January 24, 2022
Pages 2543-2548
Whole Number 123
SPARKS FAMILIES LISTED ON THE 1850 CENSUS OF MICHIGAN
In this issue of the Quarterly, we continue our project of publishing the record of persons named Sparks (also Spark and Sparkes) found on the census of the United States that was conducted by the federal government in 1850. Readers are referred to the introduction to the listing of Sparkses of New York in 1850 that appeared in the March 1982 issue of the Quarterly for a more detailed explanation regarding the information contained in the 1850 census.
On the following pages, under each Michigan county in which a Sparks was found to be living, we have noted the township, town, village, district, precinct, etc. where given by the census taker, along with the page number appearing in the volume in which this record is preserved in the National Archives. Also given are the household and family numbers assigned by the census taker; these are sometimes helpful in determining how close two families may have lived to each other. Following the individual's name is his/her age, sex (M or F), state or country of birth, occupation (if any was listed), and value of real estate owned (if any). Race was also recorded in the 1850 census, but since everyone listed on the followpages was white, we have omitted the column from the Michigan census.
It must be kept in mind that these are the records made by a census taker based upon information provided by someone who was at home on the day he called on the family. Accurate information was not always given to the census taker, and he sometimes misunderstood what was told to him. While the genealogist considers census records to be a major source for research, he must recognize that errors exist in these records.
We are able to publish these listings of Sparkses appearing on the 1850 census because a number of indexing projects have been completed in recent years. Paul Sparks, our Association's president, has worked through a professional genealogist named Jack Strickland to glean the Sparks records from these federal records.
SPARKS HOUSEHOLDS APPEARING ON THE
1850 CENSUS OF MICHIGAN TERRITORY
| Berrien County, Michigan - 1850 Census | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division No. 10. Page 137. Census taken July 17, 1850. |
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| 63-63 | Sparklin, John | 20 | (M) | Birthplace unk. | Carpenter | |
| (living in a boarding house - there is the possibility that this was intended for Sparks) | ||||||
| Page 169. Census taken August 4, 1850. | ||||||
| 559-559 | Sparks, David | 33 | (M) | Indiana | Farmer | $460 |
| " Harriet | 25 | (F) | Virginia | |||
| " Catherine | 5 | (F) | Michigan | |||
| " Cornelius | 4 | (M) | " | |||
| " Evaline | 1 | (F) | " | |||
| Page 173. Census taken August 7, 1850. | ||||||
| 614-514 | Sparks, Cornelius | 61 | (M) | North Carolina | Farmer | $3000 |
| " Susana | 56 | (F) | " " | |||
| " Wilson | 20 | (M) | Michigan | |||
| " Susana | 18 | (F) | " | |||
| " Cynthia | 16 | (F) | " | |||
| " Spencer | 8 | (M) | " | |||
| " Ira | 23 | (M) | Indiana | Farmer | $300 | |
| 615-615 | Sparks, Levi | 27 | (M) | Indiana | Farmer | $1000 |
| " Maria | 24 | (F) | Virginia | |||
| 621-621 | Sparks, Spencer | 34 | (M) | Indiana | Farmer | $800 |
| " Sarah | 35 | (F) | Ohio | |||
| " Louisa J. | 10 | (F) | Michigan | |||
| " Susana | 8 | (F) | " | |||
| " John | 6 | (M) | " | |||
| " William O. | 4 | (M) | " | |||
| Page 221. Census taken September 10, 1850. | ||||||
| 1379-1379 | Sparks, Joseph | 26 | (M) | South Carolina | Farmer | $800 |
| " Mary | 32 | (F) | " " | |||
| " Liddy M. | 9 | (F) | Michigan | |||
| " Lucy H. | 5 | (F) | " | |||
| " Ira E. | 3 | (M) | " | |||
| Calhoun County, MIchigan - 1850 Census | ||||||
| Town of Marshall | ||||||
| Page 153. Census taken July 31, 1850. | ||||||
| 489-489 | Sparks, Daniel | 47 | (M) | New York | Farmer | $1400 |
| " S. | 43 | (F) | " " | |||
| " W. | 13 | (M) | Ohio | |||
| " R. | 7 | (M) | " | |||
| Clinton County, MIchigan - 1850 Census | ||||||
| Dewitt Township. Page 52. Census taken September 12, 1850. |
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| 67-67 | Fletcher, Hosea | 35 | (M) | Massachusetts | Laborer | |
| " Lucy A. | 32 | (F) | New York | |||
| " William O. | 7 | (M) | Michigan | |||
| " Albert W. | 6 | (M) | " | |||
| " George W. | 3 | (M) | " | |||
| Sparks, Francina | 25 | (F) | New York | |||
| Genessee County, MIchigan - 1850 Census | ||||||
| Vienna Township Page 228. Census taken July 23, 1850. |
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| 20-20 | Sparks, George | 47 | (M) | New York | Farmer | $2000 |
| " Adaline | 44 | (F) | " " | |||
| " Henry | 25 | (M) | " " | |||
| " Stiles | 22 | (M) | " " | |||
| " Adeline | 7 | (F) | Michigan | |||
| Richfield Township Page 318. Census taken September 24, 1850. |
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| 570-670 | Cooley, Elijah | 22 | (M) | Massachusetts | Farmer | $600 |
| " John | 20 | (M) | " | |||
| " Martha | 16 | (F) | Michigan | |||
| Sparks, Mary | 24 | (F) | Massachusetts | |||
| " Jennet | 3/12 | (F) | Michigan | |||
| Ingham County, Michigan - 1850 Census | ||||||
| Phelpstown. Page 86. Census taken September 10, 1850. |
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| 218-218 | Sparks, Daniel | 26 | (M) | New York | Farmer | $350 |
| " Sarah | 26 | (F) | " " | |||
| " Elias H. | 8 | (M) | Michigan | |||
| " Mahetable A. | 5 | (F) | " | |||
| " Mary J. | 4 | (F) | " | |||
| " Harvey | 1 | (M) | " | |||
| Ionia County, Michigan - 1850 Census | ||||||
| North Plains Page 160. Census taken October 18, 1850. |
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| 575-575 | Spark, Lester W. | 39 | (M) | New York | Farmer | $600 |
| " Harriet | 39 | (F) | Vermont | |||
| " Newton | 14 | (M) | New York | |||
| " Cyrus | 12 | (M) | " " | |||
| Keen Township Page 205. Census taken Septembner 12, 1850 |
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| 636-636 | Sparks, Danforth | 31 | (M) | New York | Farmer | $400 |
| " Lydia | 11 | (F) | Dist. of Columbia | |||
| " Eliza | 3 | (F) | Michigan | |||
| " Abby | 1 | (F) | " | |||
| 637-637 | Sparks, William | 29 | (M) | New York | Farmer | $400 |
| " Mary M. | 26 | (F) | " " | |||
| " William N. | 3 | (M) | Michigan | |||
| " Myron E. | 1 | (M) | " | |||
| Butterfield, Isaac | 21 | (M) | New York | |||
| 638-638 | Sparks, Stephen | 69 | (M) | Connecticut | Farmer | |
| " Mary | 66 | (F) | Massachusetts | |||
| 639-639 | Sparks, Stephen, Jr. | 37 | (M) | New York | Farmer | $600 |
| " Angeline | 29 | (F) | " " | |||
| " James | 6 | (M) | Michigan | |||
| " Alpheus | 3 | (M) | " | |||
| 640-640 | Hart, Samuel | 27 | (M) | New York | Laborer | |
| " Evaline | 23 | (F) | " " | |||
| " Almedee | 3 | (F) | Michigan | |||
| Sparks, Sophronia | 38 | (F) | New York | |||
| " Amanda | 28 | (F) | " " | |||
| Jackson County, Michigan - 1850 Census | ||||||
| Columbia Township Page 419. Census taken September 18, 1950 |
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| 1536-1536 | Sparks, Norman | 30 | (M) | Massachusetts | Farmer | $1000 |
| " Sarah | 20 | (F) | New York | |||
| Town of Napoleon. Page 444. Census taken September 13, 1850. |
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| 337-337 | Sparks, Austin | 51 | (M) | Connecticut | Farmer | $1000 |
| " Hannah | 49 | (F) | New York | |||
| " Catherine | 21 | (F) | " " | |||
| " Wesley | 16 | (M) | " " | |||
| Cline Jacob C. | 86 | (M) | " " | |||
| 338-338 | Sparks, Oscar | 25 | (M) | New York | Farmer | $800 |
| " Harriet | 22 | (F) | Vermont | |||
| " Julia | 3 | (F) | Michigan | |||
| " Catherine | 1/12 | (F) | " | |||
| 340-340 | Sparks, Marcus | 31 | (M) | New York | Farmer | |
| " Louisa | 23 | (F) | Vermont | |||
| " Eustatia | 5 | (F) | Michigan | |||
| " Isabell | 3 | (F) | " | |||
| " Adalaide | 6/12 | (F) | " | |||
| Kalamazoo County, Michigan - 1850 Census | ||||||
| Town of Kalamazoo Page 294. Census taken July 17, 1850, by N. Gibbs. |
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| 424-438 | Sparks, Benjamin | 45 | (M) | Massachusetts | $100 | |
| " Oscar | 5 | (M) | Michigan | |||
| Village of Oshtemo. Page 58. Census taken July 31, 1850, by N. Gibbs. |
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| 831-845 | Sparks, Henry | 39 | (M) | Connecticut | Farmer | $2500 |
| " Minerva | 44 | (F) | Massachusetts | |||
| " Nathaniel | 19 | (M) | Connecticut | |||
| 832-846 | Sparks, Asell | 36 | (M) | Massachusetts | Farmer | $1600 |
| " Sabry | 30 | (F) | " | |||
| " Munson B. | 5 | (M) | Michigan | |||
| " Olive | 67 | (F) | Connecticut | |||
| 833-847 | Sparks, Kelsey | 35 | (M) | Massachusetts | Farmer | $500 |
| " Elizabeth | 33 | (F) | " | |||
| " Comfort | 10 | (F) | New York | |||
| " John K. | 8 | (M) | " " | |||
| " Mary J. | 2 | (F) | Michigan | |||
| Livingston County, Michigan - 1850 Census | ||||||
| Howell Township. Page 696. Census taken July 27, 1850. |
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| 341-341 | Sparks, Harvey S. | 32 | (M) | New York | Farmer | $500 |
| " Eliza M. | 32 | (F) | " " | |||
| " Anna S. | 7 | (F) | " " | |||
| Genoa Township. Page 774. Census taken August 17, 1850. |
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| 921-921 | Abbey, Jeris | 60 | (M) | Massachusetts | Farmer | $800 |
| " Cynthia | 60 | (F) | Vermont | |||
| " Sewel | 31 | (M) | New York | Carpenter | ||
| " Amanda | 33 | (F) | " " | |||
| " Malan | 7 | (M) | " " | |||
| " Elizabeth | 4 | (F) | Michigan | |||
| " Jerrold | 29 | (M) | New York | Lime burner | ||
| " Christiana | 21 | (M) | " " | |||
| Spark, Jehial | 22 | (M) | " " | Laborer | ||
| Tricker, E. C. | 39 | (M) | " " | Blacksmith | ||
| Green Township Page 810. Census taken August 28, 1850. |
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| 1166-1166 | Sparks, Jas. | 36 | (M) | Connecticut | Farmer | |
| " Deborah | 24 | (F) | New York | |||
| Clemens, Moses | 12 | (M) | Michigan | |||
| " Lina | 48 | (F) | New York | |||
| " James | 14 | (M) | Michigan | |||
| " Clark | 16 | (M) | " | |||
| Macomb County, Michigan - 1850 Census | ||||||
| Shelby Township. Page 148. Census taken August 16, 1850. |
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| 598-598 | Summers, George W. | 36 | (M) | New York | ||
| " Isabell | 33 | (F) | Michigan | |||
| " George E. | 12 | (M) | " | |||
| " Ellen | 10 | (F) | " | |||
| " Lydia | 9 | (F) | " | |||
| " Thomas | 5 | (M) | " | |||
| " Isabell | 3 | (F) | " | |||
| " Frances M. | 1 | (F) | " | |||
| Scudder, Jane | 16 | (F) | " | |||
| Sparks, Mary | 17 | (F) | " | |||
| Lockwood, Chaney | 16 | (M) | " | |||
| Ottowa County, Michigan - 1850 Census | ||||||
| Crockery Township. | ||||||
| 351-351 | Sparks, Amos | 57 | (M) | Connecticut | Farmer | $200 |
| " Desire | 53 | (F) | Vermont | |||
| " Orville O. | 21 | (M) | New York | Laborer | ||
| " Melvin P. | 17 | (M) | " " | |||
| " Albertus | 11 | (M) | " " | |||
| Sylvester, Lydia | 60 | (F) | Massachusetts | |||
| St. Clair County, Michigan - 1850 Census | ||||||
| Village of Port Huron. Page 184. Census taken July 16, 1850, by True P. Tucker. |
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| 53-53 | Sparks, Amos | 25 | (M) | Canada | Laborer | |
| " Margaret | 28 | (F) | " | |||
| " Lucretia | 5 | (F) | " | |||
| " Mary Ann | 4 | (F) | " | |||
| " Jemima S. | 9/12 | (F) | " | |||
| McLoud, William | 30 | (M) | " | |||
| Sparks, Reuben | 23 | (M) | " | |||
| St. Joseph County, Michigan - 1850 Census | ||||||
| Florence Township. Page 315. Census taken September 18, 1850. |
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| 858-858 | Sparks, Daniel | 39 | (M) | Massachusetts | Farmer | $700 |
| " Lucretia | 38 | (F) | New York | |||
| " Charles E. | 9 | (M) | Michigan | |||
| Jonson, Mary | 16 | (F) | " | |||
| " Nelson | 11 | (M) | " | |||
| Leake, Emily | 15 | (F) | New York | |||
Page 4619
Whole Number 173
A HOUSEHOLD MISSED IN THE TRANSCRIPTION OF SPARKSES
ON THE 1850 CENSUS OF MICHIGAN
Editor's Note: In the Quarterly of September 1983, Whole No. 123, pp. 2543-2548, we transcribed the households on the 1850 census of Michigan that were found to include one or more persons named Sparks. No one named Sparks was found in the Branch County, Michigan, 1850 census by the professional researcher who made this record for us. A member of the Association, Jim Frost of Wagoner, Oklahoma, however, has located a Sparks family there. Your editor has transcribed this household from a microfilm of the original 1850 census, as follows:
SPARKS HOUSEHOLDS APPEARING ON THE
1850 CENSUS OF MICHIGAN
| Branch County, Michigan - 1850 Census | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Page 48. Butler Township. Census taken August 15, 1850, by S. A. Holbrook | ||||||
| Sparks | Samuel | 93 | (M) | Rhode Island | Farmer | |
| " | Marinda | 43 | (F) | Vermont | ||
| " | John | 21 | (M) | New York | Farmer | $400 in land |
| " | Lucy | 16 | (F) | New York | ||
| " | Mary | 14 | (F) | Ohio | ||
| " | Joseph | 10 | (M) | Ohio | ||
| " | Lyman | 2 mo | (M) | Michigan | ||
[Editor's Note: While Samuel Sparks's age appears as 93, we suspect that he was more nearly 73. Samuel, Marinda, and John were shown as unable to read or write. Lucy was shown as having attended school within the previous year.]