June 5, 2023
Pages 4632-4663
Whole Number 174
1.2.5.1.2.1 LEVI SPARKS (1778-1851)
AND SOME OF HIS DESCENDANTS
OF LAWRENCE COUNTY, KENTUCKY
by Paul E. Sparks
[Editor's Note: 1.2.5.1.2.1 Levi Sparks was a son of 1.2.5.1.2 John and Sarah (Shores) Sparks of early Wilkes County, North Carolina. John and Sarah and their children have been the subjects of two articles in earlier issues of the Quarterly. The first of these was in the December 1955 issue, Whole No. 12, and the second was in the March 1981 issue, Whole No. 113. Both articles, however, gave only a bare outline of the children and grandchildren of this couple, and, since their publication, much additional information has been collected.
[The article that follows is about Levi Sparks, the oldest child of John and Sarah. Many persons have made contributions to it, but it is safe to say that the largest contribution was made by Joy Sparks, a great-great-great-granddaughter, now deceased. Through the help of her notes and letters, a small history has been preserved of Levi Sparks and his children. It was Joy's father, Proctor Sparks, who gave much needed financial support in the early days of the Association.]
1.2.5.1.2.1 Levi Sparks was born October 2, 1778, in Wilkes County, North Carolina, and it was there that he grew to maturity. He received a good education for that time and place, and after attaining adulthood, he served as a teacher on some occasions, according to descendants. He was also quite active in civic affairs of that county. He was appointed as a constable on November 6, 1799, just a month after he had reached his 21st birthday. His securities on that occasion were Jacob Lyon and Holloway. Thereafter, until he left the county, he served as a constable on many occasions.
Levi also served many times as a road "juryman." In the spring of 1809, he was appointed as a road juryman, along with his father, to view the road leading from "Elk Spur to the head of the Elkin [River] across the mountain." In November 1819, the Wilkes County Court appointed him as the overseer "from Traphill two miles east toward Jonesville." He was also summoned to serve on a Wilkes County jury in 1818, 1819, and 1821.
Sometime around 1800, Levi Sparks married Miss Walsh, probably in Wilkes County, however, no record of the marriage can be found. She apparently died ca. 1804, leaving Levi with a two-year-old son and a baby daughter. He married (second) Sarah Lyon, ca. 1805. She had been born ca. 1781 and was a daughter of William and Margaret (Brown?) Lyon.
Two records have been found of Levi entering state-owned lands in Wilkes County. On November 27, 1806, he entered 150 acres of land lying "on the waters of Big Elkin." On December 15, 1809, he entered 50 acres of land on Big Bugaboo Creek. Both of these streams are located in the eastern part of Wilkes County.
On February 2, 1821, Levi Sparks served on a Wilkes County jury, but on February ruary 5, 1822, when he was summoned to appear as a witness in the case of Naaman Woody and Willis Alexander, the court records show that he failed to attend. Undoubtedly, his failure to respond to the summons was caused by his move to Kentucky. He and his brothers, George Sparks, Reuben Sparks, and Colby Sparks (along with a number of other Wilkes Countians, among whom were Lyons, Gambills, Holbrooks, Skaggs, Boggs, and others too numerous to mention), settled in newly-formed Lawrence County, Kentucky, in the latter part of 1821.
(Lawrence County was formed in 1821 from Floyd and Greenup Counties, and it originally embraced a large portion of northeastern Kentucky. Its county seat was at Louisa, a town located on its extremely east boundary and which was difficult for many citizens to reach. For this and other reasons, portions of the county were taken away to help form five other counties: Carter County in 1838; Johnson County in 1843; Boyd County in 1860; Elliott County in 1869; and Martin County in 1870. Descendants of the Sparkses who had settled in early Lawrence County were in all of the "new" counties, thus it is safe to say that most of the persons named Sparks in present-day northeastern Kentucky are from the same branchof the family. References to Lawrence County in this article will refer to Lawrence County, Kentucky, only.)
1.2.5.1.2.10 Reuben Sparks and 1.2.5.1.2.11 Colby Sparks, brothers of Levi, returned to North Carolina. 1.2.5.1.2.9 George Sparks, another brother, settled on the Little Fork of Little Sandy River. 1.2.5.1.2.1 Levi and Sarah (Lyon) Sparks settled on 100 acres of land on the right fork of the Right Fork of Blaine Creek near present-day Martha, Kentucky.
It was near Martha, Kentucky, that the children of Levi Sparks grew to maturity. They included five sons and three daughters. His daughter, Sidney Sparks, had chosen to stay with the Walshes in North Carolina.
Levi was shown as head of his household when the 1830, 1840, and 1850 censuses were taken of Lawrence County, Kentucky. He died there on October 21, 1851. Sarah survived him exactly four years, dying on October 21, 1855. They were buried in the Dobyns Cemetery at Martha, Kentucky. According to descendants and census records, Levi was the father of nine children, including an unnamed daughter born ca. 1810, who apparently died when quite young. by his first marriage, he had one son and one daughter. by his second marriage, he had four sons and three daughters.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1 Garrett Sparks, born September 15, 1802
1.2.5.1.2.1.2 Sidney Sparks, born ca.1804
1.2.5.1.2.1.3 Calvin Sparks, born November 9, 1806
1.2.5.1.2.1.4 Wiley Sparks, born March 3, 1808
1.2.5.1.2.1.5 Daughter Sparks, born ca. 1810
1.2.5.1.2.1.6 Lousina Sparks, born ca.1812
1.2.5.1.2.1.7 Sarah Sparks, born ca.1814
1.2.5.1.2.1.8 Nelson Sparks, born ca.1818
1.2.5.1.2.1.9 John L. Sparks, born ca.18201.2.5.1.2.1.1 Garrett Sparks was born September 15, 1802, in Wilkes County, North Carolina. (His name was also spelled Jarrett, Jared, Gared, etc.) He had reached maturity when he accompanied his father to Lawrence County, Kentucky, in 1821. The first official record we have found of him is a Kentucky Land Warrant, dated May 10, 1824, for 50 acres of land on the right fork of Big Blaine Creek. He probably bought the land in preparation for his marriage to Elizabeth ["Betsy"] Boggs. They were married on September 22, 1825, by the Rev. Stephen Wheeler, a Baptist minister. (The license was issued on September 19, 1825.) Betsy had been born on December 27, 1808, in Virginia and was a daughter of John O. and Nancy (Wells) Boggs. Soon after their marriage, Garrett and Betsy united with the Big Blaine Baptist Church.
During the period from 1825 to 1850, Garrett Sparks was involved in over a dozen transactions involving the purchase and sale of land on Blaine Creek. On the 1860 census, he was listed with real estate valued at $1,000 and personal property valued at $500.
The Civil War had a major impact on the family of Garrett Sparks. Three of his sons served in the Union forces. Garrett's youngest brother, John L. Sparks, served in the Confederate forces and was quite likely involved in the ransacking of Garrett's house during the war. (See the March 1993 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 161, beginning on page 4065.)
Garrett Sparks died on September 25, 1873, in Lawrence County. Betsy died there on December 21, 1873. They were buried in the Morton Sparks Ceme tery that is located on Kentucky Route 32 between the Forks of Blalne and the mouth of Collier Creek. They had sixteen children according to census records and information given by descendants.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1 Reuben David Sparks, son of Garrett and Betsy (Boggs) Sparks, was born February 8, 1829, along with his twin, 1.2.5.1.2.1.1.2 Eleanor Sparks. On December 18, 1857, he married Mary Curnutte in Lawrence County by the Rev. Enoch Green, a Baptist minister. The witnesses were David and Mary Wellman. Mary Curnutte had been born in October 1836 and was a daughter of Reuben ["Bobby"] and Zilpha (Holbrook) Curnutte.
Reuben Sparks lived quite near his parents on Blaine Creek where he was a farmer. He and Mary had nine children, eight of whom grew to maturity. One of the children recalled how his parents instilled the value of getting an education in all of their children. Three of their sons became physicians, and the other son became a well-known and successful teacher.
When the 1900 census was taken of Lawrence County Reuben and Mary were living in the household of their son, James Cecil Sparks, who had been married to Nora Holbrook the previous year. Reuben died on December 28, 1900. Mary died ten years later, on October 3, 1910.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.1 Cordelia Sparks was born October 27, 1858, in Lawrence County. She was married there in 1880 to Fleming Rice. They went to Saskatchewan, Canada, where Flem (as he was called) practiced medicine. Cordelia died there in 1937. She and Flem had seven children:
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.1.1 Chester A. Rice,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.1.2 Mary Rice,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.1.3 Lilla Rice,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.1.4 Arba Rice,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.1.5 Homer Rice,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.1.6 Earl Rice, and
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.1.7 Ernest Rice.1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.2 Samantha Ellen Sparks was born January 25, 1860. She married William ["Bill"] T. Hutchison in 1891 in Lawrence County. She died on December 5, 1936. She and Bill had two children, Orca Hutchison and Reba Hutchison.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.3 Walter Greenville Sparks was born April 11, 1863, in Lawrence County and was obviously named for his uncle, Walter Greenville Sparks, who was then serving in the Union Army in the Civil War. Walter attended the University of Maryland and became a physician. He was married twice. His first marriage was to Arena Boggs on November 29, 1883, in Lawrence County, and they had four children before her death ca. 1890. Walter's second marriage was to Cordelia Belle Skeens in 1891, and they had six children. Walter lived in Wyoming County, West Virginia, where he was the superintendent of schools about 1910.
Walter Greenville Sparks died in Wyoming County, West Virginia, on January 2, 1922. His children were:
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.3.1 Edgar Everett Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.3.2 Oscar Austin Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.3.3 Nola Edna Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.3.4 Ellsworth Foraker Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.3.5 Bertie Olive Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.3.6 Rupert David Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.3.7 Delbert Virgil Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.3.8 Bessie Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.3.9 Robley Reed Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.3.10 Walter G. Sparks, Jr.1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.4 Zilpha Martelia Sparks was born April. 22, 1865. She married John N. Elkins in 1894 in Lawrence County, Kentucky. He was a son of William Davis and Emily Jane (McGuire) Elkins. Zipha and John had four children:
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.4.1 Arnold B. Elkins,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.4.2 Ethel May Elkins,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.4.3 Arbie J. Elkins, and
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.4.4 Edith Elva Elkins.1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.5 Morton Emerson Sparks was born March 24, 1868. He was an enterprising man, a farmer, teacher, and postmaster. He was a Baptist and a Mason. He married Cora Elizabeth Lyon in 1894 in Lawrence County. She had been born January 19, 1873, and was a daughter of Colby and Phoebe (Jayne) Lyon. Morton died on December 28, 1935, and was buried in the family cemetery. Cora died on August 17, 1949, and was buried beside her husband. They had three children:
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.5.1 Emmett M. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.5.2 Irma Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.5.3 Neva Sparks.1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.6 Mary Elizabeth Sparks was born July 20, 1870. She died when she was quite young.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.7 Reuben David Sparks, Jr. was born June 3, 1871, at the forks of Blaine Creek. He was graduated from the Louisville [Kentucky] School of Medicine in 1894 and began practicing medicine on Elk Fork at the mouth of Williams Creek in Morgan County, Kentucky. He later moved to West Liberty, Kentucky. He practiced medicine continuously for more than sixty years. His records show that he delivered over 5,000 babies during that time. It was at West Liberty that he married Florence Hutchinson on February 16, 1898. She died on January 15, 1948. Reuben died on August 28, 1960. They were buried in the Salyer Cemetery at West Liberty. They had two children:
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.7.1 Winfred C. Sparks and
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.7.2 Walter D. Sparks.1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.8 James Cecil ["Jim Cecil"] Sparks was born April 4, 1875, at Martha, Kentucky. He was graduated from the Louisville [Kentucky] College of Medicine in 1906 and began his practice of medicine at Paintsville, Kentucky. In 1924, he moved to Ashland, Kentucky, where he continued to practice medicine until his death in June 1954. He was a leader in the development of medical and hospital services in northeastern Kentucky, particularly in Ashland. He was a Baptist and a member of the Masonic Order.
On April 23, 1899, Jim Cecil Sparks married Nora Holbrook in Lawrence County. She had been born in September 1882 and was a daughter of Campbell C. and Ellen (Grimsley) Holbrook. She died in August 1951, and Jim Cecil died in June 1954. They were buried in the Ashland Cemetery. They had two children:
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.8.1 Clyde C. Sparks and
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.8.2 Chiles E. Sparks.1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.9 Emma F. Sparks was born October 7, 1879. She became a school teacher in Lawrence County. It was there that she married Alonzo B. Lyon in 1903. He had been born on March 25, 1875, and was a son of Colby and Phoebe (Jayne) Lyon; thus, he was a brother of Cora Elizabeth Lyon who married Emma's brother, 1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.5 Morton Emerson Sparks. (See above.) Emma and Alonzo lived in Ashland, Kentucky, where Alonzo was a contractor. Emma died there on February 21, 1958, and Alonzo died on April 5, 1969. They were buried in the Ashland Cemetery. They had two children:
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.9.1 Noel Lyon and
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1.9.2 Lionel Lyon.1.2.5.1.2.1.1.2 Eleanor Sparks, daughter of Garrett and Betsy (Boggs) Sparks, was born on February 8, 1829, and was a twin of 1.2.5.1.2.1.1.1 Reuben David Sparks. (See above.) She married William Lyon ca. 1850, probably in Lawrence County. He had been born July 4, 1825, and was a son of William ["Redhead"] and Sarah (Holbrook) Lyon. William and Eleanor lived for a while on Keaton Fork of Blaine Creek, but later moved to the Middle Fork of the Little Fork of Little Sandy River ca. 1865. We have not been sent a record of the death of Eleanor Lyon. William died on May 30, 1905. They had nine children according to a descendant.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.2.1 Reuben Lafayette Lyon was born ca. 1851. He married Ison.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.2.2 Bethany Frances Lyon was born ca. 1853. She was married twice. Her first marriage was to FNU Adkins; his second was to FNU Davis.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.2.3 Hugh Daniel Lyon was born January 10, 1855, at Rush, Kentucky. He married Martha Jane Hutchinson on April 2, 1887, in Morgan County, Kentucky. She had been born on December 14, 1866, and was a daughter of Peter and Mary ["Polly"] (Day) Hutchinson. Martha Jane died on September 5, 1936, and Hugh died on January 15, 1941. They had five children:1.2.5.1.2.1.1.2.3.1 Addie M. Lyon
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.2.3.2 Ollie M. Lyon
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.2.3.3 Autie S. Lyon
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.2.3.4 Stella Lyon, and
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.2.3.5 Arthur Lyon.1.2.5.1.2.1.1.2.4 Nancy Cordelia Lyon was born February 15, 1857. She married Al Bays.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.2.5 Zedi Canford Lyon was born June 28, 1860. She married FNU FNU Watson.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.2.6 Sarah E. Lyon was born ca. 1862. She married FNU Dursk.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.2.7 James Henry Lyon was born ca. 1865. He married a woman named FNU Allen.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.2.8 Hester Lyon was born ca. 1869. She married John Watson.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.2.9 Cora A. Lyon was born ca. 1877.1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3 Levi J. Sparks, son of Garrett and Betsy (Boggs) Sparks, was born February 19, 1831, in Lawrence County, Kentucky. It was there that he married Mary [" Polly"] Gambill on January 15, 1859. She had been born on October 26, 1837, and was a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Holbrook) Gambill. Levi was practicing medicine when he was mustered into the Union Army in March 1863 as a hospital steward. His wife gave birth to their third child a month later. Levi served in the army until the fall of 1865 when he was discharged. (See an abstract of his pension file beginning on page 4665, Whole No. 174.)
After returning home from the military service, Levi Sparks continued to practice medicine in Lawrence County. Polly died on April 4, 1887, and Levi married (second) Emily Boggs on July 26, 1890. He died on January 14, 1897. He had eleven children, all by his first marriage.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.1 Laban ["Labe"] Theodore Sparks was born November 29, 1859, in Lawrence County. He was a farmer and also a merchant. Descendants say that he was a deeply religious man. He was married twice. His first marriage was to Emily Lyon on December 9, 1880. She had been born on March 2, 1861, and was a daughter of Lewis and Mary ["Polly"] (Sparks) Lyon. Emily and Labe had seven children before Emily's death in 1902. They were:
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.1.1 Florence Alma Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.1.2 Eva Belle Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.1.3 Charles Franklin Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.1.4 Mary Hattie Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.1.5 Hugh Herbert Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.1.6 Nelson Tate Sparks.(For further details about the family of Charles Franklin Sparks, see pp. 1306-1307 of the March 1970 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No.69.)
After the death of his wife, Emily, Labe Sparks married (second) Trinvilla Lester about 1903. She had been born in 1875 and was a daughter of John and Juliana (Miller) Lester. Trinvilla died in 1933 and Laban [ "Labe"] died in 1940. They were buried in the family cemetery on Collier Creek. They had five children:
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.1.8 Maude Ethel Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.1.9 Claude Elmer Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.1.10 Paul Edison Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.1.11 Herman Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.1.12 Morton Edward ["Ed"] Sparks.1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.2 Henry Wadsworth Sparks was born August 12, 1861. He became a physician. He married Sarah Ellen Boggs in 1885 in Lawrence County. She had been born in March 1869 and was a daughter of Henderson and Mary (Fie!ds) Boggs. Henry began the practice of medicine at Denton, Kentucky, but about 1901, he moved to Ashland, Kentucky. He died there a short time later on February 26, 1902. Sarah Ellen died in 1909. They had three children:
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.2.1 Belva Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.2.2 Mary Evelyn Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.2.3 Sophia Lucille Sparks.1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.3 Martin Lantford ["Lant"] Sparks was born April 4, 1863. He was graduated from the College of Medicine at Louisville, Kentucky. He married Elvessie Alice Rice in 1886. She had been born on October 29, 1869, and was a daughter of Nelson T. Rice and Elizabeth Ferguson, according to relatives. Lant practiced medicine at Denton, Kentucky, until about 1910 when he moved his family to Nebraska where he settled at Bloomington. He died there on February 10, 1948, and Elvessie died in 1957. They had six children:
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.3.1 Roy A. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.3.2 Herbert R. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.3.3 Alonzo Earl Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.3.4 Henry W. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.3.5 Sarah Elizabeth Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.3.6 Hillman Taft Sparks.1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.4 Regina E. Sparks was born August 30, 1865. She married 1.2.5.1.2.4.2.7 Dennis Lyon in 1888 in Lawrence County. He had been born July 4, 1869, and was a son of Lewis and 1.2.5.1.2.4.2 Mary ["Polly"] (Sparks) Lyon; thus he and his sister, Emily Lyon, were married to a brother and a sister. Regina died in 1920 at West Jefferson, Ohio. She and Dennis had five children:
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.4.1 / 1.2.5.1.2.4.2.7.1 Myrtie Lyon,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.4.2 / 1.2.5.1.2.4.2.7.2 Virgie Lyon,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.4.3 / 1.2.5.1.2.4.2.7.3 Ovie Lyon,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.4.4 / 1.2.5.1.2.4.2.7.4 William Lyon, and
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.4.5 / 1.2.5.1.2.4.2.7.5 Elisha Lyon.1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.5 Hugh H. Sparks was born September 17, 1867. A relative states that he became a minister; however, no proof has been found that this is true. He was shot and killed by a cousin while he was a young man. As the incident is remembered, Hugh and his cousin, Nathan Gambill, were riding home at night when they met Milton Caudill, a close friend of Hugh. An argument ensued and lasted until the trio reached Gambill's house, where Gambill went in and got his gun. He was ready to shoot Caudill when Sparks interposed himself in an effort to shield his friend and was shot by Gambill. Sparks died on June 28, 1892.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.6 Sarah ["Sallie"] Catherine Sparks was born September 8, 1869, in Lawrence County, and it was there that she married Chilton Harvey Bishop on September 2, 1887. He had been born on 4uly 16, 1866, in Lawrence County and was a son of David R. and Elizabeth (Coburn) Bishop. Chilt and Sallie lived on Collier Creek until about 1906, when they moved to Washington County, Ohio. They stayed there about two years and then moved to Oklahoma where they finally settled near Weatherford. It was there that Sallie became ill with cancer. She died on October 1, 1931, at McKinney, Texas, where she had been taken for treatment. She was buried in the Plainview Cemetery at Weatherford. She and Chilt had eight children:
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.6.1 Maude May Bishop,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.6.2 Dee L. Bishop,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.6.3 Henry Price Bishop,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.6.4 Della Emma Bishop.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.6.5 Mary Bishop,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.6.6 Annie Lee Bishop,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.6.7 Tabitha Bishop, and
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.6.8 Belva Lena Bishop.
(see also Vols. 28 & 29, Nos. 4 & 2, respectively, of the East Kentuckian for further details about this family.)1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.7 Matilda Jane Sparks was born October 9, 1871. She married Bennett Franklin ["Frank" ] Sparks ca. 1888. They lived on Whites Creek. Frank had been born in March 1809 and was a son of Reuben and Mary J. (Welman) Sparks. Frank and Matilda had five children before her untimely death in 1903 from tuberculosis. The children were:
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.7.1 Hugh M. Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.7.2 Mollie E. Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.7.3 Lonnie E. Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.7.4 Minnie Sparks and
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.7.5 Reuben Sparks1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.8 Anna Lee Sparks was born ca. 1873. She died when she was about five years old.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.9 William Edison Sparks was born May 16, 1874. He was a veteran of the Spanish-American War. He was graduated from the Louisville [Kentucky] Medical College in 1907 and practiced medicine at Sandy Hook, Kentucky, for more than forty years. He was married three times; however, we have learned nothing about his third marriage. His first marriage was to Tabitha ["Bithy"] Moore in 1894, in Lawrence County. She had been born in July 1875. She and William had at least three children before they were divorced. The children were:
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.9.1 Oscar Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.9.2 William Edison Sparks, Jr., and
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.9.3 Mary Sparks.William Edison Sparks's second marriage was to a woman FNU Skaggs. They were divorced after a short marriage. William was a member of the Sandy Hook Methodist Church and had just returned to his home on Sunday, May 4, 1947, after attending a church service. As he stepped up on to his porch, he was shot by a man he hardly knew but had treated one time as a patient. Sparks lingered for about four weeks, but never recovered from the shooting. He died on May 31, 1947, and was buried in the family cemetery at Martha, Kentucky. (See also page 17 of the September 1993 issue of the East Kentuckian.)
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.10 Nancy Bell Sparks was born December 27, 1876. She died in infancy.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.11 James Alonzo ["Jim Lon"] Sparks was born July 20, 1880. He taught school for a while, but then went to college where he became a dentist. He married Mary ["Mollie"] Dobyns, and, according to a relative, they had at least two children. Jim Lon practiced dentistry in Oklahoma. He died on October 1, 1931, at Huntington, West Virginia. We have no further information about him.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.4 Sarah E. Sparks was born in May 1832. She married Minyard (or Miniard) Holbrook ca. 1865. They had no children. We have no further information about this couple.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.5 Hugh Sparks, son of Garrett and Betsy (Boggs) Sparks, was born ca. 1834 in Lawrence County, Kentucky. He should not be confused with a relative, Hugh S. Sparks, who was born in 1829, also in Lawrence County. Hugh was a sixteen-year-old lad who was living with his parents when the 1850 census was taken of Lawrence County, but he was not in the family when the 1860 census was taken. Undoubtedly, the talk of a civil war in the United States broke many family ties and Hugh's relationship with his family may have been this kind of casualty. [When the compiler of this article began his genealogical interest in the Sparkses of Lawrence County fifty years ago, he was told that Hugh Sparks, son of Garrett Sparks, had gone to Kansas, unmarried, and had died while driving a supply wagon during the Civil War. It was not until 1990 that he learned that Hugh Sparks had not died during the Civil War, but had married and had a family of five children.]
We have learned very little about the life of Hugh Sparks. All of the information that we have has been furnished by a descendant, Dr. Paul O. Madsen, of Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. According to Dr. Madsen, Hugh Sparks married Virginia Jane Elkins ca. 1863, probably in newly formed West Virginia. She had been born ca. 1836 in Virginia, and her parents were natives of that state. She and Hugh had five children, all born in Virginia. When the 1880 census was taken of Arkansas, the family was in Ruddell Township of Independence County. We have learned nothing further of Hugh. Virginia died in 1917 in Hunt County, Texas. Children of Hugh and Virginia Jane (Elkins) Sparks:
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.5.1 Cynthia Anne Sparks was born February 4, 1865. She married Robert Franklin Goodman in 1889 in Arkansas. He had been born in 1851 in Illinois and was a son of Joseph Goodman. Robert died on April 16, 1917, at Bethany City, Texas. Cynthia died on May 17, 1941, at Brawley, California. They had eight children:
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.5.1.1 Vergie Goodman,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.5.1.2 Ruth Dell Goodman,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.5.1.3 Mary Goodman,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.5.1.4 Adelaide Goodman,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.5.1.5 Bexar Goodman,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.5.1.6 Lora Goodman married Otto J. Madsen, and they were the parents of Dr. Paul Madsen who has been an important contributor to this compilation.,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.5.1.7 Marydean Goodman, and
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.5.1.8 Roberta Goodman.1.2.5.1.2.1.1.5.2 Hugh Jackson Sparks was born January 28, 1867. He married Laura Etta Brooks ca. 1890, and they had six children. Hugh died on October 28, 1948. Their children were:
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.5.2.1 Frank Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.5.2.2 Henry Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.5.2.3 Austin Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.5.2.4 Troy Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.5.2.5 Ivey Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.5.2.6 Jay Hugh Sparks.1.2.5.1.2.1.1.5.3 Margaret Sparks was born April 10, 1870. She married Nick Brooks ca. 1889. She died in 1898 at Batesville, Arkansas. She and Nick had two children:
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.5.3.1 James Ransom Brooks and
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.5.3.2 Pearl Brooks.1.2.5.1.2.1.1.5.4 Sarah Sparks was born ca. 1874.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.5.5 Adelaide Sparks was born ca. 1875.1.2.5.1.2.1.1.6 Bethany Sparks, daughter of Garrett and Betsy (Boggs) Sparks, was born ca. 1836. She married David Curnutte on September 27, 1853, in Lawrence County. He had been born ca. 1834 and was a son of Reuben ["Bobby"] and Zilpha (Holbrook) Curnutte. When the 1860 census was taken of Lawrence County, David and Bethany were shown with two children; there may have been others born to them later. We have no further information about this family.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.6.1 John Francis Curnutte was born July 3, 1856.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.6.2 Mary E. Curnutte was born ca. 1860. She was married twice. Her first marriage was to William Hulette, and her second marriage was to Samuel Lowe. by her first marriage, Mary had at least one child, J. L. ["Lon" ] Hewlette. We have no further information about her.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7 Nancy Artha Sparks, was born June 7, 1837, in Lawrence County, Kentucky, and it was there that she married Isaac Lester on February 4, 1858. He had been born on September 20, 1837, at Tazewell County, Virginia, and was a son of William and Rutha (Bishop) Lester, natives of Virginia. Isaac and Nancy lived on the Raccoon Branch of Hood Creek. They had three children when Isaac enlisted in the 68th Regiment Kentucky Infantry of the Union Army on May 21, 1864. Many years later, he applied for an Invalid Pension for his military service. It is from the materials in his pension file that we have learned a great deal about him and his family.
Isaac Lester was an avid hunter and was accidentally shot and killed by his son, Lantford Lester, while they were squirrel hunting in Pocahontas County, West Virginia. He died on October 12, 1908, and his body was brought back to Lawrence County. He was buried in the Bishop-Lester Cemetery near Wilbur, Kentucky. Nancy died in 1914 and was buried be side her husband. They had six children.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.1 Walter Greenville Lester was born November 12, 1858. He married Joanna Baker on April 3, 1878, in Lawrence County. She had been born ca. 1862 and was a daughter of Andrew Jackson and Susana (Edwards) Baker. Walter and Joanna were members of the United Baptist Church. They lived at Cordell, Kentucky, where they died in 1945. They had six children:
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.1.1 Judge Lynch Lester,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.1.2 Susan Lester,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.1.3 John ["Jack"] Lester,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.1.4 Bessie Lester,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.1.5 Maggie Lester, and
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.1.6 Nancy Lester.1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.2 David Lantford ["Lant"] Lester was born May 4, 1860. He married Nancy R. Cordle on March 23, 1881, in Lawrence County. She had been born June 20, 1864, and was a daughter of John Michael and Polly (Moore) Cordle. (Various spellings of the name Cordle, such as Caudill, Cordell, and Cordial, are used in the same family.) Lant and Nancy Lester lived in Lawrence County until about 1904, when they moved to Greenbrier County, West Virginia. It was at Seebert, in neighboring Pocahontas County, that Lant accidentally shot his father while they were squirrel hunting. Lant died on January 16, 1934, in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. Nancy died on June 29, 1943, in Nicholas County, West Virginia. They had ten children:
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.2.1 Ursula Lester,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.2.2 Dock Lester,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.2.3 Zilpha Lester,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.2.4 William H. Lester,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.2.5 Emory Lake Lester,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.2.6 Hester Lovell ["Belle"] Lester,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.2.7 Thursa E. Lester,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.2.8 Levi J. ["Elljay"] Lester,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.2.9 Bertha Alice Lester, and
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.2.10 Rebecca Artha Lester.1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.3 William George Lester was born April 8, 1862. He married Mary Rachel ["Rafe"] Cordle ca. 1883. She had been born in April 1863 and was a daughter of Amos and Ginnia (Thompson) Cordle. William and Rafe Lester moved to West Virginia along with William's brother, Lant Lester, and it was there that they spent the rest of their lives. They had eleven children:
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.3.1 Virgie L. Lester,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.3.2 Lockie Lester,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.3.3 David H. Lester,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.3.4 Emma E. Lester,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.3.5 Lucinda L. Lester,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.3.6 Tory Jane Lester,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.3.7 Nannie F. Lester,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.3.8 Ruthie L. Lester,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.3.9 Susie Lester,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.3.10 Noah Lester, and
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.3.11 Wallace Lester.1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.4 Rutha Elizabeth Lester was born August 27, 1865. She married John O. Cordle on June 24, 1881, in Lawrence Courity. He had been born in October 1861. They had ten children:
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.4.1 Jennie B. Cordle,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.4.2 Nancy H. Cordle,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.4.3 Isaac Amos Cordle,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.4.4 Carrie E. Cordle,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.4.5 Sarah Cordle,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.4.6 Levi Cordle,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.4.7 Magnolia Cordle,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.4.8 Russell Cordle,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.4.9 Elias Cordle, and
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.4.10 Jesse Cordle.1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.5 Garred Melvin Lester was born February 10, 1868. He married Rachel Green. She had been born in September 1870 and was a daughter of Phereby Green. Garred and Rachel had four children:
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.5.1 Leroy Lester,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.5.2 Nollie Lester,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.5.3 Isaac Lester, and
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.5.4 Nannie Jane Lester.Garred died on October 3, 1929.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.7.6 Historia ["Tory"] Lester was born March 17, 1880. She was never married; however, relatives state that she was the "sweetheart" of Albert Evans and bore him two children, Curtis Evans and Jessie Evans. On the 1900 census of Lawrence County, Historia Lester, aged 20, and Curtis Evans, age one month, were listed in the household of Isaac Lester as his daughter and grandson. Tory died on January 5, 1914, at Kenova, West Virginia.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.8 Jemima Sparks, daughter of Garrett and Betsy (Boggs) Sparks, was born on December 25, 1838, in Lawrence County, Kentucky. It was there that she married Berry B. Fugitt (or Fugate) on December 20, 1859. He had been born on April 2, 1820, and was a son of Benjamin and Phebe Fugitt. Berry and Jemima lived on Irish Creek. Jemima died there on February 4, 1888, and Berry died on February 20, 1896. They had two children:
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.8.1 Hester Ann Fugitt was born September 20, 1860. She married Jesse A. Young on October 22, 1879. He had been born on April 29, 1856, and was a son of John W. and Mahala (Kelley) Young. Jesse and Hester lived at Cherokee, Kentucky, where he had a stock farm. Hester died on June 20, 1939, and Jesse died on March 20, 1942. Jesse A. and Hester Ann (Fugitt) Young were the parents of ten children:
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.8.1.1 Roscoe Young,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.8.1.2 James Walter Young,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.8.1.3 Curtis C. Young,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.8.1.4 Charlotte Young,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.8.1.5 Levi Morton Young,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.8.1.6 George Denny Young,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.8.1.7 David Mayo Young,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.8.1.8 Anna Irene Young,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.8.1.9 Elizabeth Young, and
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.8.1.10 Luther Nelson Young.1.2.5.1.2.1.1.8.2 Walter W. Fugitt was born September 10, 1863. He married Cora Elam.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.9 Walter O. Sparks was born ca. 1840. On October 10, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, 14th Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Infantry of the Union Army at Catlettsburg, Kentucky, to serve for three years. He was given a Disability Discharge Certificate on April 12, 1863, at Louisa, Kentucky, because of "lung fever" which had destroyed his left lung. At the time of his discharge, he was 21 years old. He held the rank of sergeant; he was 6 feet, 2 inches tall; he had blue eyes, light colored hair, and a fair complexion; and he was a farmer by occupation. His home address was Blaine, Kentucky. The certificate was signed by Captain James H. Davidson, C.O. of Company B; S. D. Richards, Assistant Regimental Surgeon; and Col. George Gallup, Regimental Commander.
Walter Sparks's discharge from the army is the last record we have found of him. Relatives say that he died shortly after reaching his home. He was never married.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.10 Rebecca H. Sparks was born ca. 1842 in Lawrence County, Kentucky. It was there that she married John F. Green on October 27, 1859. He had been born ca. 1839 in Cabell County, Virginia (now West Virginia). John and Rebecca are said to have moved to Minnesota where they had at least one child. Nothing further has been heard of this couple.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.10.1 Perlina Green married Shad Bowling.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.11 David Landford (or Lantford) Sparks, son of Garrett and Betsy (Boggs) Sparks, was born ca. 1844 in Lawrence County, Kentucky. On October 10, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, 14th Regiment Kentucky Infantry, along with his brother, 1.2.5.1.2.1.1.9 Walter O. Sparks. (See above.) He was mustered out with his company on January 21, 1865. He married Thursa Curnutte on May 14, 1865, in Lawrence County. She had been born ca. 1844 and was a daughter of Reuben ["Bobby"] and Zilpha (Holbrook) Curnutte. David and Thursa had no children. They lived near Martinsburg (now Sandy Hook), Kentucky, where David died on October 16, 1878. He was buried in the Sparks Cemetery at the Forks of Blaine. In 1893, his widow applied for a Widow's Pension for his service. (See pp. 4663-4664 of this issue of the Quarterly for an abstract of his pension file.)
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.12 Phoebe Jane Sparks was born ca. 1845. She married Francis ["Frank"] Parker in 1865 in Lawrence County, Kentucky. He had been born ca. 1845. We have found no records of this couple after the 1900 census was taken of Lawrence County. According to that census, and information furnished by a relative, it appears that they had ten children:
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.12.1 Lousina ["Sena"] B. Parker was born ca. 1866.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.12.2 Edford Scott Parker was born in September 1867. He married Jane Lemon ca. 1890, and they had at least two children: John F. Parker and Minny Parker.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.12.3 Garred L. Parker was born ca. 1869.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.12.4 Reuben Parker was born in March 1872. He married Susanna MNU ca. 1897, and they had two children when the 1900 census was taken of Lawrence County. They were:
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.12.4.1 Cora S. Parker and
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.12.4.2 Minyard Parker.1.2.5.1.2.1.1.12.5 Harrison ["Hank"] Parker.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.12.6 Jemima J. Parker was born in April 1877. She was married twice. Her first marriage was to FNU Puckett ca. 1895, and they had a daughter,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.12.6.1 Phoebe J. Puckett.
Jemima's second marriage was to FNU Sprouse. She lived at Ironton, Ohio.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.12.7 Berry Parker was born in March 1878. He married Celia MNU ca. 1897, and they had at least one child,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.12.7.1 Eva Parker.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.12.8 Andrew B. ["Drew"] Parker was born July 11, 1880. He married Alice Houck. He died In 1957. He and Alice had six children:
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.12.8.1 Dora Parker,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.12.8.2 Phoebe Jane Parker,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.12.8.3 Francis M. Parker,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.12.8.4 Genoa Parker,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.12.8.5 Elza Landford Parker, and
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.12.8.6 Thurman F. Parker.1.2.5.1.2.1.1.12.9 Belle Parker married FNU Young.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.12.10 Bethany Parker married FNU Houck, and they lived at Holden, West Virginia.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.13 Sidney Lovina Sparks, daughter of Garrett and Betsy (Boggs) Sparks, was born on April 9, 1848. She married Alfred Jackson ["Bud"] Berry ca. 1868. He had been born on October 4, 1847, and was a son of Isaac and Jane (Lambert) Berry. Bud and Sidney lived at Ellen, Kentucky. Sidney died there on February 15, 1912, and Bud died on January 21, 1823. They had four children according to a booklet, The Berry Family in Lawrence County, Kentucky, compiled by Dr. David V. Agricola in 1978.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.13.1 Columbus Andrew ["Drew"] Berry was born July 29, 1870, at Ellen, Kentucky. He married Adelaide Moore ca. 1889. She had been born on January 27, 1870. Drew died about 1920, and Adelaide died in 1934. They had six children:
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.13.1.1 Hubbard K. Berry,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.13.1.2 Arley Berry,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.13.1.3 Otis Berry,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.13.1.4 James M. Berry,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.13.1.5 Gordon Berry, and
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.13.1.6 Shirley Berry1.2.5.1.2.1.1.13.2 David Greenville Berry was born November 20, 1873. He married Alsey McCown on September 24, 1896, in Lawrence County. She had been born on September 10, 1876. She died on August 25, 1950, and David died on March 28, 1951. They had one child,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.13.2.1 Monnie Pearl Berry.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.13.3 Mary ["Mollie"] Berry was born June 4, 1880. She married Leander Greenville ["Jack"] Curnutte on February 24, 1904, in Lawrence County. She died on April 25, 1945, and Jack died on June 14, 1954. They had two children,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.13.3.1 Otha Lucille Curnutte and
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.13.3.2 Clyde C. Curnutte.1.2.5.1.2.1.1.13.4 James Conrad ["Con"] Berry was born December 25, 1894. He married Carrie Endicott on February 1, 1913, in Boyd County, Kentucky She had been born on October 23, 1893, in Wayne County. West Virginia. Con died on July 1, 1928, and Carrie died on September 29, 1957. They had one child,
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.13.4.1 byron byington Berry.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.14 Lydia Sparks was born ca. 1851. We have no further information about her.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.15 Garrett Melvin Sparks was born on April 15, 1854, in Lawrence County, Kentucky, and it was there that he married Mary A. Miller on August 24, 1871. [The family of Garrett and Mary (Miller) Sparks was the subject of an article on pp 3927-3928 of the March 1992 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 157, and will not be repeated here.]
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.16 Elizabeth Sparks was born ca. 1855. She married Harrison ["Hack"] Griffith, and they are said to have moved to Minnesota. They had at least three children. We have no further information about them.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.16.1 John Griffith married Nola Smith.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.16.2 Emma Griffith married Gine Richie.
1.2.5.1.2.1.1.16.3 Osa Griffith.1.2.5.1.2.1.2 Sidney Sparks, daughter of Levi and (Walsh) Sparks, was born ca. 1804 in Wilkes County, North Carolina, and she was a baby when her mother died. She was cared for by her mother's family and continued to live with them after she was grown. She did not go to Kentucky with her father. Apparently she did not marry. We have no further information about her.
1.2.5.1.2.1.3 Calvin Sparks, son of Levi and Sarah (Lyon) Sparks, was born November 9, 1806, in Wilkes County, North Carolina. He received a good education in the local schools and was a good-sized lad when he accompanied his parents to Kentucky. Descendants say that he taught school near the village of Martha in Lawrence County. He married Sarah ["Sally"] Lyon on June 19, 1828, in Lawrence County by Stephen Wheeler, a Baptist minister. Sally had been born on July 10, 1806, and was a daughter of John and Mary ["Polly"] (Holbrook) Lyon.
Calvin and Sally lived on the Right Fork of Big Blaine Creek where they reared six children. Sally died there on August 29, 1876. Calvin made his home with his son, Nelson Sparks, until his death on February 26, 1894. He and Sally were buried in the Dobyns Cemetery located near the mouth of Wiley Branch. They were the parents of the following children:
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.1 Amy Sparks, probable daughter of Calvin and Sally (Lyon) Sparks, was born ca. 1829; she apparently died when she was quite small.
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2 Alford Sparks was born February 22, 1831, in Lawrence County, Kentucky. His given name was spelled Alford on early records; however, descendants gradually changed the spelling to Alfred. He married Mary ["Polly"] Ann Green on December 30, 1852, in Lawrence County. According to the marriage license, he had been born "at the head of Blaine Creek" while she had been born in Scott County, Virginia, on September 12, 1838. She was a daughter of William Wellington and Sally (Hutchison) Green.
Alford and Polly Ann lived on the Little Fork of Little Sandy River near the post office, Fielden, in that portion of Lawrence County that be came part of Elliott County in 1896. He served for a short period of time in Company A, 68th Regiment Kentucky Infantry during the Civil War. He was the first coroner of Elliott County.
Alford Sparks died on April 13, 1899. His wife, Polly (Green) Sparks, survived him nearly twenty-five years, dying on April 12, 1923. They were buried in the J. C. Sparks Cemetery on Little Fork Road. They had nine children.
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.1 James ["Jeems"] Nelson Sparks was born in December 1855. He married Sarah Hutchinson on May 4, 1876, in Elliott County, Kentucky. She had been born in June 1857 in Morgan County, Kentucky. She and Jeems had seven children, all born in Elliott County. They were:
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.1.1 Laura B. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.1.2 Alfred Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.1.3 Bertha Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.1.4 Meredith Benton Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.1.5 James Harvey Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.1.6 Anna Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.1.7 Maude Sparks.1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.1.4 Meredith Benton Sparks, son of Jeems and Sarah, should not be confused with his cousin, also named 1.2.5.1.2.1.3.5.1 Meredith Benton Sparks, son of Nelson and Sarrilda Sparks. (See below.)
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.2 Elbert ["Eb"] Madison Sparks was born August 4, 1857. He married Mary Elizabeth ["Liz"] Day on August 31, 1876, in Elliott County. She had been born in July 1858 in Rowan County, Kentucky, and was a daughter of Isaac and Frankie (Watson) Day. Eb Sparks died in 1943. He and Liz had seven children, all born in Elliott County. They were:
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.2.1 James Monroe Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.2.2 William M. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.2.3 Milford Nelson Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.2.4 Polly A. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.2.5 Sarah Frances Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.2.6 Calvin Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.2.7 Curtis Sparks.1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.3 Loucina ["Sena"] Elizabeth Sparks was born March 15, 1863. She married Robert Martin Green on July 24, 1880, in Elliott County. He had been born ca. 1860 and was a son of James Madison and Mary Elizabeth (Mason) Green. Robert and Sena lived at Culver, Kentucky. She died there on June 16, 1927. She and Robert had six children:
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.3.1 Sarah M. Green,
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.3.2 Polly Ann Green,
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.3.3 James Alford Green,
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.3.4 Flora Belle Green,
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.3.5 Mary E. Green, and
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.3.6 Jennie D. B. Green.1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.4 John Calvin Sparks was born November 23, 1865. Calvin (as he was called) married Mary Elizabeth Green on December 30, 1883, in Elliott County, Kentucky. She had been born ca. 1865 and was a daughter of James Madison and Mary Elizabeth (Mason) Green; thus she was a sister of Robert Martin Green who married Calvin's sister, 1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.3 Sena Sparks. Calvin and Mary Elizabeth had four children:
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.4.1 Sarah Rebecca Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.4.2 Marinda J. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.4.3 Virgie T. Sparks married to Charles F. Sparks. See pp. 1306-1307 of the March 1970 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 69.
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.4.4 Bert L. Sparks married Carrie Sparks.( Bert L. Sparks married Carrie Sparks. See also Item,C, 5, a, below. Both Bert Sparks and Virgie Sparks are in the cover picture of this issue of the Quarterly.)
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.5 Nancy Virginia Sparks was born March 6, 1869. She married Lewis William Barker ca. 1885. He had been born on January 23, 1860, and was a son of Hardin and Sarah Jane Barker. Lewis and Nancy lived at Fielden, Kentucky. He died there on September 16, 1946; Nancy died on January 28, 1953. They had eleven children:
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.5.1 Minnie Bell Barker,
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.5.2 Allen Thurman Barker,
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.5.3 Sarah Elizabeth Barker,
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.5.4 Alfred Jackson Barker,
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.5.5 James Virgil Barker,
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.5.6 Matthew Barker,
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.5.7 Polly Ann Barker,
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.5.8 Elbert Victor Barker,
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.5.9 Ernest Raymond Barker,
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.5.10 Elisha Barker, and
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.5.11 Nada Opal Barker.(Sarah Barker is in the cover picture of this issue of the Quarterly.)
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.6 William Greenville Sparks was born in January 1871. On November 16, 1893, he married Mary Amanda Stapleton in Elliott County. She had been born in July 1878. They had ten children:
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.6.1 Grace Malissa Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.6.2 Leonidas Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.6.3 Bessie Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.6.4 Lan/James[?]Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.6.5 Beulah Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.6.6 Calvin Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.6.7 Amanda Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.6.8 Thelma Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.6.9 Jewell Sparks and
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.6.10 Vencill Sparks.1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.7 Flora Anne Sparks was born ca. 1875. She married Elisha Barker on May 22, 1890, in Elliott County. He had been born on May 22, 1870, and was a son of Hardin and Sarah Jane Barker; thus he and his brother, Lewis Barker, were married to sisters. (See Item C, 2, e, above.) Elisha and Flora had nine children: Effie Barker, Cecil Barker, Lonnie Estill Barker, Bertha Barker, Ivy Barker, William Barker, Eula Faye Barker, Finis Barker, and Elsie Barker.
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.8 Marinda Jane Sparks was born ca. 1878. She married Jacob Fields on January 9, 1895, in Elliott County, and they had six children: Joseph Fields, Arizona Fields, Granville Fields, Benton Fields, Dixie Fields, and Bessie Fields.
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.9 Harvey Sparks was born ca. 1881. We have no further information about him.
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.3 Mary ["Polly"] Sparks, daughter of Calvin and Sally (Lyon) Sparks, was born on November 26, 1836, in Lawrence County, Kentucky. It was there that she married Harvey Lester on May 11, 1854. He had been born on September 5, 1834, in Tazewell County, Virginia, and was a son of William and Rutha (Bishop) Lester. Harvey's brother, Isaac Lester, married Nancy A. Sparks, a cousin of Polly. (See Item A, 7, above.) Harvey and Polly lived on Hoods Creek where he was a farmer and lumberman. He was also the postmaster of Martha, Kentucky, for several years. He died on February 22, 1922, and Polly died on March 16, 1929. They had five children, including two who were adopted.
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.3.1 Sarah ["Sally"] Lester was born May 13, 1855, in Lawrence County. It was there that she married George Washington Bailey in 1872. He had been born in April 1847 and was a son of Daniel and Agnes (Lyon) Bailey. Sally died on February 6, 1927, in Madison County, Kentucky, according to a descendant, and George died there on December 22, 1928. They were the parents of nine children:
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.3.1.1 Harvey Bailey
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.3.1.2 Mary Belle Bailey
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.3.1.3 Cora Agnes Bailey
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.3.1.4 George A. Bailey
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.3.1.5 Nelson A. Bailey
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.3.1.6 Wallace H. Bailey
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.3.1.7 William Britton Bailey
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.3.1.8 Myrtle D. Bailey and
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.3.1.9 Sanford Bailey.1.2.5.1.2.1.3.3.2 Ruth Martha Lester was born December 8, 1857. She married Neaton Harrison Bailey ca. 1880, and they had three children,
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.3.2.1 Charles Bailey (He is in the cover picture of this issue of the Quarterly.)
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.3.2.2 William Washington Bailey and
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.3.2.3 Harvey Bailey.1.2.5.1.2.1.3.3.3 William C. Lester was born October 29, 1863. He died on October 7, 1865, and was buried in the Levi Sparks Cemetery.
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.3.4 Dicey Sparks was born in 1862 and was adopted by Harvey and Polly Lester.
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.3.5 Mary Etta Fyffe was born in June 1865 and was adopted by Harvey and Polly Lester.
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.4 Perlina Sparks, daughter of Calvin and Sally (Lyon) Sparks, was born February 22, 1840. She married Andrew Jackson ["Jack"] Dobyns on November 7, 1864, in Morgan County, Kentucky. He had been born,on January 18, 1838, and was a son of William and Elizabeth (Minnick) Dobyns. Jack and Perlina lived near Martha, Kentucky. He died there on December 7, 1918. Perlina died there on December 26, 1921. They were buried in the Dobyns Cemetery. They had five children.
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.4.1 Calvin K. Dobyns was born in 1871. He married Frances ["Frankie"] Peters. He died in 1957. He and Frankie had five children. They were:
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.4.1.1 Port Dobyns,
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.4.1.2 Boyd Dobyns,
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.4.1.3 Eulas Dobyns,
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.4.1.4 Russell Dobyns, and
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.4.1.5 Mitchell Dobyns.1.2.5.1.2.1.3.4.2 Sarrilda Dobyns was born May 15, 1879, in Lawrence County, and it was there that she married John Newton Sparks on January 2, 1898. He had been born on April 13, 1874, and was a son of Lindsay and Catherine (Skaggs) Sparks. (See Item D, 3, f, below.) Surrilda died on April 12, 1975. She and John had four children: Arville Sparks, Jewell Sparks, Goldie Sparks, and Junius Sparks.
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.4.3 Elizabeth Dobyns married Harvey Lyon.
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.4.4 Missouri Dobyns married Marion Ward.
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.4.5 Marietta Dobyns married Ison Skaggs.1.2.5.1.2.1.3.5 Nelson Sparks, son of Calvin and Sally (Lyon) Sparks, was born June 1, 1845. He was a merchant. He was married twice. His first marriage was to Sarrilda Holbrook on December 15, 1863, in Lawrence County. She had been born on March 4, 1849. She and Nelson had three children. She died on December 18, 1920. Nelson's second marriage was to Mrs. Mary M. Holbrook in 1925. He died on February 26, 1932. His children by his first wife were:
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.5.1 Meredith Benton Sparks, son of Nelson and Sarrilda (Holbrook) Sparks, was born November 24, 1866. He should not be confused with a cousin who was also named Meredith Benton Sparks (See 1.2.5.1.2.1.3.2.1, above). Meredith Sparks, son of Nelson, married Cynthia Alice Bailey on September 22, 1887, in Johnson County, Kentucky. She had been born on March 21, 1869, and was a daughter of William Wallace and Sarah Agnes (Stinson) Bailey. Meredith Sparks was quite popular in his community and was elected as Lawrence County judge. (See the photograph reproduced above that he used in electioneering.) He died on November 29, 1921, and Cynthia went to Ashland, Kentucky, to be near her son, Dr. Proctor Sparks. She died there on February 25, 1952. She and Meredith had three children:
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.5.1.1 Proctor Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.5.1.2 Carrie Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.5.1.3 Pleury Sparks.(Proctor Sparks was one of the Association's most enthusiastic charter members. See page 192 of the March 1957 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 17, for his obituary. He is in the cover picture of this issue of the Quarterly.)
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.5.2 Sarah Malissa Sparks was born June 12, 1869. She married Pleasant P. Holbrook in 1888 in Lawrence County. They lived at Skaggs, Kentucky. Pleasant was a most successful man, and was president of the Bank of Blalne. He died in 1937. Sarah died on November 30, 1929. They were the parents of three children:
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.5.2.1 Minnie C. Holbrook,
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.5.2.2 Carrie Holbrook, and
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.5.2.3 Gretta Holbrook.1.2.5.1.2.1.3.5.3 James Alfred Sparks was born August 3, 1876. He married Anna Wilkinson ca. 1899, and they had at least one child, 1.2.5.1.2.1.3.5.3.1 Arville Sparks.
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.6 Thomas Benton Sparks was born on February 1, 1849. He married Irene Fields on August 30, 1869, in Elliott County, Kentucky. She had been born on August 27, 1847, and was a daughter of Jason Fields. Benton (as he was called) and Irene lived near Fielden, Kentucky, and their children attended the Whites Creek school. Irene died on February 25, 1915. Benton died on May 21, 1937. They had eight children.
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.6.1 Robert Nelson Sparks was born June 3, 1870, in Elliott County. He married Nancy Emily Sparks on November 28, 1890, by Reuben Sparks, a justice of the peace. Emily (as she was called) had been born July 19, 1872, and was a daughter of Lindsay and Katie (Skaggs) Sparks. (See Item D, c, below.) Nelson (as he was called) and Emily lived at Fielden, Kentucky. He died sometime after 1953. He and Emily had six children: Ollie Sparks, Edward Sparks, Elmer Sparks, Homer Sparks, Goldie Sparks, and Earl Sparks.
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.6.2 Loucina ["Cena"] Elizabeth Sparks was born October 12, 1872. She married Harlan Gilliam, a son of David Gilliam. Cena died on April 11, 1953.
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.6.3 Eliza Belle Sparks was born March 15, 1875. She married Haden Hay, a son of Thomas Hay. Belle (as she was called) died in July 1910.
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.6.4 James ["Jim"] Franklin Sparks was born August 17, 1877, at Fielden, Kentucky. He was. married twice. His first marriage was to Marge Rice on January 4, 1900. They had two children before Marge died on April 26, 1904. They were 1.2.5.1.2.1.3.6.4.1 Ila Sparks and an unnamed daughter who died in 1904 at birth. Jim Sparks was married, second, to Nannie Kendall on April 1, 1906, in Elliott County, and they had one child, 1.2.5.1.2.1.3.6.4.2 Ina Sparks. Jim Sparks died sometime after 1953.
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.6.5 Celia Jane Sparks was born August 8, 1880. She married Cager Laney, a son of Price Laney. Celia died on June 20, 1951.
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.6.6 Martha Ann Sparks was born February 10, 1883. She died in October 1952.
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.6.7 Jason Calvin Sparks was born March 2, 1886. He was obviously named for his grandfathers. He married Nancy Ellen Gibson. She had been born on March 30, 1885, and was a daughter of David Gibson. Jason died sometime after 1953. He and Nancy Ellen had at least one child, but we have no further information abotit this family.
1.2.5.1.2.1.3.6.8 Joel D. Sparks was born May 30, 1888. He died while a small child.
1.2.5.1.2.1.4 Wiley Sparks, son of Levi and Sarah (Lyon) Sparks, was born March 3, 1808, according to a Bible entry made many years ago. (See p. 241 of the September 1957 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 19.) He was born in Wilkes County, North Carolina, and was a teenaged boy when he accompanied his parents to Lawrence County, Kentucky. It was there that he married Cynthia Ann Holbrook on June 21, 1832, by Stephen Wheeler a Baptist minister. She had been born on January 6, 1814, and was a daughter of John and Mary (Lyon) Holbrook, natives of North Carolina.
Wiley and Cynthia Sparks went to housekeeping on Wiley Branch, a stream in soutneastern Lawrence County that was named for him. It is said that he settled there to be near the bear hunting which was very good on nearby Wallow Hole Creek. This area had several mineral springs in which the bears liked to bathe (or wallow) after their hibernation and which gave the stream its name. It was on Wiley Branch that Wiley and Cynthia reared seven children. Wiley died there on February 19, 1890, and was buried on the Lindsey Sparks homesite. Cynthia died on September 16, 1900, and was buried on the George Washington Sparks homesite.
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.1 Nancy Sparks was born August 17, 1833. She died on December 6, 1901. She was never married.
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.2 Mary ["Polly"] Sparks was born November 5, 1834. She married Lewis Lyon, Jr. on January 2, 1854, in Lawrence County. He had been born on April 21, 1831, and was a son of Lewis and Lucinda Lyon. Lewis and Polly Lyon lived on Wallow Hole Creek where they reared eleven children. Polly died on February 7, 1908, and Lewis died on October 1, 1926.
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.2.1 Wiley Lyon was born December 4, 1854. He married Mary Elizabeth Brickey on August 31, 1874. She had been born on October 20, 1856. She died on June 30, 1932, at Halcom, Kentucky. Wiley died there on September 16, 1940. They had twelve children.
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.2.1.1 Mary Caroline Lyon,
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.2.1.2 Daniel Lewis Lyon,
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.2.1.3 James Emmitt Lyon,
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.2.1.4 Cynthia Jane Lyon,
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.2.1.5 Nelson Lyon,
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.2.1.6 Sarah Alice Lyon,
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.2.1.7 Melissa Elizabeth Lyon,
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.2.1.8 Samuel Robert Lyon,
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.2.1.9 Thursa Victoria Lyon,
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.2.1.10 William Elisha Lyon,
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.2.1.11 John Franklin Lyon, and
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.2.1.12 Marion Granville Lyon.1.2.5.1.2.1.4.2.2 Thursa Lyon was born January 25, 1857.
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.2.3 Lewis A. Lyon was born January 30, 1860.
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.2.4 Emily Lyon was born March 2, 1861. She married 1.2.5.1.2.1.1.3.1 Laban Sparks on December 9, 1880, and they had seven children. (See above, for further details of this family.)
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.2.5 Samantha Lyon was born October 5, 1863.
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.2.6 Cynthia Lyon was born July 1, 1866.
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.2.7 Dennis Lyon was born July 4, 1869. He had a twin sister, Loucina Alice Lyon. He married Regina Sparks in 1888 in Lawrence County. (See Item A, 3, d, [2.3.4] above for further details of this family.)1.2.5.1.2.1.4.2.8 Loucina Alice Lyon was born July 4, 1869, and was a twin of Dennis Lyon, next above. Alice (as she was called) married Robert Lee Sparks on September 2, 1886, in Elliott County, Kentucky. He had been born on September 16, 1867, in Lawrence County and was a son of William Henry and Clarinda (Harris) Sparks. Alice and Robert had four children:
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.2.8.1 Cynthia N. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.2.8.2 Mollie V. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.2.8.3 Ottie E. Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.2.8.4 Myrtle Lee Sparks.Robert Sparks died in January 1940 at his home in Ashland, Kentucky.
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.2.9 Azel Washington Lyon was born February 2, 1872. He married Cynthia Ann Sparks about 1900. She had been born July 28, 1875, and was a daughter of George Washington and Linnie (Grizzell) Sparks. (See below.) Cynthia Ann died sometime after 1964 at Winchester, Indiana. She and Washington, as he was called, had two children,
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.2.9.1 Irla Lyon and
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.2.9.2 Nada Lyon.1.2.5.1.2.1.4.2.10 Elias Lyon
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.2.11 Elisha Lyon, twin sons of Lewis and Polly Sparks Lyon, were born on December 21, 1874.1.2.5.1.2.1.4.3 Lindsey Sparks, son of Wiley and Cynthia Ann (Holbrook) Sparks, was born May 27, 1839, in Lawrence County. It was there that he married Catherine ["Katie"] Ann Skaggs on January 29, 186f She had been born July 25, 1834, in Kentucky. She and Lindsey lived at Skaggs, Kentucky, in the southwest part of Lawrence County. When the 1900 census was taken of Lawrence County, they were living in the household of their son, Lewis Floyd Sparks. Katie died on December 10, 1904, and Lindsey died on January 4, 1912. They had six children.
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.3.1 Richard Menifee Sparks was born December 5, 1860. He married Melissa Caroline Brickey on January 25, 1881. She had been born on May 10, 864, and was a daughter of Daniel Morgan and Caroline (Brickey) Brickey. Melissa died on November 15, 1956. She and Richard had two children,
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.3.1.1 Parish Sparks and
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.3.1.2 Noah Sparks.1.2.5.1.2.1.4.3.2 Lewis Floyd Sparks was born April 11, 1862, in Lawrence County,and ?it was there that he married Melvina Skaggs on February 15, 1883. She had been born January 22, 1864, and was a daughter of Walter and Martha Johnson ???(DilesiPials) Skaggs???. Melvina and Lewis Floyd went to housekeeping near Martha, Kentucky, but about 1900 they moved to Elliott County, Kentucky, where they settled on Whites Creek. It was there that they lived for the rest of their lives.
Emmitt Ratliff, a grandson of Lewis Floyd and Melvina (Skaggs) Sparks, has given us a glimpse of the lives of his grandparents. He wrote: "I can remember visiting the farm of my grandfather where he lived with his youngest son, Kenneth, and Kenneth's wife, Virgie. The old house was a Lincoln-log design and was a two-story structure. ??Caroline (Brickey) Brickey??. Melissa died on November 15, 1956. She and Richard had two children,
Parish Sparks and
Noah Sparks.It had a kitchen on one end and a combination living room and bedroom on the other. A front porch extended the full length of the house. A hand-dug well, lined with native stones, was in the front yard, and, in addition to the drinking water, it was also used to keep the milk cool in the summer by lowering it into the well. It was here that family reunions were held for many years, and I didn't know just how many relatives I had until they all showed up for the delicious food. Not only the relatives, but friends for miles around were also in attendance!"
Melvina Sparks died on Whites Creek on October 15, 1928. Lewis floyd died there on September 28, 1949. They were buried in the Hay Cemetery on Little Fork. They had eleven children:
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.3.2.1 Stella Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.3.2.2 Nelson Tate Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.3.2.3 Meredith C. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.3.2.4 Logan Monroe Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.3.2.5 Rose Frances Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.3.2.6 Ervan Roscoe Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.3.2.7 Walter Emory Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.3.2.8 Bertha Mae Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.3.2.9 Esta Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.3.2.10 Glenn Ray Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.3.2.11 Kenneth Sparks.(Nelson Tate Sparks is a member of the cover picture. Esta Sparks married Paul Ratliff and they were the parents of Emmitt Ratliff who had furnished information and pictures for this article.)
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.3.3 Albert L. Sparks was born October 26, 1864, in Lawrence County, and it was there that he married Emily Ann Hay in 1883. She had been born on August 16, 1860, and was a daughter of Thomas Hay. She and Albert lived on Whites Creek. She died on March 24, 1906. Albert died on May 26, 1945. They were buried in the Hay Cemetery. They had four children when the 1900 census was taken of Elliott County, and there may have been other children born to them later. The children on the census were:
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.3.3.1 Alvin Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.3.3.2 Alma Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.3.3.3 Eva Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.3.3.4 Dewey Sparks.1.2.5.1.2.1.4.3.4 Mary Ellen Sparks was born October 26, 1867. She married Robert Emmet Brickey in 1884 in Lawrence County. He had been born July 21, 1860, and was a son of Daniel Morgan and Caroline (Brickey) Brickey. Mary Ellen died on July 21, 1930, and Robert died on September 27, 1931. They had eleven children:
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.3.4.1 Ernestine Brickey,
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.3.4.2 Charles F. Brickey,
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.3.4.3 Walter E. Brickey,
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.3.4.4 Mary Catherine Brickey,
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.3.4.5 Franklin P. Brickey,
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.3.4.6 Nancy C. Brickey,
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.3.4.7 Emma D. Brickey,
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.3.4.8 Sarah J. Brickey,
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.3.4.9 John E. Brickey,
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.3.4.10 Nelson P. Brickey, and
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.3.4.11 Golda May Brickey.1.2.5.1.2.1.4.3.5 Nancy Emily Sparks was born July 19, 1872. She married Robert Nelson Sparks on November 28, 1890. He had been born June 3, 1870, and was a son of Thomas Benton and Irene (Fields) Sparks. (See Item C, 6, a, above for further details of this family.)
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.3.6 John Newton Sparks was born April 13, 1874. He married Sarrilda Dobyns on January 22, 1898. She had been born on May 15, 1879, and was a daughter of Jackson and Perlina (Sparks) Dobyns. (See Item C, 4, b, above, for further details of this family.)
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.4 George Washington ["Wash"] Sparks, son of Wiley and Cynthia Ann (Holbrook) Sparks, was born September 3, 1845, in Lawrence County. He served for a short time in the 68th Regiment Kentucky Enlisted Militia of the Union Army during the Civil War. (See page 4665 of this issue of the Quarterly for an abstract of his pension file.) He married Linnie Grizzell on April 2, 1873, in Carter County, Kentucky, and it was there that she died on September 30, 1890. Wash survived her for nearly fifty years, dying on April 26, 1938. He and Linnie had six children. (See page 241 of the September 1957 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 19, for records from the Bible of Wash Sparks.)
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.4.1 Laura Bell Sparks was born March 24, 1874. She married Lewis Henderson Skaggs in 1899 in Lawrence County. They had one child, Virgil, when the 1900 census was taken of Lawrence County.
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.4.2 Cynthia Ann Sparks was born July 28, 1875. She married 1.2.5.1.2.1.4.2.9 Azel Washington Lyon ca. 1900. He had been born on February 2, 1872, and was a son of Lewis and 1.2.5.1.2.1.4.2 Polly (Sparks) Lyon. (See above, for further details about this family.)
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.4.3 Rufus Newton ["Newt"] Sparks was born February 2, 1877. He was a merchant and a farmer near Martha, Kentucky. He married Anna Ferguson on January 10, 1906, in Elliott County, Kentucky. Ann (Ferguson) Sparks had been born on May 1, 1886, and was a daughter of John H. and Sally (Ison) Ferguson. Newt died at Louisa, Kentucky, on November 7, 1965. Anna died on January 14, 1983. They had three children:
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.4.3.1 Orma ["O. G."] Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.4.3.2 Aubrey L. Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.4.3.3 Douglas Sparks.1.2.5.1.2.1.4.4.4 Carnola ["Nola"] Alice Sparks was born November 15, 1879, in Lawrence County, and it was there that she married James Powell Hay in 1898. He was a son of Thomas Hay. Jim and Nola lived at Fielden, Kentucky. Nola died on December 12, 1953. She and Jim had six children: Curtis Hay, Muriel Hay, Atha May Hay, Madge Hay, Clyde W. Hay, and Clarence Hay.
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.4.5 Matilda Elizabeth Sparks was born February 3, 1883. She married Charles Bailey in 1904 in Lawrence County. He had been born on March 10, 1882, in Johnson County, Kentucky, and was a son of Neaton Harrison and Rutha (Lester) Bailey. Charles and Matilda lived near Martha, Kentucky. She died on March 20, 1947, and Charles died on April 18, 1954. They were buried in the family cemetery at Martha. They had two children, Otis Bailey and Ray Bailey.
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.4.6 Pearl Lee Sparks was born January 24, 1885. She married William ["Will"] Washington Bailey on September 8, 1903, in Lawrence County. He had been born on December 20, 1884, and was a son of Neaton Harrison and Rutha (Lester) Bailey. Will's brother, Charles Bailey, married Pearl's sister, Matilda Sparks, the following year. (See Item D, 4, e, next above.) Will Bailey was a farmer until about 1948 when he retired and moved to Ashland, Kentucky. They were members of the Baptist Church; Pearl died on January 20, 1977, and Will died on October 30, 1981. They were buried in the Rose Hill Cemetery at Ashland. They had one child, Herold K. Bailey.
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.5 Matilda F. Sparks, daughter of Wiley and Cynthia Ann (Holbrook) Sparks, was born October 1, 1849. She died on December 14, 1921. She was never married.
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.6 John Newton Sparks was born on March 10, 1856. He died on May 8, 1859.
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.7 William Nesbit Sparks was born August 13, 1859. He married Elizabeth R. Sparks on December 9, 1880, in Elliott County, Kentucky. She had been born on April 5, 1859, and was a daughter of Reuben C. and Mary J. (Wellman) Sparks. Nesbit (as he was called) and Elizabeth left Elliott County about 1900 and moved to Pollard in Boyd County, Kentucky. Elizabeth died on October 9, 1917, at Portsmouth, Ohio, and Nesbit died there a short time later, on April 29, 1918. They had seven children.
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.7.1 Artha Sparks was born in December 1881.
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.7.2 Lafayette. F. ["Buddy"] Sparks was born March 24, 1885. He died in 1956 at Portsmouth, Ohio.
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.7.3 George Washington Sparks was born July 26, 1888. He married Cora Ellen Wheeler in 1912 in Scioto County, Ohio. He died on December 22, 1960. Cora died on March 17, 1981.
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.7.4 Wiley Emmet Sparks was born May 5, 1890. He married Minnie Howerton. He died on May 7, 1931.
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.7.5 Bertha May Sparks was born August 8, 1892. She married Albert Daniel. She died on January 2, 1974.
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.7.6 Reuben Tate Sparks was born September 13, 1894. He married Sarah Catherine Smith on November 3, 1919.
1.2.5.1.2.1.4.7.7 Barbara Ellen Sparks was born October 27, 1896. She was married three times. Her first marriage was to James Elmer Fields. He died when he was only 28 years of age. Her second marriage was to Ed Martin, and it ended in a divorce. Her third marriage was to Arnold Woodbury.
1.2.5.1.2.1.5 Daughter Sparks was born to Levi and Sarah (Lyon) Sparks ca. 1810; she probably died shortly after her birth.
1.2.5.1.2.1.6 Loucina ["Sina"] Sparks, daughter of Levi and Sarah (Lyon) Sparks, was born ca. 1812 in North Carolina. Her given name was seldom written or spoken of as Loucina, but was usually written as Sinay, Cena, Sina, etc. She grew to maturity in Lawrence County, Kentucky, and was married there to Ira Ison in September 1833. Calvin Sparks, brother of Loucina, was Ison's bondsman. The bond was dated September 5, 1833, and the couple was probably married a day or two later. Ira had been born ca. 1810 in Virginia and was a son of Archibald and Mary (Gilliam) Ison.
Ira and Sina lived on Newcombe Creek in that portion of Morgan County that became a part of Elliott County in 1869. They were enumerated on the 1850 and 1860 censuses of Morgan County, but were in Elliott County when the 1870 and 1880 censuses were taken. They died in Elliott County sometime after the 1880 census was taken. They had ten children, seven of whom lived to maturity.
1.2.5.1.2.1.6.1 Sarah Ison, daughter of Ira and Sina (Sparks) Ison, was born ca. 1835 in Lawrence County; and it was there that she married Braxston W. Adkins ca. 1854. He had been born ca. 1834 and was a son of Howard Adkins. Brack and Sarah lived on the Right Fork of Newcombe Creek where they reared seven children. [Braxston is also spelled Brackaton.]
1.2.5.1.2.1.6.1.1 Owen Adkins was born ca. 1855.
1.2.5.1.2.1.6.1.2 Emmaline Adkins was born ca. 1858.
1.2.5.1.2.1.6.1.3 Howard J. Adkins was born ca. 1862.
1.2.5.1.2.1.6.1.4 Leander Martin Adkins was born ca. 1867.
1.2.5.1.2.1.6.1.5 David A. Adkins was born in August 1869.
1.2.5.1.2.1.6.1.6 Mary L. Adkins was born ca. 1873.
1.2.5.1.2.1.6.1.7 Sarah L. Adkins was born ca. 1877.1.2.5.1.2.1.6.2 Argalus Ison, son of Ira and Sina (Sparks) Ison, was born ca. 1836. He died from typhoid fever when he was quite young.
1.2.5.1.2.1.6.3 Nelson Ison, son of Ira and Sina (Sparks) Ison, was born ca. 1838. He was probably named for his mother's brother, Nelson Sparks. He was 21 years old when he was enumerated with his parents when the 1860 census was taken of Morgan County, Kentucky. We have found no other record of him.
1.2.5.1.2.1.6.4 Emily Ison, daughter of Ira and Sina (Sparks) Ison was born ca. 1840. She married Eli Adkins ca. 1859. He had been born ca. 1837. and was a son of Appington Adkins. According to a descendant and the 1860 census of Morgan County, Kentucky, Eli and Emily had eight children.
1.2.5.1.2.1.6.4.1 John Riley Adkins.
1.2.5.1.2.1.6.4.2 Sarah ["Sally"] Adkins.
1.2.5.1.2.1.6.4.3 James Marion Adkins was born on November 2, 1866. He married Ann Gilliam. She had been born on October 7, 1865, and was a daughter of Peter H. and Anne (Evans) Gilliam. She died on April 2, 1942, at Antigo, Wisconsin. James died on May 13, 1948. They had at least one child, named 1.2.5.1.2.1.6.4.3.1 Ira Adkins.1.2.5.1.2.1.6.4.4 Loucina ["Sina"] Adkins.
1.2.5.1.2.1.6.4.5 Louvina ["Vina"] Adkins.
1.2.5.1.2.1.6.4.6 Thomas ["Tommie"] Adkins.
1.2.5.1.2.1.6.4.7 Ira Adkins.
1.2.5.1.2.1.6.4.8 Miranda ["Randy"] Adkins.1.2.5.1.2.1.6.5 John C. Ison, son of Ira and Sina (Sparks) Ison, was born May 15, 1842. He married Mary Waggoner on January 17, 1867. She had been born on November 7, 1846, and was a daughter of David and Bettie (Ison) Waggoner. Mary died on February 2, 1906, in Morgan County, Kentucky. John died on November 18, 1919. They had three children when the 1880 census was taken of Elliott County.
1.2.5.1.2.1.6.5.1 Braxton William Ison was born March 22, 1867. He married Cora Alice Gallion. She had been born on May 4, 1876. Braxton died on December 14, 1910, at Isonville, Kentucky. Cora died on May 16, 1912. They had at least one child, Mary Jane Ison, according to a relative.
1.2.5.1.2.1.6.5.2 Eliza Ann Ison was born ca. 1873.
1.2.5.1.2.1.6.5.3 Qtis B. Ison was born in February 1880.
1.2.5.1.2.1.6.6 Ira Ison, Jr., son of Ira and Sina (Sparks) Ison, was born July 6, 1843. He married Mary J. Adkins on July 12, 1866. She had been born ca. 1849 and was a daughter of Owen and Fannie Adkins. When the 1880 census was taken of Elliott County, Ira and Mary J. had six children, and there may have been other children born to them at a later time.
1.2.5.1.2.1.6.6.1 Leander Martin Ison was born ca. 1868.
1.2.5.1.2.1.6.6.2 Eda W. Ison was born ca. 1870.
1.2.5.1.2.1.6.6.3 Ida A. Ison was born ca. 1872.
1.2.5.1.2.1.6.6.4 Owen Ison was born ca. 1874.
1.2.5.1.2.1.6.6.5 Otie Ison was born ca. 1876.
1.2.5.1.2.1.6.6.6 Aleena Ison was born in November 1879.1.2.5.1.2.1.6.7 Martin Ison, son of Ira and Sina (Sparks) Ison, was born August 27, 1847. He married Mary E. Fraley on April 12, 1877. She had been born on May 30, 1856, and was a daughter of James Elihu and Jemima (Waggoner) Fraley. When the 1880 census was taken of Elliott County, Martin and Mary had one child; there may have been others born to them later.
1.2.5.1.2.1.6.7.1 James A. Ison was born ca. 1878.
1.2.5.1.2.1.6.8 David Ison, son of Ira and Sina (Sparks) Ison, was born ca. 1849. He married Sarah Kembleton ca. 1880. She had been born ca. 1850 in Kentucky and was a daughter of Elizabeth Kembleton. We have found no further record of this couple.
1.2.5.1.2.1.6.9 Isaac Ison, son of Ira and Sina (Sparks) Ison, was born May 19, 1853, and died when he was quite young.
1.2.5.1.2.1.6.10 Doctor F. Ison, son of Ira and Sina (Sparks) Ison, was born May 15, 1855. He married Parthena Fraley on June 29, 1877, in Elliott County. She had been born in October 1860 and was a daughter of James Elisha and Jemima (Waggoner) Fraley; thus, she was a sister of Mary E. Fraley who had been married to Martin Ison (Doctor's brother) just two months earlier. (See 1.2.5.1.2.1.6.7 Martin Ison, above.) Doctor and Parthena had seven children, all of them daughters.
1.2.5.1.2.1.6.10.1 Laura B. Ison was born ca. 1877. She married Ed Keaton.
1.2.5.1.2.1.6.10.2 Jemima lson was born ca. 1879. She married Richard Sparks.
1.2.5.1.2.1.6.10.3 Ida Ison married Pressley Bentley.
1.2.5.1.2.1.6.10.4 Malissa Ison married Sheridan Turner.
1.2.5.1.2.1.6.10.5 Nancy Jane Ison married Jim Sloas.
1.2.5.1.2.1.6.10.6 Ella Ison married Will Adkins.
1.2.5.1.2.1.6.10.7 Agnes Sarah Ison was born October 2, 1898. She married Aduie Watson.1.2.5.1.2.1.7 Sarah Sparks, daughter of Levi and Sarah (Lyon) Sparks, was born ca. 1814 in North Carolina and was a small girl when her parents moved to Lawrence County. It was there that she reached maturity and married Tillman Craft on March 18, 1835. He had been born ca. 1814 in North Carolina. He and Sarah lived in that portion of Lawrence County that became a part of Johnson County in 1843. They were enumerated on the 1850, 1860, and 1870 censuses of Johnson County. They died sometime after 1870. They were the parents of ten children.
1.2.5.1.2.1.7.1 William G. Craft, son of Tillman and Sarah (Sparks) Craft, was born ca. 1836.
1.2.5.1.2.1.7.2 Agatha Craft, daughter of Tillman and Sarah (Sparks) Craft, was born ca. 1838.1.2.5.1.2.1.7.3 Henderson Craft, son of Tiliman and Sarah (Sparks) Craft, was born ca. 1840. He served in. Company D, 45th Regiment Kentucky Infantry during the Civil War. He married Hannah Kimbler on March 15, 1868. She had been born ca. 1852 in Virginia. Henderson was a merchant according to census records. He and Hannah died sometime after 1910. They had five children.
1.2.5.1.2.1.7.3.1 Wiley H. Craft was born in May 1870.
1.2.5.1.2.1.7.3.2 Tobia Craft was born in February 1873. He married Nannie MNU.
1.2.5.1.2.1.7.3.3 William P. Craft was born ca. 1875.
1.2.5.1.2.1.7.3.4 Sarah E. Craft was born ca. 1878.
1.2.5.1.2.1.7.3.5 Lulie B. Craft was born in October 1884. She married Press Murray, Jr.1.2.5.1.2.1.7.4 Elizabeth Craft, daughter of Tillman and Sarah (Sparks) Craft, was born in November 1842. She married Nathan Sparks on June 1, 1861, in Johnson County, Kentucky. He had been born January 22, 1840, and was a son of Matthew and Alsey (Osborn) Sparks. (See pp. 3901-3903 of the March 1992 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 157, for further details of this family.)
1.2.5.1.2.1.7.5 Mary J. Craft, daughter of Tiliman and Sarah (Sparks) Craft, was born ca. 1845.
1.2.5.1.2.1.7.6 Wiley W. Craft, son of Tillman and Sarah (Sparks) Craft, was born in September 1847 and was probably named for his mother's brother, Wiley Sparks. (See Item D, above.) Wiley Craft was probably married twice. His first marriage was to Elizabeth Wheeler ca. 1875, and they had two children. His second marriage was to Dorcas MNU about 1904. He died sometime afterwards.
1.2.5.1.2.1.7.6.1 William A. Craft was born November 4, 1876. He married Ellen MNU
1.2.5.1.2.1.7.6.2 Farris G. Craft was born in November 1883. He married Lora MNU1.2.5.1.2.1.7.7 Tillman Craft, Jr., son of Tillman and Sarah (Sparks) Craft, was born ca. 1850. He married Emily MNU ca. 1875, and they had three children according to the 1900 census of Johnson County. Tillman had apparently died prior to the taking of that census.
1.2.5.1.2.1.7.7.1 Elic Craft was born in August 1879.
1.2.5.1.2.1.7.7.2 Israel Craft was born in April 1882.
1.2.5.1.2.1.7.7.3 Ellis Craft was born ca. 1892.1.2.5.1.2.1.7.8 Loucina Craft, daughter of Tillman and Sarah (Sparks) Craft, was born ca. 1842 and was probably named for her mother's sister, Lousina Sparks. (See Item F, above.)
1.2.5.1.2.1.7.9 Lydia Ann Craft, daughter of Tillman and Sarah (Sparks) Craft, was born on June 23, 1853. She married William H. Stapleton ca. 1875, and, according to the vital records of Johnson County, they had at least two children.
1.2.5.1.2.1.7.9.1 Surrilda Stapleton was born April 2, 1876.
1.2.5.1.2.1.7.9.2 Alonzo Stapleton was born April 2, 1878.1.2.5.1.2.1.7.10 Surrilda Craft, daughter of Tillman and Sarah (Sparks) Craft, was born on December 27, 1855. She died of flux on August 3, 1857.
1.2.5.1.2.1.8 Nelson Sparks, son of Levi and Sarah (Lyon) Sparks, was born ca. 1818 in North Carolina. A record of him and of his family was published on pp.3395- 3423 of the June 1989 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 146, and will not be repeated here.
1.2.5.1.2.1.7.9 John L. Sparks was born ca. 1820 in Wilkes County, North Carolina. A record of him and of his family was published on pp. 4065-4073 of the March 1993 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 161, and will not be repeated.