| 13. |  Julia* Ann Sparks was born on 13 Oct 1836 in Franklin Co, Tennessee (daughter of John Sidney* Sparks and Melinda* Jones, (maybe dau?)); died on 25 Jan 1925 in Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas; was buried on 26 Jan 1925 in McFaddin, TF Smith Homestead, Forest Lawn Cem, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas. Other Events and Attributes:
- Census: 24 Oct 1850, Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas
- Census: 12 Jul 1860, Sabine Pass (Precinct 5), Jefferson Co, Texas
- Census: 23 Jun 1870, Sparks and River Settlement, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
- Census: 12 Jun 1880, Beaumont (District 40), Jefferson Co, Texas
- Residence: 1904, 1 blk w of 747 South Grand Ave, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
- Census: 23 May 1910, Beaumont (Precinct 6), Jefferson Co, Texas
- Residence: Between 1913 and 1925, 1598 Cartright, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas; D.C.
- Other-Begin: 22 Mar 1936, Port Arthur News, Port Arthur, Jefferson Co, Texas
- Other-Begin: 30 Sep 1952, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas; court case: Smith graves
- Other-Begin: 10 Aug 1961, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas; court case: Smith graves
Notes:
1910 Julia Courts, age 73; b TN; living w/
514/537 Thomas F. Smith 51 head
Mary E 57 wife TX father TX mother TN
Brewer Belle D - step-dau 26 TX LA TX
Smith James T son 22
Ella V dau 16
Court Julia A mother in law - 73
Sparks William E cousin 59
515/538 Courts Matt E head 49
Mary E wife 49
Coy G son 15
Emma S dau 8
Emmet M bro 34
_____________________
(Notes of Kirby Courts:)
Julia was the daughter of John and Melinda Sparks, who came to Texas from North Carolina in the 1850s. Julia was probably born in Tennessee in about 1836. She lived to be 89 years old and spent most of her life in Jefferson Co, Texas. Shried James M. Court when she was 13 years old. They lived in Sabine Pass, Texas, during their first years of marriage. The older family members state that they remained there until the late 1880s. Severe hurricanes at this time destroyed the settlement on a number of occasions. The family moved to the Nederland-Port Neches area, away from the beach area. They remained there till their deaths and were buried in the old Sparks Cemetry. The cemetery is the present site of the DuPont Chemical plant. In 1952 all the bodies were reburied at Magnolia (sic) Cemetery. -- they were reburied in Forest Lawn
To: archinfo@tsl.state.tx.us
8/19/98
Court, Julia Ann 11498
Claimant: Court, Julia Ann
Pension Number: 11498
County: Jefferson
Approved March 6, 1925
The State of Texas
County of Jefferson
To the Honorable County Judge of Jefferson County, Texas,
Your petition, Mrs. Julia Ann Court, respectfully represents that she is a resident citizen of Jefferson County, in the State of Texas; that she is the widow of Jas M Court, deceased, who was a Confederate soldier (or sailor), and that she ms this application for the purpose of obtaining a pension as the widow of said James M. Court, deceased...
Q. What is your name? Answer: Julia Ann Court
Q. What is your age? Answer: I will be 69 years old October
Q. In what County do you reside? Answer: Jefferson
Q. How long have you resided in said County and what is your post office address?
Answer: About 65 years. P.O. Beaumont, Texas
Q. Have you applied for a pension under the Confederate pension Law heretofore, and been rejected? If so, state when and where. Answer: No.
Q. What is your occupation if able to engage in one? Answer: Have ironed, unable to work Q. What is your physical condition? Answer: Enfebled by age
Q. What was the name of your deceased husband? Answer: James M Court
Q. Were you married to him anterior to March 1, 1866? Answer: I was married to my
husband in 1860 Orange Co, Tex
Q. What was the date of his death? Answer: He died in February 1891
Q. Are you unmarried, and have you so remained unmarried since the death of your said husband for whose services you claim a pension? Answer: Yes.
Q. In what State was your husband's command originally organized?
Answer: in Jefferson Co, Texas
Q. How long did your husband serve? Give date of enlistment and discharge.
Answer: about 4 years. He
enlisted about June 1961.
Q. What was the name or letter of your husband's company and name or number of his regiment? Answer: Don't know letter of Co.
Capt Keith's Co (Griffith?)
Q. State whether he served in the infantry, artillery, cavalry, or the navy.
Answer: infantry
Q. State wither or not you have received any pension or veteran donation land certificate under any previous law, and if you answer in the affirmative state what pension or veteran donation land certificate you hae received. Answer: None at all - my husband
drew a Confederate pension in his life time.
Q. What real and personal property do you now own, and what is the present value of such property? Give list of such property and value. Answer: Don't own any property.
Q. What property, and what was the value thereof, have you sold or conveyed within two years prior to the date of this application? Answer: None
Q. What income, if any, do you receive? Answer: Nothing
Q. Are you in indigent circumstances; that is, are you in actual want, and destitute of property and means of subsistence? Answer: Yes.
Q. Are you unable by your labor to earn a support? Answer: Yes.
Q. Have you transferred to others any property of value of any kind for the purpose of becoming a beneficiary under this law? Answer: No.
Q. Did your husband for whose services you claim a pension, ever desert the Confederacy?
Answer: No.
Q. Have you been continuously since the first day of March, 1880, a bona fide resident citizen of this State? Answer: Yes.
(Signature of Applicant) Julia Ann Court
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 5th day of August, A.D. 1905
D.P. Wheat, County Judge, Jefferson Co, TX
Affidavit of Witnesses:
B.J. Johnson and R.D. Kent
sworn to 10 October 1905
Certificate of County Judge, D.P. Wheat, issued October 10, 1905.
Affidavit sworn to by C.E. Hillebrandt 10th day Oct, 1905
The State of Texas } Before me D.P.
County of Jefferson } Wheat, County Judge
Jefferson County Texas on this day personally appeared C.E. Hillebrandt known to me, who being by me duly sworn says that he was personally acquainted with James Court who is an applicant for a confederate pension, that he knew James Court for more than 50 years, that he served in the confederate army with James Court in the same company viz Capt. Keith's Company, Speight's Batallion, does not recollect letter of company, but he served with him in the years 1862-1863 when he was transferred to Capt. O'Brien's Company and he remained in Keith's Company where he served until the end of war and was finally discharged. He said that he never deserted and was finally discharged, and he had reputation of being fine soldier. He was in one of the battles of Sabine Pass, can't recollect, which, I know his wife is feeble and in indigent circumstances.
(signed) C.E. Hillebrandt
Sworn to & Subscribed before me this 10th day October, 1905.
(signed) D.P. Wheat, County Judge
Certificate of County Commissioners: Issued 13 November 1905.
(commissioners who signed: Mally Eastham, H.F. Bist, B.J. Johnson, S.C. Bigham)
Comptroller's Department, State of Texas, Austin Febry 12, 1906
To the Military Secretary, War Department, Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
I have the honor to request the military record of James M. Court who was reported to have enlisted in Company Keith's 15 Regiment, Texas Infantry in the service of the Confederate States army.
Purpose: The widow of the person above named is an applicant for a Confederate pension granted by this State, and I desire to verify his proof of service.
Very respectfully,
J.W. Stephens, Comptroller
from: War Department,
The Military Secretary's Office,
Washington,
Feb. 17, 1906
1101576
Respectfully returned to
The Comptroller, State of Texas, Austin,
The name of James Court has not been found on the rolls, on file in this office, of the 15th Regiment Texas Infantry, C.S.A.
The records show, however, that one J.M. Court, private, Captain Keith's Company (B), Spaight's Battalion Texas Infantry, C.S.A. (subsequently designated Keith's Company (I), 13th Texas infantry, C.S.A.), enlisted May 28, 1862, at Sabine. On the company muster roll for May and June, 1863, he is reported absent, detailed on gunboat "Uncle Ben," January 10, 1863; and on the company muster roll for January and February, 1864, the next and last roll on file, he is reported "absent without leave." No record of his capture or parole has been found.
(signed) The Military Secretary
______
Application for Mortuary Warrant:
Submitted by Mrs. Mary E. Smith (daughter) 1598 Cartwright Avenue, P.O. Box 864, Beaumont, Texas, sworn to 11th day of March, 1925, stating she was "person to whom is entrusted the paying of the accounts and indebtedness of the late Mrs. Julia A. Court, who was a petitioner of the State of Texas, and whose file number was 11498, and whose original county was Jefferson.
"The said pensioner died in the home of Mrs. Mary E. Smith who was related to the pensioner as Daughter.
Certificate of Undertaker:
C.M. Saunders, undertaker, Beaumont, had charge of body of Julia Ann Court, who died 25 January 1925, Pipkin & Brulin Co, Undertakers.
Certificate of Physician:
Joe Record, M.D., "attended Mrs. Julia Ann Court in her last illness, and am of the opinion that her ailments were gangrenous appendicitis."
______
Death Certificate: (Registered No.: 45)
Mrs. Julia Ann Court 1598 Cartwright, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas Resident 12 years.
Personal:
Female, White, widow
Occupation: None
Date of Birth 13 Oct 1837.
Age: 88 yrs 3 mons, 11 days.
Birthplace: Tenn.
Name of Father: John Sparks, birthplace unknown
Maiden name of Mother: Melinda Jones, birth place Tenn.
Informant: Miss Vivian Smith, Beaumont, Tx.
Medical:
Date of Death: Jan 25, 1925
"I hereby certify that I attended deceased from Jan 21, 1925 to Jan 25, 1925, that I last saw her alive on Jan 25, 1925 and that death occurred on the date stated above at 12:45 pm." The cause of death was: Ruptured Chronic Appendicitis, duon 3 years.
Operation precede death: No.
Autopsy: No
Test confirmed diagnosis: Clinical
Signed: Joe Record, M.D. 1/26/1925
Place of Burial: McFaddin Cemetery 1/26/1925; Undertaker Pipkin & Brulin, Beaumont, Tx.
Census:
24 Oct 1850 Sabine Pass
residence 215:
Milton H Bloodworth 25 1825 Louisiana
Nancy (Holt) Bloodworth 18 1832 Texas
Benjamin P Bloodworth 2 1848 Louisiana
William Bloodworth 1 1849 Louisiana
Benjamin Holt 55 1795 Mississippi
Thomas C Holt 50 1800 Mississippi
Thomas D Holt 4 1846 Louisiana
William Holt 53 1797 Mississippi
Mary Ann Holt 17 1833 Texas
Thomas R Holt 26 1824 Louisiana
Charles Holt 28 1822 Louisiana
William C Holt 15 1835 Louisiana
Richard Holt 13 1837 Louisiana
Residence 216
Stockholm, Peter D. 31 1819 New York carpenter
Mary 17 1833 Louisiana
William 2 1848 Texas
Elizabeth 0 1850 Texas
Residence 217
Brewer, William 23 1827 Louisiana
Brewer, Caroline 22 1828 Louisiana
Residence 218
Solomon Sparks 30 1820 Tennessee
Martha C Sparks 30 1829 South Carolina
Lucy Ann Sparks 8 1842 Tennessee
John L Sparks 6 1844 Tennessee
James E Sparks 3 1847 Louisiana
Mary Susan Sparks 1 1849 Texas
Jacob Sparks 22 1828 Tennessee
Residence 219
John S. Sparks 39 1811 North Carolina
Melinda Sparks 29 1821 Tennessee
Albert Sparks 9 1841 Texas
Eliza J. Sparks 7 1843 Texas
John F. Sparks 4 1846 Texas
Sarah C. Sparks 1 1849 Texas
James Court 22 1828 Louisiana
Julia Ann (Sparks) Courts 14 1836 Tennessee
Census:
12 Jul 1860 Precinct No. 5 Sabine Pass
residence 378
James Court 30 mail carrier 500 Louisiana
Julia 24 TN 1856 Tennessee
Mary E 8 1852 Texas
Henry C 6 1854 Texas
Julia A 4 1856 Texas
William F 2 1858 Texas
Elias M 6/12 1859 Texas
residence 379
John Sparks 49 1811 North Carolina farmer 320 2100
Malinda Sparks 41 1819 Tennessee
Albert Sparks 19 1841 Texas
John F Sparks 14 1856 Texas
Sarah C Sparks 11 1849 Texas
Arabella H Sparks 8 1852 Texas
James C Sparks 6 1854 Texas
Worthey C Sparks 4 1856 Texas
Henry E L Sparks 8/12 1859 Texas
residence 380
Samuel Lee 38 1822 Denmark stock raiser 4,000
Eliza 16 1844 Texas
Census:
77 Coats (Courts) J.M. 40 1830 Louisiana 400, 2,000 farmer
Julia 34 1836 Tennessee
Mary 18 1852 Texas
Clifton 16 1854 Texas
Nasthentha 14 1856 Texas
William 12 1858 Texas
Madison E. 10 1860 Texas
Helmer 8 1862 Texas <<<
James 5 1865 Texas
Anna 3 1867 Texas
Lisa 8 1862 Texas
residence 78
Sparks M (Melinda) 51 1819 at home Tennessee widow
James 17 1853 Texas farm laborer
Worthy 14 1856 Texas
John 27 1843 Texas farmer
residence 79
Spark, C (Caroline) 50 1820 SC keeping house widow
Edwin 23 1847 Louisiana
Joseph 16 1854 Texas
Oscar 14 Texas
Court T.J. 27 1843 Texas (Thomas Jefferson - bro of James Court)
residence 80
Brewton W.P. 33 1837 Tennessee
Sarah (Sparks) 22 1848 Texas (Dau of Melinda)
Grace 5 1865 TX
Silas F. 8/12 1869 TX
residence 81
Lee, Samuel 52 1818 farmer 1580 Denmark
Jane E. 27 1843 Texas
Emma 3 1867 Texas
residence 82
Smith. T.J. 34 farmer 500 Indiana (Later would marry Mary Ellen Courts
Sarah 25 Texas
Electra 3/12 Texas
Census:
12 Jun 1880 Beaumont (District 40), Jefferson Co, Texas
210 Court, William 21 work at saw mill TX - TX
Darinda, 22 wife Texas Georgia Texas
Danie 3 dau TX
Benton 1 son TX
211
J.M. COURT Self M Male W 50 LA Wagoning ENGLAND LA
Julia A. COURT Wife M Female W 43 TN Keeping House NC AL
Helma (Helmer) COURT Son S Male W 18 TX Wagoner LA TN
James COURT Son S Male W 15 TX At Home LA TN
Annie COURT Dau S Female W 12 TX At Home LA TN
Lillian COURT Dau S Female W 8 TX At Home LA TN
Fannie COURT Dau S Female W 5 TX At Home LA TN
Emmet COURT Son S Male W 3 TX At Home LA TN
Viola COURT Dau S Female W 11M TX At Home LA TN
213
Court, Clifton 25 1855 raftsman TX LA TN
Fannie 26 1854 TX TN TN
Ella M. 3 1877 TX
(Peter Stockholm & Pierre Frugia in this community. No Sparks or Blocks or Burrrells. Must be Beaumont proper.)
Residence:
Court, Edgar B., wks United Lbr & Export Co, h. James F. Court.
Court, Emmett, wks United Lbr & Export Co., r. 1 blk w of same.
Court, Homer, wks United Lbr & Export Co. h. James F. Court
Court, H. Clifton, watchman mill, A, Kirby Lumber Co., r 747 South Grand ave, Cartwright add. 8
Court, James F., wks United Lbr & Export Co., r 1 blk w of same. 4
Court, Julia A. (wid James), h. Emmett Court
Court, S. Helmer, carp r 350 Jackson ave, 5
(five children - Bea, age 8; Hal age 6; Gladys age 3; abt 2; Lillian born 22 Jan 1904)
Census:
(Near McFaddin)
residence 537
Smith, Thomas F. 51 1859 Texas USA USA m1 23 yrs farmer truck and corn
Mary E. wife 57 57 1853 Texas m2 7 births 6 living
Brewer, Bella D. stepdaughter 26 1884 single
Smith, James T. son 22 1888 Texas laborer oil fields
Smith Ella V. daughter 16 1894 Texas
Courts Julia A. mother-in-law 73 1837 widow TN USA USA
Sparks, William E. cousin 59 1851 single Texas Texas Texas
laborer truck farm
residence 538
Courts Matte E. 49 1861 Texas Texas Texas m2 21 yrs farmer truck farm
Mary E. wife 49 1861 m2 10 births 8 living Texas NY Texas
Coy G. son 16 1894 Texas
Emma S. daughter 8 1902 Texas
Emmet M. brother 34 1876 single Texas Texas Texas farmer truck farm
Other-Begin:
Court Cause No. 16107
W.P.H. McFaddin, Jr., et al
vs
Unknown Heirs of Caroline Sparks, et al
Court Cause No. 18399
W.P.H. McFaddin, Jr., et al
vs
Robert S. Frugia, et al
Court Cause No. 20324
W.P.H. McFaddin, Jr. et al
vs.
Coy V. Courts, et al (Sr.)
On this 10th day of August 1961, came on to be heard the application of the plaintiffs in the above entitled and numbered cause for an order of the court showing that the plaintiffs have complied with the judgments previously entered in said cause and further showing that the plaintiffs or their successors in interest are entitled to the free and unrestricted use of the land hereinafter described, as set forth in plaintiff's petition in the above entitled and numbered causes...
(pgs 10-13 of attached pdf)
Buried:
d.c. widowed, res 1598 Cartwright
residence there 12 yrs.
88 yr. 3 mos 11 days
birthplace, TN, Father: John Sparks, birthplace unk;
mother Melinda Jones, birthplace, Tenn.
cause of death, ruptured chronic appendicitis
died at 12:45 p.m.
informant, Miss Vivian Smith
Died:
Mrs. Julia Ann Court.
Funeral services for Julia Ann (Sparks) Court, 88, who died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Mary Smith, 1598 Cartwright, at 12:45 p.m. Sunday. Services were held at the late residence at 2 o'clock Monday afternoon with Rev. J. W. Goodwin of the Roberts Avenue Methodist church officiating. Burial was in McFaddin cemetery at Port Arthur under direction of Pipkin & Burlin Company. (Note - Should have been called Sparks Cemetery as it was a Sparks Cemetery first) Mrs. Court was a pioneer Beaumonter, and had lived here 86 years. She is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Messie Brewton of Beaumont and Mrs. Jane Lee of Port Neches; one brother, W. C. Sparks Beaumont; three daughter Mrs. Mary Smith, Mrs. J. L Sparks and Mrs. Annie Willis all of Beaumont, and 57 grandchildren, 72 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
I'm sure Solomon Sparks and a number of other kinfolks or buried in the Sparks's Cemetery. Do not know for sure when the Sparks's Cemetery was closed.
(cemetery was exhumed and moved to Forest Lawn, see Cemeteries section)
shared by James Willis Sparks29 -- author?
Notes:
Married:
Name: James Courts
Marriage Date: 15 Oct 1850
Spouse: Julia Ann Sparks
Marriage County: Jefferson
Marriage State: Texas
Source: County Court Records - FHL microfilm # 1311466
license 12th day of October 1850 by I.K. Robertsosn, county clerk
marriage 15th day of October 1850 by William Chisholm, Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 5.
Children:
- Mary Ellen Courts was born on 8 Sep 1852 in Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas; died on 19 Dec 1935 in Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas; was buried on 20 Dec 1935 in McFaddin, TF Smith Homestead, Forest Lawn Cem, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas.
- Henry Clifton Courts, Sr was born on 5 Jul 1854 in Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas; died on 18 May 1938 in Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas; was buried in Magnolia Cem, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas.
- Julia Nasebyntha "Norie" Courts was born on 7 Jun 1856 in Sparks Settlement, Aurora, Jefferson Co, Texas; died on 19 Apr 1936 in Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas; was buried on 20 Apr 1936 in Magnolia Cem, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas.
- William Thomas Courts was born on 27 Feb 1858 in Sparks Settlement, Aurora, Jefferson Co, Texas; died on 21 Feb 1943 in Houston, Harris Co, Texas; was buried on 23 Feb 1943 in Forest Park Cem, Houston, Harris Co, Texas.
- Elias Madison "Matt" Courts was born on 11 Dec 1859 in Sparks Settlement, Aurora, Jefferson Co, Texas; died on 28 Nov 1919 in Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas; was buried on 29 Nov 1919 in McFaddin, TF Smith Homestead, Forest Lawn Cem, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas.
- 6. Samuel* Helmer Courts was born on 15 Mar 1862 in Sparks Settlement, Aurora, Jefferson Co, Texas; died on 27 Dec 1954 in Port Arthur, Jefferson Co, Texas; was buried on 29 Dec 1954 in Greenlawn Memorial Park, Groves, Jefferson Co, Texas.
- Liza Courts was born in 1863 in Sparks Settlement, Aurora, Jefferson Co, Texas; died before 1880 in Sparks Settlement, Aurora, Jefferson Co, Texas; was buried in Sparks Cem, Aurora, Jefferson Co, Texas.
- James Franklin Courts was born in 1865 in Jefferson Co, Texas; died about 09 Nov 1910 in Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas; was buried on 09 Nov 1910 in McFaddin, TF Smith Homestead, Forest Lawn Cem, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas.
- Annie Melinda Courts was born on 18 Sep 1866 in Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas; died on 7 Apr 1944 in Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas; was buried in Magnolia Cem, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas.
- (daughter) Court was born in Oct 1869 in Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas; died in Oct 1869 in Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas.
- Lillian Sarah "Lillie" Courts was born in 1872 in Sparks Settlement, Aurora, Jefferson Co, Texas; died before 1910 in Jefferson Co, Texas; was buried in McFaddin, TF Smith Homestead, Forest Lawn Cem, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas.
- Fannie Irene Courts was born in 1875 in Sparks Settlement, Aurora, Jefferson Co, Texas; died before 1910 in Jefferson Co, Texas; was buried in McFaddin, TF Smith Homestead, Forest Lawn Cem, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas.
- Emmett Marion Courts was born in Jul 1877 in Sparks Settlement, Aurora, Jefferson Co, Texas; died on 04 Jan 1936 in Port Neches, Jefferson Co, Texas; was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas.
- Viola "Vee" Courts was born in Jul 1879 in Sparks Settlement, Aurora, Jefferson Co, Texas; died in Jan 1912 in Matagorda Co, Texas; was buried in McFaddin, TF Smith Homestead, Forest Lawn Cem, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas.
|
|
1928 - 1928 (0 years)
John Frank Lowe was born on 23 Feb 1896 in Hubbard City, Texas (son of William L. Lowe and Sarah "Sally" French); died on 27 Nov 1949 in Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas; was buried on 28 Nov 1949 in Greenlawn Memorial Park, Groves, Jefferson Co, Texas. 
Gladys Courts was born on 3 May 1901 in Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas (daughter of Samuel* Helmer Courts and Claude* "Claudie" Gentz); died on 10 Jul 1989 in Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas; was buried in Greenlawn Memorial Park, Groves, Jefferson Co, Texas. 
Samuel* Helmer Courts was born on 15 Mar 1862 in Sparks Settlement, Aurora, Jefferson Co, Texas (son of James* Madison Court and Julia* Ann Sparks); died on 27 Dec 1954 in Port Arthur, Jefferson Co, Texas; was buried on 29 Dec 1954 in Greenlawn Memorial Park, Groves, Jefferson Co, Texas. 
