August 6, 2023

Pages 4714-4755
Whole Number 176

1.2.5.1.2.9 GEORGE G. SPARKS (1796-1879)
SON OF 1.2.5.1.2 JOHN AND SARAH (SHORES) SPARKS
AND HIS KNOWN DESCENDANTS

by Paul E. Sparks

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[Editor's Note: 1.2.5.1.2 John and Sarah (Shores) Sparks of early Wilkes County, North Carolina, had eleven children, eight sons and three daughters. (See pp. 94-104 of the December 1955 issue of The Sparks Quarterly, Whole No. 12, and pp. 2269-2272 of the March 1981 issue, Whole No. 113, for additional information about their family.) An article about their oldest son, 1.2.5.1.2.1 Levi Sparks, was published in the June 1996 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 174. We now present an article devoted to another son, 1.2.5.1.2.9 George Sparks, and his descendants to ca. 1900. This record has been compiled by the Association's president, Paul E. Sparks. Dr. Sparks Is a great-great-grandson of George Sparks. Articles about other children of John and Sarah (Shores) Sparks will be published as space permits in future issues of the Quarterly.]

1.2.5.1.2.9 George G. Sparks was born November 9, 1796, In Wilkes County, North Carolina. Some descendants say that the initial "G" in his name stood for Graham, but no record has been found to prove that this is correct. Few records have been found pertaining to his youth. It can be assumed that he was a good hunter and fisherman for most of the lads of that period of time learned to provide food in this manner. It can also be assumed that he received the usual schooling of that period of time for he could read, write, and cipher. A preserved record shows that his father, John Sparks, bought four spelling books at the Fisher River store located near his home at Traphill, North Carolina.

George was a lad of sixteen when the second war with Great Britain broke out In 1812, and when he reached his eighteenth birthday, he was enrolled in the North Carolina Militia to fight the British. He recalled his military service forty years later when, in 1854, he applied for bounty land as a veteran of that war. (See pp. 525-526 of the December 1960 Issue of The Sparks Quarterly, Whole No. 32, for an abstract of his bounty land file.)

According to Information furnished by descendants, George Sparks was married ca. 1815 to a woman named Mainer (or Maynard); however no record has been found of this marriage. There is a record of the marriage of George Sparks to Elizabeth Armstrong in Wilkes County on October 24, 1814. We have not found the parents of this George Sparks, and there Is a possibility that he was the George G. Sparks, son of John and Sarah (Shores) Sparks, who is the subject of this article.

Shortly after his marriage, George Sparks and his bride, along with some other Wilkes Countians, went to Georgia, probably to settle on some undeveloped land that was opening up in that state. Prior to going to Georgia, however, he had received some money from a neighbor, as is shown by the following note which has been preserved by a descendant of his brother, Reuben Sparks. The note reads as follows:

Mr. Daniel Wilcockson, sir, plese to pay George Sparks twenty- seven and half for me and my order shall be a receit for you.

October 15, 1815. [signedl Francis Kerby. Test: [signed] John Sparks.

It was In Georgia, on March 21, 1816, that George's oldest child, Lucinda Sparks, was born; shortly afterwards, his wife died. We can only imagine his feelings! In a strange land, bereft of his young wife, and burdened with a helpless baby girl, he surely became despondent and homesick, and so he returned to Traphill. When the 1820 census was taken of Wilkes County, he and Lucinda appear to have been living with his parents according to the enumeration of John Sparks's household.

Sometime ca. 1820, news was apparently received in the Wilkes-Surry Counties area of North Carolina that reasonably priced land was available in the Big Sandy River valley of Kentucky, and several families decided to migrate there. These famIlies had intermarried in North Carolina, and some were quite closely related, including Sparkses, Gambills, Holbrooks, and Lyons. They may have traveled as a cavalcade, arriving in Kentucky just about the time that Lawrence County was formed in 1821.

The Sparkses settled generally on the headwaters of Big Blaine Creek and on the Little Fork of the Little Sandy River. They constituted a sizeable group.

There was Thomas Sparks and his nine sons from Surry County.
A brother of Thomas Sparks, James Sparks, joined the group, probably in Lee County, Virginia, along with the family of his son, Jesse Sparks.
Wesley Sparks and William Sparks, sons of 1.2.5.1.2.2 Robert Sparks, were in the company, along with their uncles,

1.2.5.1.2.1 Levi Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9 George G. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.10 Reuben Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.11 Colby Sparks.

And finally there was a cousin, Jonathan Sparks, son of Solomon Sparks of Surry County.

They did not all stay in Kentucky. Jonathan Sparks went back to Surry County while Reuben and Colby returned to Wilkes County where they married and reared large families. When the federal census was taken of Lawrence in 1830, there were nine heads of households named SPARKS, constituting the largest surname group of all the families listed on that census. (See p. 421 of the September 1959 issue of the Quarterly Whole No. 27, for this census record.)

1.2.5.1.2.9 George Sparks left Wilkes County owing a neighbor $5.00 which his father paid. A preserved document reads as follows:

Mr. John Sparks, Please to pay John Brooks Five Dollars that your son, George, promised to fetch to me at Court. In so doing you will oblige your friend, &c. This is the first of November 1821, and this shall be your receipt in full. (signed] John Johnson.

Whether George ever repaid his father, we shall probably never know.

George met, courted, and married his second wife, Nancy Short, soon after he arrived in Kentucky. They were married on August 7, 1822, in Lawrence County by the Rev. Stephen Wheeler, a Baptist minister. (The license was issued on July 31, 1822.) Nancy had been born on April 7, 1800, in Kana wha County, Virginia, now West Virginia, and was a daughter of Aaron and Elizabeth (Chaffin) Short, both natives of Virginia.

In 1825, George was involved in a land transaction of short duration. He bought fifty acres of land on the Left Fork of the Keaton Fork of Blame Creek from his father for 100 pounds. We have not found how 1.2.5.1.2 John Sparks had acquired the land, but a story has been handed down that it had been given to him for his Revolutionary War service. John's signature was witnessed by two of his friends in Wilkes County named John Johnson and Jesse Johnson, and the deed was recorded in Lawrence County on October 28, 1825. On the same day, George O. Sparks (***?) resold the land to John Lyon for $150.

About 1826, George Sparks returned to North Carolina with the intention of bringing his daughter, 1.2.5.1.2.9.1 Lucinda (now ten years old), to Kentucky to live with him. He was unsuccessful in persuading her to return with him; in fact, she did not even recognize him. She was so comfortable and contented living with her grandparents and her Uncle Reuben Sparks, who also lived with them, that she remained in Wilkes County where she married James Hanks in 1838.

On February 26, 1827, George Sparks bought 100 acres of land on the Little Fork of the Little Sandy River. Here, he and Nancy settled down with their growing family consisting of

1.2.5.1.2.9.2 John, born in 1823, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.3 Nancy, born in 1825.
1.2.5.1.2.9.4 Cynthia, was born a few months later in 1827, and by the time that the 1830 census was taken, a fourth child,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5 Hugh, had been added, born 1830.

The section of the Little Fork of Little Sandy River where George and Nancy Sparks lived is best identified as the general area where present-day Lawrence, Carter, and Elliott Counties join. Carter County was formed from Lawrence County in 1838, and Elliott County was formed in 1869 from portions of both Lawrence and Carter Counties. Thus, records of George Sparks can be found in all three counties. He and his household were enumerated on the 1850 census of Lawrence County, and on the 1860 census of Carter County.

George and Nancy Sparks sold their 100-acre farm on Little Fork to Alfred Sparks and Nelson White on February 9, 1854, for $550, and shortly afterwards, they bought 400 acres of land on Lick Branch near the mouth of Big Gimlet Creek. It was here that they lost their youngest son, Colby Sparks, in 1858. The 16-year- old lad cut himself severely while sharpening an axe, and the wound became in fected. He died on February 27, 1858, in a Cincinnati, Ohio, hospital.

On March 27, 1866, George and Nancy sold 100 acres of their land to their newly married daughter, Mary Lawson, for $250. They may have broken up housekeeping at that time for, when the 1870 census was taken, Nancy was living by herself in Carter County.

Nancy died on January 11, 1879, in Elliott County. George died there four months later, on May 11, 1879. They were buried in the Lawson-Sparks Cemetery in Elliott about one mile north of the old post office of rbex. Photographs of their tombstones appear on the cover of this issue of the Quarterly.

George G. Sparks had nine children, one by his first marriage and eight by his second. They were:

1.2.5.1.2.9.1 Lucinda Sparks, born March 21, 1816. She married James Hanks.
1.2.5.1.2.9.2 John W. Sparks, born November 5, 1823.
1.2.5.1.2.9.3 Nancy Sparks, born ca.1825.
1.2.5.1.2.9.4 Cynthia Sparks, born July 16, 1827.
1.2.5.1.2.9.5 Hugh S. Sparks, born May 21, 1829.
1.2.5.1.2.9.6 Levi H. Sparks, born May 31, 1834.
1.2.5.1.2.9.7 Emmaella Sparks, born February 23, 1839.
1.2.5.1.2.9.8 Colby Sparks, born ca.1842.
1.2.5.1.2.9.9 Mary Sparks, born June 7, 1844.

1.2.5.1.2.9.1 Lucinda Sparks was born on March 21, 1816, In Georgia. Apparently her mother died shortly after her birth, and she was carried by her Uncle Reuben Sparks as an infant to the home of her grandparents in Wilkes County, North Carolina. There she remained until her marriage on January 13, 1838, to James C. Hanks. A story handed down to her descendants relates that when her father came to take her to Kentucky when she was ten years old, she did not recognize him and refused to go with him.

James C. Hanks had been born July 4, 1813, in Wilkes County and was a son of WIlliam and (Lyon) Hanks. He died sometime between 1870 and 1880. Lucinda died on March 2, 1907. She and James had nine children.

1.2.5.1.2.9.1.1 Winnie Angeline Hanks was born October 30, 1841. She married Jacob Smith on March 7, 1861, in Wflkes County. She was 95 years old when she died there on February 17, 1937. According to a descendant, she and Jacob had three children.

1.2.5.1.2.9.1.1.1 Conrad Smith was born in November 1867 in Wilkes County. He married Nannie Cockerham.
1.2.5.1.2.9.1.1.2 Calvin Smith was born in May 1869. He married Nancy Norman.
1.2.5.1.2.9.1.1.3 Eli Smith was born August 10, 1881. He married Samantha Settle.

1.2.5.1.2.9.1.2 George W. Hanks was born on January 1, 1843. He married Martha Gentry, and they had at least one child,

1.2.5.1.2.9.1.2.1 Leonard Hanks.

We have no further information about this family.

1.2.5.1.2.9.1.3 Mary Frances Lucinda Hanks was born February 8, 1845, at Traphill, North Carolina. She was married twice. Her first marriage was to John M. McCann on November 22, 1868. He had been born in Wilkes County ca. 1850 and was a son of Marion and Rachel (Smith) McCann. Mary (as she was called) and John McCann had five children. Mary was married, second, to James H. Warf. She died on July 20, 1931, in Mercer County, West Virginia. James died there on August 18/20, 1936. They were buried in the Shrewsbury Cemetery near Arista, West Virginia.

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L-R: Julia Ann McCann, John Quincey McCann, Mary Frances McCann, Mary Frances Lucinda (Hanks) McCann, and Thomas Winifred McCann.

Photograph taken ca. 1884.

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1.2.5.1.2.9.1.3.1 Rebecca Jane Elizabeth ["Bett"] McCann was born February 22, 1869/1870. She married John Harrison Taylor Harman on August 1, 1884. She died on October 1, 1961, at Falls Church, Virginia. She and John had twelve children, but we have learned none of their names.

1.2.5.1.2.9.1.3.2 Julia Ann McCann was born March 28, 1872, in Wilkes County, North Carolina. She was married three times. Her first marriage was to Gideon Sisk on June 26, 1889. They had ten children, but we have learned none of their names. Her second marriage was to Albert Doak on September 30, 1913. They had no children. Her third marriage was to byrd Wickram on July 31, 1916. They had one child. Julia died in 1951 in Mercer County, West Virginia, and was buried in the Shrewsbury Cemetery near Arista, West Virginia.

1.2.5.1.2.9.1.3.3 Thomas Winifred McCann was born in 1874. He married Emma Dera Cunningham, and they had five children, none of whose names we have learned. Winifred (as he was called) died in 1945 at Pocohontas, Virginia.

1.2.5.1.2.9.1.3.4 Mary Frances McCann was born July 14, 1876, in Wilkes County, North Carolina. She married William M. Folden, and they had eleven children, none of whose names we have learned. Mary Frances died on January 9, 1965, at Princeton, West Virginia.

1.2.5.1.2.9.1.3.5 John Quincey McCann was born in March 1880 in Wilkes County, North Carolina. He died in 1885 from a fall from a ladder.

1.2.5.1.2.9.1.4 Jemima Jane Hanks was born on April 16, 1848. She was never married.

1.2.5.1.2.9.1.5 Joshua Patton Hanks was born on May 20, 1850. He married Emma C. Smoot. She had been born on May 21, 1850. Joshua died on June 12, 1903; Emma died on May 10, 1924. They had five children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.1.5.1 Morgan Hanks;
1.2.5.1.2.9.1.5.2 Carrie Hanks;
1.2.5.1.2.9.1.5.3 Lillie Hanks;
1.2.5.1.2.9.1.5.4 Lonnie Hanks; and
1.2.5.1.2.9.1.5.5 Laura Hanks.

1.2.5.1.2.9.1.6 Lewis Williams Hanks was born on November 7, 1852. He married Ellen Haggins, and they had four children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.1.6.1 Mamie Hanks;
1.2.5.1.2.9.1.6.2 Max Hanks;
1.2.5.1.2.9.1.6.3 Effle Hanks; and
1.2.5.1.2.9.1.6.4 Lincoln Hanks.

1.2.5.1.2.9.1.7 James Tunis ["Toon"] Hanks was born December 18, 1854. He was married twice. His first marriage was to Susan Baugess by whom he had five children. His second marriage was to Susan Blackburn. He died on December 4, 1942. His five children were:

1.2.5.1.2.9.1.7.1 Clifton Hanks;
1.2.5.1.2.9.1.7.2 Cora Hanks;
1.2.5.1.2.9.1.7.3 Fannie Hanks;
1.2.5.1.2.9.1.7.4 Reuben Hanks; and
1.2.5.1.2.9.1.7.5 Emory Hanks.

1.2.5.1.2.9.1.8 Phoebe L. Hanks was born on September 12, 1857. She was married twice. Her first marriage was to Thompson Woodruff by whom she had four children. Her second marriage was to James Tucker. She died on March 19, 1948. Her children were:

1.2.5.1.2.9.1.8.1 Kell Woodruff;
1.2.5.1.2.9.1.8.2 Alice Woodruff;
1.2.5.1.2.9.1.8.3 James Woodruff; and
1.2.5.1.2.9.1.8.4 Dollie Woodruff.

1.2.5.1.2.9.1.9 Sarah ["Sallie"] Hanks was born December 5, 1860. She married John B. Smoot. He died on June 13, 1917, and she died on December 13, 1945. They had three children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.1.9.1 Charles Smoot;
1.2.5.1.2.9.1.9.2 William Smoot;
1.2.5.1.2.9.1.9.3 Maude Smoot.

end of 1.2.5.1.2.9.1 Lucinda's Family

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1.2.5.1.2.9.2 John Wesley Sparks was born on November 5, 1823, in Lawrence County, Kentucky; he was undoubtedly named for his paternal grandfather. He grew to manhood In Lawrence County, and It was there that he married Almeda Green on December 21, 1845, by Rufus Humphrey, an elder in the Baptist Church. Almeda had been born on March 13, 1826, in Virginia, and was a daughter of James and Dulcena (Stallard) Green, natives of Virginia.

John Sparks was said to have been a strong man with a short temper. The story has been handed down that he subdued a cantankerous horse by striking it between the eyes with his fist and knocking it to the ground. He was about six feet tall and weighed about 170 pounds. He had blue eyes, dark hair, and a dark complexion. He was a member of the Baptist Church and a member of the Masonic Order.

John and Almeda lived on Big Sinking Creek, a stream that flows from west to east in north-central Elliott County. He was a collier and worked at providing charcoal to make iron in one of several blast furnaces in Carter County. He and Almeda had seven children when the Civil War broke out in the fall of 1861.

In October 1861, John and his brother, Hugh Sparks, rode to Prestonsburg, Kentucky, where they enlisted in the 5th Regiment Kentucky Infantry, Confederate States Army, under the command of General Humphrey Marshall. John was mustered into Company C on October 28, 1861, proba bly as a lieutenant.

The Civil War activities of John W. Sparks are reflected in the ill fortunes of the Confederate forces in eastern Kentucky. Probably the largest engagement between Union and Confederate forces in that section of Kentucky was at Middle Creek near Prestonsburg on July 10, 1862, which resulted in no decisive victory for either side; however, the Confederates, under General Humphrey Marshall, withdrew to Abington, Virginia. The Union general, James A. Garfield, followed them to Pikeville, Kentucky, and then stopped.

John Sparks was a part of the withdrawal to Virginia and received the pay of a first lieutenant ($90.00 per month) from January to July 1862. He was with his unit when it re-entered Kentucky in August 1862 as part of a major attempt to strike through to central Kentucky and join the army of General Bragg in the Bluegrass. The unplanned Battle of Perryville on October 8, 1862, doomed this attempt, and again General Marshall withdrew his troops to Virginia.

Although the military records of John W. Sparks are scant and offer no direct proof, he apparently did not accompany his unit back to Virginia. This may have been because of the expiration of his term of enlistment or, what is more likely, he was offered a post in a new" military organization to be known as "Partisan Rangers." The objective of this unit was to harass the Federal troops by "procuring horses and supplies from them and then scattering in all directions to confuse the foe. The new unit was Fields Partisan Rangers and was under the command of Captain William J. Fields. It was also designated the 10th Regiment Kentucky Infantry, C.S.A.

This method of "procuring" horses was made a matter of record by a Grand Jury of the Carter [CountyKentucky] Circuit Court, as follows:

Commonwealth of Kentucky against Preston Fields, Matthew Combs, Daniel Combs, Azel Lyon, H. Pennington, Hugh Sparks, Frank Thompson, William Thompson, John Sparks, Richard Gilliam and Elijah Jackson.

The Grand Jury of Carter County in the name and by the authority of the Commonwealth of Kentucky accuse (the above) of the offense of horse-stealing committed as follows: The said men on the 1st day of April 1863 in the county and circuit aforesaid did willfully and feloniously take, steal and run off with a certain horse, the personal property of H. Easterling of the value of more than four dollars, against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

[signed] E. P. Davis, Cik. Cir.

The men were never brought to trial, of course.

John Sparks was in command of a small cavalry force of "Rangers" near Grayson in Carter County on May 9, 1863, when it collided with a squad of Union cavalry. The Confederate unit was badly trounced. Sparks's role in this skirmish is not known, but shortly afterwards he wrote the following letter:

 Camp Lebanon, Virginia. June 5, 1863.

To the Hon. S. Cooper, Ad.10 Genl. Dear Sir: existing cir comstances Renders it necessary that I feel it to be my duty to resign the Position which I hold as first lieut. in Capt. William J. Fields Company of Partisan Rangers. I do so not with the intention of leaving the Service but to change from branch of the Service to another. I Therefore hope that you will accept my resignation for the Reasons before mentioned. I therefore with much respect remain your obedient Servant, etc.

[signed] John W. Sparks, 1st Lieut.

Captain Fields forwarded Sparks's letter of resignation with the following endorsement:

Near Lebanon. June 5th 1863. Approved. Respectfully forwarded with the recommendation that the resignation of Lt. Sparks be accepted as he is incompetent for the position he holds.

[signed] W. J. Fields, Capt. Com. Co.

The resignation of John W. Sparks was accepted on June 6, 1863, by Brig. General W. Preston, at Headquarters, Preston's Brigade, Abington, Virginia, and Sparks returned to Kentucky. There, on October 16, 1863, he was captured in Magoffin County by Union troops. He was sent as a prisoner-of- war to Camp Chase, Ohio, where he was imprisoned until November 14, 1863, when he was sent to Johnson's Island, Ohio. He remained a prisoner until May 16, 1865, when he was released after taking the Oath of Amnesty.

A military record, written at Johnson's Island on April 24, 1865, is quite revealing, not only as to the personal feelings of John W. Sparks, but also it shows the feelings of these war-torn times. Here it is in its entirety:

JOHN W. SPARKS, 1st Lt. 10th Regt. KY. Cav., appears on a Roll of Prisoners of War at Johnson's Island, Ohio, Applicants for the Oath of Amnesty. Roll dated: Office Supt. Pris. Rolls & Corresp. Johnson's Island, Ohio, April 24, 1865. Captured Magoffin Co., KY, October 16, 1863. Remarks: "Is a native of Kentucky. Occupation: before the war a collier; entered the Rebel service in October 1861 as a private in the 5th Regt. KY. Infantry; Served as such for one year; was then transferred to the 10th Regt. KY. Cav., and in December 1862 was elected 1st Lieut. of Co. A of that Regt; entered the Rebel service under the influence of the strong excitement in his part of the state, but is not a secessionist and never voted as such ; became convinced that he was wrong, and resigned and left the Rebel service on the 5th day of July 1863; returned home and while making arrange ments to give bond and take the oath of allegiance, was arrested and sent to this depot. Has no sympathy with the Rebellion whatever; desires to return to his allegiance, and live hereafter as a true and loyal citizen of the Unites States; does not wish to be exchanged under any circumstances."

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A Certificate Worth 25 cents, Issued by Washington County, Virginia, on June 18, 1862, but never redeemed.

Handed down to a descendant of John W. Sparks

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1.2.5.1.2.9.2 John Wesley Sparks returned to his family in Carter County, Kentucky. (Elliott County was not formed until 1869, a political move to separate the strong Democratic faction In southern Carter County from the equally strong Republican faction in northern Carter County.) He and Almeda had two more children. For the rest of his life, he was called "Capt." John Sparks. He died on November 17, 1895, and Almeda died on May 1, 1900. They were buried in the Lawson-Sparks Cemetery. Their nine children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.2.1 Minerva Jane Sparks was born ca. 1847 in Carter County, Kentucky. She was married there on February 23, 1868, to George Washington Boggs by Alfred Catron, a justice of the peace. Wash (as he was called) had been born ca. 1844 and was a son of Elijah and Catherine (Gambill) Boggs. Wash and Minerva moved to northern Wisconsin ca. 1912 where he was a timberman in and around Langlade County.

In her latter years, Minerva lived with her daughter, Katie, at Nashville, Wisconsin, and this is where she died and was buried. She and Wash Boggs had five children when the 1880 census was taken of Elliott County; there may have been other children born to them at a later time. These five were:

1.2.5.1.2.9.2.1.1 Amanda E. Boggs was born ca. 1869. She married Claiborne ["Clabe"] White ca. 1895. He had been born ca. 1854 and was a son of James and Mary White. He had been married (first) to 1.2.5.1.2.9.2.6 Susan Sparks, an aunt of Amanda. (See below.) Clabe and Amanda had six children: Winona White, Jane White, Margaret White, Lillian White, Charles White, and Marion White.

1.2.5.1.2.9.2.1.2 James Price Boggs was born October 11, 1870. He married Nancy Jane Johnson. She had been born ca. 1875. She died in August 1907 in Elliott County. She and James had at least one child, John Henry Boggs.

1.2.5.1.2.9.2.1.3 Julia H. Boggs was born June 14, 1872. She married Hugh Harris. She died on June 16, 1902.

1.2.5.1.2.9.2.1.4 Catherine E. ["Katie"] Boggs was born June 10, 1875. She married Charles Harris, and they lived in Nashville, Wisconsin.

1.2.5.1.2.9.2.1.5 George C. Boggs was born ca. 1878. He married Mattie Lester.

1.2.5.1.2.9.2.2 Cynthia A. Sparks was born ca. 1849 in Carter County, Kentucky. It was there that she married Arthur Prince on February 2, 1869, by David Maggard, a Baptist minister. Arthur had been born ca. 1846 in Carter County and was a son of Thomas and Hannah (Terry) Prince. He was a veteran of the Civil War, and at his death, his children received a pension based on his service. When the 1880 census was taken of Elliott County, Cynthia Prince had died just a few years earlier, leaving Arthur with three children. They were:

1.2.5.1.2.9.2.2.1 Alice Prince was born ca. 1870. She married John Brown.
1.2.5.1.2.9.2.2.2 Alpha Prince (a daughter) was born ca. 1873.
1.2.5.1.2.9.2.2.3 Logan B. Prince was born ca. 1875. He is said to have been married to a woman named Parker.

1.2.5.1.2.9.2.3 Richard Price Sparks was born on July 6, 1852. He married Malissa Jane White ca. 1783. She had been born in December 1856 and was a daughter of James and Mary White; she was a sister of Claiborne White. (See 1.2.5.1.2.9.2.1.1 above.) Richard and Malissa lived in Elliott County until ca. 1900 when they moved to Menifee County, Kentucky. Accord ing to the 1900 census of Menifee County, they had eight children. They were:

1.2.5.1.2.9.2.3.1 James E. Sparks was born December 11, 1874.
1.2.5.1.2.9.2.3.2 Mary Susan Sparks was born June 11, 1877. She was married twice. Her first marriage was to James Monroe Sloas. They had at least one child, Monnie Belle Sloas, before they were divorced in 1921. Monnie Belle Sloas was born July 21, 1911. She married FNU Wandell, and she was living in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, in 1961. Mary Susan Sparks was married, second, to FNU Johnson. She died on October 13, 1960.
1.2.5.1.2.9.2.3.3 Minerva E. Sparks was born in February 1880.
1.2.5.1.2.9.2.3.4 Henry C. Sparks was born in April 1883.
1.2.5.1.2.9.2.3.5 Leburn Sparks was born in May 1886.
1.2.5.1.2.9.2.3.6 Almeda Sparks was born in July 1889.
1.2.5.1.2.9.2.3.7 Molly B. Sparks was born in January 1895.
1.2.5.1.2.9.2.3.8 Rosa M. Sparks was born in December 1899.

1.2.5.1.2.9.2.4 Sarah Sparks was born October 3, 1853. She apparently died when she was quite small.

1.2.5.1.2.9.2.5 Delcina ["Cena"] Sparks was born ca. 1856. She married James Wilson ["Wilse"] Tackett ca. 1876. He had been born ca. 1834, and it was his second marriage. He was a son of Moses and Peggy Dicie (Osborn) Tackett. Wilse and Cena (Sparks) Tackett went to northerm Wisconsin ca. 1900 where they died ca. 1925. According to census records and information furnished by relatives, they had seven children, as follows:

1.2.5.1.2.9.2.5.1 John W. E. Tackett was born ca. 1877.
1.2.5.1.2.9.2.5.2 Nancy A. Tackett was born ca. 1879.

1.2.5.1.2.9.2.5.3 William ["Bill"] Green Tackett was born January 23, 1883. He married Roseanna Morrison in November 1903 in Menifee County, Kentucky. She had been born on November 23, 1886, and was a daughter of Purn and Sarah Elizabeth (Hatton) Morrison. Bill and Roseanna Tackett left Menifee County shortly after their marriage and went to Alvin, Wisconsin. After a short stay in Wisconsin, they went to the state of Washington where they settled near Grand Mound. Bill died there in July 1958, and Roseanna died there on October 21, 1961. They had eight children: Guy Tackett, Warren Tackett, Virgie May Tackett, Amanda Tackett, Frank Tackett, Stella Tackett, Lawrence Tackett, and Mildred Tackett.

1.2.5.1.2.9.2.5.4 Almeda Tackett.
1.2.5.1.2.9.2.5.5 Sarah Tackett.
1.2.5.1.2.9.2.5.6 Araminta Tackett.

1.2.5.1.2.9.2.5.7 Mary R. D. Tackett was born ca. 1889. She married Taylor Ingram In 1903 in Menifee County, Kentucky. He had been born in May 1881 and was a son of John T. and Servella (Coldiron) Ingram. Taylor Ingram died in 1929 at Alvin, Wisconsin. Mary died there In December 1951. They had eight children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.2.5.7.1 Walter Ingram,
1.2.5.1.2.9.2.5.7.2 George Ingram,
1.2.5.1.2.9.2.5.7.3 Edna Ingram,
1.2.5.1.2.9.2.5.7.4 Fred Ingram,
1.2.5.1.2.9.2.5.7.5 William Ingram,
1.2.5.1.2.9.2.5.7.6 Nora Ingram,
1.2.5.1.2.9.2.5.7.7 Albert Ingram, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.2.5.7.8 Juan Ingram.

1.2.5.1.2.9.2.6 Susan Emma Sparks was born on February 20, 1854, in Carter County, Kentucky. She married Claiborne ["Clabe"] White on March 27, 1878, in Elliott County, Kentucky. He had been born ca. 1854 and was a son of James and Mary White. He and Susan had four children before her death, which occurred ca. 1890. After her death, Clabe married her niece, Amanda E. Boggs. (See above.) The children of Clabe and Susan were:

1.2.5.1.2.9.2.6.1 Dewitt C. White was born ca. 1879. He married Cordelia Hall ca. 1909, and they lived at Clearfield, Kentucky. Dewitt died there ca. 1951. He and Cordelia had six children: Cecil White, Clyde White, Chester White, Debra White, Earlene White, and Clara Nell White.

1.2.5.1.2.9.2.6.2 Leota White was born February 22, 1880, in Elliott County. She married Leslie Craft ca. 1905, and they lived at Grassy Creek, Kentucky. Leota died on March 22, 1974. She and Leslie had twelve children: Hattie May Craft, Orville Craft, Arthur Craft, Garland Craft, Martha Susan Craft, Minnie Green Craft, Willard Craft, Rena Craft, Eunice Pearl Craft, Arnold Craft, Exie Ray Craft, and Charles L. Craft.

1.2.5.1.2.9.2.6.3 Robert White was born ca. 1885. He is said to have died at White Lake, Wisconsin.

1.2.5.1.2.9.2.6.4 James Monroe White was born May 10, 1888, in Elliott County. He married Bertha Collins in 1909 in Morgan County, Kentucky. She had been born on September 7, 1895, and was a daughter of Samuel and Cordelia (Johnson) Collins. James Monroe White died on October 4, 1964, in Rowan County, Kentucky. He and Bertha had ten children: Orville White, Roxy White, Allie White, Wayne White, James F. White, Arleena White, Leona White, Rose Mary White, Denver L. White, and Edsel White.

1.2.5.1.2.9.2.7 Rachel Sparks was born on September 1, 1861, and died when she was quite young.
1.2.5.1.2.9.2.8 Nancy Sparks was born ca. 1866.
1.2.5.1.2.9.2.9 Mary E. Sparks was born ca. 1867. She married Ison Flanery.

end of 1.2.5.1.2.9.2 John Wesley

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1.2.5.1.2.9.3 Nancy Sparks was born ca. 1825, in Lawrence County, Kentucky. It was there that she married John N. Hutchison on March 21, 1847. He was a son of Peter Hutchison. Nancy and John lived for a time at Elk Fork, Kentucky, and relatives have vague memories that they went to North Carolina. They apparently had only five children. No further information has been found of them.

1.2.5.1.2.9.3.1 James Hutchison was born ca. 1850. Relatives say that he grew to adult hood but never married.
1.2.5.1.2.9.3.2 Colby Hutchison was born ca. 1852.
1.2.5.1.2.9.3.3 An unnamed daughter was born September 17, 1854, at Elk Fork, Kentucky, in Morgan County.
1.2.5.1.2.9.3.4 Robert Hutchison was born June 7, 1858.
1.2.5.1.2.9.3.5 Emma G. Hutchison was born August 17, 1859.

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1.2.5.1.2.9.4 Cynthia Sparks was born July 16, 1827, in Lawrence County. She was never married and lived with her parents until their deaths; she then made her home with her brother, Levi Sparks, until her death, which occurred on September 9, 1889. She was buried in the Lawson-Sparks Cemetery near her parents.

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1.2.5.1.2.9.5 Hugh S. Sparks was born May 21, 1829, in Lawrence County, Kentucky. Some descendants say that the initial "S" stood for Stokes, but no record has been found to confirm this statement. A relative also said that he went to Mississippi when he was a teen-age lad and spent a few years there, returning to Kentucky ca. 1850.

Most of the information that we have of Hugh Sparks has come from his son, Colby Sparks, by word of mouth. Colby was almost eight years old when his father left home to return to his unit in February 1865, just a short time before the end of the Civil War. Colby remembered that he was a handsome man with black hair and mustache, a fair complexion, and a ready smile.

Hugh Sparks married Nancy Curnutte on April 10, 1852, in Carter County, Kentucky, by Daniel Carroll, a Baptist minister. She had been born on October 7, 1834, and was a daughter of William and Polly (Berry) Curnutte. Hugh and Nancy began housekeeping near the village of Mount Savage in Carter County where he worked in the iron industry as a collier. When the 1860 census was taken, they had four children.

Hugh acquired a Bible, printed in 1857 by the American Bible Society, in which he recorded the births and deaths of members of the family. The last entry he made in the Bible was the birth of his son, Hugh Sparks, Jr. in 1862. The Bible is now in the possession of a great-great-grandson, Colby Sparks.

The first child of Hugh and Nancy was born in 1853. The birth left Nancy feeling poorly, and a younger sister, Elizabeth Curnutte, came to help with the baby and take care of the house. She was a fifteen-year-old girl and promptly fell in love with her brother-in-law and became pregnant. She gave birth to a son in 1855, an event that Hugh recorded in the Bible. She and her son were living in the Sparks household when the 1860 census was taken. (See below.)

The activities of Hugh Sparks during the Civil War have been told in an earlier issue of The Sparks Quarterly and will not be retold here. Evidence points strongly to his death in the spring of 1865 as a guerilla in eastern Kentucky, probably in Lawrence County. After his sons were grown, they made a trip to West Virginia to try to find him, but they found nothing. (See the December 1991 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 156.)

Nancy (Curnutte) Sparks made some effort to keep her family together after the war ended and her husband did not return. When the 1870 census was taken of Lawrence County, she was shown as head of her household in the 1st Precinct. She was 35 years old and was described as "housekeeper." With her were her children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.1 Elizabeth Sparks, 17;
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.2 America Frances Sparks (deceased)
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.3 James Sparks, 14;
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.4 Colby Sparks, 12;
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5 George Sparks, 10; and
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6 Hugh Sparks, 8.

Shortly after the 1870 census was taken of Lawrence County, Nancy (Curnutte) Sparks gave birth to her seventh child, a son whom she named William Sparks, born September 7, 1870.

Nancy (Curnutte) Sparks married Bobby Stewart ca. 1877, and they moved to Iowa where they stayed about three years. Bobby became ill and Nancy brought him back to Kentucky. They apparently separated shortly after their return, and Nancy then made her living by housekeeping for others. She also stayed one time or another with one of her children. She was taking care of an elderly couple on Morgans Creek in Lawrence County when she died on June 19, 1913. She was buried in the Colby Sparks Cemetery. The children of Hugh S. and Nancy (Curnutte) Sparks were:

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.1 Mary ["Pop"] Elizabeth Sparks was born April 18, 1853, in Carter County, Kentucky. The only information we have about her comes from the memory of her brother, 1.2.5.1.2.9.5.4 Colby Sparks. She visited Colby several times and was buried In the cemetery on Colby's farm in 1924. She was married three times. Her first marriage was to FNU Auxier, and they had three children. Her second marriage was to John Vermillion in 1884 in Lawrence County. They are said to have had one child, Oscar Vermillion. The third marriage of " Pop " Sparks was to Harve Walker, by whom she had a daughter, Dixie Walker.

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.1.1 Nancy ["Nan"] Auxier was born ca. 1873. She was married twice. Her first marriage was to Richard Copley, and her second was to Frank Bowen. She lived at Gilbert, West Virginia.
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.1.2 James Auxier was born ca. 1875. He married Mamie James and they are said to have moved to New Jersey.
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.1.3 Bascomb Auxier was born ca. 1877 and died when quite young.
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.1.4 Oscar Vermillion was born ca. 1885. He lived at Nolan, West Virginia.
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.1.5 Dixie Walker was born ca. 1895. She married Kelley Ingram, and they lived in Dayton, Ohio.

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.2 America Frances Sparks was born November 19, 1854. She died on December 6, 1854.

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.3 James Buchanan Sparks was born on November 18, 1855, in Carter County, Kentucky. He went to West Virginia when he was a young man, and he remained there for the rest of his life working in and around the coal mines. He was married three times. His first marriage was to Elizabeth Evans ca. 1875, and they had four children before her death, which occurred ca. 1882, probably after the birth of their fourth child. Jim was married, second, to Mary Jane Taylor, and they, too, had four children before her death, which occurred ca. 1892. Jim's third marriage was to Nora Belle James on March 16, 1893, in Braxton County, West Virginia. She had been born on May 20, 1874, and was a daughter of Joseph P. and Margaret (Cunningham) James. They had ten children.

Jim Sparks died on June 7, 1941, and was buried at Cedar Grove, West Virginia. Nora died on March 21, 1958, and was buried beside her husband. The children of James Buchanan Sparks by his three wives were:

by Elizabeth Evans:

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.3.1 Effa Sparks was born ca. 1875

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Seated, L-R: COLBY SPARKS (1857-1951) & JAMES B. SPARKS (1855-1941)

Standing, L-R: BILLY SPARKS (1870-1947) & HUGH S. SPARKS (1862-1951)

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1.2.5.1.2.9.5.3.2 Colby Jacob Sparks was born October 15, 1878. He was a miner. He was described by a relative as a fiddler, dancer, and a good mixer. The only information we have about him has come from his obituary. He died at the home of a daughter, Merlie King, in 1973. He was survived by his daughter and three sons:

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.3.2.1 Cecil Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.3.2.2 Dewey Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.3.2.3 Clyde Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.3.2.4 Merlie Sparks King.

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.3.3 William Curtis Sparks was born May 17, 1880. He was a young man when he was killed in a logging accident.
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.3.4 Hugh Henry Sparks was born in June 1882. He married FNU Lyon. He was killed in a mining accident.

by Mary Jane Taylor:

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.3.5 Nancy ["Nannie"] Jane Sparks was born September 8, 1885. She married Lyon, and they lived at Blakeley, West Virginia.
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.3.6 Cecil Clarence Sparks was born February 16, 1887.
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.3.7 Bessie Blanche Sparks was born November 6, 1889. She married FNU Beard.
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.3.8 James Theodore Sparks was born in March 1892.

by Nora Belle James:

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.3.9 Charles Hyer Sparks was born January 25, 1894, in Braxton County, West Virginia. He married Nannie Rothwell. He died in June 1956.
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.3.10 George Festus Sparks was born March 16, 1896. He is said to have been shot and killed by a jealous husband.
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.3.11 William Arlie Sparks was born January 22, 1898. He married Maggie MNU. He died in January 1925.
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.3.12 Margaret Esther Sparks was born on February 26, 1900. She married (first) M. Damron and (second) to R. Cantrell.
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.3.13 John Mitchell Sparks was born March 8, 1903. He was killed in a mining accident in 1922.
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.3.14 Madge Ethel Sparks was born April 11, 1905, at Wendell, West Virginia. She married Thomas Scott on April 17, 1922.
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.3.15 Thelma Belle Sparks was born May 11, 1907.
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.3.16 Fred Lee Sparks was born April 22, 1909, at Blakeley, West Virginia. He married Ethel Lena Newcomer ca. 1934. She had been born January 23, 1915. They lived in West Virginia until 1953 when they moved to New Mexico. They lived there for 29 years and then moved to Salem, Oregon. Fred was living there in 1991. He and Ethel had four children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.3.16.1 Clarence R. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.3.16.2 James L. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.3.16.3 Roy Lee Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.3.16.4 Patricia Ann Sparks.

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.3.17 Roetta Sparks was born November 3, 1911. She was married twice. Her first marriage was to Carl Drysdale, and her second was to Clyde Otis White. She and Clyde had three children before Roetta's death on March 28, 1944. After Roetta died, her three children went to live with their aunt, Hallie ["Billie"] (Sparks) Estep. They were:

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.3.17.1 Wanda Lee White,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.3.17.2 James C. White, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.3.17.3 Phyllis A. White.

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.3.18 Hallie ["Billie"] Marie Sparks was born June 19, 1914, at Three Mile, West Virginia. She married Willard Carter Estep on September 12, 1934, and they lived at Kimberly, West Virginia. After Billie's sister, Roetta (Sparks) White, died, Billie took care of her three children.

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.4 Colby Sparks, son of Hugh and Nancy (Curnutte) Sparks, was born September 22, 1857, at Mount Savage, Kentucky. Many years later, he dictated an account of his boyhood, and from it most of what we know about him and his siblings has been learned. After his father failed to return home from the Civil War, he and his brothers and sister went through the usual problems faced by orphaned children In that era. (See pp. 3849-3853 of the September 1991 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 156, for references to his boyhood and also a photograph of him and his wife.)

"Cobe," as he was called, was a young man when he was hired to carry the mail between the villages of Cannonsburg and Blaine in Lawrence County, a distance of about 25 miles. One of his stops was at Fallsburg, Kentucky, and this is probably where he met Martha Chaffin, a sixteen-year-old daughter of George Washington ["Wash"] and Margaret (Short) Chaffin. Martha had been born near Fallsburg on February 24, 1862. She and Colby were married on March 16, 1879, by her uncle, Jimmy Short. Witnesses were George Short and Samuel Short, who were also her uncles.

Colby and Martha lived most of their lives on the farm they owned on Morgans Creek in Lawrence County. A major exception was their move to Texas in 1887. (See pp. 1242-1245 of the June 1969 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 66, for an account of their trip from Texas back to Kentucky.) They were members of the Methodist Church. Martha died on April 4, 1929, and Cobe died on June 3, 1951. They were buried in the family cemetery on Morgans Creek. They had seven children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.4.1 James William ["J.B." or "Jim") Sparks was born January 18, 1880. He grew to manhood in Lawrence County and was a young man when he went to West Virginia to work in the coal mines. It was at Burnwell, West Virginia, that he met and courted Sarah Elizabeth Conley. She had been born on March 17, 1887, at Willard, Kentucky, and was a daughter of Isaac ["Red"] and Martha (Sexton) Conley. She and Jim were married on November 2, 1905, in Kanawha County, West Virginia.

Jim continued to live on his father's farm in Lawrence County, but he would farm in the spring and summer and then go to the coal mines in neighboring counties to work during the fall and winter. He ran for the office of Lawrence County Clerk twice, but was defeated both times. After the end of World War I, Sarah persuaded him to leave the hazardous coal mines and move to Akron, Ohio, where the automobile tire industry was growing rapidly. They moved there in 1919. Sarah gave birth to their sixth child in January 1922; she died from childbirth complications. She was brought back to Lawrence County and was buried in the family cemetery on Morgans Creek.

Jim was married two more times after Sarah's death. His second marriage was to Gertrude Kidwell, a spinster, in 1927 at Akron, Ohio. The marriage ended in divorce a few years later. Jim's third marriage was to Mary Boyers, a widow, in Lexington, Kentucky. It, too, ended in divorce. Jim then returned to Akron where he worked in a war-related job until the end of World War II. He then returned to Kentucky where he died on February 14, 1955. He was buried in in the Sparks Cemetery on Morgans Creek beside his first wife, Sarah, He and Sarah had six children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.4.1.1 Martha Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.4.1.2 Paul E. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.4.1.3 Eva Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.4.1.4 James E. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.4.1.5 Hettie C. Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.4.1.6 Dorothy Sparks.

(See p. 78 of the June 1955 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 10, for Jim's obituary. See p. 2786 of the September 1985 issue, Whole No. 131, for the obituary of Martha [Sparks] Davis.)

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.4.2 Nora Jane Sparks was born October 2, 1882. She married Samuel J. Jobe on September 15, 1900, in Lawrence County. He had been born in 1872 and was a son of Harvey and Elizabeth (Hicks) Jobe. Sam was an attorney at Akron, Ohio, for many years. He died in 1933, and Nora died in 1963. They had five children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.4.2.1 Goebel Jobe,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.4.2.2 Homer Jobe,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.4.2.3 Milton Jobe,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.4.2.4 Hubert Jobe, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.4.2.5 Martha E. Jobe.

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.4.3 Rose Emily Sparks was born May 19, 1885. She was never married, but she cared for several nieces and nephews when they were children. She also took care of her parents in their old age, until their deaths. She died on October 21, 1971, and was buried in the Sparks Cemetery on Morgans Creek in Lawrence County. (See p. 1452 of the December 1971 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 76, for her obituary.)

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.4.4 Flora Hulette Sparks was born November 15, 1887, in Texas. Her first child was named Sherwood and he was reared by her parents. (See page 3125 of the September 1987 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 139, for an account of the life of Sherwood Sparks.) Flora married Henry Lee Williams on November 27, 1911, in Lawrence County. He had been born in 1883 and was a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Workman) Williams, natives of West Virginia. Lee was a miner and was killed by a slate fall in 1933. He and Flora had six children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.4.4.1 Edith Williams,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.4.4.2 Robert Williams,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.4.4.3 Roy Williams,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.4.4.4 Leo Williams,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.4.4.5 Freda Williams, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.4.4.6 Charlotte Williams.

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.4.5 Georgia Belle Sparks was born October 2, 1896. She married George William ["Buck"] Edwards on November 30, 1910, in Lawrence County. Buck had been born In Virginia In 1889 and was a son of Thomas and Carrie (Ziegler) Edwards. Buck was a coal miner In West Virginia all of his working life. Georgia died on May 25, 1943, and Buck died on September 17, 1962. They had six children. They were:

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.4.5 Clyde Edwards,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.4.5 Eugene Edwards, (See p. 2488 of the December 1982 issue of The Sparks Quarterly, Whole No. 120, for his obituary.)
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.4.5 George W. Edwards, Jr.,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.4.5 Paul Edwards,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.4.5 Lawrence Edwards, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.4.5 Bobby Wray Edwards.

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.4.6 Dewey Lee Sparks was born August 28, 1898, in Lawrence County. She married Frank W. Graham on May 28, 1921, at Akron, Ohio. He had been born on March 14, 1892, in Pennsylvania and was a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Martz) Graham. Frank worked for the Goodyear Rubber Company at Akron for a lifetime. Dewey died at Akron on March 28, 1967, and Frank died there on October 5, 1978. They had two children: John Graham and Margaret Graham. (See p. 1079 of the June 1967 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 58, for her obituary.)

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.4.7 Elwood Hardin Sparks was born February 5, 1901. He died on February 10, 1902.

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GEORGE G. SPARKS (1860-1934)

SON of HUGH and NANCY (CURNUTTE) SPARKS

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1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5 George Graham Sparks, son of Hugh and Nancy (Curnutte) Sparks, was born July 10, 1860, in Carter County, Kentucky. He was a coal miner. He began his career as a miner on Nats Creek near Peach Orchard in Lawrence County, and when that coal field was "mined out," he went with the company to Jellico, Tennessee. He held mining jobs in Kentucky in Whitley, Knox, and Perry Counties, and when he retired, he was superintendent of a mine at Butterfly, Kentucky.

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GEORGE G. SPARKS (1860-1934) with HIS FIRST WIFE, ELIZABETH SPARKS,

and FIVE of THEIR CHILDREN

L-R: Ethel Sparks; George G. Sparks (father); Mary Belle Sparks; Elizabeth Sparks (mother), holding Hazel Sparks; John Willis Sparks; and Robert Lawrence Sparks.

Photo taken ca. 1898

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George was married three times. His first marriage was to Elizabeth Painter (or Sexton?) ca. 1881. She had been born on March 12, 1866, in Virginia. She and George had eleven children before her death, which occurred on September 26, 1904, when she gave birth to her eleventh child. George's second marriage was to Gertrude ["Gertie"] Magdalene Woods, ca. 1906. She had been born on March 27, 1888. She and George had eleven children. She died on August 7, 1925. George's third marriage was to Ella/Ethel Baker ca. 1930, and they had one child.

George G. Sparks died on March 12, 1934, and was buried in the cemetery at Butterfly, Kentucky, where his second wife, Gertie, and a son, Damon, were also buried. He was the father of twenty-three children. (See his photograph on the following page.)

by Elizabeth Painter:

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.1 Fred Sparks was born in June 1882, probably in Lawrence County.
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.2 Robert Lawrence Sparks was born April 8, 1883, at Peach Orchard, Kentucky. He was a miner. Lawrence (as he was called) was married twice. His first marriage was to Verna Mayfield by whom he had three children. His second marriage was to Sue Higgenbotham. They had no children. Lawrence died on June 5, 1956, at his home at Williamsburg, Kentucky. His children were:

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.2.1 Geneva Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.2.2 George Earl Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.2.3 Robert Sparks.

(See p. 185 of the December 1956 issue of The Sparks Quarterly, Whole No. 16, for the obituary of Lawrence Sparks.)

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.3 Mary Belle Sparks was born June 9, 1886, at Peach Orchard, Kentucky. She was married twice. Her first marnage was to Barto Frazier in June 1905. He had been born at Newport, Tennessee, on February 22, 1884, and was a son of Willlam and Eliza (Click) Frazier. He and Mary Belle had five children before they were divorced in 1925. Mary Belle married (second) David Lambert. He died in 1942, and Mary Belle died on May 4, 1948. Her children were:

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.3.1 Thelma Frazier,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.3.2 Alma Frazier,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.3.3 Earl S. Frazier,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.3.4 Bernice Frazier, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.3.5 Barto Frazier, Jr.

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.4 John Willis Sparks was born June 2, 1889. He married Anna Margaret Meier on August 20, 1909. She was a daughter of Frederick and Anna Elizabeth Meier, natives of Switzerland. John and Anna Margaret lived at Harveyton, Kentucky, where they reared a large family. John died there on July 4, 1949, and was buried in the Riverside Cemetery at Walkertown, Kentucky. His children were:

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.4.1 Ella H. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.4.2 Helen Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.4.3 James W. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.4.4 Harry Colby Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.4.5 Margaret E. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.4.6 Raymond E. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.4.7 Pauline Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.4.8 Geraldine M. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.4.9 Rosa Lentini Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.4.10 George F. Sparks.

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.5 Ethel Sparks was born April 2, 1891, at Peach Orchard, Kentucky. She married Claude Augustus Bowden. He had been born in Georgia on June 16, 1881. He and Ethel lived at Hurst, Illinois, where they had eight children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.5.1 Homer Bowden,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.5.2 Orville Bowden,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.5.3 Morgan Bowden,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.5.4 Ethel Bowden,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.5.5 Carl Bowden,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.5.6 Claude Augustus Bowden, Jr.,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.5.7 Lawrence Bowden, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.5.8 James E. Bowden.

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.6 Maggie Sparks was born March 31, 1894. She died on January 17, 1897.
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.7 Alice Sparks was born February 1, 1896. She died on July 13, 1896.

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.8 Hazel Bird Sparks was born July 29, 1897, In Knox County, Kentucky. She married Thomas C. Donaldson on March 21, 1913, at St. Louis, Missouri. He had been born on April 9, 1884, at London, Kentucky, and was a son of James Thomas Donaldson. Tom and Hazel Donaldson lived at Herrin, Illinois, where Tom died on July 1, 1965. Hazel died on December 11, 1981. They had four children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.8.1 Homer A. Donaldson,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.8.2 Edward A. Donaldson,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.8.3 George R. Donaldson, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.8.4 Lila Jane Donaldson.

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.9 Cecil Merle Sparks was born May 6, 1900, in Knox County, Kentucky. She was married twice. Her first marriage was to Netter Stewart on February 15, 1919, at Marion, Illinois. He had been born June 8, 1894, at Central City, Kentucky, and he was a son of Marshall and Elizabeth (Gregory) Stewart. Cecil and Netter were divorced in 1939. She married (second) Earl Crowell. She died on December 2, 1964. She and Netter Stewart had two children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.9.1 George Marshall Stewart and
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.9.2 William Earl Stewart.

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.10 Lester Foley Sparks was born May 30, 1902, at Mountain Ash, Kentucky. He married Hilda Boestad on November 23, 1929, at Madison, Wisconsin. She had been born on August 11, 1907, at Barren, Wisconsin. She and Lester were living at Clifford, Illinois, when he died on September 6, 1958. They had four children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.10.1 Rosemary Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.10.2 Jeannie Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.10.3 Virginia Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.10.4 Robert Lawrence Sparks.

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.11 Hattie Elizabeth Sparks was born September 26, 1904, in Whitley County, Kentucky. Elizabeth, as she was called, was married four times. Her first marriage was to Samuel ["Sam"] Park Hines on June 16, 1922, in Perry County, Kentucky. Sam had been born on February 10, 1898, in Estill County, Kentucky, and was a son of William E. and Louisa (White) Hines. Sam was a lineman for a telephone company and he and Elizabeth lived at Oliver Springs, Tennessee They had a son,

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.11.1 William Gerald Hines, who had been born on February 10, 1924, in Knox County, Tennessee

Elizabeth was expecting another child in the summer of 1925.

Elizabeth's first marriage ended tragically. On March 18, 1925, she and her baby son met her husband at the railroad station in Knoxville, Tennessee. After the usual greetings, Sam went to get a taxi to take his little family to his room and stepped on a high tension wire that had been blown down by high winds, and he was killed. After the funeral, Elizabeth went to the home of her brother, Robert Lawrence Sparks, at Williamsburg, Kentucky, and it was there that her second son,

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.11.2 Samuel Kenneth Hines, was born posthumously on July 12, 1925.

Elizabeth scarcely knew which way to turn, according to a descendant. She was without any means of support although Sam had an army insurance policy that would give her nearly $1,600. She did not receive the money, however, until a year after his death. She then went to Knoxville, Tennessee, where she worked as a maid in a "baby home."

There she was bilked out of the insurance money by a man who had promised to marry her. She fled north in an effort to find him, leaving her two sons in the children's home in Knoxville.

Elizabeth met her second husband, Milburn Roscoe Bayless, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and they were married In Campbell County, Kentucky, on October 17, 1927. She then returned to Knoxville, Tennessee, for her sons, but she found that the younger of the two, Samuel Kenneth Hines, had been placed in a foster home. She was unable to find him. Ultimately, he was adopted by his foster parents. (See below.)

Elizabeth and Milburn Bayless had three children,

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.11.3 Ralph Bayless,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.11.4 Mildred Delores Bayless, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.11.5 Clarence Roy Bayless.

Elizabeth's third marriage was to William S. Leggett, and her fourth marriage was to William Grater. She died on October 25, 1989, in Pinellas County, Florida.

(The story of the finding of Samuel Kenneth Hines, and the identification of his biological parents, is a most interesting one. Told briefly, it is as follows: After his death in 1990, his daughter, Kathy Brown, knowing only that her father's surname had been Hines and that he had been adopted, began a search for his original name and the names of his biological parents. She persuaded the Knox County [Tennessee] Juvenile Count to open her father's adoption file. She found the Information therein to be badly garbled. According to the records in his file, her father had been placed in the Tennessee Children's Home Finding Society under his middle name, Kenneth Heins, on July 29, 1927. The reason given was that his father was dead and that his mother could not be found. He had been placed in the home of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Anderson for adoption.

(In 1942, Kenneth Anderson had needed a birth certificate for military purposes, and his foster parents had requested one from the Office of Vital Records of Tennessee. On January 27, 1943, a "Certificate of Live Birth" had been issued by the Tennessee Department of Health. [A "delayed" or "live birth certificate" is one that is prepared, in the absence of an original birth certificate, based on information provided by parents or other relatives.] This Certificate of Live Birth gave the child's name as "Paul Kenneth Anderson," born on October 19, 1924, at Knoxville, Tennessee. His father's name appeared as John William Anderson and his mother's maiden name as Annie Mary Lanler. The document had obviously been fabricated.

 (As noted above, Mrs. Brown, when she began her search for her father's biological parents following his death in 1990, had tried to find his original birth certificate, knowing only that his surname had been Hines, not Anderson, and that he had been born, apparently, in or somewhere near Knox County, Tennessee. Furthermore, Hines is spelled in many ways: Heins, Hains, etc. After exhausting her search in Tennessee, she contacted the Kentucky Department of Health and was sent a "Certificate of Birth" for Samuel Kenneth Hines, which proved to be her father's true name. The certificate had been filed on January 7, 1926, by Dr. J. D. Adkins who certified that he had attended the birth of Samuel Kenneth Hines on July 12, 1925, at Williamsburg, Kentucky. This was, of course, the town of residence of Robert Lawrence Sparks, brother of Elizabeth (Sparks) Hines, where she had gone following her husband's death. The birth certificate Identified the father of Samuel Kenneth Hines as Samuel P. Hines, age 27, and his mother's maiden name as Elizabeth Sparks, age 20. It also indicated that Samuel Kenneth Hines had been her second child.

(Mrs. Brown continued her search by sending letters to nearly one hundred persons named Sparks in the general area of Tennessee and Kentucky. One of the recipients of her letters suggested that Mrs. Brown contact the Sparks Family Association. She did so, and her search was then over.

(A final note: Mrs. Brown's father, Samuel Kenneth Hines, was a second cousin of the Association's president, Paul E. Sparks.)

by Gertrude ["Gertie"] Magdalene Woods:

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.12 Damon Pythias Sparks was born March 27, 1908. He was killed in a mining accident on July 13, 1927.
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.13 Flossie Marie Sparks was born September 13, 1910. She was married twice. Her first marriage was to Campbell, and her second marriage was to Stidham. She died on October 4, 1982.
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.14 Herman Sparks was born August 21, 1912. He died on September 1, 1912.
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.15 James Earl Sparks was born August 10, 1913, at Blue Diamond, Kentucky. He married Zola, and they had three daughters. He died in 1980 in Perry County, Kentucky.
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.16 Everett Sparks was born February 18, 1915. He died on March 3, 1915.
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.17 Edith Sparks was born May 28, 1917. She died on July 24, 1918.
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.18 Frances Vivian Sparks was born September 13, 1919. She married Elam. She died in 1947. She had at least one child, Larry Lee Elam.
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.19 Evelyn Sparks was born June 9, 1920. She died on June 16, 1920.

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.20 Mildred Beatrice Sparks was born August 11, 1922. She married Doye Napier, and they had three children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.20.1 Peggy Napier,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.20.2 Beulah Napier, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.20.3 Glenda Napier.

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.21 George Orville Sparks was born February 3, 1924. He married Wilma. He died on February 2, 1988. He and Wilma had two children,

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.21.1 Lisa Sparks and 1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.21.2 Tina Sparks.

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.22 Clyde Eugene Sparks was born August 4, 1925. He died in 1976 or 1977.

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.5.23 Dimples Sparks was born February 4, 1933. She married Bud Lainhart. They lived at Carlisle, Ohio. [She was the last child of George G. Sparks (1860-1934).]

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6 Hugh Stokes Sparks was born on April 4, 1862, in Carter County, Kentucky, but he grew to manhood in Lawrence County. He owned a steam engine with which he ground grain and sawed lumber for a living. He was married three times. His first marriage was on April 19, 1883, just after he had reached his 21st birthday, to Rhoda Burchett in Lawrence County. She had been born in 1867 and was a daughter of Calvin and Sarah Ann (Adams) Burchett. She died in 1886 when their second child was born.

Hugh Stokes Sparks's second marriage was to Virginia ["Jennie"] Chaffin on October 18, 1888, in Lawrence County, Kentucky. She had been born in August 1867 and was a daughter of John and Harriet (Goins) Chaffin. She died in 1910, shortly after the birth of their ninth child. The third marriage of Hugh Sparks was to Jemima [ "Mimi"] (Carroll) Leadingham, a widow, in 1924. He died on November 25, 1951, at his home on Twin Branches in Lawrence County. He was the father of eleven children, two by his first marriage and nine by his second.

by Rhoda Burchett:

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.1 Oscar Sparks was born ca. 1884 and died when he was just a baby.
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.2 Tevis Sparks was born ca. 1886 and died when he was just a baby.

by Virginia ["Jennie"] Chaffin:

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.3 Charles Sparks was born May 20, 1889. He married Mary Spillman on January 22, 1914, In Lawrence County. She had been born on April 15, 1893, and was a daughter of John and Nancy Jane (Berry) Spillman. Charlie, as he was called, and Mary moved to Marion, Ohio, in 1919 and lived there for the rest of their lives. Mary died there on December 29, 1975; Charlie died on October 26, 1982. They were the parents of eleven children. They were:

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.3.1 Sherman Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.3.2 Morton Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.3.3 Edna Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.3.4 Clyde Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.3.5 George Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.3.6 Nannie Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.3.7 Edith Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.3.8 Oakley Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.3.9 Anna Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.3.10 Lillian Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.3.11 Arnold Sparks.

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.4 Fred Sparks was born August 16, 1891, at Paintsville, Kentucky, but he grew to maturity on Twin Branches in Lawrence County. His first child was a daughter, Cleva Sparks. Her mother was Elzena Spillman. Fred married Anna Wright in November 1916. She had been born on September 22, 1900, and she was a daughter of Irvin Wright. She and Fred moved to Millville, New Jersey, ca. 1920 where they spent the rest of their lives. She died there on September 11, 1935. They had seven children. They were:

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.4.1 Monnie Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.4.2 Nellie Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.4.3 Lena Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.4.4 Jenette Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.4.5 Darlene Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.4.6 George Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.4.7 Loveyzine Sparks.

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.5 Jesse Sparks was born ca. 1893 and died shortly after his birth.

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.6 Gypsy Sparks was born November 21, 1895, in Lawrence County. She married Dave Sublett, and they lived at Long Branch, West Virginia, until his death in 1962. Gypsy returned to Lawrence County where she died on August 4, 1978. She and Dave had no children.

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.7 Hattie Sparks was born January 27, 1898. She married Covington ["Cov"] Diamond In 1923. They lived on Morgans Creek in Lawrence County. Cov died there in 1972, and Hattie died on April 23, 1985. They had two children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.7.1 Emmett Diamond and
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.7.2 Harold Diamond.

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.8 Ethel May Sparks was born April 29, 1900. She married James T. Slater on March 22, 1921. He had been born January 6, 1896. He and Ethel lived in and around Williamson, West Virginia, where Jim worked in the coal mines. They had seven children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.8.1 Edna Slater,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.8.2 James Slater, Jr.,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.8.3 Thomas Slater,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.8.4 Richard Slater,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.8.5 Hugh Slater,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.8.6 Wallace Slater, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.8.7 Troy Slater.

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.9 George W. Sparks was born August 6, 1902, in Lawrence County. He went to West Virginia when he was a young man where he worked in the mines in and around Fayette County. He married Gertie Williams. She had been born on May 16, 1908, and was a daughter of Sherman and Amelia (Blake) Williams. George died on August 5, 1987, and Gertie died on October 22, 1988. They had five children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.9.1 Yvonne M. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.9.2 Sona Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.9.3 Loretta Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.9.4 George W. Sparks, Jr., and
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.9.5 James F. Sparks.

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.10 Hugh S. ["H"] Sparks, Jr. was born March 16, 1905. He married Hattie Leadingham in 1929. He died that same year, on August 31st, of typhoid fever. He and Hattie had one child,

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.10.1 Virginia ["Jennie"] Sparks, born posthumously, in December 1929.

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.11 Martha Sparks was born March 16, 1910. She was married twice. Her first marriage was to Bert Runyon and her second was to Carl Reuss. She had one child,

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.6.11.1 Jennie May Runyon.

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GREENVILLE ["GREEN"] CURNUTTE (1854-1935)

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1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7 Greenville Curnutte, son of Hugh Sparks and Elizabeth Curnutte, was born August 2, 1854, in Carter County, Kentucky. When the 1860 census was taken there, his mother, Elizabeth Curnutte, age 22, was enumerated in the household of Hugh and Nancy (Curnutte) Sparks and was described as "house girl." With her was six-year-old Greenville Curnutte.

Very little is known about the boyhood of Greenville Curnutte. Many years later, his half-brother, Colby Sparks (see above) related some of the story of the early life of Greenville (or "Green" as he was usually called) as he remembered it. Here are some of Colby's remembrances taken from notes made by a grandson in 1939.

My grandparents on my mother's side were William and Polly (Berry) Curnutte. They lived in Carter County, Kentucky, where they had eleven children. Grandma Curnutte died ca. 1850, and the family more or less broke up. Their daughter (my mother, whom we called "Ma") married my father, Hugh Sparks, in 1852, and they had their first child (a little girl) In the spring of 1853. Ma was feeling poorly and her younger sister, Elizabeth Curnutte, came to help her with the baby and take care of the house. Elizabeth (we called her "Aunt Bett") was about fifteen years old, and like a young girl she fell in love with my father (we called him "Pa") and she got pregnant. She had a baby in 1854 and named him Greenville. She and Greenville (we called him "Green") continued to live with my parents until Green was a good-sized boy. Pa recorded his birth in our family Bible as "Greenville Curnutte." Ma's brothers were deeply angered by Pa's treatment of their sister and made severe threats against him, and as you can imagine, we were never close to our Curnutte relatives as we grew up. When Pa didn't return from the War [the Civil War], it was generally thought that he left the country to get away from the "Curnutte boys." We grew up with Green and always thought of him as a brother. We visited with him and his children all of their lives. Aunt Bett was married twice. Her first marriage was to Levi Clevenger in 1866, and her second marriage was to Francis Wooten in 1877. I don't believe Green lived with either of his step-fathers. Aunt Bett had no children by either marriage.

Green Curnutte married Samantha Adams on January 14, 1879, in Lawrence County. She had been born January 27, 1859, at Irad, Kentucky, and was a daughter of Martin P. and Frances ["Fannie"] (Derefield) Adams.

Green and Samantha (Adams) Curnutte Lived on Irish Creek in Lawrence County until ca. 1903 when they were encouraged to move to Upshur, West Virginia, by Green's half-brother, Jim Sparks. They lived for a short time with Jim and his family, until a house was available. Green got a job working in the mines. All of Green and Samantha's children went with them except their daughter Emma, who had been married to Dave Hughes in 1900. Samantha died at Holly Grove, West Virginia, on February 21, 1934, and Green died there on October 11, 1935. They had eight children, all of whom were born in Lawrence County. They were:

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.1 Emma Curnutte was born October 5, 1879, near Irad, Kentucky. She married David Clark Hughes on December 2, 1900. He had been born on December 20, 1865, and was a son of Jarrett P. and Jemima (White) Hughes. This was his second marriage. He and Emma lived at Busseyville, Kentucky.

Cora Jean Newman, a granddaughter of Dave and Emma Hughes, has shared with us a description of this couple. She wrote: "They were a very hard-working, gentle people, spending most of their lives on their farm at Busseyville. Grandfather had crops planted on any available space on the farm. Grandmother seemed to always be busy with chores.

She was an avid reader and loved to work crossword puzzles. They attended the Methodist Church and both were Democrats in their politics." Dave Hughes died on February 10, 1950, and Emma died on May 2, 1964. They were the parents of ten children. They were:

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.1.1 Noma Hughes,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.1.2 Monroe Hughes,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.1.3 Mexia Hughes,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.1.4 Myrtle Hughes. She married Bourbon E. Meeks, and they were the parents of Cora Jean (Meeks) Newman of Ashland, Kentucky, who has furnished most of the information about this family.
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.1.5 Morton Hughes,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.1.6 Maud Hughes,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.1.7 Mitchell Hughes,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.1.8 Merle Hughes,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.1.9 Madge Hughes, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.1.10 Margie Hughes.

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.2 Martin Curnutte was born July 26, 1881. He married Martha Elswick, and they lived in West Virginia. Martin died on November 20, 1954, and Martha died on January 25, 1957. They had four children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.2.1 Stella Curnutte,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.2.2 Tessie Curnutte,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.2.3 Maud Curnutte, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.2.4 William Curnutte.

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.3 Geneva Curnutte was born August 3, 1883. She married Robert ["Pete"] Carpenter. She died on May 8, 1951, at Holly Grove, West Virginia. She and Pete had seven children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.3.1 Bessie Carpenter,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.3.2 Russell Carpenter,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.3.3 Dennis Carpenter,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.3.4 Ivory Carpenter,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.3.5 Kenneth Carpenter,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.3.6 Lloyd Carpenter, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.3.7 Messcine Carpenter.

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.4 Charles Curnutte was born August 24, 1885. He married Belle Platt (Pratt?). He died on December 24, 1966. He and Belle had six children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.4.1 Jewell Curnutte,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.4.2 Garnet Curnutte,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.4.3 Earl Curnutte,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.4.4 Ruth Curnutte,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.4.5 Virginia Curnutte, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.4.6 Ivory Curnutte.

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.5 Leo Curnutte was born September 19, 1889. He married Margaret Lyles in September 1916. She had been born on April 15, 1898. Leo died on December 24, 1976, in Florida. He and Margaret had two children,

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.5.1 Lyle Greenville Curnutte and
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.5.2 Richard Curnutte.

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.6 Jessie Curnutte was born June 5, 1894. She married Ernest Jones. She died on February 21, 1961. She and Ernest had seven children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.6.1 Ruby Jones,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.6.2 Leona Jones,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.6.3 Margaret Jones;
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.6.4 Robert Jones,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.6.5 Shirley Jones,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.6.6 Lucille Jones, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.6.7 Mary Jones.

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.7 Pearl Curnutte was born May 13, 1897. She was married on December 25, 1920, to Rolla DeWees at Charleston, West Virginia. He had been born on October 11, 1894. He and Pearl had three children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.7.1 Charles Ray DeWees,
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.7.2 George DeWees, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.7.3 Mary Ruth DeWees.

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.8 Naomi Curnutte was born July 6, 1899. She married Robert McCormick. She died on August 13, 1937, and was buried at Holly Grove, West Virginia. She and Robert had two children,

1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.8.1 Noma McCormick and
1.2.5.1.2.9.5.7.8.2 Mary Frances McCormick.

end of Hugh

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LEVI H. SPARKS and NANCY JANE (LAWSON) SPARKS

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1.2.5.1.2.9.6 Levi Hansford Sparks was born on May 31, 1834, in Lawrence County and was probably named for an uncle, Levi Sparks, the oldest brother of his father. Levi grew to manhood in the home of his parents, and when the 1850 census was taken, they were living on the Little Fork of the Little Sandy River. by 1855, however, the family had moved to Big Gimlet Creek in neighboring Carter County. There, on November 10, 1855, Levi, now aged 21, and his brother, Colby Sparks, bought 508 acres of land from David Whisman for $600.

A personal description of Levi Sparks was given several years ago by a son, Colby C. Sparks. He said that his father was about six feet tall and weighed ca. 185 pounds. He had blue eyes, dark hair, and a fair complexion. He was also slightly bald-headed, but he had a full beard which he wore quite long. He had a fine voice for preaching.

On July 7, 1860, Levi H. Sparks married Nancy Jane Lawson in Carter County, Kentucky. They were married by Joseph Mauk, a justice of the peace. Nancy had been born on November 6, 1838, in Morgan County, Kentucky, and she was a daughter of James and Polly Lawson. When the census taker visited the home of Levi and Nancy on August 7, 1860, they were living near Bruin, Kentucky. The census taker recorded that Levi was a farmer, but it was also just about this time that he was ordained a Baptist minister.

When Elliott County, Kentucky, was formed from parts of Lawrence, Carter, and Morgan Counties, Big Gimlet Creek, where Levi Sparks lived, became a part of the new county, and on the 1870 census, he was listed in Precinct No. 5. His post office was Newfoundland. He was still living in Precinct 5 when the 1880 census was taken.

A church was organized at Bruin, Kentucky, In southern Carter County, and was named Rock Spring Baptist Church. It is no longer in existence, but we have been told that there are still fragments of Its early minutes some where. It is said that these minutes indicate that Levi Sparks became a member by experience on July 4, 1858. He was approved to offer public prayer in February 1860 and was ordained as a minister in 1869. He remained active in his ministry for the rest of his life, and he performed many marriages in Elliott County, including those of four of his children.

Nancy Jane (Lawson) Sparks, wife of Levi H. Sparks, died on September 11, 1906, in Elliott County, Kentucky, and was buried in the Sparks-Lawson Cemetery near Ibex, Kentucky. Levi died on November 20, 1911. He, too, was buried in the Sparks-Lawson Cemetery near the graves of his parents. In addition to the dates of his birth and death, the following epitaph, from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy, is engraved on his tombstone:

I have fought a good fight; I have finished my course; I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness.

Levi H. and Nancy Jane (Lawson) Sparks were the parents of eleven children.

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.1 Leburn Sparks was born on December 17, 1860, in Carter County, Kentucky. He was nearly twenty-four years old when he died on May 5, 1884, in Elliott County. He was never married. He was buried in the Sparks-Lawson Cemetery near Ibex, Kentucky.

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2 John Floyd Sparks was born on May 2, 1862. He married Laura Belle Waddell on June 22, 1883, in Elliott County, with his father, the Rev. Levi Sparks, performing the marriage ceremony. Belle (as she was called) had been born on May 5, 1865; she was a daughter of Jordan S. and Frances Susan (Pennington) Waddell. She and John had four children before her untimely death on April 6, 1890, probably when their fourth child was born. She was buried in the Sparks-Lawson Cemetery near Ibex, Kentucky.

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.1 Lille ["Susan"] Sparks was born September 4, 1884. She married Lee Roy Day on December 19, 1900. He had been born on March 8, 1881. He and Susan lived at Haldeman, Kentucky, where they attended the Baptist Church. Lee died on November 13, 1947, and Susan died on November 7, 1973. They were buried in the Dawson Cemetery in Rowan County, Kentucky. They had at least two children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.1.1 Ivan Day and
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.1.2 Bertha Day.

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.2 Charles A. Sparks was born April 15, 1886. He lived near Morehead all of his life. He was married twice. His first marriage was to Bertha Stewart. She had been born on September 27, 1887. She died on October 19, 1910. She and Charles had three children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.2.1 Marie Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.2.2 John Crit Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.2.3 Betty Sparks.

Charles Sparks was married, second, to Amelia Fletcher on October 13, 1913. She had been born on May 29, 1889, and was a daughter of Jerry and Sarah (Alderson) Fletcher. Amelia died at Morehead on February 3, 1980, and Charles died there on September 27, 1980. They were buried in the Lee Cemetery at Morehead. They had six children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.2.4 Edna Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.2.5 Edith Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.2.6 Ivan Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.2.7 Elmer Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.2.8 Virgil Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.2.9 Pauline Sparks.

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.3 Leburn H. ["Polly"] Sparks was born April 4, 1888. He was married twice. His first marriage was to Elvira Conley. They had no children. His second marriage was to Hattie Hall on January 31, 1910. She had been born on September 11, 1895, and was a daughter of Daniel B. and Elizabeth (Cornette) Hall. She and Polly lived at Gates, Kentucky. Polly died on February 20, 1979, and Hattie died a few months later, on December 3 (or 5?), 1979. They were buried in the New Sill Cemetery in Rowan County, Kentucky. They had seven children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.3.1 Elbert O. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.3.2 Charles E. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.3.3 Fred T. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.3.4 Robert W. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.3.5 Thelma Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.3.6 Lyda Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.3.7 Lillian Sparks.

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.4 William Lansford Sparks was born ca. 1890. He died shortly after his birth. After the death of his first wife, Belle Sparks, John Floyd Sparks was married, second, to Lou Ann Pelphrey ca. 1894. She had been born in July 1869. Shortly after their marriage, they moved to Rowan County, Kentucky, where John died on June 21, 1919. He and Lou Ann had five children, not listed.

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.5 Emma Sparks was born in December 1896.

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.6 Grace Sparks was born September 11, 1899. She married Thomas Oney. She died on February 17, 1976, at Morehead, Kentucky.

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.7 Levi Garred Sparks was born August 29, 1901, in Rowan County, Kentucky. He worked in the brickmaking plant at Haldeman, Kentucky. He married Mary Conley on May 11, 1926. She had been born on August 11, 1905, and was a daughter of William and Amanda (Wellim) Conley. Levi Sparks died on February 17, 1976, and was buried in the Conley Cemetery in Rowan County, Kentucky. He and Mary had fourteen children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.7.1 Margaret Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.7.2 Levi Sparks, Jr.,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.7.3 Elizabeth Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.7.4 Ruth Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.7.5 John C. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.7.6 Flossie Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.7.7 James E. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.7.8 Bessle Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.7.9 Jack O. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.7.10 Mettie Lou Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.7.11 Ora Lee Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.7.12 Carlotta Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.7.13 Rebecca Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.7.14 Jerry Allen Sparks.

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.8 Sybrina ["Bryan"] Sparks was born April 30, 1904. She married Reuben Thomas on January 1, 1927. He was elected later to the office of Rowan County jailor. He died on May 7, 1967, and Bryan died on March 25, 1971. They had twelve children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.8.1 John C. Thomas,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.8.2 James Thomas,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.8.3 Claudia Thomas,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.8.4 Clyde Thomas,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.8.5 Clayton Thomas,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.8.6 Edith Thomas,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.8.7 Ruby Thomas,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.8.8 Vinda Thomas,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.8.9 Mary Jane Thomas,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.8.10 Sue Thomas,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.8.11 Bonnie Thomas, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.8.12 Madge Thomas.

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.9 Mary Ellen Sparks was born November 11, 1908. She married Alvin B. Haines in 1931. He died in an auto accident on December 28, 1952. Mary Ellen died in February 1964. She was a member of the Church of the Nazarene. She and Alvin had at least three children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.9.1 Mary Louise Haines,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.9.2 Daniel Haines, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.2.9.3 Don Haines.

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.3 Almeda Sparks was born in June 1864, and was probably named for her father's sister. She married William Messer, a widower with two daughters, Lyda Messer and Rosetta Messer. Almeda and William had five children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.3.1 Elbert James Messer was born July 30, 1892. He married Pearl James. He died on February 25, 1972. He and Pearl had five children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.3.1.1 Floris Messer,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.3.1.2 Lillian Messer,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.3.1.3 Pauline Messer,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.3.1.4 Jack Messer, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.3.1.5 Elizabeth Messer

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.3.2 Effle Messer was married twice. Her first marriage was to Roger Strode, and her second marriage was to George Turcher.

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.3.3 Nannie Messer married Dewey Offill. They lived at Lawton, Kentucky.

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.3.4 Allie Erwin Messer was born October 24, 1901. He was a labor leader in and around Haldeman, Kentucky. He married Ouida Moore on December 2, 1922. She had been born on March 4, 1906, and was a daughter of Isaac and Martha (Early) Moore. Allie was shot to death on November 3, 1970, by a neighbor who apparently had held a grudge against him for many years over a labor dispute. Allie and Ouida had three children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.3.4.1 Irene Messer,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.3.4.2 Frances M. Messer, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.3.4.3 Robert D. Messer.

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.3.5 Flora Messer was born ca. 1905. She married Earl Porter. She died in 1927.

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FAMILY of ASHBY F. and MANDY ANN (MAUK) SPARKS

Standing in rear, L-R: Ella May Sparks and Sarah Sparks.

Standing in center, L-R: Minard Sparks and James A. Sparks.

Seated, L-R: Ashby Sparks (father) holding Nancy Jane Sparks; Ora Sparks, standing; and Mandy Ann (Mauk) Sparks (mother) holding Addie Sparks.

Photo taken in 1910.

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1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4 Ashby Fairchild Sparks was born April 19, 1866. He was a farmer. He also taught "singing schools."(A singing school was made up of adults who subscribed to take a series of singing lessons, usually in a group in the evening at a local church or school.) Ashby F. Sparks married Amanda ["Mandy"] Ann Mauk on February 4, 1892. She had been born July 26, 1870, and was a daughter of William and Mary America ["Meck"] (Harper) Mauk. Ashby and Mandy lived near Stark, Kentucky, and their children attended the Bunker Hill School located on Beech Branch of Little Caney Creek.

In 1916, Ashby and Mandy sold their farm in Elliott County and bought a farm in Carter County, Kentucky, located between the villages of Aden and Gregoryville. There they raised tobacco and cattle. Mandy became a licensed midwife. They attended the Regular Baptist Church at Grahn, Kentucky.

In 1918, the Spanish flu struck the area, and Ella May, daughter of Ashby and Mandy, died from it on October 20, 1918. Six days later, on October 26, 1918, Ora Lee Sparks, 13-year-old son of Ashby and Mandy, also died from the dreaded disease.

Mandy (Mauk) Sparks died on August 18, 1937. Ashby died on April 3, 1947. They were buried in the Newall Cemetery at Grahn, Kentucky. They were the parents of nine children. They were:

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.1 Sarah Etta Sparks was born November 22, 1892, in Elliott County, Kentucky. She married Harry Phillips. He was a son of George and Eliza (Armstrong) Phillips. Harry died on November 10, 1941, and Sarah Etta died on May 29, 1963. They had eight children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.1.1 Opal Phillips,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.1.2 Marjorie Phillips,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.1.3 Chester Phillips,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.1.4 Ray Phillips,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.1.5 Paul Phillips,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.1.6 Theodore Phillips,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.1.7 Naoma Phillips, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.1.8 Harlis Phillips.

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.2 Ella May Sparks was born July 15, 1894. She married Earnest Phillips. He was a son of George and Eliza (Armstrong) Phillips, thus he was a brother of Harry Phillips who married Ella May's sister, Sarah Etta. (See above.) Ella May died on October 20, 1918, during the flu epidemic. She and Earnest had one child, a son, named

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.2.1 Glenmore Phillips.

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.3 John Will Sparks was born October 13, 1896. He was a farmer. He was never married. He died on June 25, 1978. (See p.2026 of the September 1978 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 103, for his obituary.)

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.4 Minard Dewell Sparks was born February 20, 1899. He was a clay miner at Grahn, Kentucky. He was married twice. His first wife was Catherine ["Kate"] Jesse, a daughter of James Jesse. She and Minard had seven children. After her death, Minard married Emma Sturgill. He was 97 years of age when he died. Children of Minard and Kate (Jesse) Sparks were:

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.4.1 Ella Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.4.2 Marcella Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.4.3 Kenneth Burl Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.4.4 Helen Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.4.5 James Curtis Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.4.6 Alva Gail Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.4.7 Billy Garvin Sparks.

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.5 James Allen Sparks was born February 16, 1901. He was a coal miner. He married Mary Margaret Hagar, a daughter of byrd and Lulie Hagar, of Sharples, West Virginia. James died on July 30, 1971. They had three children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.5.1 Glenn M. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.5.2 Allen E. Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.5.3 Jimmie M. Sparks.

The latter has been most helpful in the preparation of this article.

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.6 Hugh Russell Sparks was born June 10, 1903. He was an employee of the C & O Railroad. He married Nora Gladys Stamper. She was a daughter of John L. and Lillian (James) Stamper. Nora and Russell (as he was called) had ten children. They were:

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.6.1 Vella Marie Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.6.2 Franklin Velmore Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.6.3 Mary Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.6.4 Alpha ["Jackle"] Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.6.5 Magdaline Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.6.6 Joyce Ann Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.6.7 Ivan Ray Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.6.8 Charles U. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.6.9 Donald Lee Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.6.10 Russell E. Sparks.

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.7 Ora Lee Sparks was born December 6, 1905. He died on October 26, 1918, during the flu epidemic.

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.8 Nancy Jane Sparks was born June 27, 1907. She married Roy Phillips. He was a son of George and Eliza (Armstrong) Phillips, thus three Sparks sisters were married to three Phillips brothers. (See Items F, 4, a, and F, 4 b, above-(5.4.1 and 5.4.2 ??).) Nancy Jane and Roy had two children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.8.1 Juanita Phillips and
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.8.2 Lillie May Phillips.

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.9 Addie Easter Sparks was born on Easter Sunday, March 27, 1910. He was a clay miner. He married Magdaline Carroll. He died on August 4, 1984. He and Magdaline had one child,

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.4.9.1 Glenna Jean Sparks.

****1.2.5.1.2.9.6.5 and 1.2.5.1.2.9.6.6 missing from the original text*****

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.7 Judy L. Sparks, daughter of Levi and Nancy Jane (Lawson) Sparks, was born ca. 1871. She married Alfred Holbrook on April 12, 1894, in Elliott County, Kentucky. She died on April 29, 1917. She and Alfred had at least five children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.7.1 Antha Holbrook was born June 2, 1896. She married Eddie Gearhart. She died on February 2, 1984, at Olive Hill, Kentucky. She and Eddie had at least four children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.7.1.1 Lowell Gearhart,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.7.1.2 Emmitt ["Jack"] Gearhart,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.7.1.3 Alfred Gearhart, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.7.1.4 Ruby Gearhart.

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.7.2 Emmitt Holbrook was born September 29, 1906. He was married twice. His first marriage was to Nell Gearhart. She died in 1979. They had three children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.7.2.1 Aldrich Holbrook,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.7.2.2 Joe Ivan Holbrook, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.7.2.3 Jacqueline Holbrook.

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.7.3 Roger Holbrook lived at Olive Hill, Kentucky.
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.7.4 Robert Holbrook lived at Akron, Ohio.
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.7.5 Ethel Holbrook married FNU Porter.

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.8 Hansford C. Sparks was born in November 1873. He married Lulie F. Holbrook on October 7, 1896. She had been born in August 1879. Hansford died in 1953, and Lulie died in 1959. They had nine children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.8.1 Charles Sparks was born July 31, 1897, in Elliott County, Kentucky. He lived in Olive Hill, Kentucky.

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.8.2 Ernest Sparks was born August 9, 1898.

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.8.3 Ida B. Sparks was born August 13, 1899. She married FNU Boggs. She died on May 16, 1977, at Alliance, Ohio. She had five children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.8.3.1 Joseph Boggs,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.8.3.2 Gerald Boggs,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.8.3.3 Andrew Boggs,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.8.3.4 Harry Boggs, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.8.3.5 Chattie Sue Boggs.

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.8.4 Addie Sparks was born August 26, 1901. She married Vernon DeHart. She died on September 22, 1981, at Olive Hill, Kentucky. She and Vernon had four children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.8.4.1 Ernest DeHart,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.8.4.2 Chester DeHart,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.8.4.3 Bernice DeHart, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.8.4.4 Marie DeHart.

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.8.5 Rosa Sparks was born June 1, 1904, in Carter County, Kentucky. She married Edward Newman. She died on July 9, 1978. She and Edward had three children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.8.5.1 Fred Newman,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.8.5.2 Charles Newman, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.8.5.3 Faye Newman

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.8.6 Beddy Sparks married MNU Fain.

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.8.7 Lucy Sparks married MNU Jarvis.

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.8.8 Edward Sparks was born April 12, 1917. He married Minnie Branham. He died on July 23, 1986. He and Minnie had three children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.8.8.1 Morton Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.8.8.2 Paul D. Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.8.8.3 June Sparks.

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.8.9 Elizabeth Sparks was the youngest child of Hansford and Lulie Sparks. She married FNU Jarvis.

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COLBY CRAWFORD SPARKS (1876-1965)

with HIS SECOND WIFE JULIA BELLE (MAUK) SPARKS

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1.2.5.1.2.9.6.9 Colby Crawford Sparks, son of Levi and Nancy Jane (Lawson) Sparks, was born February 23, 1876, in Elliott County, Kentucky. He was a farmer, a miner, and a Baptist preacher. He was crippled in a mining accident in West Virginia and walked with a noticeable limp. He was married twice. His first marnage was to Nancy Bell Branham on September 26, 1898, in Elliott County. She had been born in February 1878 and was a daughter of Andrew and Polly Branham. She died on April 11, 1904. She and Colby had three children, all born in Elliott County. They were:

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.9.1 William Franklin Sparks was born September 27, 1899. He was a foreman in a steel mill in Ohio. He was married twice. His first wife was Mary Porter. She died in 1939. His second marriage was to Virtie Davis. He died on January 18, 1986, at his home in Wheelersburg, Ohio. He was the father of eight children; however, we have learned the names of only four of them. They are:

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.9.1.1 Jack Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.9.1.2 Daniel Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.9.1.3 Marjorie Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.9.1.4 Mona Sparks.

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.9.2 Levi H. Sparks was born January 12, 1901. He was a coal miner. He married Lucy Jane Gearhart. She had been born on November 26, 1901, in Carter County, Kentucky, and was a daughter of Joseph and Virgie (Seagraves) Gearhart. Levi Sparks died on October 17, 1973, and Lucy Jane died on February 3, 1978. They had six children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.9.2.1 Joseph Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.9.2.2 Leroy Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.9.2.3 Colby C. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.9.2.4 Bernard R. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.9.2.5 Juanita Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.9.2.6 Arvetta Sparks.

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.9.3 Andrew Sparks was born August 10, 1903. He worked in a rubber manufacturing plant in Bucyrus, Ohio. He married Anna Blanche Gearhart. She had been born on March 23, 1903, and was a daughter of Joseph and Virgie (Seagraves) Gearhart; thus, Andrew Sparks and his brother, Levi Sparks, were married to sisters. (See Item next above.) Anna died on July 19, 1980, and Andrew died on August 15, 1988. They had three children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.9.3.1 Jerry Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.9.3.2 James Colby Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.9.3.3 Eugene Sparks.

After the death of his first wife, Nancy Bell Sparks in 1904, Colby Sparks was married, second, to Julia Belle Mauk on July 1, 1905, in Elliott County, Kentucky. She was a daughter of Joseph and Susannah Mauk. Colby Sparks died on August 15, 1965, at Gates, Kentucky, and was buried in the New Sill Cemetery in Rowan County, Kentucky. He and Julia had eight children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.9.4 Edna Sparks was born August 5, 1906. She died on September 18, 1908.
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.9.5 Haskel Sparks was born February 18, 1909. He died on August 10, 1911.
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.9.6 Lola Sparks was born June 10, 1912, near Logan, West Virginia. She married William ["Ted"] Powers. He died in 1957 and Lola died on March 11, 1986. They had three children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.9.6.1 Virgil Powers,
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.9.6.2 Charles Powers, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.9.6.3 Ernest Powers.

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.9.7 Opal Sparks was born February 10, 1915. She married FNU Gregory. They lived in El Paso, Texas, in 1965.
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.9.8 Bonnie Sparks was born April 17, 1917. She married Virgil Oney, and they were living in Hammond, Indiana, in 1965.
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.9.9 Eva Sparks was born Octobr 18, 1920. She married Ernest Oney. They were living at Soldier, Kentucky, In 1965.
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.9.10 Ivan Dennis Sparks was born May 21, 1923.
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.9.11 Susan Sparks was born February 14, 1925. She married William Sturgill. They were living at Heath, Ohio, in 1965.

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.10 Nancy Jane Sparks, daughter of Levi and Nancy Jane (Lawson) Sparks, was born March 9, 1878, in Elliott County, Kentucky. She married William B. Scaggs on May 20, 1897, in Elliott County. The marriage ceremony was conducted by her father. William had been born on April 18, 1875, and he was a son of Joseph and Sarah (Holbrook) Scaggs. William and Nancy lived at Sharkey, Kentucky. He died on March 3, 1945. Nancy died on June 5, 1968. They were the parents of eight children. (See p. 1245 of the June 1969 issue of The Sparks Quarterly, Whole No. 67, for an obituary of Nancy (Sparks) Scaggs.) The children of Willlam B. and Nancy (Sparks) Scaggs were:

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.10.1 Eva Scaggs was born February 25, 1898. She married Ervin Johnson, and they lived at Manchester, Ohio.
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.10.2 Estill Scaggs was born on January 1, 1900. He died on October 22, 1915. He was never married.
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.10.3 Cecil Scaggs was born June 17, 1903. He married Eva Ratliff.
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.10.4 Joseph Scaggs was born October 24, 1905. He was never married.
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.10.5 Alma Lee Scaggs was born June 10, 1908. She married Henry Blevins.
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.10.6 Nellie Scaggs was born December 1, 1913, and has been a most enthusiastic member of the Association since it was formed. She has not married.
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.10.7 Ernest Scaggs was born December 26, 1918. He married Nellie Wyatt.
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.10.8 Charles Scaggs was born May 13, 1922. He married Lillian Black.

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.11 James W. Sparks, son of Levi and Nancy Jane (Lawson) Sparks, was born January 23, 1883, in Elliott County, Kentucky. He was a coal miner. He lived near Whitesburg, Kentucky, for most of his life. He was married three times. His first marriage was to Mary Lyon on January 25, 1903, in Elliott County. She was a daughter of John and Amanda (Rose) Lyon. The second marriage of James Sparks was to Lulie Shepherd, a daughter of Andrew Shepherd. The third marriage of James Sparks was to Maggie Christian. He died In 1949. He had six children, three by his first marriage and three by his second marriage.

1.2.5.1.2.9.6.11.1 Lena Sparks married Cordie Davis.
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.11.2 Ivan Sparks married FNU Webb. They lived at Whitesburg, Kentucky.
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.11.3 Arvilla Sparks.
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.11.4 Archie Sparks was never married.
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.11.5 Lucille Sparks married FNU Blanton. They lived at Morehead, Kentucky.
1.2.5.1.2.9.6.11.6 Ada Sparks lived at Whitesburg, Kentucky.

end of Levi

---

FAMILY of JOHN B. and EMMAELLA (SPARKS) HARPER

Standing, L-R: Nancy E. Harper; James H. Harper; and Sarah A. Harper

Seated, L-R: Mary Ellen Harper; Lucy A. Harper; John B. Harper (father); John Jacob ["Jake"] Harper; and Emmaella (Sparks) Harper (mother).

---

1.2.5.1.2.9.7 Emmaella Sparks was born on February 23, 1839. She married John B. Harper on January 9, 1862, by J. Mauk. The license was issued on December 28, 1861, and the witnesses were P. L. Reynolds and A. Whitt. John Harper was born June 16, 1839, in either Scott or Wise County, Virginia, and was a son of Allen and Elizabeth (Boggs) Harper. John died on August 9, 1896, in Elliott County, Kentucky, and Emmaella died on January 25, 1916. They were buried in the Harper Cemetery on Mauk Ridge. They had seven children.

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.1 Mary Ellen Harper was born November 2, 1862. She married Samuel Logan Green on October 17, 1880, by her uncle, the Rev. Levi Sparks. Sam had been born on November 24, 1859, in Scott County, Virginia, and was a son of Martin Wood and Elizabeth (Gillenwater) Green, natives of Virginia.

Samuel ["Sam"] Green was an enterprising man. In addition to farming, he had a general store and was postmaster at Ibex, Kentucky - He was elected judge of Elliott County for two terms. Mary Ellen died on January 25, 1930, and Sam died on February 20, 1939. They had seven children.

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.1.1 Charles Jefferson Green was born July 12, 1881. He died on May 10, 1890.

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.1.2 Minnie Green was born September 27, 1882. She married Robert K. Green on February 15, 1902, In Elliott County. He had been born on September 26, 1877, and was a son of David C. and Amanda (Boggs) Green. He died prior to 1975. Minnie died on April 6, 1975. They had four children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.1.2.1 Samuel Green,
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.1.2.2 Clyde Green,
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.1.2.3 John Green, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.1.2.4 Henry Green.

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.1.3 Emma Elizabeth Green was born May 4, 1884. She married Jerry Lewis on January 21, 1902, in Elliott County, He was a son of Humphrey and Johner (Porter) Lewis. He and Emma had seven children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.1.3.1 Elmer Lewis,
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.1.3.2 Sam Lewis,
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.1.3.3 Hyscal Lewis,
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.1.3.4 Matthew Lewis,
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.1.3.5 Emma Lewis,
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.1.3.6 Robert Lewis, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.1.3.7 Minnie Lewis.

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.1.4 Sara Green was born July 1, 1887, in Elliott County, Kentucky. She was married twice. Her first marriage was to Henry Thomas ["H.T."] Sparks on February 6, 1908, in Carter County, Kentucky. He had been born in July 1884 and was a son of William Henderson and Rachel (Knipp) Sparks. Henry Thomas and Sara lived In Olive Hill, Kentucky, where he practiced medicine for many years. He died on April 4, 1937. Prior to their divorce, he and Sara had three children. They were:

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.1.4.1 Harmon Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.1.4.2 Clarence Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.1.4.3 Henry Thomas Sparks, Jr.

Sara was married, second, to William C. Daniel. She died ca. 1965. (See page 3864 of the December 1991 Issue of The Sparks Quarterly, Whole No. 156, for further details of the ancestry of Henry Thomas Sparks.)

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.1.5 Pearl Green was born December 27, 1889. She married Fred Landrum. He was a native of Grant County, Kentucky, and his mother was Alice Eckler. He and Pearl lived In Harrison County, Kentucky. They had ten children. They were:

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.1.5.1 William Landrum,
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.1.5.2 John P. Landrum,
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.1.5.3 Mary E. Landrum,
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.1.5.4 Louisa A. Landrum,
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.1.5.5 Sarah Landrum,
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.1.5.6 Eloise Landrum,
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.1.5.7 Fred Landrum, Jr.,
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.1.5.8 Minnie Sue Landrum,
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.1.5.9 Bessie L. Landrum, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.1.5.10 Kenneth W. Landrum

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.1.6 Mona Green was born September 19, 1892, at Ibex, Kentucky. She married Ora Nelson Pennington on January 27, 1910. He had been born on August 5, 1889, at Backbone, Kentucky. Mona died on July 25, 1957. She and Ora had two children,

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.1.6.1 Mary Ellen Pennington. She married Jacob Henson and lives in Elliott County. She has been most helpful in sharing materials about her family.and
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.1.6.2 Samuel Logan Pennington.

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.1.7 Nancy Susan ["Sue"] Green was born December 5, 1899. She married Kenneth Whitt on December 30, 1920. He had been born on May 23, 1899, and was a son of Dee and Lulie (Harper) Whitt. Kenneth died on June 20, 1969. Sue died on August 31, 1982. They were buried in the Green Cemetery in Elliott County. Sue (Green) Whitt was most helpful in sharing information about her branch of the Sparks family. She and Kenneth had three children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.1.7.1 Kenneth Whitt, Jr.,
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.1.7.2 Clarence Whitt, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.1.7.3 Lulie Blanche Whitt.

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.2 James H. Harper was born on May 10, 1864. He became a physician. He married Elizabeth Moore ca. 1900. She was a daughter of Archibald Moore. James Harper died on April 1, 1922, and was buried in the Harper Cemetery. He and Elizabeth had two children, a son and a daughter, born in 1901 and 1903, but both died in infancy.

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.3 Nancy E. Harper was born ca. 1867. She married John Leedy ca. 1885. They had eight children.

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.3.1 Lula Leedy was born January 16, 1888. She married Millard F. Sparks ca. 1912. He had been born on August 28, 1887, and was a son of John E. and Lizzie (Boggs) Sparks. (See page 3404 of the June 1980 Issue of The Sparks Quarterly, Whole No. 146, for further details about this family.)

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.3.2 Virgie Leedy was born February 20, 1890. She married Jeremiah ["Jerry"] Nelson Sparks on September 1, 1917. He had been born on August 3, 1894, and was a son of Nelson and Hannah (Leadingham) Sparks, and he was a grandson of Thomas and Dianna (Sparks) Sparks. (See page 3864 of the December 1991 issue of The Sparks Quarterly, Whole No. 156, for further details of this branch of the Sparks family.) Virgie (Leedy) Sparks died in October 1973. She and Jerry had four children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.3.2.1 Madeline Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.3.2.2 Marvin Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.3.2.3 Vernon Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.3.2.4 Eugene Sparks.

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.3.3 Leonard Leedy married Myrtle Rose. They lived in Florida.
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.3.4 Cecil Leedy married Ethel Ferguson. They lived in Barstow, Florida.
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.3.5 Emma Leedy married Elijah Fultz.
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.3.6 Elizabeth Leedy married Fred Johnson. They lived in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania.
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.3.7 Lucy Leedy married Charles Denues. They lived in Lexington, Kentucky.
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.3.8 Jacob Leedy was a coal miner at Printer, West Virginia.

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.4 Sarah A. Harper was born ca. 1872. She married Martin ["Coon"] Moore ca. 1893. He was a son of Archibald Moore Coon and Sarah lived on Sinking Creek in Elliott County, Kentucky, where they had nine children. They were:

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.4.1 William Moore was born October 19, 1894. He married Amy Holbrook. They lived in Chicago, Illinois. They had no children.

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.4.2 Ethel Moore was born October 19, 1896. She married Norman Kegley. They lived in Lakeland, Florida. They had three children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.4.2.1 Jarva Kegley,
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.4.2.2 Carl Kegley, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.4.2.3 Arlene Kegley.

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.4.3 Elizabeth Moore was born February 21, 1898. She married Nelson Cox. They had at least one child, Larue Cox.

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.4.4 Earl Moore was born March 24, 1900. He married Alice Whitt. They had four children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.4.4.1 Mary L. Moore,
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.4.4.2 Madelyne Moore,
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.4.4.3 George Moore, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.4.4.4 Jack Moore.

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.4.5 Grace Moore was born December 8, 1901. She married Russell Waggoner. They lived in Morehead, Kentucky. They had three children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.4.5.1 Russell Waggoner, Jr.,
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.4.5.2 Frank Waggoner, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.4.5.3 Donald Waggoner.

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.4.6 George Moore was born November 4, 1903. He married Nellie Schellenger. They lived at McDowell, Kentucky. They had no children.

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.4.7 Bess Moore was born October 21, 1906, in Elliott County, Kentucky. She was a school teacher in Carter County, Kentucky. She married Ernest Greenhill, and they lived in Olive Hill, Kentucky. Ernest died there in 1968. Bess died on October 21, 1985. They had three children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.4.7.1 Jack Greenhill,
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.4.7.2 Roma June Greenhill, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.4.7.3 Ronald Greenhill.

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.4.8 Elmer Moore married Loraine McMillion, and they had two children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.4.8.1 Valrie Moore and
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.4.8.2 Thelma Moore.

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.4.9 Arthur Moore died in 1917.

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.5 John Jacob ["Jake"] Harper, son of John and Emmaella (Sparks) Harper, was born July 1, 1876. He married Nancy Conn ca. 1896. She had been born ca. 1880, and she was a daughter of Jack and Ellen (Goodman) Conn. Jake Harper was killed by his brother-in-law, Ell Johnson, on May 10, 1906. After his death, Nancy married Jesse Johnson. She died in 1939. She and Jake had six children, Including an unnamed child who died shortly after birth. The other five were:

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.5.1 Everett Harper was born October 18, 1897. He married Maude Dickerson. He died on February 21, 1961.

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.5.2 Elmer Harper was born on September 20, 1898. He married Jessie Cox. She died in 1969, and Elmer died on February 27, 1983. They had four children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.5.2.1 Russell Harper,
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.5.2.2 Kathleen Harper,
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.5.2.3 Ruby Harper, and
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.5.2.4 Dixie Harper.

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.5.3 Oscar Harper was born November 19, 1900. He was killed by Bob Nickells on May 22, 1924.

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.5.4 John E. Harper was born January 13, 1903. He married Thelma Thornsbury. They lived In Ashland, Kentucky.

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.5.5 Russell Harper was born posthumously on July 9, 1906. He married Lena Cox. He was killed on December 21, 1930, by a son of Bob Nickells. Nickells had killed his (Russell's) brother, 1.2.5.1.2.9.7.5.3 Oscar Harper, just a few years earlier. (See Item above.)

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.6 Lucy America Harper, daughter of John and Emmaella (Sparks) Harper, was born February 27, 1880. She married James Ellington ["Ell"] Johnson on July 13, 1897. They lived at Lawton, Kentucky, where they reared five children. Lucy was married, second, to FNU McMillion, and they had one child. Lucy died in 1955. Her children were:

1.2.5.1.2.9.7.6.1 May Johnson was born May 22, 1899. She married James Gearhart in 1915. He had been born July 6, 1888. May died in 1955 at Olive Hill, Kentucky.
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.6.2 Ray Johnson was born June 21, 1901. He married Nola Gearhart. She had been born on November 8, 1901.
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.6.3 Estill Johnson was born November 10, 1903. He married Augie Wilson on September 3, 1927. She had been born in June 1903.
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.6.4 Nola Johnson was born December 21, 1905. She married Walton Johnson in 1928.
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.6.5 Pearl Johnson was born February 10, 1908. She married Marlin Porter.
1.2.5.1.2.9.7.6.6 Charles McMillion, son of Lucy America Harper and her second husband, FNU McMillion, was born January 13, 1911. He died on January 29, 1955.

end of Emmaella

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1.2.5.1.2.9.8 Colby Sparks was born ca. 1842 in Lawrence County, Kentucky. He was undoubtedly named for his father's brother, Colby Sparks, who lived in Wilkes County, North Carolina. Young Colby was about sixteen years old when he was accidentally cut by an axe. The wound became infected, and he was taken to a hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. He died there on February 27, 1858.

1.2.5.1.2.9.9 Mary Sparks was born on June 7, 1844. She married John N. Lawson on July 13, 1864, in Carter County, Kentucky, by Joseph Mauk, a justice of the peace. The license was issued on June 12, 1864, and the witnesses were Levi Sparks and H. W. Bare. John Lawson had been born ca. 1841 In Bath County, Kentucky, and he was a son of James and Polly Lawson; thus he and his sister, Nancy Jane Lawson, were married to a sister and a brother. (See Item F, above.)

Mary (Sparks) Lawson died on April 27, 1902, and was buried in the Lawson Cemetery. She and John had nine childen.

1.2.5.1.2.9.9.1 Lavinia Lawson was born on November 7, 1866. She was never married.

1.2.5.1.2.9.9.2 Nancy Lawson was born December 27, 1868. She married Willis Cox, and they had at least two children, Charles Cox and Curtis Cox.

1.2.5.1.2.9.9.3 George Lawson was born January 14, 1870. He married Martha Fraley on Christmas Day in 1895. She had been born on November 13, 1880, and her mother was Serepta Fraley. George and Martha lived at Wellington, Kentucky. He died there on February 22, 1953. He and Martha had eleven children, according to information given by a descendant in 1953.

1.2.5.1.2.9.9.1.1 Leatha Lawson was born September 28, 1896. She married --FNU Yocum and lived in Seattle, Washington.
1.2.5.1.2.9.9.1.2 Bertha Lawson was born on August 2, 1898. She married James Johnson. They lived In Louisville, Kentucky.
1.2.5.1.2.9.9.1.3 John Lawson was born March 30, 1900. He lived at Big Woods, Kentucky.
1.2.5.1.2.9.9.1.4 Cecil Lawson was born April 22, 1902. He lived in Owingsville, Kentucky.
1.2.5.1.2.9.9.1.5 Edward Lawson was born December 5, 1905. He lived in Detroit, Michigan.
1.2.5.1.2.9.9.1.6 Wert Lawson was born July 25, 1907. He lived in Scranton, Kentucky.
1.2.5.1.2.9.9.1.7 Othnal ["Ott"] Lawson was born September 24, 1909. He lived in Detroit, Michigan.
1.2.5.1.2.9.9.1.8 Orville ["Orvie"] Lawson was born December 19, 1911. He lived in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
1.2.5.1.2.9.9.1.9 James Carl Lawson was born September 13, 1914. He lived at Scranton, Kentucky.
1.2.5.1.2.9.9.1.10 Matt Lawson was born October 17, 1918. He lived at Kalamazoo, Michigan
1.2.5.1.2.9.9.1.11 Beulah Lawson was born October 27, 1921. She died on June 6, 1932.

1.2.5.1.2.9.9.4 Ida E. Lawson was born on May 7, 1873. She married Hugh Boggs ca. 1900. They lived at Franklin Furnace, Ohio. They had five children.

1.2.5.1.2.9.9.4.1 John W. Boggs was born September 24, 1903. He lived in Baltimore, Maryland.
1.2.5.1.2.9.9.4.2 Cora Boggs was born June 8, 1906. She lived at Wheelersburg, Ohio.
1.2.5.1.2.9.9.4.3 Minnie Boggs was born December 19, 1909. She married Wilford E. Skaggs. They lived at Ibex, Kentucky.
1.2.5.1.2.9.9.4.4 Aaron Boggs was born on September 8, 1911. He lived at Oldtown, Kentucky.
1.2.5.1.2.9.9.4.5 William Boggs was born October 7, 1914. He lived at Franklin Furnace, Ohio.

1.2.5.1.2.9.9.5 Amanda L. Lawson was born on June 2, 1876. She married Millard Bowling. They lived at Olive Hill, Kentucky.

1.2.5.1.2.9.9.6 James Hugh Lawson was born July 12, 1879. He married Elizabeth Barker. They lived in Ashland, Kentucky. They had three children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.9.6.1 Thomas Lawson;
1.2.5.1.2.9.9.6.2 John Lawson; and
1.2.5.1.2.9.9.6.3 Matilda Lawson.

1.2.5.1.2.9.9.7 Dell Lawson was born March 13, 1882. She had four children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.9.7.1 Glenn Lawson;
1.2.5.1.2.9.9.7.2 Milford Lawson;
1.2.5.1.2.9.9.7.3 Faye Lawson; and
1.2.5.1.2.9.9.7.4 Mary Lawson.

1.2.5.1.2.9.9.8 Nora Lawson was born January 18, 1884. She married Walker. They had no children.

1.2.5.1.2.9.9.9 Winnie Lawson was born February 8, 1888. She married John Handshaw (or Handshoe). They lived at Lawton, Kentucky. They had two children:

1.2.5.1.2.9.9.9.1 Ora Handshaw; and
1.2.5.1.2.9.9.9.2 Pearl Handshaw.

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