July 30, 2023
Pages 3952-3957
Whole Number 158
DEATHS OF PERSONS NAMED SPARKS
IN MITCHELL COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
1913-1951
by Barbara Ellis Patterson
Editor's Note: We are most grateful to Barbara Ellis Patterson (1007 15th Ave., N.W., Hickory, North Carolina, 28601) for giving us permission to pub- lish the following records. Mrs. Patterson, daughter of C. O. and Laura Glenn (Walker) Eltis, descends, through her paternal grandmother, from Jeremiah Sparks (born ca.1772), son of William and Ann Sparks about whom we published an article in the Quarterly of June 1991 (Whole No.154). Mrs. Patter- son's paternal grandparents were Moses Tarpley and Theodocia Elmyra (Sparks) Ellis. Theodocia Elmyra Sparks was a daughter of Charles W. and Mary Jane (Hensley) Sparks. Charles W. Sparks (1837-1915) was a son of Jeremiah, Jr. and Rachel (McKinney) Sparks. Jeremiah ["Myra"] Sparks, Jr. (born ca.1811) was a son of Jeremiah and Jane (Bell) Sparks and a grandson of William and Ann Sparks.
[Mrs. Patterson has copied these records from Mitchell County's official death records, the source of each being shown. Mitchell County was created in 1861 from parts of Burke, Caldwell, McDowell, Watauga, and Yancey Counties. The keeping of records of death in Mitchell County was begun in 1913. While we do not usually publish material on Sparkses born after ca. 1900, it should be noted that many of those listed here, if not themselves born before 1900, were children of parents named in these records who were born then. Where exact birth dates were not recorded, or are unknown to Mrs. Patterson, she has provided approximate birth dates in brackets.]
Cyntha Sparks, born ca.1833, died December 4, 1913, in Snow Creek Township. Daughter of Thomas Sparks and Polly Cook. (Book 1, page 1)
Whitfield Sparks, born August 10, 1840, died September 5, 1914, in Grassy Creek Township. Son of Allen Sparks and Susan Buchanail. (Book 1, p. 391)
Lumin Woodfin Sparks, born August 29, 1898, died December 28, 1914" in Snow Creek Township. Son of B. G. Sparks and Mary Edwards. (Book 1, page 20)
Charles Sparks, born February 8, 1837, died March 23,1915, in Grassy Creek Township. Son of Jeremiah Sparks and Rachel McKinney. (Book 1, page 410)
Nancy Marine Sparks, born August 11, 1860, died April 20, 1915, in Grassy Creek Township. Daughter of Whitfield Sparks and Elizabeth Buchanan. (Book 1, page 415)
Joseph Millard Sparks, born April 25, 1914, died June 1, 1915, in Grassy Creek Township. Son of Gaither Sparks and Sarah Helms. (Book 1, page 419)
Nancy Louraine Sparks, born September 20, 1849, died September 25, 1915, in Snow Creek Township. Daughter of Alexander Brinkley and Annie Shoaf (?). (Book 1, page 35)
O. K. Sparks, born March 23, 1916, died October 2, 1917, in Herrell Town- ship. Son of Thomas Sparks and Maud Hughes. (Book 1, page 316)
Elizabeth Sparks, born November 13, 1841, died October 20, 1918, in Grassy Creek Township. Daughter of Stephen Buchanan and Sally Buchanan. (Book 1, page 542)
Frank Sparks, born in August 1915, died October 31, 1918, in Snow Creek Township. Son of A. F. Sparks and Hettie Stewart. (Book 1, page 85)
Joseph B. Sparks, born February 9, 1885, died February 16, 1919, in Grassy Creek Township. Son of Lewis Sparks and Polly Green. (Book 1, page 578)
Bessie Sparks, born ca.1891, died February 20, 1919, in Grassy Creek Township. Daughter of Molt Schism and Malissa Buchanan. (Book 1, p. 572)
Ammie Sparks, born November 22, 1880, died April 22, 1920, in Snow Creek Township. Daughter of Jim Miller and Dela Miller. (Book 3, page 1)
Maggie Sparks, born ca.1880, died November 10, 1920, in Grassy Creek Township. Daughter of Will Robinson and Maud Born (?).(Book 3, page 310)
Fred Sparks, born June 10, 1920, died June 12, 1921, in Grassy Creek Town- ship. Son of Jim Sparks and Maggie Robinson. (Book 3, page 330)
Elvey Johnson Sparks, born January 18, 1921, died August 20, 1921, in Snow Creek Township. Son of Johnson Sparks and Effey Buchanan. (Book 3, page 21)
Lewis Sparks, born ca.1845, died October 28, 1921, in Grassy Creek Township. Son of Thomas Sparks and Polly Cook. (Book 3, page 340)
Eli A. Sparks, born January 12, 1866, died January 26,1922, in Grassy Creek Township. Son of Whitfield Sparks and Elizabeth Buchanan. (Book 3, page 383)
James Sparks, born ca.1848, died February 23, 1923, in Snow Creek Township. Son of Jeremiah Sparks and Rachel McKinney. (Book 3, page 41)
Rosa Lee Sparks, born April 11, 1922, died March 20, 1923, in Grassy Creek Township. Daughter of Claude Sparks and Nancy Halens. (Book 3t page 431)
Burna Sparks, died July 29, 1923, in Grassy Creek Township; Son of Billie Gouge and [?] Husband: Sterling Sparks. (Book 3, page 412)
[Editor's Note: A son of Buena Sparks, the Rev. J. Y. Sparks, wrote in 1942 that his parents were James Starlin Sparks and Buena Gouge. the latter dying on July 29, 1923.]Hattie Julia Sparks, born August 13, 1877, died April 27, 1925, in Snow Creek Township. Daughter of Isaac Steward and Martha Burleson. (Book 4, page 127)
Elizabeth Sparks, born ca.1842, died July 13, 1925, in Grassy Creek Town- ship. Daughter of Berry Hensley and Nancy Collis. Husband: George Sparks. (Book 3, p. 410)
Mary Sparks, born March 6, 1866, died February 8, 1927, in Snow Creek Township. Daughter of Sanders Edwards and Sarah Ayers. (Book 6, page 186)
Beulah Lee Sparks, born January 30, 1927, died March 27, 1927, in Snow Creek Township. Daughter of Arby Sparks and Annie Sparks. (Book 6, page 188)
Dean Sparks, born May 12, 1928, died May --, 1928, in Snow Creek Township. Son of Dewey Sparks and [?]. (Book 6, page 213)
Anna Lee Sparks, born August 17, 1928 [?, died August 7, 1928, in Grassy Creek Township. Daughter of Gaither Sparks and Susie Duncan. (Book 6, page 114)
George Sparks, born August 1, 1918, died August 7, 1928, in Grassy Creek Township. Son of Gaither Sparks and Susie Duncan. (Book 6, page 116)
Lonnie Sparks, died August 7, 1928, in Grassy Creek Township. Son of Gaither Sparks and Susie Duncan. (Book 6, page 113)
William Sparks, born January 20, 1922, died August 7, 1928, in Grassy Creek Township. Son of Gaither Sparks and Susie Duncan. (Book 6, page 115)
Aney Sparks, born ca.1907, died October 4, 1928, in Snow Creek Township. Daughter of Anderson Sparks and Hett Stewart. Husband: Arbey Sparks. (Book 6, page 216)
Odesia Sparks, born ca.1907, died October 30, 1928, in Grassy Creek Township. Daughter of J. S. Sparks and Emma Miller. (Book 6, page 121).
Martha Sparks, born February 7, 1859, died December 2, 1928, in Snow Creek Township. Daughter of J. W. Duncan and Cintha Young. (Book 6, page 219)
Steven A. Sparks, born ca.1857, died in January 1929, in Snow Creek Township. Son of Mathew Sparks and Elizabeth Buchanan. (Book 7, page 108)
Phillip A. Sparks, ["Age 1" at death], died April 7, 1929, in Snow Creek Township. Son of Arby Sparks [mother's name not given]. (Book 7, page 111)
Bristo Sparks, born ca.1902, died December 17, 1929, in Grassy Creek Township. Son of [Father "not known"] and Bashey Sparks. (Book 7, page 126).
Joyce Delean Sparks, born ca.1930, died August 17, 1930, in Bakersville Township. Daughter of Robert Sparks and Jane Gage. (Book 8, page 11)
Tom Sparks, born ca.1850, died September 27, 1930, in Snow Creek Township. Son of [Father's name not given] and Sadie Green. Wife: Sadie Sparks. (Book 8, page 130)
Susie Sparks, born ca.1872, died November 28, 1930, in Snow Creek Township. Daughter of Whitfield Sparks and Elizabeth Buchanan. (Book 8, page 133)
Sena Sparks, born May 2, 1868, died March 5, 1932, in Grassy Creek Township. Daughter of Isaac Cox and Jane Channdler. (Book 10, page 80)
Mary Sparks, born April 28, 1857, died May 27, 1932, in Grassy Creek Township. Daughter of James Greene and Srelle (?) Buchanan. (Book 10, page 87)
Jennie Sparks, born ca.1869, died July 27, 1932, in Grassy Creek Township. Daughter of Tom Davis and Harriett Gurley. (Book 10, page 90)
Mary Lee Sparks, born ["age 2 days" at death], died September 30, 1932, in Grassy Creek Township. Daughter of Edgar Sparks and Lela White. (Book 10, page 94)
Dau Sparks (stillborn girl), born and died October 7, 1932, in Snow Creek Township. Daughter of Hankins Sparks and Myrtle Ellis. (Book 11, page 84)
Gaither Sparks, born ca.1858, died November 22, 1933, in Snow Creek Township. Son of Sam Sparks and Delia Howell. (Book 11, page 97)
James Stephen Sparks, born ca.1861, died February 21, 1934, in Little Rock Township. Son of Reuben Sparks and Polly Woody. (Book 12, page 73)
Hughey Sparks, born March 13, 1931, died April 25, 1934, in Snow Creek Township. Son of Steve Sparks and Ethel Pitman. (Book 12, page 94)
Mary Alice Sparks, born ca.1865, died July 3' 1934, in Snow Creek Township. Daughter of J. B. Presnell and Eliza Tate. (Book 12, page 102)
David Sparks, born June 31 [?], 1934, died December 16, 1934, in Grassy Creek Township. Son of Claude Sparks and Nancy Henson. (Book 12, page 58)
Ira Sparks, born January 5, 1893, died July 11, 1935, in Grassy Creek Township. Son of Starling Sparks and Beauna Gouge. (Book 13, page 60)
Reuben Sparks, born ca.1877, died in October 1935, in Bakersville Township. Son of John Sparks, Sr. and Betsy Wilson. (Book 13, page 19)
Ona Sparks, born August 22, 1882, died January 14, 1938, in Grassy Creek Township. Daughter of Elliott Simons and Tempa Buchanan. (Book 15, page 137)
Ace Sparks, born ca.1894, died November 8, 1938, in Snow Creek Township. Son of Stephen Sparks and Martha Duncan. (Book 15, page 277)
John Sparks, born ca.1869, died February 21, 1939, in Grassy Creek Township. Son of Keith Sparks and Sarah Smith. (Book 16, page 51)
Mary Sparks, born ca.1874, died May 25, 1939, in Bakersville Township. Daughter of Eb Canipe and Eliza Ensco. (Book 16, page 11)
Stephens Sparks, born November 18, 1870, died June 8, 1940, in Grassy Creek Township. Son of George Sparks and Elizabeth Hensley. (Book 17, page 47)
Nancy Alice Sparks, born November 7, 1867, died October 13, 1943, in Grassy Creek Township. Daughter of Rev. J. W. Duncan and Sarah Jones. (Book 20, page 58)
Alice Sparks, born April 1, 1886, died March 6, 1943, in Snow Creek Township. Daughter of David Pitman and Harriett Duncan. (Book 20, page 78)
Sally Etta Sparks, born November 12, 1879, died June 14, 1943, in Snow Creek Township. Daughter of Zeph Young and Malessa?] Marsh. (Book 20, page 81)
Joe Brown Sparks, born September 26, 1943, died October 31, 1943, in Snow Creek Township. Son of Harry L. Sparks and Marie Buchanan. (Book 20, page 83)
Martha Jean Sparks, born August 31, 1942, died July 26, 1944, in Grassy Creek Township. Daughter of Lindsay Sparks and Ruby Tipton. (Book 21, page 31)
Dorothy Sparks, born April 4, 1913, died November 14, 1944, in Grassy Creek Township. Daughter of Joe Forbes and Lockie Buchanan. (Book 21, page 37)
Mark Sparks, born ca.1937, died January 12, 1946, in Snow Creek Township. Son of Dewey Sparks and Lessie Willis. (Book 23, page 88)
Mattie Wyatte Sparks, born September 21, 1874, died November 29, 1946. in Grassy Creek Township. Daughter of Jonas Wyatt and Polly Woody. (Book 23, page 60)
Mattie G. Sparks, born December 24, 1880, died December 20, 1947, in Grassy Creek Township. Daughter of W. M. Grindstaff and Tilda Thomas. (Book 24, page 57)
Merritt Snipes Sparks, born May 24, 1883, died in 1948, in Grassy Creek Township. Son of Stephen Sparks and Martha Duncan. (Book 25, page 29)
Jean Evelyn Sparks, born March 5, 1949, died in 1949 in Snow Creek Town- ship. Daughter of Joe Sparks and Ilean Buchanan. (Book 26, page 66)
Nancy Sparks, born April 15, 1873, died November 10, 1949, in Grassy Creek, Township. Daughter of Ruben Sparks and Polly Woody. (Book 26, page 97)
Galan Sparks, died August 8, 1950, in Marion, North Carolina. Son of Newton W. Sparks name of mother not given]. (Book 28, page 121)
Meredith William Sparks, died June 27, 1951, in Little Rock Township. Son of Sterling Sparks and mother's name not given]. (Book 28, page 119)
Sarah Elizabeth Sparks, born June 8, 1863, died August 16, 1951, in Toecane Township. Daughter of Charles Sparks and Mary Jane Hensley. (Book 28, page 120)
John, died February 10. 1951. in Bakersville Township. Son of John Sparks (Book 29. page 101)