldest, was born in 1754. Chloe, the youngest child, was born ca. 1770. The other children have been arranged below in the probable order of their births, but there may be need to rearrange these as additional data are found.
 |
| The Clear Ridge area of West Providence Township in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, where the sons of Joseph Sparks (ca.1730-1809) settled in 1774 |
Children of 1.2.5.2 Joseph and Mary (McDaniel) Sparks:
1.2.5.2.1 Joseph Sparks, III, born March 25, 1754.
1.2.5.2.2 James Sparks, probably born ca.1755
1.2.5.2.3 Mary Sparks, probably born ca.1757
1.2.5.2.4 Sarah Sparks, probably born ca.1758
1.2.5.2.5 Solomon Sparks, born July 13, 1760
1.2.5.2.6 Rebecca Sparks, probably born ca.1762
1.2.5.2.7 Susannah Sparks, probably born ca.1764
1.2.5.2.8 Elizabeth Sparks, probably born ca.1766
1.2.5.2.9 Chloe Sparks, probably born ca.17701.2.5.2.1 Joseph Sparks, III was born March 25, 1754, in Frederick County, Maryland. He grew to manhood on his father's farm and when he was about twenty years of age, he decided to join the ranks of those who were looking for cheap, fertile land across the Appalachian Mountains in the Province of Pennsylvania. In 1774, he and his brothers, 1.2.5.2.2 James Sparks (about 19 years old) and 1.2.5.2.5 Solomon Sparks (about 15 years old), arrived in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. There they settled near present-day Everett on Clear Ridge between the streams of Clear Creek and Greys Run, just south of a bend in the Juniata River. (See the map on page 2918.)
No record has been found of the marriage of Joseph Sparks, Jr., which probably occurred ca. 1778. He may have been married in Bedford County or he may have returned to Frederick County and brought his teen-age bride, Elizabeth MNU, to Clear Ridge. We have not learned her maiden name. Their first child was born in September 1780, and when the first U.S. census was taken in 1790, they had six children, three boys and three girls.
A short time after Joseph and his brothers arrived in Bedford County, the conflict between the American colonies and Great Britain broke out. The three brothers served in the American militia throughout the Revolutionary War. Joseph served in an organization which defended the frontier from hostile Indians who were allies of Great Britain; he served from 1778 to 1783 in the Rangers of the Frontier.
After the Revolutionary War ended, Joseph began acquiring land on Clear Ridge in Bedford County. On January 25, 1786, he bought 300 acres. Another 300-acre tract was added in 1789, and another tract of equal size was added in 1792. His final purchase was made on April 16, 1794, when he bought 400 acres. He also owned a mill on Clear Creek.
Elizabeth Sparks, wife of Joseph, died on March 16, 1803, at the age of 39 years; their youngest child, a son, was then four years old. Apparently, the older children assumed the responsibility of running the house and the family stayed intact. When the 1810 census was taken of Bedford County, all of the children were still living at home. Six of the eight children were living at home in 1820; apparently five of the children never married. There are scattered county records pertaining to Sparks.
On May 8, 1787, Joseph Sparks and Joseph McDonald, guardians of Hugh McDonald, a child of William McDonald, deceased, requested the Bedford County Court to apprentice their ward to James Martin, Esq. until he reached his 21st birthday at which time Martin was to give him eight pounds (or a horse), a set of plow-irons, a grubbing hoe, an axe, and his freedom. He was also to receive schooling during the apprenticeship.
Another record pertaining to Joseph Sparks is dated nearly twenty-five years later. On April 2, 1811, upon the request of Sarah Conrad, the Bedford County Court named Joseph Sparks as the guardian of fourteen year-old Henry Conrad, Jr., minor child of Henry Conrad, deceased.
In the summer of 1827, Joseph Sparks became quite ill. He had celebrated his 73rd birthday the previous March, thus he was an "old man" for his times. He made his will on September 15th and asked his neighbors, Uriah Hughes and Amos McDaniel, to witness it. He died three days later. All of his eight children were named in the will, which was probated on October 12, 1827, at the Bedford County courthouse. Here are the essential provisions of that document.
Item. To my son, Solomon, all the right and title to my share or half of a tract of land I own with Abraham Wemmer in partnership on Brush Creek joining lands of David Buck, Hugh Gillon, George Moyers, and others.
Item. To my daughter, Christianea, my son, Joseph, my daughter, Elizabeth, and my son, John, each an equal right to the tract of land I now live on, each to pay annually an equal share of what may be counted sufficient to maintain my daughter, Barbara, in all needful necessaries during her life.
Item. To each of the above named four, one feather bed and bedding; one horse creature, Joseph having the first choice, John the second and Christianea the third; one cow of their choice. To daughter, Elizabeth, one lume [sic]; To daughter, Barbara, one feather bed.
Item. To my son, James, and daughter, Mary Morris, one young cow. To son, Solomon, one feather bed.
Item. As for the goods not willed or bequeathed, all are to be sold at a public sale and used to pay my debts. If any are left, they are to be divided among my four children, Christianea, Joseph, Elizabeth, and John.
Item. As for such other lands as I have and have not bequeathed, they shall be sold to satisfy the balance of my debts and then divided equally among the last named four children.
Item. I appoint my sons, Joseph and John, as my executors.
Witnesses: his
Joseph X Sparks
Uriah Hughes seal
Amos McDaniel1.2.5.2.1 Joseph Sparks, III died on September 18, 1827. He was buried beside his wife, Elizabeth, in the Indian Springs Cemetery in West Providence Township in Bedford County, near Everett, Pennsylvania. An inscription on his cemetery marker indicates that he was a soldier in the Revolutionary War.
(Indian Springs Cemetery, where many of the descendants of Joseph Sparks were buried, is located in the southern part of West Providence and is about four miles south of the village of Everett. On the map on page 2918, it is located quite near the dwelling identified as "J. Tate.")
Children of Joseph and Elizabeth Sparks:
1.2.5.2.1.1 Solomon Sparks was born September 13, 1780. He was undoubtedly named for his uncle, 1.2.5.2.5 Solomon Sparks (1760-1838) (who married Rachel Weimer), with whom he has sometimes been confused. He is said to have married Rachel Manville.
There are few records of this Solomon Sparks. As far as we can determine, he did not appear by name on the 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, or 1850 censuses of Bedford County. We have found no records of his marriage nor of any children who were products of that marriage. Tombstones in the Providence Cemetery give the following information:
Solomon Sparks, September 13, 1780 - April 8, 1853
Rachel Sparks, September 23, 1794 - February 13, 1872.1.2.5.2.1.2 Christianea Sparks was born September 21, 1782. She never married. She died on October 1, 1871, at the age of 89 years and 11 days. She was buried in the Indian Springs Cemetery near Everett, Pennsylvania.
1.2.5.2.1.3 Mary Sparks was born ca. 1784. She was probably named for her paternal grandmother. She married Elijah Morris sometime before 1827. We have no further information about this couple.
1.2.5.2.1.4 Joseph Sparks was born ca. 1785. He served during the War of 1812 as a private in the company commanded by his uncle, 1.2.5.2.5 Solomon Sparks, in the 2nd Regiment Pennsylvania Militia. (See pages 584-85 of the September 1961 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 35, for an abstract of his Bounty Land file.) After the death of his father in 1827, he apparently assumed the role of the head of his household and was listed as such on the 1830, 1840, and 1850 censuses of Bedford County. When the latter census was taken, his sisters, 1.2.5.2.1.2 Christianea Sparks and 1.2.5.2.1.5 Elizabeth Sparks, were living in his household.
Joseph died sometime between March 22 and April 22, 1862. He had made his will on March 22nd leaving his estate to his nephews who were all sons of his brother, 1.2.5.2.1.8 John Sparks. Named in the will were:
1.2.5.2.1.8.1 Joseph H. Sparks
1.2.5.2.1.8.3 John C. Sparks,
1.2.5.2.1.8.5 Samuel B. Sparks,
1.2.5.2.1.8.7 Abraham SparksThe will was proven on April 22, 1862, in the Bedford County Court. Named as his executor was his nephew, Joseph H. Sparks.
1.2.5.2.1.5 Elizabeth Sparks was born June 24, 1787, according to the inscription on her tombstone in the Indian Springs Cemetery near Everett, Pennsylvania. She never married. She died on July 28, 1858. Her will was recorded on page 267 of Will Book 4 in the Bedford County courthouse. She left her estate to her brother, Joseph Sparks, and to her nephew, Joseph H. H. Sparks.
1.2.5.2.1.6 James Sparks was born ca. 1788. He served during the War of 1812 as a 2nd Corporal in a company commanded by his uncle, 1.2.5.2.5 Solomon Sparks, in the 2nd Regiment Pennsylvania Militia. (See pages 529-30 of the December 1960 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 32, for an abstract of his Bounty Land file.) (Webmaster note: these two accounts do not match in wife's name or military rank.)
James Sparks married his cousin, 1.2.5.2.2.2 Mary Sparks, ca. 1823. She was born ca. 1800 and was a daughter of 1.2.5.2.2 James and Nancy (Rogers) Sparks. (See 1.2.5.2.2.2 below.) James Sparks was a blacksmith. According to the 1830, 1840, and 1850 census records of Bedford County, he and Mary had four children; however, we have learned the names of only two of them. James Sparks died sometime after March 1855.
1.2.5.2.1.6.1 Dau1 Sparks born ca. 1825
1.2.5.2.1.6.2 Dau2 Sparks born ca. 1829.
1.2.5.2.1.6.3 Elizabeth Sparks was born ca. 1830.
1.2.5.2.1.6.4 Reuben Sparks was born ca. 1834.1.2.5.2.1.7 Barbara Sparks was born ca. 1791. She apparently was crippled and never married. Her father made provision for her care and livelihood in his will in 1827. She survived him several years, dying on May 30, 1838. She was buried beside her parents in the Indian Springs Cemetery.
1.2.5.2.1.8 John Sparks was born on April 4, 1799. He married Rebecca A. Wareham, ca. 1840. She was born May 16, 1816. They lived in West Providence Township where John was a farmer. He also served as a Justice of the Peace. John died on August 30, 1876. He had made a will just a few weeks before his death in which he named the following: his wife, Rebecca, his sons, Joseph H., John, Samuel B., and Abraham; and his daughters, Sarah E. and Mary C. John's wife, Rebecca, survived him by nearly thirty years, dying on August 15, 1905.
1.2.5.2.1.8.1 Joseph H. Sparks was born February 9, 1841. He served in Company K, 133rd Regiment Pennsylvania Infantry during the Civil War. (See the March 1986 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 133, for an abstract of his pension file.) Joseph H. H. Sparks was married twice. His first marriage was to Mary Bussard on January 31, 1867. They apparently had no children. His second marriage was to Georgia E. Casteel on June 28, 1898. She was born ca. 1879. Joseph Sparks was superintendent of the Sweet Root Forestry Reservation in Bedford County. He died on October 13, 1912, at Clearville, Pennsylvania. He and Georgia, his second wife, had four children.
1.2.5.2.1.8.1.1 John A. Sparks was born June 11, 1899.
1.2.5.2.1.8.1.2 William S. Sparks was born March 19, 1901.
1.2.5.2.1.8.1.3 Mary E. Sparks was born February 17, 1904.
1.2.5.2.1.8.1.4 Bertha I. Sparks was born August 21, 1909.1.2.5.2.1.8.2 Sarah E. Sparks was born September 24, 1842. She married William Davis. She died on February 4, 1878.
1.2.5.2.1.8.3 John Clay Sparks was born April 25, 1844. He served in Company K, 133rd Regiment Pennsylvania Infantry with his brother, Joseph, during the Civil War and received a pension in later years for his service. He never married. He died on November 24, 1924. (See the December 1985 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 132, for an abstract of of his pension file.)
1.2.5.2.1.8.4 Matthew P. Sparks was born March 11, 1846. He died on March 24, 1858, just a few days after he had reached his twelfth birthday.
1.2.5.2.1.8.5 Samuel Barkley Sparks was born October 6, 1848, at the Old Sparks Mill in Black Valley on a part of the land claim settled by his grandfather at the time of the American Revolution. He married Mary Magdalene Stayer on July 4, 1874. She was born in 1856 and was a daughter of Aaron and Mary (Defibaugh) Stayer. Samuel died on September 1, 1914, and Mary died in 1932. They were buried in the Indian Springs Cemetery at Everett. They had nine children.
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.1 David Sparks was born ca. 1875. He died when he was aged seven years.
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.2 Rebecca Jane Sparks was born December 1, 1876. She married Jeremiah Franklin Weicht on July 4, 1893. He was born July 4, 1871, and was a son of Jeremiah W. and Rose Anne (Bussard) Weicht. Jeremiah F. Weicht died on August 30, 1935, and Rebecca Jane died on August 13, 1946. They were the parents of fourteen children:
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.2.1 Robert P. Weicht,
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.2.2 Rosa Ellen Weicht,
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.2.3 Mary Ethel Weicht,
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.2.4 Roy E. Weicht,
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.2.5 Zelma Mae Weicht,
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.2.6 Anna Belle Weicht,
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.2.7 Grace E. Weicht,
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.2.8 Lloyd E. Weicht,
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.2.9 Richard E. Weicht,
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.2.10 Alice P. Weicht,
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.2.11 Benjamin F. Weicht,
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.2.12 Bertha I. Weicht,
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.2.13 Gladys R. Weicht, and
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.2.14 Alberta L. Weicht1.2.5.2.1.8.5.3 John Sherman Sparks was born April 14, 1878. He married Dora Belle Amick on April 10, 1901, in Bedford County. She was born November 14, 1883, at Clearville, Pennsylvania, and was a daughter of George Washington and 1.2.5.2.5.11.5 Jane Elizabeth (Sparks) Amick. (Jane Elizabeth Sparks was a daughter of Solomon and Susan Black) Sparks (See below.) John and Dora (Amick) Sparks were the grandparents of three of the members of the Sparks Family Association who have made excellent contributions to this article: John R. Akers, H. C. Smith, and Mrs. Marion Rinard. John and Dora (Amick) Sparks had seven children:
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.3.1 Mabel Rebecca Sparks,
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.3.2 Samuel George Sparks,
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.3.3 Mary Kathryn Sparks,
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.3.4 Nellie Grace Sparks,
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.3.5 Evelyn Gertrude Sparks,
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.3.6 Albert Vaughn Sparks, and
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.3.7 Helen Elizabeth Sparks.(A photograph of this family appears on the cover of this issue of the Quarterly.)
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.4 Samuel Russell Sparks was born February 25, 1880. He married Sarah Belle Karns in December 1904. He died on October 10, 1950. He and Sarah Belle had nine children:
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.4.1 Frank S. Sparks,
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.4.2 Mary Lyda Sparks,
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.4.3 Webster Sparks,
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.4.4 George C. Sparks,
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.4.5 Nellie L. Sparks,
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.4.6 Montford J. Sparks,
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.4.7 Clair Sparks,
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.4.8 Leroy Elswood Sparks, and
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.4.9 Gerald Lee Sparks.1.2.5.2.1.8.5.5 Joseph Patterson Sparks was born November 4, 1882. On April 8, 1908, he married Anna Pearl Beck. She was born in February 1888 and was a daughter of Chapman Beck. Joseph died on October 14, 1956, and Anna died in June 1980. They had seven children:
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.5.1 Gilbert Sparks,
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.5.2 Evelyn Sparks,
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.5.3 Martha Sparks,
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.5.4 Phoebe Sparks,
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.5.5 Richard Sparks,
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.5.6 Fred Sparks, and
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.5.7 Eunice Sparks.1.2.5.2.1.8.5.6 Aaron Sparks was born ca. 1884. He died in infancy.
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.7 Abram Wareham Sparks was born September 29, 1886. On January 1, 1908, he married Edna Virginia (Krouse) Davis. She was born April 26, 1888, and was a daughter of Mary Davis. Abram died on May 5, 1935. He and Edna had five children:
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.7.1 Charles E. Sparks,
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.7.2 Roy S. Sparks,
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.7.3 Robert W. Sparks,
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.7.4 Constance R. Sparks, and
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.7.5 Mary E. Sparks1.2.5.2.1.8.5.8 William Sparks was born ca. 1888. He died in infancy.
1.2.5.2.1.8.5.9 Charles Calvin Sparks was born October 30, 1892. He died on July 25, 1921. He never married. He was a Pennsylvania State Trooper at the time of his death.
1.2.5.2.1.8.6 James Sparks was born May 26, 1853. He died five years later, on November 15, 1858.
1.2.5.2.1.8.7 Abraham W. Sparks was born ca. 1855. He died on April 11, 1916. He never married.
1.2.5.2.1.8.8 Phineas Sparks was born February 29, 1856. He died a few weeks later on March 10, 1856.
1.2.5.2.1.8.9 Mary Catherine Sparks was born May 24, 1857. She married Aaron Stayer, a brother of Mary Magdalene Stayer. (See Item 1.2.5.2.1.8.5 above.) Mary Catherine died on September 10, 1927. Aaron died on July 10, 1933. He and Mary Catherine had no children.
1.2.5.2.2 James Sparks, son of Joseph and Mary (McDaniel) Sparks, was born ca. 1755 in Maryland. He grew to manhood in Frederick County, and when he was about nineteen years of age, he accompanied his brothers, 1.2.5.2.1 Joseph Sparks and 1.2.5.2.5 Solomon Sparks, to Bedford County, Pennsylvania. He may have served in the Pennsylvania Militia during the Revolutionary War, but we have found no record of his service. He probably returned to Frederick County after the war ended, and he is probably the James Sparks who was appointed as an ensign in the Frederick County Militia on June 18, 1794. It is also quite likely that he married Nancy ["Ann"] Rogers there ca. 1795. She was born ca. 1765 and was a native of Frederick County.
by 1800, James and Nancy (Rogers) Sparks were in Bedford County where they appeared on that year's U.S. census. James was also listed as the head of his household on the 1810, 1820, 1830, and 1840 censuses of that county. He entered 250 acres of land there on June 20, 1792. He added nearly 600 acres of land to his farm in the mid-1830's and at his death he owned nearly 1,000 acres of land in Bedford County.
According to a History of Bedford County published in 1884, the early settlers placed only a slight value upon their land. The story is told that James Sparks and one of his brothers decided to divide a tract of land which they held co-jointly. When the question arose as to who should have the upper or more valuable part, they settled it by taking a stick and "choosing up" after the manner of boys playing baseball.
Nancy (Rogers) Sparks died ca. 1835. According to census records, she and James were the parents of six children. James died sometime between May 1841 and March 1842. He made a will on May 22, 1841, and it was probated on March 3, 1842. Here is an abstract.
Item. The 800 acres of land which I acquired by three patents in the 1830's shall be so divided into 200 acre tracts between my four sons: William, Absalom, Daniel, and David, that the shares of William, Absalom, and David shall include the land on which they now reside, and Daniel's share shall be taken from the north end of the 800 acres.
Item. The 190 acre tract which I obtained from James Hamilton in 1833 shall be equally divided between my sons, Daniel and David. Both shall have equal access to the sawmill on the said tract.
Item. To daughter, Elizabeth Sparks, now intermarried with Wilson L. Weeks, I give $300.
Item. To daughter, Mary Sparks, now intermarried with James Sparks (blacksmith), I give one silk dress to be given one year after my decease.
Item. To son, Daniel Sparks, one good horse, one cow and five sheep; to son, David Sparks, one good horse, one cow and four sheep and six hogs, to make them equal with the rest.
Item. I have money due and coming to me from Frederick County, Maryland, which shall be divided equally among my four sons, William, Absalom, Daniel, and David, and my daughter, Elizabeth Weeks.
Item. My sons, Daniel and David, shall be my executors.
his
Witnesses: James X Sparks
Benjamin Martin seal
John Nagle1.2.5.2.2.1 William Sparks, son of James and Nancy (Rogers) Sparks, was born ca. 1799 in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. He married Susan A. MNU, ca. 1830. She was born ca. 1806 in Pennsylvania. William and Susan were listed on the 1840 and 1850 censuses of Bedford County, and, according to these sources, they were the parents of five children. William apparently died prior to 1870, and Susan died sometime after 1880.
1.2.5.2.2.1.1 James Sparks was born March 12,1831. He served in Company K, 208th Regiment Pennsylvania Infantry during the Civil War. (See the December 1985 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 132, for an abstract of his pension file.) On September 15, 1859, he married Margaret Stuckey at Clearville, Pennsylvania. She was born February 28, 1835, in Pennsylvania. She died on February 12, 1879, at Everett, Pennsylvania. James died on January 23, 1904. They were buried in the Sparks Cemetery, south of Clearville. They had seven children.
1.2.5.2.2.1.1.1 Matilda Sparks was born September 26, 1860. She married FNU Mortimer.
1.2.5.2.2.1.1.2 Maria Ann Sparks was born December 6, 1862. She married FNU Koontz.
1.2.5.2.2.1.1.3 Jonas Sparks was born April 13, 1865.
1.2.5.2.2.1.1.4 Ruth Jane Sparks was born September 24, 1867. She married Josiah Weimer on December 11, 1884. She died on May 7, 1933. She had no children.
1.2.5.2.2.1.1.5 Daniel Sparks was born February 17, 1870.
1.2.5.2.2.1.1.6 Henrietta Sparks was born January 18, 1873. She married FNU Horton.
1.2.5.2.2.1.1.7 William Sparks was born ca. 1876. He died prior to 1898.1.2.5.2.2.1.2 Josephine Sparks, daughter of William and Susan Sparks, was born ca. 1833.
1.2.5.2.2.1.3 Son Sparks was born ca. 1835.
1.2.5.2.2.1.4 Dau Sparks was born ca. 1838.
1.2.5.2.2.1.5 Susan A. Sparks was born ca. 1849. She was aged 23 years and living with her widowed mother when the 1880 census was taken of Bedford County, Pennsylvania. With her was a two-year-old son, 1.2.5.2.2.1.5.1 Robert H. Felton.1.2.5.2.2.2 Mary Sparks was born ca. 1800. She married her cousin, 1.2.5.2.1.6 James Sparks. (See above.)
1.2.5.2.2.3 Absalom Sparks, son of James and Nancy (Rogers) Sparks, was born ca. 1804. He married Mahala Grubb, ca. 1835. She was born ca. 1813 in Pennsylvania. She died sometime after 1880. Absalom died in June 1862. He made a will on June 2, 1862, which was proven on June 24, 1862. In it, he named his wife, Mahala, and his eldest son, David, and referred to other children whom he did not name. He and Mahala had three children.
1.2.5.2.2.3.1 David G. Sparks was born ca. 1836. He was living with his brother, 1.2.5.2.2.3.2 James Henry Sparks, and was unmarried, when the 1880 census of Bedford County, Pennsylvania, was taken.
1.2.5.2.2.3.2 James Henry Sparks was born June 2, 1841. He served in Company K, 208th Regiment Pennsylvania Infantry during the Civil War. (See the December 1985 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 132, for an abstract of his pension file.) He married Elizabeth Gibson on April 12, 1864, in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. She was born December 18, 1840, and was a daughter of George Gibson, Sr. James Henry Sparks died on October 13, 1917, and Elizabeth died on January 2, 1927. They had three children:
1.2.5.2.2.3.2.1 Mary A. Sparks was born June 3, 1867.
1.2.5.2.2.3.2.2 Sarah J. Sparks was born August 2, 1869.
1.2.5.2.2.3.2.3 Curtis G. Sparks was born September 21, 1873.1.2.5.2.2.3.3 Jacob Sparks was born ca. 1841; he may have been a twin of James Henry Sparks.
1.2.5.2.2.4 Daniel Sparks, son of James and Nancy (Rogers) Sparks, was born September 10, 1806. He married Catherine MNU, ca. 1845, and when the 1850 census was taken of Bedford County, Pennsylvania, they were listed in the West Providence Township. He was listed as 38 years of age and Catherine as 34 years of age. When the 1870 census was taken, they were living at Bloody Run, Pennsylvania. With them were three children:
Barbara Baughman, 30;
John Baughman, 19; and
James Baughman, 14.Daniel Sparks died on May 30, 1877, and his will was proven on June 8, 1877. He specified that he was to be buried on the farm of Philip Sparks (his nephew) according to the rites of the Lutheran Church. He left his estate to his wife, Catherine, and to four Baughman children: Barbara, Jane, John, and James, whom he had reared. He did not specify his relationship to them. Catherine died on May 5, 1889. She, too, requested in her will that she be buried beside her husband in the graveyard recently owned by Philip Sparks. Mentioned in her will were: Barbara Baughman; Jane Baughman, who married Charles Karns; and Simon Karns, her son; also her nieces, Mary Pee and Eliza Zembower, who married Josiah Zembower.
1.2.5.2.2.5 David Sparks was born ca. 1809. He married Sarah Ann MNU, ca. 1840. She was born December 31, 1816. She and David had at least three children. He died in July 1869, and his will was proven on July 21, 1869. He stipulated that he was to be buried in the graveyard on his farm according to the rites of the Presbyterian Church. Named as his heirs were: his wife, Sarah Ann Sparks, and his sons.
Sarah Ann Sparks died on April 27, 1872.
1.2.5.2.2.5.1 Wilson W. Sparks was born ca. 1841. He served in Company K, 208th Regiment Pennsylvania Infantry during the Civil War. See ( the June 1977 issue of the Quarterly for an abstract of his pension file.) On February 7, 1866, he married Mary C. Williams in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. She was born ca. 1842.
Wilson W. Sparks was one of the original incorporators of the Crystal Spring Camp Meeting Association, an early Methodist Church Camp, established in 1886. He also served as a trustee of the organization until his death. The camp is located just east of the Bedford County line in Fulton County, Pennsylvania, about four miles south of Breezewood. The Association celebrated its centennial in August 1986. Wilson W. and Mary C. (Williams) Sparks had at least two children,
1.2.5.2.2.5.1.x Bertha W. Sparks, born ca.1867. She married FNU Harter.
1.2.5.2.2.5.1.y Ross A. Sparks, born ca.1875.Wilson died on November 16, 1898, and Mary died on August 17, 1932. He left his estate to his wife, Mary C. Sparks, and to his son, Ross A. Sparks, and his daughter, Bertha W. Sparks.
1.2.5.2.2.5.2 Philip W. Sparks was born ca. 1844. He married Rebecca W. MNU, ca. 1872. She was born ca. 1855. He apparently died ca. 1878, leaving Rebecca with two small children,
1.2.5.2.2.5.2.1 Laura Sparks, born ca.1873, and
1.2.5.2.2.5.2.2 David E. Sparks, born ca.1875.1.2.5.2.2.5.3 Elisa Sparks may have been a daughter of David and Sarah Ann Sparks; however, we have found no record of her.
1.2.5.2.2.6 Elizabeth Sparks, daughter of James and Nancy (Rogers) Sparks, was born April 29, 1811. She married Wilson L. Weeks. He was born January 19, 1810, and he died on November 27, 1885. Elizabeth died on February 17, 1888. They had at least one child, a son:
1.2.5.2.2.6.1 David Weeks.
1.2.5.2.3 Mary Sparks, daughter of Joseph and Mary (McDaniel) Sparks, was born ca. 1757 in Frederick County, Maryland. She is said to have married FNU Murray and to have have had at least three sons:
1.2.5.2.3.1 John Murray,
1.2.5.2.3.2 Joseph Murray, and
1.2.5.2.3.3 Solomon Murray.We have not been able to confirm this statement.
1.2.5.2.4 Sarah Sparks was born ca. 1758, probably in Frederick County, Maryland. She is said to have married FNU O'Neil. We have no further information about her.
(Editor's Note: This record of the descendants of 1.2.5.2 Joseph and Mary (McDaniel) Sparks will be continued in a future issue of the Quarterly.)
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Continue with the Quarterly, Whole No. 147-J
Continue with the Quarterly, Whole No. 136-A