June 10, 2023
Pages 4850-4878
Whole Number 179
1.2.5.1.2.2 ROBERT SPARKS (ca.1780-ca. 1815)
SON OF JOHN AND SARAH (SHORES) SPARKS
OF WILKES COUNTY, NORTH
CAROLINA
AND HIS DESCENDANTS OF LAWRENCE COUNTY, KENTUCKY
by Paul E. Sparks
[Editor's Note: Between 1820 and 1830, five men named SPARKS and their families settled in Lawrence County, Kentucky. Two of these men, 1.2.1.2.1.x James Sparks and 1.2.1.2.1.8 Thomas Sparks, were brothers, being sons of 1.2.1.2.1 William and Ann Sparks. Two other men, 1.2.5.1.2.1 Levi Sparks and 1.2.5.1.2.9 George Sparks, were also brothers, they being sons of 1.2.5.1.2 John and Sarah (Shores) Sparks. The fifth man named Sparks to settle in Lawrence County was 1.2.5.1.2.2.1 John Wesley Sparks (usually called Wes); he was a nephew of Levi and George Sparks, he being a son of their brother, 1.2.5.1.2.2 Robert Sparks. Articles about four of these men have been published in the Quarterly as follows:
1.2.1.2.1.8 Thomas Sparks, December 1991, Whole No. 156 and March 1992, Whole No. 157;
1.2.1.2.1.x James Sparks, March 1994, Whole No. 165;
1.2.5.1.2.1 Levi Sparks, the June 1996, Whole No. 174;
1.2.5.1.2.9 George Sparks, December 1996, Whole No. 176.
[The article that follows deals with the children of 1.2.5.1.2.2 Robert Sparks, brother of Levi Sparks and George Sparks. Although Robert Sparks apparently did not come to Lawrence County, four of his children were among its early settlers. We are inclined to believe that these four were all of Robert's children. Our information has come to us from the records of the late Ira Paulus Ison, and we again express our indebtedness to Mr. Ison for his help. He died in 1986.
[The Sparkses who came to Lawrence County settled there shortly after its formation in 1821. At that time, the county embraced a large territory, and, as its population grew, other counties were formed from portions of it. Carter County was formed in 1838; Johnson County was formed in 1843; and Boyd County was formed in 1860. After the Civil War, Elliott County was formed in 1869, and Martin County was formed in 1870. In the article that follows, references to these six counties will not usually be followed by "Kentucky," it being understood that we will refer only to the counties with these names that are located in Kentucky.]
1.2.5.1.2.2 Robert Sparks, son of 1.2.5.1.2 John and Sarah (Shores) Sparks, was born in Wilkes County, North Carolina, ca. 1780. Only one official record bearing his name has been found. This is in a survey made of a land grant to John Sparks, Senior in 1804 in Wilkes County, North Carolina, located on the East Fork of Roaring River. In this, Robert Sparks was named as a chain-bearer in this survey. The rest of the scanty information that we have about him has come to us from relatives in Wilkes County, North Carolina, or in Lawrence County.
Robert Sparks married Margaret Pigg ca. 1804, and they were the parents of four children. She may have been a daughter of William Pigg who paid taxes in 1814 on property near that of John Sparks, Sr. In neighboring Surry County, North Carolina, a Nathan Pigg served as bondsman for the marriage of Waitman Summers and Winney Durham on March 8, 1811.
We have found no record of the death of Robert Sparks or that of his spouse, Margaret (Pigg) Sparks. He was not enumerated on the 1810 or 1820 censuses of North Carolina; he may have died prior to 1820. His widow was apparently living with her son, Wesley Sparks, when the 1830 census was taken of Lawrence County, Kentucky; she was probably the female, aged 50-60 years, then living in his household.
We believe that the children of Robert and Margaret (Pigg) Sparks were:
1.2.5.1.2.2.1 John Wesley Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.2 Nancy Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.3 William Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.4 Reuben Sparks.Available information about each follows:
1.2.5.1.2.2.1 John Wesley Sparks, son of Robert and Margaret (Pigg) Sparks, was born ca. 1806 in Wilkes County, North Carolina. His full name was John Wesley Sparks, but he was usually calledWesley or "Wes". He was probably about ten years old when his father died. He grew to manhood in North Carolina, and ca. 1825 he brought his mother and siblings to Lawrence County where he joined his uncles, Levi Sparks and George Sparks. He was shown as head of his household when the 1830 census was taken of Lawrence County.
Wesley Sparks paid taxes in Lawrence County for the first time in 1831. He was married there to Nancy Kozee on August 22, 1835. His brother, Reuben Sparks had been his bondsman for the marriage license dated June 7, 1835. Nancy had been born ca. 1819 in Kentucky and was a daughter of Elias Kozee. She and Wes went to housekeeping on Wallowhole Creek, and it was there, on October 1, 1846, that he was issued a Lawrence County land warrant for 100 acres of land. (Kentucky counties were given permission in 1835 to claim and to dispose of vacant land within their boundaries.) When the 1850 census was taken of Lawrence County, Wes and Nancy were shown with five children. Their nearest neighbor was Wes's uncle, George Sparks.
Wes Sparks was still living in Lawrence County when the 1860 census was taken. Shortly thereafter, his son, Martin Sparks, was enrolled in the 5th Regiment Kentucky Infantry, Confederate States Army. Wes's son, Richmond, joined Union forces in 1864. Wesley was issued two more Lawrence County land warrants on May 15, 1865, for tracts on Wallowhole Creek consisting of 380 and 275 acres. In 1869, the portion of Lawrence County where he lived became a part of a newly formed county named Elliott County. When the 1870 census was taken of Elliott County, Wes and Nancy were living near Culver, Kentucky, with their two youngest sons.
Nancy (Kozee) Sparks was not enumerated on the 1880 census of Elliott County; she had probably died by then. Wesley Sparks, age 74, was still living near Culver, with his two youngest sons, John Wesley Sparks, and Reuben Sparks. We have found no record of his death, or the place where he was buried. John Wesley and Nancy had twelve children.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.1 Nancy Sparks was born ca. 1836 in Lawrence County. She married Daniel Stephens, a son of Thomas Stephens. We have no further information about this couple.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2 Richmond Sparks was born ca. 1840 in Lawrence County. His given name was often copied as Richard. He married Polly Ann Oma Stephens on August 7, 1861, in Morgan County, Kentucky. She had been born ca. 1845 in Floyd County, Kentucky, and was usually called Oma.
On December 29, 1861, Richmond Sparks was enrolled in Company G, 5th Regiment Kentucky Infantry, Confederate States Army. He probably served until his unit was defeated during the spring of 1862, and he then returned home. He was enrolled on May 21, 1864, in Company A, 68th Regiment Kentucky Militia in Union forces, commanded by David Sturgell. Several years later, his widow applied for a pension based on his service. (See page 4879 of issue Whole No. 179, of the Quarterly for an abstract of his pension file.)
When Richmond Sparks died on January 31, 1878, at Fielden, Kentucky, he was only 37 years of age. His youngest child was born posthumously. Richmond and Oma had seven children.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.1 Martin Van Buren Sparks was born March 30, 1864. He married Missouri ["Zue"] Prince on January 20, 1884, in Elliott County. She had been born June 27, 1868. When the 1900 census was taken of Lawrence County, Zue and Martin were living on the East Fork of Little Sandy River. Zue died on February 24, 1907, and was buried in the Hensley Cemetery near Webbville, Kentucky. We have not learned the date of the death of Martin. He and Zue had nine children. They were:
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.1.1 Rena Bell Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.1.2 Serilda J. Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.1.3 Julia D. Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.1.4 Sarah O. Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.1.5 Walter Van Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.1.6 Virgie J. Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.1.7 James Logan Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.1.8 Daniel H. Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.1.9 Mary L. Sparks.1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.2 Daniel Sparks was born October 9, 1865. He married Mary Ellen Sparks ca. 1884. She had been born in March 1870 and was a daughter of 1.2.5.1.2.2.3.5.7 Francis Marion and Almedia Frances (Wells) Sparks; thus she and Daniel were second cousins. (See below.) According to relatives and census records, they lived on Wallowhole Creek where they reared eight children to maturity. Their children were:
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.2.1 Cecil R. Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.2.2 Francis Marion Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.2.3 Martin B. Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.2.4 Beverly Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.2.5 Stella Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.2.6 Pearlie Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.2.7 Sarah Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.2.8 Alice Sparks.1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.3 Serilda Sparks was born January 17, 1868. She married Baugess White. We have no further information about them.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.4 George Sparks was born July 25, 1870. He married Mary ["Mollie"] McComas ca. 1889. She had been born in February 1867 and was a daughter of George McComas. She and George were living on the East Fork of Little Sandy River in Lawrence County when the 1900 census was taken. They had twelve children:
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.4.1 Rose Annie Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.4.2 Marion Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.4.3 Richmond Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.4.4 Monroe Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.4.5 Rhoda Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.4.6 Oneida Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.4.7 Wilma Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.4.8 Asa Hood Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.4.9 Richard Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.4.10 Hester Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.4.11 May Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.4.12 Essie Sparks.1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.5 Caney Sparks was born May 19, 1874. He married Calista Jane Ramey in 1894 in Lawrence County. She had been born in August 1877, and was a daughter of Daniel Ramey. She died on March 9, 1942, and Caney died on May 21, 1943. They had nine children.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.5.1 Bertha Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.5.2 Cora Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.5.3 John Wesley Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.5.4 Daniel Garfield Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.5.5 Mary Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.5.6 Delia Lea Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.5.7 Laban T. Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.5.8 Edna Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.5.9 Gladys Sparks.1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.6 William Sparks was born May 16, 1876. We have no further information about him.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.7 John Wesley ["Little Wes"] Sparks was born posthumously on October 25, 1878. He married Lucinda Jane Ramey in 1898 in Lawrence County. She had been born in April 1879 and was a daughter of Daniel Ramey. She and "Little Wes" lived on Wallowhole Creek. They were buried in unmarked graves in the Little Wes Sparks Cemetery located east of Wallowhole Road. According to relatives and census records, they had seven children.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.7.1 Charles Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.7.2 Alice Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.7.3 Buddie Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.7.4 Eva Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.7.5 Daniel Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.7.6 Mary Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.7.7 May Sparks.1.2.5.1.2.2.1.3 Robert Sparks, son of Wes and Nancy (Kozee) Sparks, was born ca. 1843. He was a 13-year-old boy when he was shot and killed by his cousin, 10-year old 1.2.5.1.2.2.3.6 George Sparks, a son of William and Mary (Lyon) Sparks. (See below.)
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.4 Martin Sparks was born ca. 1845 in Lawrence County. On December 29, 1861, he was enrolled in Company G, 5th Regiment, Confederate States Army. He probably served in that unit until it was defeated in the spring of 1862, when he returned home. Then, on December 27, 1863, he enlisted at Grayson, Kentucky, in Company C, 40th Regiment Kentucky Infantry of the Union Army to serve for one year. He served until December 30, 1864, when he was mustered out with his company. (See page 4880 of this issue of the Quarterly for an abstract of his pension file.) After returning from the service, Martin Sparks married Nancy Collier on October 25, 1865, in Lawrence County. (The license was issued on October 23, 1864.) Nancy had been born ca. 1842. She and Martin lived near Fielden, Kentucky, where they had six children before Martin's death on May 18, 1879, at the age of 34 years. After Martin's death, Nancy married (second) Martin Gambill on January 2, 1889. The children of Martin and Nancy Sparks were:
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.4.1 Richmond ["Rich"] Sparks was born October 5, 1866. He married Mary Ellen Hicks ca. 1888. She had been born in August 1869 and was a daughter of Henry Hicks. Rich and Mary Ellen lived near Isonville, Kentucky, where they raised nine children.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.4.1.1 Mertie M. Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.4.1.2 Bertie Fay Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.4.1.3 William A. Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.4.1.4 Lucy L. Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.4.1.5 Viola Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.4.1.6 Phoebe Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.4.1.7 John Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.4.1.8 Henry Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.4.1.9 Lonnie Sparks.1.2.5.1.2.2.1.4.2 Robert L. Sparks was born August 28,1868. He married Mollie Gambill in 1890 in Lawrence County. She had been born in April 1871 and was a daughter of Chine Gambill. Robert Sparks died about 1940 and was buried in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Boyd County, Kentucky. He and Mollie had two children:
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.4.2.1 Harrison Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.4.2.2 Lonnie Sparks.1.2.5.1.2.2.1.4.3 Mary ["Polly"] Sparks was born August 26, 1870. She married William Stephens. We have no further information about them.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.4.4 Renia Sparks was born 2 February 1872. She married Milton Terry on August 4, 1894, in Elliott County. We have no further information about them.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.4.5 Alien M. Sparks was born July 3, 1874. He married Mary Elizabeth Roseberry in 1901 in Lawrence County. She had been born on October 20, 1884, and was a daughter of Hyge and Regina Ann (Gambill) Roseberry. Alien and Mary Elizabeth lived near Mazie, Kentucky. Alien died on April 8, 1966, and Mary Elizabeth died on September 21, 1971. They had five children:
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.4.5.1 John Rich Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.4.5.2 Minnie Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.4.5.3 Robert Martin Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.4.5.4 Nancy Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.4.5.5 August Sparks.1.2.5.1.2.2.1.4.6 Margaret ["Peggy"] Sparks was born January 5, 1876. She married Martin Gambill in 1894 in Lawrence County. We have no further information about this couple.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.5 Lousina ["Sena"] Sparks, daughter of Wes and Nancy (Kozee) Sparks was born ca. 1847. She married George Stephens in 1865 in Lawrence County. He had been born ca. 1844 and was a son of George Stephens. Sena was buried in an unmarked grave in the Stephens Cemetery on Wallowhole Creek. She and George had six children:
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.5.1 Nancy J. Stephens was born ca. 1865.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.5.2 William Stephens was born ca. 1866.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.5.3 Renia A. Stephens was born ca. 1871.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.5.4 Oma E. Stephens was born ca. 1873.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.5.5 James W. Stephens was born April 20,1875.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.5.6 Malinda J. Stephens was born ca. 1879.1.2.5.1.2.2.1.6 Serilda ["Rilda"] Sparks, daughter of Wes and Nancy (Kozee) Sparks was born ca. 1849. She married Caney Stephens on January 1, 1870, in Elliott County. It was there that Rilda died on April 22, 1877, of consumption. She and Caney had one child:
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.6.1 Sarah A. Stephens, born on November 4, 1874.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7 William ["Bill"] Sparks, son of Wes and Nancy (Kozee) Sparks, was born May 1, 1853. He married Malinda J. Stephens on October 2, 1873, in Carter County. She had been born ca. 1856. She and Bill lived on Wallowhole Creek. They were buried there in the Bill Sparks Cemetery in unmarked graves. They had ten children.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.1 Hugh Sparks was born July 20, 1874. He married Cynthia Alafair Fannin on January 1, 1894, in Elliott County. She had been born in August 1877 and was a daughter of Alfred Fannin. Alafair (as she was called) and Hugh lived near Hurricane, Kentucky. He died there in 1949, and Alafair died there in 1961. They were buried in the Hugh Sparks Cemetery on Wallowhole Creek. They had nine children.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.1.1Malinda Jane Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.1.2 Emily S. Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.1.3 Greenville Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.1.4 James Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.1.5 John Wesley Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.1.6 Bird Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.1.7 Joel Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.1.8 Ossie Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.1.9 Bessie May Sparks.1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.2 Greenville ["Green"] G. Sparks was born on December 17, 1875. He married Elizzie Jones on October 30, 1909, in Elliott County.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.3 Wesley Sparks was born in October 1876. He married Malinda Jane Stephens on August 18,1897, in Elliott County. She had been born in June 1882 and was a daughter of George Stephens. Wesley and Jane (as she was called) lived on Wallowhole Creek where they reared eight children.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.3.1 Caney Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.3.2 Russell Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.3.3 Rilda Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.3.4 Richard Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.3.5 Bud Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.3.6 Alice Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.3.7 Viola Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.3.8 May Sparks.1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.4 Elizabeth ["Liz"] Sparks was born in August 1880. She married James Ramey, a son of Daniel Ramey, about 1900. Their nine children were:
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.4.1 Linda Ellen Ramey
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.4.2 Tabitha Jane Ramey
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.4.3 Mary Ramey
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.4.4 Martha R. Ramey
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.4.5 James Ramey
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.4.6 Proctor Ramey
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.4.7 Green Ramey
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.4.8 Irene Ramey
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.4.9 Ollie Ramey.1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.5 William Sparks was born September 4, 1882. He married Ida Stephens on October 1, 1902, in Elliott County.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.6 George Sparks was born July 7, 1886, in Elliott County. It was there that he married Martha Stephens on June 20, 1903. She had been born on March 2, 1884, in Elliott County and was a daughter of John and Sarah (Holbrook) Stephens. George died in 1949. Martha survived him for nearly twenty-five years, dying on December 24, 1972. She and George had eight children:
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.6.1 Lonnie Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.6.2 William Alden Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.6.3 George Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.6.4 Bert Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.6.5 Elizabeth Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.6.6 Malissa Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.6.7 Fay Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.6.8 Martha Sparks.1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.7 byrdine ["Bird"] Sparks was born May 11, 1887. He married Fiona Jenkins. He may have been the Bird Sparks who was shot and killed by Alex Frazier in 1916/1917. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Bill Sparks Cemetery.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.8 Martha J. Sparks was born June 8, 1893. She married Elijah Justice.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.9 Rose Goldie Hester Sparks was born April 15, 1896. She married Monroe Sparks. They had at least one child:
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.9.1 Carl Sparks, who was born ca. 1917.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.7.10 Bessie Sparks was born December 1, 1899.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.8 Hugh Sparks, son of Wes and Nancy (Kozee) Sparks, was born April 23, 1856. He was married twice. His first marriage was to Rose Anna ["Lady"] Gilbert ca. 1874. She had been born ca. 1856 and was a daughter of Thomas Gilbert. She and Hugh had five children before her death, which occurred ca. 1890. Hugh married (second) Malinda Stephens on June 14, 1896, in Elliott County. She had been born in April 1873. Apparently, Malinda and Hugh had no children.
Hugh Sparks was shown as head of his household on the 1880 census of Elliott County, but when the 1900 census was taken, he was in Boyd County. He was back in Elliott County in 1908, according to a school census. We have found no record of his death. by his first marriage, he had five children.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.8.1 Nancy Elizabeth Sparks was born July 14, 1875. She married William Melvin Evans ca. 1894. He had been born in May 1874 and was a son of Marion Evans. When the 1900 census was taken of Boyd County, Melvin (as he was called) was living in the household of his father-in-law, Hugh Sparks. With him were his spouse and their two children. Their children were: Hugh Evans and Rosa Evans, and an adopted child, Harry Evans.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.8.2 George W. Sparks was born February 3, 1877. He married Amanda Stephens.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.8.3 Travis Sparks was born in December 1881. He married Mollie Stephens in 1906.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.8.4 Henry Harrison Sparks was born in January 1887. He married Grace Lunsford on August 10, 1910, in Elliott County.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.8.5 Mary J. ["Polly"] Sparks was born February 27, 1890.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.9 Nancy Sparks, daughter of Wes and Nancy (Kozee) Sparks, was born ca. 1859.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.10 Rena Sparks, daughter of Wes and Nancy (Kozee) Sparks was born August 5, 1860. She married George W. Sparks on March 19, 1880, in Elliott County. He had been born ca. 1856 in North Carolina, probably in Cherokee County, and was a son of Joel and Mary Jane (Grow) Sparks. After the killing of George's brother, Solomon Sparks, on September 8, 1877, in Elliott County, Joel and Mary Jane returned to Cherokee County, North Carolina, and it is highly probable that George and Rena followed them. We have no further information about this couple. (See page 2271 of the March 1981 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 113, for further details regarding the above incident.)
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11 John Wesley Sparks, Jr., son of Wes and Nancy (Kozee) Sparks, was born July 9, 1865, in Lawrence County, but he lived most of his life near the village of Sarah in southeastern Elliott County. He was married twice. His first marriage was to Mary Josephine Sparks ca. 1889. She had been born on March 8, 1867, and was a daughter of 1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2 Reuben and Mary Jane (Wellman) Sparks. (See below.) She and Wesley had two children when she died on September 12, 1894, probably when their third child was born. That child did not survive.
Wesley Sparks married (second) Tabitha Ramey on January 31, 1895, in Lawrence County. She had been born on November 29, 1879, and was a 16-year-old daughter of Daniel Harrison and Fair Ellen Harris (Cordle) Ramey. She took charge of the two young children of Wesley, and when the 1900 census was taken of Elliott County, she and Wesley also had three children. They eventually had thirteen children. Wesley died at Sarah, Kentucky, on April 13, 1927. Tabitha survived him nearly 35 years, dying on May 24, 1961. They were buried in the Wes Sparks Cemetery No. 2, south of Wallowhole, Kentucky; however, there are no dates on their tombstones. Wesley was the father of sixteen children, including the unnamed child who died at birth. Children of John Wesley Sparks, Jr.:
(Mother was Mary Josephine Sparks)
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.1 Nancy Jane Sparks was born December 10, 1889. She married Walter Sparks. She died on August 30, 1917.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.2 Sena Sparks was born September 27, 1891. She married Nelson Boggs.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.3 A child was born to Wesley and Mary Josephine Sparks in 1894, and died at birth.(Mother was Tabitha Sparks)
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.4 James William ["Billy"] Sparks was born on November 11, 1895. He married Eva Holbrook, a daughter of Foster Holbrook. Billy and Eva lived in Dearborn, Wisconsin, and had at least one child, Paul Sparks, born ca. 1922.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.5 Daniel ["Dan"] Reuben Sparks was born on November 4, 1898. He was shot and killed on June 21, 1921, near his home at Sarah, Kentucky. His 14year-old sister, 1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.10 Mary J. Sparks, was also killed at the same time. As handed down to relatives, the incident was described as follows:
Dan Sparks had had some part in the destruction of a moonshine still that was operating near his home. A few days later, he and his sister were part of a crowd returning home from a church service when he was shot by James Barker, probably the owner of the still. Mary was also shot, apparently by a relative of Barker. Both died on the spot.
The passage of the 18th Amendment to the Federal Constitution may have played a part in this tragic incident. (Enforcement of the amendment, the prohibition of the making or using of alcohol, began in 1921, and many small, but licensed, distilleries were dismantled or destroyed. Before the Amendment was repealed in 1933, many persons lost their lives in trying to enforce this unpopular law.)
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.6 Jennie Ella Sparks was born October 12, 1899. She married Alonzo ["Lon"] Gilliam, a son of William Gilliam. Ella (as she was called) and Lon lived near Isonville, Kentucky. She died there on September 21, 1978. According to her obituary, she and Lon had three children.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.6.1 a daughter Gilliam who married lval Wolfenbarger
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.6.2 a daughter Gilliam who married Alva Kelley
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.6.3 Denval Gilliam.1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.7 Hugh ["Hewey"] Thadius Sparks was born on March 1, 1901. He married Emma Lee Skaggs on April 28, 1927. She had been born June 20, 1907, and was a daughter of Phillip and Lizzie Ann (Coffee) Skaggs. Hewey was an oil-well-pumper. He and Emma were members of the Big Blaine United Baptist Church. He died on November 30, 1971. Emma died on May 13, 1985. They were buried in the Morton Sparks Cemetery at Blaine, Kentucky. They had one child, Lucille Ruth Sparks.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.8 Martin Sparks was born November 16, 1902, in Elliott County. He was a blacksmith. He married Hannah Ferguson about 1930. She had been born on March 19, 1908, and was a daughter of Frank and Virgie (Bailey) Ferguson. She and Martin lived near Martha, Kentucky, where they were members of the Big Blaine United Baptist Church. Martin died on March 19, 1978, and Hannah died on February 4, 1982. They were buried in the Sturgill Cemetery. They had four children:
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.8.1 Hugh Denver Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.8.2 Ova Lee Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.8.3 Ronald C. Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.8.4 Chester V. Sparks.1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.9 John Wesley Sparks was born October 22, 1905. He married Dova Gilliam, and they lived in Portsmouth, Ohio. They had nine children.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.9.1 Luranie ["Ranie"] Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.9.2 Orville Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.9.3 Frances Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.9.4 Ruby Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.9.5 Mavis Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.9.6 Gertrude Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.9.7 Johnny Sue Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.9.8 Ricky Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.9.9 Vicky Sparks.1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.10 Mary J. Sparks was born February 17, 1907. She was killed on June 21, 1921. (See above.)
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.11 Robert Richard ["Rich] Sparks was born on April 22, 1908, in Elliott County. He married Lucy Holbrook. They lived in Greenup County, Kentucky. Rich died on January 29, 1986. He and Lucy had four children.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.11.1 S. H. Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.11.2 Roberta Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.11.3 Waynetta Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.11.4 Janey Sparks.1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.12 Rena Elizabeth Sparks was born January 13, 1910. She married Jesse Gilliam about 1930. He had been born on September 23, 1900, and was a son of John and Ellen (Nickell) Gilliam. Jesse and Rena lived near Martha, Kentucky. She died there on January 9, 1973, and Jesse died there on July 12, 1984. Their had nine children were:
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.12.1 Evon Gilliam
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.12.2 Geneva Gilliam
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.12.3 Trevia Gilliam
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.12.4 Justine Gilliam
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.12.5 Carol Jean Gilliam
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.12.6 Daniel Gilliam
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.12.7 Leonard Gilliam
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.12.8 Amos Gilliam
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.12.9 Harold Dean Gilliam1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.13 Sarah Sparks was born in 1912.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.14 Myrtle May Sparks was born April 13, 1915, in Elliott County. She married Ulysses F. Gilliam, and they lived at Mazie, Kentucky. Ulysses died on June 3, 1985, and Myrtle died on February 12, 1993. Their eight children were:
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.14.1 Ulysses Gilliam, Jr.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.14.2 Julian K. Gilliam
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.14.3 Curtis Lee Gilliam
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.14.4 Lois Gilliam
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.14.5 Myrtle Faye Gilliam
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.14.6 Charlene Gilliam
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.14.7 Kathy Gilliam
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.14.8 Carol Gilliam.1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.15 Norville C. Sparks was born ca. 1918 in Elliott County. He married Gertrude ["Gertie"] May Certain on September 7, 1938, in Elliott County. She had been born on May 2, 1925, in New Boston, Ohio, and was a daughter of James and Lila (Skaggs) Certain. Norville and Gertie lived near Grove City, Ohio. She died there on March 1, 1952. She and Norville had two children:
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.15.1 Ivory Fay Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.15.2 Linda Lee Sparks1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.16 Ora Sparks was born April 8, 1923, in Elliott County. He was married and lived at Mazie, Kentucky; however, we have not learned the name of his wife. He died on February 1, 1993. His two children were:
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.16.1 Lloyd Wesley Sparks
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.16.2 Donna L. Sparks1.2.5.1.2.2.1.12 Reuben Sparks, son of Wes and Nancy (Kozee) Sparks, was born in 1867. He lived on Wallowhole Creek in Elliott County. He married Dova J. Whitt ca. 1895. She had been born in May 1873 and was a daughter of Bauguess Whitt. According to census records and to information furnished by relatives, Reuben and Dova had seven children.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.12.1 Bertie L. Sparks was born March 16, 1896.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.12.2 David Sparks was born March 12, 1898.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.12.3 John E. Sparks was born February 5,1900.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.12.4 Reuben Sparks, Jr. was born April 8, 1902.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.12.5 Emma Sparks.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.12.6 Jane Sparks.
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.12.7 Rupert Sparks.1.2.5.1.2.2.2 Nancy Sparks, daughter of Robert and Margaret (Pigg) Sparks, was born ca. 1809 in North Carolina. She accompanied her brothers to Kentucky, and it was there, on February 19, 1830, that she married Martin Ison in Morgan County. He had been born in Washington County, Virginia, ca. 1804 and was a son of Archibald and Mary (Gilliam) Ison. He was a brother of Ira Ison who married Loucina Sparks in 1833. (See page 4659, of the June 1996 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 174.)
Martin and Nancy (Sparks) Ison lived near Newcombe on Ison Creek in present-day Elliott County. We have found no records of their deaths, which apparently came to Martin ca. 1850 and to Nancy sometime after 1880. They had eight children.
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.1 Charles Ison, son of Martin and Nancy (Sparks) Ison, was born July 3, 1830. He married Sarah Hamilton on September 12, 1850, in Morgan County, Kentucky. She had been born ca. 1832. She and Charles had seven children.
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.1.1 Nancy Ison was born ca. 1851. She married John Johnson.
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.1.2 Martin Ison, Jr., was born May 30, 1855. He married Frances Holbrook.1.2.5.1.2.2.2.1.3 Joshua Ison was born March 15, 1857. He was married twice. His first marriage was to Cosby Porter ca. 1878. She had been born ca. 1859. She and Joshua had two children, Alice Ison, and Sarah Ison, before her death, which came ca. 1880, perhaps when their second child was born. Joshua married (second) Belle Tennessee Porter ca. 1882. She had been born on September 20, 1862, and was a daughter of Francis R. and Hester J. (Norvell) Porter. Joshua Ison died on March 24, 1925, in Elliott County. Belle died on October 11, 1952. She and Joshua had nine children. They were:
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.1.3.1 Charles Francis Ison,
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.1.3.2 Grover Cleveland Ison,
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.1.3.3 lrvin Ison,
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.1.3.4 Lille Effie Ison,
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.1.3.5 John Martin Ison,
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.1.3.6 Alonzo C. Ison,
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.1.3.7 Ira Ison,
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.1.3.8 Joshua Ison, and
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.1.3.9 Nancy Helen Ison.GRAVESTONE OF ALONZO C. ["LONNIE"] ISON (1893-1918)
(A World War I Casualty)
Great-grandson of Martin and Nancy (Sparks) Ison1.2.5.1.2.2.2.1.4 Doctor Ison was born July 30, 1859. He married Bertha McCarty.
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.1.5 Ellen ["Ella"] Ison was born October 28, 1860. She married Jonathon Lewis.
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.1.6 Annie Ison was born ca. 1862.
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.1.7 Elizabeth Ison was born July 15, 1863.1.2.5.1.2.2.2.2 William Ison, son of Martin and Nancy (Sparks) Ison, was born in March 1832. He married Elizabeth Hamilton ca. 1860. She had been born ca. 1838. According to the 1880 census of Elliott County, she and William had seven children. They were:
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.2.1 Ephraim Ison was born ca. 1863.
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.2.2 William Ison, Jr. was born ca. 1865.
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.2.3 Frances Ison was born ca. 1867.
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.2.4 Alice Ison was born ca. 1871.
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.2.5 Malissa Ison was born ca. 1873.
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.2.6 Lee Ison was born ca. 1875.
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.2.7 America Ison was born ca. 1879.1.2.5.1.2.2.2.3 Joshua Ison, son of Martin and Nancy (Sparks) Ison, was born May 20, 1833. He married Mary Gilliam ca. 1860. She had been born ca. 1842 in Kentucky and was a daughter of Isaiah and Nancy (Adkins) Gilliam. According to the history of Elliott County published in 1992, Joshua and Mary (Gilliam) Ison had eleven children.
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.3.1 Louisa Ison was born ca. 1862.
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.3.2 Reuben Ison was born ca. 1863. He married Carolinda Adkins.
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.3.3 Isaac S. Ison was born February 26, 1865. He married Mary Gilbert. He died on June 21, 1945.
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.3.4 Mary Elizabeth ["Lizzie"] Ison was born ca. 1867. She married Isaac Hamilton. She died in 1959.
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.3.5 John Effie (See Lillie Milton) Ison was born on May 17, 1869. He married Lillie Ison. She was a daughter of Joshua and Belle (Porter) Ison. Item B, I, c, above.) John Milton Ison died in February 1961. Effie died on July 29, 1975. They had seven children.1.2.5.1.2.2.2.3.5.1 Bessie Ison,
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.3.5.2 Nelle Frances Ison,
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.3.5.3 Virginia Ison,
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.3.5.4 Delia Ison,
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.3.5.5 Hazel Ison,
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.3.5.6 Lonnie Ison, and
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.3.5.7 Charles Ison.1.2.5.1.2.2.2.3.6 Isom Ison was born February 14, 1872. Apparently, he was named for his uncle, Isom Ison, born 1822. He married Mollie Ison. He died on November 14, 1940.
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.3.7 Martin Ison was born November 22, 1873. He married Sarah ["Sadie"] Gilbert. He died on August 12, 1963.
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.3.8 Julia Ellen Ison was born May 22, 1875. She was married twice. Her first marriage was to John White, and her second marriage was to Henry Lane.
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.3.9 Isaiah Ison was born in 1876. He married Minnie Slone (or Stone?). He died on December 18,1967.
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.3.10 Robert ["Bob"] Ison was born ca. 1879. He married Carrie Porter. He died on September 19, 1964.
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.3.11 Rufus Ison was born April 7, 1883. He was married four times. His marriages were: (1) Charity MNU, (2) Bertha Marshall; (3) Clara Isabelle Marshall; and (4) Flora (Burchett) Jacobs. Rufus died on June 2, 1970.1.2.5.1.2.2.2.4 byrdine ["Bird"] Ison, son of Martin and Nancy (Sparks) Ison, was born ca. 1836.
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.5 Reuben Ison was born March 3, 1839. He was married twice. His first marriage was to Malissa Moore. She had been born ca. 1840. She died sometime after 1880, and Reuben married (second) Rose Ann Peters. According to the 1880 census of Elliott County, Reuben and Malissa (Moore) Ison had three children:
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.5.1 Ludelia Ison was born ca. 1870.
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.5.2 Nancy F. Ison was born ca. 1874.
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.5.3 Martin Ison was born ca. 1876.1.2.5.1.2.2.2.6 Martin Ison, Jr. was born in July 1841. He married Lydia Lewis.
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.7 Sidney Ison was born October 13, 1844. She had a remarkable memory and a keen interest in family records, and much of what is known about the Sparkses and the Isons of Elliott County was given by her to Ira Paulus Ison. (See reference to Mr. Ison in the Editor's Note at the beginning of this article.) Of her, Mr. Ison wrote: "She was a good old Christian lady with the most excellent memory of any person I have ever met. She verified and had me to correct data that I had obtained from others. I got a large portion of my records from her in 1927." Sidney Ison married Jesse Johnson, a son of Lytie Johnson, and they had at least one child:
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.7.1 Amos Edward ["Ed"] Johnson married Josephine ["Josie"] Adkins. She was a daughter of George W. and Nancy Louvina (Marshall) Adkins. Ed and Josie Johnson were the parents of
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.7.1.1 James Walter Johnson, born in 1912.
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.8 Nancy B. Ison, daughter of Martin and Nancy (Sparks) Ison, was born August 14, 1850. She was married (as his second wife) to 1.2.5.1.2.2.3.9 James Milton Elliott Sparks ca. 1879. He had been born ca. 1851 and was a son of William and Polly (Lyon) Sparks. He died in the summer of 1881 from knife wounds incurred in a fracas three years earlier with two men named Porter. He left Nancy pregnant, and a child was born to them on September 25, 1881. Nancy died soon after the 1900 census was taken of Elliott County. (See below.)
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.8.1 Doctor ["Doc"] Martin Sparks, son of Elliott (as he was called) and Nancy (Ison) Sparks, was married twice. His first marriage was to America (Lewis) Waggoner on December 16, 1903, in Elliott County. She was a daughter of Jonathan Lewis. She and Doc had three children:
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.8.1.1 Gladys Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.8.1.2 Doctor ["Doc"] Martin Sparks, Jr., and
1.2.5.1.2.2.2.8.1.3 Charles Sparks.Doc Sparks married (second) Rebecca (Ison) Ison on June 15, 1935, in Elliott County. She had been born on March 21, 1897, and was a daughter of Andrew Jackson and Hannah (Creech) Ison. She was a widow. Doc died in 1958, and Rebecca died in 1997.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3 William ["Bill"] Sparks, son of Robert and Margaret (Pigg) Sparks, was born ca. 1812, probably in Wilkes County, North Carolina. He was nearly grown when he accompanied his brothers, Wesley Sparks and Reuben Sparks, to Lawrence County ca. 1828. He married Mary ["Polly"] Lyon on May 3, 1832, in Morgan County, Kentucky. She had been born ca. 1816 and was a daughter of John and Mary (Holbrook) Lyon, natives of Wilkes County, North Carolina. Polly and Bill lived near the village of Halcom on Wallowhole Creek, a small stream in the southeastern part of present-day Elliott County. We have found only a few records pertaining to Bill Sparks. He paid taxes from 1833 to 1856 in Lawrence County, and was enumerated there when the 1840 census was taken. On May 17, 1848, he was granted a Lawrence County warrant for 200 acres of land located on the Little Fork of Little Sandy River. He was head of his household when the 1850 census was taken of Lawrence County. Members of the household were his wife, a daughter, and seven sons. His property was valued at $100.00.
No record has been found of Bill Sparks after 1856. The lack of records is still a mystery. Two versions of his disappearance have been handed down by his descendants. One story is that he was returning from a trip to North Carolina, but he never arrived home. The other tale is that he and his youngest son had taken timber to Cincinnati, Ohio, where they had sold it for a good price. As they were returning home on an Ohio River steamer. Bill and the money disappeared near the mouth of the Little Sandy River.
After the disappearance of William Sparks, his family apparently broke up. When the 1860 census was taken, two of his children, Nancy Sparks and Reuben Sparks, were married and were living in their own households in Lawrence County. No record has been found of any of the other children until the 1870 census was taken of newly formed Elliott County. On that census, six of Bill's sons and his daughter were enumerated.
Polly (Lyon) Sparks did not appear on the 1870 census; she may have died or remarried. According to descendants and census records, she and Bill Sparks had nine children, one daughter, and eight sons.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1 Nancy Sparks, daughter of Bill and Polly (Lyon) Sparks, was born May 18, 1834. She may have been named for her father's sister, Nancy (Sparks) Ison. On January 8, 1857, she married Nelson T. White in Lawrence County. He had been born on October 4, 1831, in Virginia, and was a son of James Claiborne and Susan (Green) White. He served in the 68th Regiment Kentucky Militia of the Union Army during the Civil War. He and Nancy lived on White Creek (sometimes referred to as Whites Creek), a tributary of Little Fork. Nancy died there on January 18, 1908, and Nelson died there on August 29, 1912. They were buried in the White Cemetery on White Creek. They had eight children.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.1 Thomas ["Tom"] Jefferson White was born October 17, 1857. He was married twice. His first marriage was to Mary ["Molly"] Creech ca. 1877. She had been born in 1861 and was a daughter of John S. and Nancy (Boggs) Creech. She and Tom had three children:
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.1.1 John Franklin White
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.1.2 Emma Susan White
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.1.3 Nelson T. White.Tom White married (second) Emily Isadora ["Dora"] Creech. She had been born on August 9, 1864, and was a daughter of Henry and Delinda (Burton) Creech. She was a first cousin of Tom's first wife. She died in November 1926. Tom died on November 29, 1958, at Portsmouth, Ohio. He and Dora had eleven children:
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.1.4 William Henry White
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.1.5 Nancy Ellen White
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.1.6 Francis Marion White
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.1.7 Lizanna White
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.1.8 James Beecher White
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.1.9 Sarah Rebecca White
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.1.10 Verner White
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.1.11 Joel D. White
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.1.12 Sena Victoria White
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.1.13 Otis White
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.1.14 Conn White.1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.2 Martha J. White was born October 29, 1860.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.3 Amanda Susan White was born May 27, 1863. She married William ["Billy"] Martin Greene on February 16, 1882, in Elliott County. He was born May 30, 1862, and was a son of Martin Wood and Elizabeth (Gillenwater) Greene. Billy and Susan (as she was called) lived on White Creek for a few years, but ca. 1896 they moved to near the village of Ibex. It was there that Susan died on April 25, 1902. Billy Greene married (second) Nannie E. Tabor on November 6, 1904. He died in 1944. He and Susan had nine children:
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.3.1 Robert Nelson Greene,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.3.2 Sena Elizabeth Greene,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.3.3 Thomas Martin Greene,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.3.4 Nancy Jane Greene,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.3.5 Herald Sylvester Greene,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.3.6 Phoebe Victoria Greene,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.3.7 Winfield Addington Greene,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.3.8 Mary Ellen Greene, and
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.3.9 Minnie Susan Greene.1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.4 Lousina ["Sena"] Elizabeth White was born in June 1865. She married David Crockett Hutchinson. He was a son of Thomas Benton and Sena (Green) Hutchinson. Sena (White) Hutchinson died in 1963 at Ashland, Kentucky. She and Crockett (as he was called) had four children:
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.4.1 Miranda Hutchinson,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.4.2 Ray E. Hutchinson,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.4.3 Wallace Hutchinson, and
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.4.4 Charles V. Hutchinson.1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.5 James ["Jim"] Franklin White was born December 23, 1867, in Lawrence County. He married Missouri Alice Green on July 19, 1887, in Elliott County. She had been born on May 20, 1869, and was a daughter of David and Amanda (Boggs) Green. James and Missouri White lived at Green, Kentucky, in north central Elliott County. James died there on September 5, 1936, and Missouri died there on December 15, 1940. They had ten children. They were:
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.5.1 Sena Victoria White,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.5.2 David Green White,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.5.3 John Nelson White,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.5.4 Estell White,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.5.5 Amanda Susan White,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.5.6 Delia May White,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.5.7 Lucian Coleman White,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.5.8 Bert Lesion White,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.5.9 Nancy Myrtle White, and
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.5.10 Mavis Agnes White.(See the cover page of this issue of the Quarterly for a picture of Jim White and his family.)
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.6 Robert White was born ca. 1869. He married America Diles, and they had four children.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.6.1 Vesta White,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.6.2 Gertrude White,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.6.3 Homer White, and
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.6.4 Brenda White.1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.7 Francis Marion White was born March 6, 1870. He should not be confused with his nephew, 1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.1.6 Francis Marion White. (See above.) He married Sarah Belle Green ca. 1890. She had been born on June 3, 1870, and was a daughter of James Madison and Mary Elizabeth (Mason) Green. Francis died on May 28, 1958. He and Sarah Belle had eight children who reached maturity.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.7.1 James T. White,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.7.2 Edward Moss White,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.7.3 Sena E. White,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.7.4 Barbara E. White,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.7.5 Lawrence Nelson White,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.7.6 Chester Marion White,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.7.7 Gladys White, and
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.7.8 Kenneth Fred White.1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.8 Joel D. White was born February 21, 1875. He died quite young.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2 Reuben R. Sparks, son of Bill and Polly (Lyon) Sparks, was born April 5, 1837, in Lawrence County and was very likely named for his uncle 1.2.5.1.2.2.4 Reuben Sparks. (See below.) He married Mary Jane Wellman on April 25, 1858, in Lawrence County. She had been born in June 1838 and was a daughter of John and Mariah Wellman. She and Reuben lived near Fielden, Kentucky, on a 155-acre farm. When Elliott County was formed in 1869, Reuben was one of the first justices of the peace.
Reuben Sparks served in Company A, 68th Regiment Kentucky Militia of the Union Army during the Civil War. (See page 4883 of this issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 179 for an abstract of his pension file. He died on August 16, 1904, at Portsmouth, Ohio, and was buried in the Reuben Sparks Cemetery, about three miles from the intersection of State Route 409 and the Little Sandy River, but there are no stones or dates. Children of Reuben R. and Mary Jane (Wellman) Sparks:
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.1 Elizabeth Romaine Sparks was born April 5,1859. She married William Nesbit Sparks on December 9, 1880. They had seven children. (See page 4658 of the June 1996 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 174, for further details about this family.)
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.2 Malissa ["Lissa"] J. Sparks was born March 17, 1862. She married Jesse Gambill in 1886 in Lawrence County. He was a son of Martin Gambill, Sr. Lissa and Jesse Gambill lived in Portsmouth, Ohio. They had a daughter named Monnie Gambill.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.3 William W. Sparks was born September 20, 1863.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.4 Nancy Annette Sparks was born March 20, 1865. She is said to have had a son, Harry Sparks, born in July 1885. She died on November 11, 1889, and her son was reared by her parents.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.5 Mary Josephine Sparks was born March 8, 1867. She married 1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11 John Wesley Sparks, Jr. ca. 1889, and they had two children. Josephine (as she was called) died on September 12, 1894. (See above.)
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.1 Nancy Jane Sparks and
1.2.5.1.2.2.1.11.2 Sena Sparks,1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.6 Bennett Franklin ["Frank"] Sparks was born March 4, 1869. He was married twice. His first marriage was to Matilda Jane Sparks ca. 1889. She had been born on October 9, 1871, and was a daughter of Levi J. and Mary (Gambill) Sparks. She and Frank lived in Lawrence County, probably near her parents, and they had seven children before she died about 1901 from tuberculosis. The children were:
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.6.1 Hugh M. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.6.2 Mollie E. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.6.3 Alonzo ["Lonnie"] E. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.6.4 Nanette ["Nannie"] Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.6.5 Reuben Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.6.6 Laban Theodore Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.6.7 Lula Sparks.(See page 4640 of the June 1996 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 174, for an article about this couple. In that article, several items are incorrect or incomplete, and our readers are requested to make the obvious changes.)
After the untimely death of Matilda Jane, Frank Sparks married (second) Sarah (Rowe/Roe) Marshall on August 9, 1902, in Elliott County. She was a daughter of Lorenzo Rowe/Roe and had been married to FNU Marshall by whom she had had two children, Amanda Marshall, and Nancy Marshall. Frank and Sarah lived on White Creek for a while, but eventually they moved to Greenup County, Kentucky, where they lived near the village of South Portsmouth. They had four children:
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.6.8 Rowe Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.6.9 Mary Susan Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.6.10 Clyde Corbett Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.6.11 Henry Polk Sparks.Frank Sparks died on February 25, 1963, and Sarah Sparks died on February 11, 1965.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.7 George Milton Sparks was born January 13, 1871. On May 24, 1894, he married Amanda Susan Green in Elliott County. She had been born July 13, 1878, and was a daughter of James Madison and Mary Elizabeth (Mason) Green. (See 1.2.5.1.2.2.3.1.7 Francis Marion White, above.) George and Susan (as she was called) lived on White Creek. Susan died there on September 22, 1935, and George died there on April 8, 1951. They were the parents of eleven children. They were:
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.7.1 Malissa B. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.7.2 Bessie M. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.7.3 James Herbert Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.7.4 Reuben Everett Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.7.5 Jacqueline Elaine Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.7.6 Mary Alice Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.7.7 Leonard Lester Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.7.8 Ruth Marie Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.7.9 Robert Paul Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.7.10 Lucea Lee Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.7.11 Sena Elizabeth SparksFRANCIS MARION WHITE, BORN 1870 (left)
WITH HIS COUSIN, GEORGE MILTON SPARKS BORN 1871 (right)1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.8 Belden R. Sparks was born February 23, 1873. He died on October 17, 1894, of typhoid fever.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.9 Noah Isaac Sparks was born March 15, 1875. He was married in Elliott County to Flora Porter on August 4, 1897. She had been born on November 7, 1879, and was a daughter of Andrew and Mary Louise (Johnson) Porter. She and Noah lived on White Creek until sometime after 1908 when they moved to a farm near Chillicothe, Ohio. It was there that Noah died on November 15, 1939. Flora survived him by nearly thirty years, dying on September 14, 1968. They reared eight children to maturity. They were:
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.9.1 Ennis Jennings Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.9.2 Ivan Oscar Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.9.3 Osie Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.9.4 Belva Ester Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.9.5 George Milton Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.9.6 Delora Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.9.7 Avis Marriah Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.9.8 Arevena Sparks.1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.10 Jenetta Ardelia Sparks was born July 8, 1877. She married 1.2.5.1.2.2.3.3.6 Alamander A. Sparkson November 1, 1897, in Elliott County. He had been born on March 28, 1876, and was a son of Isaac Newton and Polly (Branham) Sparks. (See below.) Jenetta and Alamander had at least one child, a daughter, Heald [?] Sparks born in 1899.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.3 Isaac Newton Sparks, son of Bill and Polly (Lyon) Sparks, was born July 29, 1840. He enlisted on December 29, 1861, in Company K, 5th Regiment Kentucky Mounted Infantry of the Confederate States Army and served until he was mustered out with his company on October 20, 1862. Two days later, he enlisted in Capt. Field's Company of Partisan Rangers (later to become a part of the 10th Regiment Kentucky Infantry, C.S.A.). He served in that unit until his capture on April 25, 1864. Many years later, on April 5, 1917, his widow applied for a Kentucky Confederate Army pension based on his service.
Isaac Sparks married Mary ["Polly"] Branham on January 17, 1865, in Carter County. She had been born June 1, 1840/41, in Carter County and was a daughter of Jonathan and Polly (Gilliam) Branham. Isaac and Polly lived near a post office called Newfoundland where he paid taxes on 195 acres of land.
Isaac Sparks died at Evergreen, Wisconsin, on January 23, 1916/17, and Polly died there on June 19, 1921. They were buried in the Bent Cemetery at Price, Wisconsin. They had nine children.
[Editor's Note: Near the turn of the 19th century, word was received in the hills of Elliott County that timbermen were needed to work in the forests of upper Wisconsin. To the Elliott Countians, this was most welcome news. They were already skilled woodsmen, but they had run out of timber. Accordingly, they moved to Wisconsin by the dozens, and it is said that Langlade County, Wisconsin, became a miniature Elliott County. The town of Crandon in Forest County had a population of 1500, and some 800 of them were Kentuckians.]
The children of Isaac Newton and Polly (Branham) Sparks were:
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.3.1 John Bunyan Sparks was born ca. 1866. He married Nancy Griffith ca. 1885. She was a daughter of Robert Griffith. She and John had at least one child, 1.2.5.1.2.2.3.3.1.1 Chilton Sparks, born in 1886.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.3.2 William Henry Sparks was born April 22, 1867. He was undoubtedly named for his uncle; however, his nickname was "Dutch". He died in 1881 at the age of fourteen, a victim of an accident.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.3.3 Ida Bell Sparks was born July 2, 1870. Her first child was 1.2.5.1.2.2.3.3.3.1 William Brack Sparks, born on September 2, 1891. She married John A. Gallion on July 19, 1894, in Elliott County. He had been born on December 5, 1872, and was a son of William and Elizabeth (Eastham) Gallion. On October 30, 1900, Ida Bell and John Gallion left Elliott County and moved to Wisconsin, along with her father. They settled in Langlade County. John died at Elton, Wisconsin, on March 27, 1935. Ida Bell died at Antigo, Wisconsin, on March 28, 1956. She was most helpful when the Sparks Family Association was getting started, and she was greatly interested in her Sparkses. She and John had ten children. They were:
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.3.3.1 Harriet Mae Gallion,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.3.3.2 George Everett Gallion,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.3.3.3 Claude Haseue Gallion,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.3.3.4 Mary Myrtle Gallion,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.3.3.5 Elizabeth Gallion,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.3.3.6 Elsie Ellen Gallion,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.3.3.7 John Franklin Gallion,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.3.3.8 Edward Beattie Gallion,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.3.3.9 Roy Wilson Gallion, and
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.3.3.10 Beadie Gallion.1.2.5.1.2.2.3.3.4 Sarah Alice Sparks was born February 9, 1872. She married Frank Marshall, a son of John Marshall. She died on December 22, 1909.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.3.5 Edwin Delmus ["Dell"] Sparks was born July 23, 1874, at Stephens, Kentucky. He married Nancy Jane Johnson on December 30, 1897, in Elliott County. She had been born in Elliott County on July 22, 1876, and was a daughter of Ellington and Melvinia (dark) Johnson. Dell and Nancy Jane went to Wisconsin with his parents, and that is where their five children were born. Dell died on April 29, 1934. Their children were:
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.3.5.1 Russell Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.3.5.2 Goldie Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.3.5.3 Robert Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.3.5.4 Gladys Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.3.5.5 Clyde F. Sparks.1.2.5.1.2.2.3.3.6 Alamander A. Sparks was born March 28, 1876. He married 1.2.5.1.2.2.3.2.10 Jenetta Ardelia Sparkson November 1, 1897, in Elliott County. She was a daughter of Reuben C. Sparks. (See above.) When the 1900 census was taken of Elliott County, she and Alamander were living on Little Fork with a daughter, Heald [?] Sparks born in 1899. Alamander was described as a logger. He died in February 1905, probably in Wisconsin.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.3.7 Nelson W. Sparks was born March 20, 1878. He served in the 2nd U.S. Infantry during the Spanish-American War. After returning home, he married Emma Johnson on February 25, 1902. She was a daughter of Alfred Johnson. She and Nelson went to Wisconsin where he died in Langlade County on May 14, 1902.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.3.8 Claude H. Sparks was born August 7, 1880, in Elliott County. He was married twice. We have not learned the name of his first wife. They had one child, a son,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.3.8.1 Paul Sparks, born ca. 1904.
Claude married (second) Catherine ["Cassie"] Howard on August 12, 1914. She had been born on April 21, 1894, and was a daughter of Thomas and FNU (Gullet) Howard. She and Claude had four children before her death, which occurred on March 11, 1922, in Wisconsin. Claude died on March 25, 1959, at Bryant, Wisconsin. He was buried beside Cassie in the Bent Cemetery at Price, Wisconsin. Children by his second marriage were
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.3.8.2 Blanche Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.3.8.3 Gertrude Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.3.8.4 Mary Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.3.8.5 Beatrice Sparks.1.2.5.1.2.2.3.3.9 Loucina ["Sena"] Elizabeth Sparks was born December 26, 1882, at Stephens, Kentucky. She was married twice. Her first marriage was to Cecil Johnson, a son of Ellington Johnson. Her second marriage was to George Washington Thornberry on April 15, 1903, probably in Wisconsin. He had been born on October 26, 1875. He and Sena lived in Wausau, Wisconsin, where he died on April 28, 1938. Sena died there sometime after 1953. They had four children.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.3.9.1 Arnold Isaac Thornberry,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.3.9.2 May Polly Thornberry,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.3.9.3 Esther Nora Thornberry, and
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.3.9.4 Vesta Clara Thornberry.1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4 Joel Denver Sparks, son of Bill and Polly (Lyon) Sparks, was born August 6, 1842, in Carter County. He served in Company A, 5th Regiment Kentucky Infantry, Confederate States Army, for nearly a year before being mustered out. (His widow received a Kentucky Confederate Army pension in 1912.) He then served for a short time in Company A, 68th Regiment Kentucky Militia of the Union Army. (See an abstract of his pension file on page 4882 of this issue of the Quarterly.)
On July 16, 1863, Joel Sparks married Eliza Jane Adkins in Lawrence County. She had been born on February 29, 1845, in Carter County and was a daughter of Charity Robinson. According to descendants, her mother married FNU Adkins, and Jane (as she was called) took her stepfather's name. Joel Sparks was quite active in the government of Elliott County and was elected sheriff in 1878 and county judge in 1882. He died near Fielden on March 26, 1906. Jane survived him for over thirty years, dying on March 12, 1936, at Ashland, Kentucky. They were buried in the Johnson Cemetery on Little Fork. They had eleven children. They were:
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.1 William Wallace Sparks was born April 24, 1864. He died on October 9, 1865.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.2 James ["Jim"] Washington Sparks was born January 2, 1866. He lived in Sandy Hook in 1900 and was the Circuit Court Clerk of Elliott County. He was married twice. His first marriage was to Laura Belle Green on April 7, 1892, in Rowan County, Kentucky. She had been born on February 7, 1872, and was a daughter of James and --(Day) Green. She and Jim had one child. Laura died on March 23, 1894.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.2.1 Effie Sparks
Jim Sparks married (second) Florence B. Hunter on July 2, 1896, in Elliott County. She had been born on February 7, 1871, and was a daughter of Sylvester G. and Mary Jane (Holbrook) Hunter. Jim Sparks died on January 6, 1926, and Florence died on October 4, 1937. They were buried in the Hunter Cemetery on South Ruin Road. They had three sons:
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.2.2 Estill Elliott Sparks and twin sons,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.2.3 Vester Sparks. He died tragically on December 13, 1913, when the ice on the Little Sandy River on which he was skating broke, and he was drowned.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.2.4 Jim Lester Sparks.1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.3 America ["Meek"] Virginia Sparks was born March 26, 1867. She married Harvey G. Gray on February 23, 1888, in Elliott County. He was born March 4, 1870, in Elliott County and was a son of Cornelious Gray. Harvey was a prosperous farmer and merchant. He also owned a gristmill just below his store where his neighbors brought their corn and wheat to be ground into meal or flour. He and Meek lived near the post office of Bruin. Meek died on February 6, 1932, at Ashland, Kentucky. Harvey died there on February 13, 1950. They had eight children.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.3.1 James Gray,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.3.2 Eliza Belle Gray,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.3.3 William Gray,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.3.4 Mattie Gray,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.3.5 Walter Gray,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.3.6 Nora Gray,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.3.7 Madge Gray, and
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.3.8 Hazel Sparks Gray.JIM LESTER SPARKS (Born July 12, 1902)
Son of James ["Jim"] W and Florence B. (Hunter) SparksHAZEL SPARKS (GRAY) DYER (Born February 16, 1906)
Daughter of Harvey G. and America ["Meek"] (Sparks) Gray(We are grateful to Peggy McGuire Boggs for loaning to us the original photographs of Jim Lester Sparks and Hazel Sparks (Gray) Dyer, as well as those of Milton Elliott Sparks and Tennessee (Thompson) Sparks from which these reproductions have been made.)
(Walter Gray, son of Harvey and Meek Gray, died tragically in 1910 when the boiler that ran the gristmill exploded. He was only thirteen years old. Four other persons were also killed in the explosion.)
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.4 Milton Elliott Sparks was born May 5, 1868, on Ison Creek in Elliott County. He was a well-known and well-liked man. He was a farmer, teacher, postmaster, and Baptist preacher. He served one term as representative in the Kentucky Legislature. On July 26, 1893, he married Tennessee Thompson. She had been born July 5, 1876, and was a daughter of Martin and Elizabeth (Webb) Thompson. Elliott (as he was called) and Tennessee lived on Lick Creek near Webbville, Kentucky. He died on April 18, 1941, at Ashland, Kentucky. Tennessee died there on December 21, 1943. They were buried in the Dixon Cemetery at Ashland. They were the parents of the following children:
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.4.1 Essie Leah Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.4.2 Kendrick Williams Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.4.3 James Arthur Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.4.4 Clara Elizabeth Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.4.5 Eliza Jane Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.4.6 Emma Maxie Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.4.7 Hazel Grace Sparks.THE SIX YOUNGEST CHILDREN OF MILTON ELLIOTT AND TENNESSEE (THOMPSON) SPARKS
(Back row, L-R:)
James Arthur Sparks, holding Hazel Grace Sparks; Clara Elizabeth Sparks; and Kendrick Williams Sparks.
(Front row, L-R:) Emma Maxie Sparks and Eliza Jane Sparks.TENNESSEE (THOMPSON) SPARKS (1876-1943)
DAUGHTER OF MARTIN AND ELIZABETH (WEBB) THOMPSON WIFE OF MILTON ELLIOTT SPARKS1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.5 Ellen Sparks was born January 29, 1871. She died on July 28, 1872.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.6 Verlina ["Linnie"] Sparks was born November 23, 1873. She married Andrew Jackson Hillman on March 21, 1894, in Elliott County. He had been born January 7, 1870, and was a son of Robert and Sabra (Berry) Hillman. Drew (as he was called) Hillman was a physician in Ashland, Kentucky. He died there on December 4, 1951. Linnie died there on September 24, 1954. They had four children.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.6.1 Ethel Lee Hillman,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.6.2 Frederick Treves Hillman,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.6.3 Irene O.Hillman, and
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.6.4 Joel Robert Hillman.1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.7 Robert Nelson Sparks was born January 1, 1876. He died on November 17, 1876, of the croup.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.8 Nancy V. Sparks was born May 13, 1877. She died on July 24, 1878, of typhoid fever.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.9 Emma Lee Sparks was born November 5, 1878. On September 7, 1896, she married Rufus J. Kendall in Elliott County. He was a son of Jacob Kendall and was a storekeeper. He died in 1957. Emma died on October 27, 1971. They had four children.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.9.1 Joseph Kendall,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.9.2 Ruth Virginia Kendall,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.9.3 Emily Kendall, and
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.9.4 Wayne E. Kendall.1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.10 Minnie E. Sparks was born June 17, 1880, in Elliott County. She was married twice. Her first marriage was to David F. Gray on September 21, 1902, in Elliott County. He had been born January 1, 1879, and was a son of James Madison and Mary Elizabeth (Humphrey) Gray. He and Minnie had three children before his death on February 10, 1919. They were
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.10.1 Thelma Gray,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.10.2 Maude Ethel Gray, and
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.10.3 Charles Estill Gray.Minnie's second marriage was to Luke McGuire, and they had one child.Minnie died on February 22, 1961, at Ashland, Kentucky.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.10.4 Lalla Faye McGuire.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.4.11 Bertha May Sparks was born October 29, 1885. She married Thomas Johnson on February 22, 1901, in Elliott County. They are said to have had a daughter named Sylvia Johnson who died at the age of fifteen. Bertha was a licensed practical nurse for many years in Columbus, Ohio. She married (second) Jack Cart. We have no further information about her.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.5 William Henry Sparks, son of Bill and Polly (Lyon) Sparks, was born September 6, 1844, in Lawrence County. He was usually called Henry. He served in Company G, 5th Regiment Kentucky Infantry, Confederate States Army, as a 2nd corporal. He married Clarinda Harris on February 12, 1866, in Carter County. She had been born January 28, 1851, in Kentucky. She and Henry lived near Fielden, Kentucky, until about 1900 when they moved to Wisconsin. It was there that Henry died on January 17, 1917. Clarinda died three months later, on April 16, 1917. They were buried in the Nashville [Wisconsin] Cemetery. Their children were:
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.5.1 Robert Lee Sparks was born September 16, 1867. He married Lousina ["Sena"] Alice Lyon on September 2, 1886, in Elliott County. She had been born July 4, 1869, and was a daughter of Lewis and Polly (Sparks) Lyon. (For details of this family, see page 4653 of the June 1996 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 174.)
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.5.2 Elizabeth Sparks was born ca. 1870. She married Sylvester Greene, a son of Martin Greene, and they had at least one child, a son named David R. Greene, born in 1896.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.5.3 William Henry Sparks, Jr. was born February 18, 1872. He married Martha Griffiths in 1897 in Elliott County. She had been born in June 1874. When the 1900 census was taken of Elliott County, she and William were shown with two children, a daughter named 1.2.5.1.2.2.3.5.3.1 Bertha Sparks and a son named 1.2.5.1.2.2.3.5.3.2 Dewey Sparks. There may have been other children born to this couple after 1900.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.5.4 Frank Elliott Sparks was born February 27, 1873. He married Mary Caroline Lyon on November 17, 1890, in Elliott County. She had been born June 27, 1875, and was a daughter of Wiley E. and Mary Elizabeth (Brickey) Lyon. She and Frank lived near Halcom, Kentucky, until 1903 when they moved to Wisconsin where they finally settled near the village of Land O' Lakes in Vilas County. Mary Caroline died there on August 25, 1956, and Frank died there in 1959. They were buried in the Land O' Lakes Cemetery. They had nine children. They were:
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.5.4.1 Mary Caroline Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.5.4.2 Henry R. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.5.4.3 Sarah Margaret Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.5.4.4 Jeannette Florence Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.5.4.5 Wiley E. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.5.4.6 Lonzie E. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.5.4.7 Rose Lee Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.5.4.8 James Curt Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.5.4.9 Hurl Burt Sparks.1.2.5.1.2.2.3.5.5 Joseph Alexander ["Ander"] Sparks was born September 21, 1876, in Elliott County. He may have been married twice. He was married on October 5, 1900, to Malissa Lyon. She had been born on December 7, 1885, and was a daughter of Wiley E. and Mary Elizabeth (Brickey) Lyon, and a sister of Mary Caroline Lyon, who married Ander's brother, 1.2.5.1.2.2.3.5.4 Frank Sparks. (See above.) Ander Sparks may have been married a second time, also in Elliott County. A marriage license was issued there on May 11, 1943, for Andy Sparks, age 67, to be married to Armenthia Lewis, also 67. We have no further information about this man.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.5.6 Henry Edward Sparks was born in March 1879; however, on his tombstone in the Nashville [Wisconsin] Cemetery, the year of his birth is given as 1880. He died in 1956.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.5.7 Francis Marion Sparks was born in 1881. He married Rebecca Griffith on September 5, 1900, in Elliott County. She had been born on September 11, 1882, and was a daughter of Henry Griffith. Marion (as he was called) and Rebecca moved to Wisconsin. He died there in 1964. Rebecca died there in 1966. They were buried in the Nashville [Wisconsin] Cemetery. We have not learned whether they had any children.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.5.8 Charles E. Sparks was born May 6, 1884. He married Samantha MNU. She had been born in 1893. Charlie went with his parents to Wisconsin. He died there in 1961. Samantha died there in 1982. They were buried in the Nashville [Wisconsin] Cemetery. We have not learned whether they had any children.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.5.9 Amsa N. Sparks was born October 29, 1887. He married Elizabeth MNU. She had been born on April 12, 1893. Amsa died on August 6, 1960. Elizabeth died on March 6, 1963. They were buried in the Land O' Lakes [Wisconsin] Cemetery. We have not learned whether they had any children.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.5.10 Wallace Sparks was born October 11, 1890.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.6 George Washington ["Wash"] Sparks, son of Bill and Polly (Lyon) Sparks, was born ca. 1846. He married Louisa Jane Creech on November 29, 1872, in Elliott County. She had been born on October 22, 1847, and was a daughter of John Samuel and Nancy (Boggs) Creech. Wash and Louisa lived on Little Fork until ca. 1895, when he died. Louisa then moved her family to Normal, Kentucky, where her oldest sons could work in the lumberyards. She died there on March 21, 1932, and was buried in the Rose Hill Cemetery at Ashland, Kentucky. She and Wash had ten children, six of whom lived to maturity.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.6.1 Ulysses ["Lys"] Sparks was born May 14, 1873, on Little Fork. He became an expert in "cruising timber" and grading lumber by working in the forests and lumber mills in Elliott County. He was a grown man when his mother moved to Normal, Kentucky. It was there that he got his start toward owning his own lumberyard. He was considered a well-to-do man when he died.
Lys Sparks married Mary Thompson on February 23, 1903. She had been born on October 27, 1877, and was a daughter of William Alex and Sarah (Leedy) Thompson. She and Lys lived at Morehead, Kentucky, where Lys owned a lumberyard. This is where Lys died on January 15, 1946. Mary survived him for over twenty years, dying on March 15, 1969. They had two children, 1.2.5.1.2.2.3.6.1.1 Edna Sparks, and 1.2.5.1.2.2.3.6.1.2 Lorene Sparks. (See page 3462 of the September 1989 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 147, for the obituary of Lorene (Sparks) Day.)
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.6.2 Alafair ["Allie"] Sparks was born in December 1874. She married Robert L. Hood on September 19, 1900, in Boyd County. He had been born ca. 1874 in Fairfax County, Virginia, and was a son of J. J. and Mary Hood. Robert and Allie had two sons, Kenneth B. Hood, and Robert Hood. We have no further information about this family.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.6.3 Leander Sparks was born ca. 1876. We have been informed by relatives that he was shot and killed while still a young man.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.6.4 Edward W. Sparks was born December 7, 1877. He married Mary Lou Miller in 1905 in Boyd County. He was 27 years old; Mary Lou was 15. She had been born on March 7, 1890, at Martha, Kentucky, and was a daughter of William and Louise (Gambill) Miller. Edward and Mary Lou lived in Ironton, Ohio, where he died in 1966. Mary Lou died there on January 16, 1970. They had seven children. They were:
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.6.4.1 William Clyde Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.6.4.2 Edward Eugene Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.6.4.3 Russell Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.6.4.4 Vernon Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.6.4.5 Mary Lee Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.6.4.6 Nina Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.6.4.7 Virginia Sparks.1.2.5.1.2.2.3.6.5 Greenville Sparks was born in October 1881. He married Ottie Sparks.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.6.6 Minerva Sparks was born ca. 1883. She may have been married to L. H. Jones.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.6.7 Leonard Sparks was born ca. 1885.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.6.8 Delia Sparks was born April 29, 1888. She married Thomas E. McCracken. She died in 1963.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.6.9 Menifee Sparks died in infancy.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.6.10 John Milton Sparks died in infancy.1.2.5.1.2.2.3.7 Francis Marion Sparks, son of Bill and Polly (Lyon) Sparks, was born in May 1847. He was married twice. His first marriage was to Almedia Frances Wells in 1867 in Lawrence County. They had one child. Marion (as he was called) married (second) Hannah Jane Blevins in 1871, also in Lawrence County. She had been born in August 1847. She and Marion had three children. When the 1900 census was taken, Marion and Jane were living in Boyd County. We have found no record of their deaths.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.7.1 Mary Ellen Sparks was born in March 1870. She married 1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2.2 Daniel Sparks ca. 1884. He was a son of 1.2.5.1.2.2.1.2 Richmond and Oma (Stephens) Sparks. (See above, for an account of this family.)
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.7.2 John Milton Elliott Sparks was born December 16, 1874, in Elliott County. It was there that he married Malissa Ison on May 7, 1897. She had been born in August 1873. Elliott (as he was called) and Malissa were living in Boyd County when the 1900 census was taken, but when the 1910 census was taken; they were in McDowell County, West Virginia. They had six children according to that census. They were:
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.7.2.1 Gracie Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.7.2.2 Harmon Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.7.2.3 Snowy May Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.7.2.4 Tennessee Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.7.2.5 Ursel Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.7.2.6 Nettie Sparks.1.2.5.1.2.2.3.7.3 Landon Hascal Sparks was born December 4, 1876, in Elliott County, and it was there that he married Rena E. Creech on February 29, 1896. She had been born in July 1876 and was a daughter of Hugh and Mary (Boggs) Creech. Landon and Rena went to Boyd County, and when the 1900 census was taken, they were living next door to his parents. Landon died on April 14, 1959, and Rena died on April 29, 1964. They had six children:
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.7.3.1 Gaythel Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.7.3.2 Virgil M. Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.7.3.3 Nannie Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.7.3.4 William Raymond ["Crit"] Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.7.3.5 Landon Sparks, Jr., and
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.7.3.6 Wayne R. Sparks.1.2.5.1.2.2.3.7.4 William B. Sparks, son of Marion and Jane (Blevins) Sparks, was born in August 1879. He was never married.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.8 Doctor Franklin ["Frank"] Sparks, son of Bill and Polly (Lyon) Sparks, was born ca. 1849. Relatives say that he married a woman from the "Bluegrass Section" of Kentucky. While visiting his relatives in Elliott, County, he participated in a neighborhood "house-raising" and ruptured himself while lifting logs. Inflammation set in, and he died within a few days, never returning to the Bluegrass.
[Editor's Note: It was a tradition in some Southern families to name a seventh son "Doctor". Indeed, Doctor Franklin Sparks was the seventh son of Bill and Polly (Lyon) Sparks. It will be noted that the posthumous son of his younger brother, Elliott Sparks, was named "Doctor", doubtless in memory of the infant's recently deceased uncle.]
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.9 James Milton Elliott Sparks, son of Bill and Polly (Lyon) Sparks, was born ca. 1851 at Halcom, Kentucky. He was called Elliott Sparks. He was married twice. His first marriage was to Mary Margaret Johnson on April 29, 1871, in Elliott County, with his brother, Reuben R. Sparks, officiating. Another brother, Joel Sparks, was his witness. Mary Margaret was a daughter of Jesse, Jr., and Mary (Boggs) Johnson. She and Elliott had one child,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.9.1 William Franklin Sparks, born in 1872. Mary died sometime after her child was born.
Elliott Sparks died tragically in the summer of 1881 from knife wounds he had received four years earlier in a fracas in Elliott County. Here is how the story of the fight has been pieced together from several sources.
About 1875, Solomon Sparks, a 23-year-old kinsman of Elliott Sparks from Cherokee County, North Carolina, was visiting his relatives on Wallowhole Creek in Elliott County. Apparently, he became involved in a quarrel with Andrew Porter. The quarrel may have been about Solomon Sparks's engagement to marry Cosby Porter, a sister of Andrew Porter. Whatever the reason, the quarrel reached its climax at a Saturday night country dance on September 8, 1877. The lights were suddenly extinguished, and Solomon Sparks died on the spot from knife wounds inflicted by "the Porter boys". Elliott Sparks received several knife wounds that ultimately resulted in his death.
After his health was somewhat restored, Elliott Sparks married (second) 1.2.5.1.2.2.2.8 Nancy B. Ison ca. 1878/79. She had been born on August 14, 1850, and was a daughter of Martin and 1.2.5.1.2.2.2 Nancy (Sparks) Ison. (See above.) When the 1880 census was taken of Elliott County, Elliott and Nancy were living in a household on Wallowhole Creek. With them was Nancy's mother, Nancy (Sparks) Ison, aged 71.
As stated above, Elliott Sparks continued to suffer from the effects of the knife wounds, and he succumbed to them during the summer of 1881. He left his wife pregnant, and their child. Doctor Martin Sparks was born posthumously on September 25, 1881.
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.9.1 William Franklin ["Frank"] Sparks, son of Elliott and Mary (Johnson) Sparks, was born December 24, 1872. He married Ellen Griffith on August 3, 1892, in Elliott County. She had been born on August 23, 1872, and was a daughter of Robert Griffith. Frank died on March 21, 1949. Ellen died on June 27, 1958. They had ten children. They were:
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.9.1.1 Mary Lee Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.9.1.2 Henry Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.9.1.3 Minnie Bell Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.9.1.4 John William Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.9.1.5 Nannie May Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.9.1.6 Eliza Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.9.1.7 Jesse Martin Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.9.1.8 Stella Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.9.1.9 Charles Landon Sparks, and
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.9.1.10 Robert Cecil Sparks.1.2.5.1.2.2.3.9.2 Doctor ["Doc"] Martin Sparks, son of Elliott and his second wife, Nancy (Ison) Sparks, was born posthumously on September 25, 1881. He was married twice. His first marriage was to America (Lewis) Waggoner on December 16, 1903, in Elliott County. She had been born in 1883 and was a widow; she was a daughter of Jonathan Lewis. She died in 1914, leaving Doc Sparks with three small children. Doc's second marriage was to Rebecca (Ison) Ison on June 10, 1935. A widow, she had been born on March 21, 1897, and a daughter of Andrew J. and Hannah (Creech) Ison. Doc Sparks died in 1958. Rebecca died on March 3, 1997, just a few days before her 100th birthday. She and Doc were buried in the Josh Ison Cemetery in Elliott County. They apparently had no children. Doc's children by his first wife, America (Lewis) Sparks, were
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.9.2.1 Gladys Sparks,
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.9.2.2 Doctor Martin Sparks, Jr., and
1.2.5.1.2.2.3.9.2.3 Charles Sparks.
1.2.5.1.2.2.4 Reuben Sparks, son of Robert and Margaret (Pigg) Sparks, was born ca. 1815 in Wilkes County, North Carolina. Apparently, he went to Lawrence County, Kentucky, with his siblings ca. 1825/30. He was a bondsman for his brother, Wesley Sparks, on June 19, 1835, when Wesley and Nancy Kozee obtained a marriage bond in Lawrence County. Reuben Sparks returned to North Carolina and was married there ca. 1842 to Margaret Pruitt. She had been born ca. 1821 in North Carolina.
The first child of Reuben and Margaret (Pruitt) Sparks was born in North Carolina ca. 1845, but shortly thereafter, they moved to Lawrence County where their second child was born ca. 1847. When the 1850 census was taken of Lawrence County, Reuben and Margaret lived a few houses from his brothers, Wesley Sparks, and William Sparks. They were next-door neighbors to Reuben's uncle, George Sparks. As enumerated on that census, Reuben Sparks was 33, born in North Carolina; Margaret Sparks was 28, also born in North Carolina; Mary Ann Sparks was 5, born in North Carolina; Hiram Sparks, 3, and Calvin Sparks, 8 months, both born in Kentucky.
Shortly after the 1850 census was taken, Reuben and Margaret moved to Arkansas where they settled in White River Township in Washington County. Their post office was Jupiter, apparently no longer in existence today. It was there that the family was enumerated on the 1860 census. As recorded by the census taker, Reuben Sparks was a farmer with real estate valued at $500. He was 46 and Margaret was 40; both were natives of North Carolina; their daughter, Ann Sparks, 15, had been born, also, in North Carolina; their sons, Hiram, 12, and Calvin, 10, had been born in Kentucky; while Martha, age 7, and Nathan, age 3, had been born in Arkansas.
On March 7, 1955, this compiler received a letter from William Reuben Sparks of Columbus, Kansas. According to Mr. Sparks, he had been born in 1876 in Crawford County, Kansas, and was a son of Calvin Sparks. His grandfather was Reuben Sparks, who had been married in Wilkes County, North Carolina (wife not named), but who had moved to Kentucky where he had raised his family. Other members of the family, according to Mr. Sparks, were Hiram Sparks, born in 1847; Polly Ann Sparks, born in 1851 [doubtless an error, census records indicate the year was ca. 1845]; and William Sparks, born in 1854.
With this information, a search has been made of the 1870 census of Crawford County, Kansas. Reuben Sparks and his family were found therein, in the township of Sheridan, but with their post office in the village of Girard in Crawford Township, located in the center of Crawford County. A farmer, Reuben was shown as owning no land in 1870, and his personal property was valued at only $500. His age was given as 57; that of Margaret as 49. (Crawford County, Kansas, borders Barton County, Missouri, on the east.)
Reuben and Margaret's oldest child was called "Polly A. Sparks" on the 1870 census, "Polly" being a common nickname for Mary. She had been called Mary Ann Sparks on the 1850 census and Ann Sparks on the 1860 census. Still living with their parents in 1870 were three sons, Hiram (22), Calvin (20), and William (12). The daughter named Martha, born ca. 1853 according to the 1860 census, was not shown on the 1870 census-perhaps she had been married by then or had died in youth. The son called Nathan in 1860, born ca. 1857, appears to have been called William in 1870.
Reuben Sparks and wife Margaret were still living in Sheridan Township, Crawford County, Kansas, when the 1880 census was taken, on which Reuben was shown as 65 years of age and suffering from cancer. Margaret's age was given as 50; the census taker probably misunderstood whoever it was in the household that supplied information for her. A question asked on the 1880 census was the place of birth of each individual's parents-these spaces were left blank for the Reuben Sparks household. Their daughter, Polly A. Sparks, was still living at home when the 1880 census was taken, (shown as "helps keep house"), as was their son, William M. Sparks, age 22 ("works on farm"). Also living in the Reuben Sparks' household in 1880 was 18-year-old William T. Mitchell, a native of Arkansas, who, like William Sparks, "works on farm."
The relationship of each individual in a household to the head of that household was supposed to be provided on the 1880 census, but for young Mitchell, this space was left blank.
The children of Reuben and Margaret (Pruitt) Sparks were:
1.2.5.1.2.2.4.1 Mary ["Polly"] Ann Sparks was born in North Carolina ca. 1845. She was still single and living with her parents when the 1880 census was taken of Crawford County, Kansas.
1.2.5.1.2.2.4.2 Hiram Sparks was born in Kentucky ca. 1847. He was still living with his parents (he was then aged 22), when the 1870 census was taken of Crawford County, Kansas, but by 1880 he had been married, although he was shown as a farmer living very near his parents in Sheridan Township, Crawford County. His wife's name was given as Catherine on the 1880 census, and they had a two-year-old son named 1.2.5.1.2.2.4.2.1 John W. Sparks.
1.2.5.1.2.2.4.3 Calvin Sparks was shown as 8 months old and born in Kentucky on the 1850 census of Lawrence County. If the census taker calculated ages as of June 1, 1850, as the forms instructed him to do, this would place Calvin's birth in October (possibly Nov) 1849. Calvin was still living with his parents when the 1870 census was taken of Crawford County, Kansas, but he has not been found on the 1880 census. As noted earlier, however, a son of Calvin named William Reuben Sparks of Columbus, Kansas, writing in 1955, stated that he (William Reuben Sparks) had been born in 1876 in Crawford County, Kansas.
1.2.5.1.2.2.4.4 Martha Sparks was shown in her parents' household, 7 years of age, when the 1860 census was taken in Washington County, Arkansas. She was not listed in Reuben's household in Crawford County, Kansas, in either 1870 or 1880, however, nor was she mentioned as a sibling of his father in William Reuben Sparks's letter in 1955. She probably died in her youth, although it is possible that she had been married by 1870, at which time she would have been 17 years old based on her age appearing on the 1860 census.
1.2.5.1.2.2.4.5 William Sparks was born ca. 1858, according to the censuses of 1870 and 1880, although his nephew, William Reuben Sparks, stated in 1955 that he had been born in 1854. He was probably the son of Reuben and Margaret Sparks who was recorded as Nathan Sparks on the 1860 census of Washington County, Arkansas, age 3. Perhaps William's middle name was Nathan, although on the 1880 census, he was shown as William M. Sparks. He was still living with his parents ("works on farm") in Crawford County, Kansas, in 1880, age 22.
[Editor's Note: This account of the descendants of Robert and Margaret (Pigg) Sparks is far from complete, and descendants of this couple are invited to share with us any further information about them and their family that would supplement what we have given the preceding pages.]