Myrtle Frances "Mirt" Sparks

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1920, Matagorda Co, Texas

Notes:

written by James Willis Sparks, grandson of Milam, son of Leslie.

"Milam was born on March 1, 1863 northwest of Eagle Lake, Texas or about three miles north of a place called Metz. Milam was raised between the Bernard river and Bernard creek. Why Jacob named three of sons "William" after his father I do not know. But that was the way is was on the Census.

His father owned land there, they raised cattle and some farming. Milam grew up to be one of the best in breaking wild horses. They said even though he was small man of about 5'7" and weight about 145 pounds, was few horses that he ever had to get on twice.

Milam grew up in the hard times. When he was only nine years old his father died. There is no proof but some of us believe that he is the one who was killed over some horses. It has been passed down through the years one of the Sparks's had bought two horses and a colt from two men. a few days or so they came back and wanted to buy the horses and colt back. Sparks said he didn't want to sell the horses, and they had a few words like, we will get those horses one-way or the other. Later he (Sparks) was about to cross the Bernard creek, when his pony jumped sideways, and at the same time of gunshots. Sparks roll out of the saddle with his rifle in his hand and when the shooting was over, Sparks had killed both of the men who was trying to buy the horses back. Later they found out the horses had been stolen and they were trying to get them back before the laws could find them. But later, one of their kinfolks shot Sparks either going to town or in town.

Doris Roberts, Milam's sister-in-law, said that she had heard the same thing from the talks of her husband and his half brothers would have. But there has not been any record to show that was the way it happen, or if it even happen. But most tales like these or mostly right.
Milam grew up with a stepfather, after his father died in 1871, Nancy, his mother remarried to Thomas Jefferson Roberts in 1872. Milam had kinfolks in and around Beaumont, Jefferson County, Tex. What ever the reason was Milam was in that area when he met Sarah Francis Adams from Orange, Tex. and married her on August 2, 1884 in Beaumont, Tex. She had kinfolks living in Colorado County. So she may have been visiting there or Milam may have been visiting his kinfolks in Jefferson County. Any way they lived in Colorado County for a while where Milam and family was for a number of years we cannot say. He and his family did not show on any census from the time he left home, until in 1912 in Matagorda County, Texas some 28 years later.

There are a lot of tales about Milam in his younger days. He worked for some of the biggest cattle Kings of that time. After the Civil War there was a lot of big cattle kings and companies that took over the open range and pushed out all of the small cattle ranchers. Down in what is called the valley was (and still is) King Ranch, which covered hundred of square miles. Was said that no man went across this ranch and reached the other side, the riders shot you on sight. Another ranch was Pierce, was know throughout the state as "Shanghai Pierce." He had like King Ranch, hundred of square miles of land. At one time it cover over eight counties and to this day it is called Pierce Estate, has large amounts of land in three or four counties. They said that he got his name because he sold a lots of cattle, but very few would he let off his land.

He would sell the cattle and when they got 30 or 40 miles away some of his men would kill the drivers and bring cattle back to the home range.

They had the same thing over in Jefferson County and some of the other counties around in the state. They called this one The Cattle Industry in the area received when the "Beaumont Pasture Company" was created on March 14, 1878, With William McFaddin, C.C. Caswell, O.M. Kyle, Valentine Weiss, William, and Sam Lee as members. (This Samuel Lee was married to Eliza Sparks, her father was John Sidney Sparks. This was Milam's Uncle or his father's brother.)

During the time that Milam could not be found, as records of census went, he was working for Shinghi Pierce, most everything south of the town of the town of Columbus, Texas or at that point any thing south of the Colorado River was Pierce's land and cattle. Milam also worked for a cattle company named Dallas. He named one of his sons Dallas Reed Sparks. Reed said that his Dad named him after the company and the foreman over the cattle drive.

Later part of the 1800's, Milam and his two half brothers kind of went in business for them self. Now this is another one, we have nothing but stories that has been passed down. Milam and his two half brothers, Thomas (Tom) and Lee Roberts, would slip a few head of cattle of Pierce across the river and put their brand on them and later sold them. They also did a lot of trading of horses and cattle. But they gave up around the early 1900's.

Lee Roberts in later years became a Texas Ranger to help stop cattle rustling. Tom became the Constable in the town of Eagle Lake, Colorado County, Texas. I guess you would call this the wild days of a young man.

Milam and Sarah Francis lived in and around the home place in Metz, Columbus, Eagle Lake in Colorado County. Sarah Francie died May 2, 1897, seven months after her last child, Myrtle Frances was born. Maggie George the oldest girl was almost ten years old when her mother died.

Here Milam was with four children so young. Where he lived was close to his mother, Nancy Johnson Sparks Roberts or not and if she would have help if she had. They said she was ruff and a mean woman. (more hear say) But I'm sure he was needing some one bad. Maggie said she could remember standing on a box of a sort and washing dishes and trying to cook.

Seven months and two days later Milam had found him a new bride. He married Viola "Vee" (Court) Nobles on December 4, 1897 in Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas. There again she was distance kin, as Julia Ann Sparks (John Sidney daughter) married James M. Court. This is where Vee or Viola was born and her family lived. I'm sure they went back to Colorado county soon afterwards, some one was keeping the four kids there. Viola had been married to Leroy E. Nobles and they had one son Loid (not Lloyd) born October 1897. They were living in a place called Spanish Camp (which is still there) about four miles north of Wharton, Texas.

Here again John Sidney's granddaughter, Helen Clair Gentz married Matthew Nobles and had 12 children. Don't know if Noble died, killed or divorced, but the baby was only a few months old when Milam and Viola married. She was living (probably with her parents) at Beaumont, Texas at the time the baby was born. There again we're not sure where Milam and Viola were living. At one time they were living at Lissie in Wharton County.


Doris Roberts and I went to a rest home in Eagle Lake to talk with Bonnie Parker that was living there, (no this is not the great woman outlaw Bonnie Parker.) she was 96 year old and her mine was sharp as a tack. I ask her if she knew a Milam Sparks; she said Oh, Lord yes. He had a pretties little wife named Vee and had a house full of kids. Their oldest boy Merril, I believe his name was. When she called Frank, Merril, I knew for sure that she knew them, because very few people knew his name was Merril.

I asked if she knew Maggie George and she said I don't guess I did. I told her that Maggie George Sparks and Arthur Worthy Sparks got married there in Lissie (where Benniers family was living at the time) on October 27, 1903. She laughed and sad if they got married in Lissie, then my Daddy was the one that married them, because he was the Baptist preacher and the only preacher in town. She said, she was living in Eagle Lake at that time. Bonnie never was married and died at the age of 98 Married 2nd Viola "Vee" (Court) Nobles

Milam's oldest child, Maggie George and her husband, Arthur Worthy Sparks (they were cousin) moved to Lessie, where some seven years earlier they had gotten married. Their son James Leslie born July 6, 1904 was now six and almost 7 years old.. In the first part of 1911 or the last part of 1910 Arthur, Maggie and James Leslie pack up and headed west in to Wharton County some 200 miles away to a little town of Lissie. Where they had gotten married back in 1903 and still living in the area was Maggie's father Milam. They were there for a short time, a few months.

When Milam along with his family and oldest daughter Maggie and her husband, Arthur and his grandson, left Lessie, heading south east to Matagorda County some 150 miles or so. They lived on a place on row Creek about half way between Markham and another little town Clemville. Clemville was just beginning to be a booming oil field.
Here Milam and Viola had their last child, Dallas Reed on July 3, 1911. Then shortly after Maggie and Arthur had their second child, Alvin Brooks on September 28, 1911. Vee just never really recovered, and in January of the following year, 1912 she died. I guess, knowing that she was going to die, had wanted her body shipped back to Jefferson County.

In January of 1912, Milam shipped Viola's body to Port Arthur, Texas, where she was buried in the Sparks Cemetery. (Now at the end of DeQueen Blv. and Lake View Drive. Was once a Sparks settlement, named Aurora, Texas before the name was change in 1897 to Port Arthur, Texas. This cemetery was later (part of) moved to Forest Lawn cemetery in Beaumont, Tex, by Court Order.

Again Milam and family out into the area they call Old Gulf and later Maggie and family did like wise. What year they moved, some 30 or 40 mile closer to the Gulf of Mexico we don't know.Milam married again in 1915 for the third time to Alice Williams who was 18 years old and Milam was 52 year old. Milam and Alice, they lived around Wadsworth, Matagorda County, Tex.. You would think that it was time to retire but not Milam. Alice and Milam had nine children. He was 74 when his last child was born, and he died in 1942 at the age of 79.

Milam and his new wife later moved back up close to the little oil field town of Clemville, Tex. Loid Nobles was still living with Viola and Milam. They did some farming and Milam did his horse trading, I don't know if he was still breaking horses or if some of the boys were doing it. There was a place they called Northern Head Quarters about seven or eight miles north of their place. I would think he and some of his boys sure would have been working out there. Milam's boys didn't much like working in the oil field, they were farmer. In later years they became rice farmers. Milam probably had four or five kids at home from the last marriage.Then again in the 1920's probably around 1925, he moved out on the edge of Clemville, where he lived till he died in January of 1942. All though he did not die in Matagorda County at Clemville. His oldest son, Milam Arthur "Bud" Sparks was living in China, Jefferson County, Tex. near Beaumont, Tex. He took his father home with him because he had been sick for a while. He wanted to take him to a Doctor and to see if they could find what was wrong with him. He was there only a few months when he died. Bud brought his father body back to Bay City, Tex. to be buried in the CedarVale Cemetery with other Sparks's that were buried there.

Alice and the family three of her kids moved up closer to the store in Clemville.I remember my Great Grandfather, Milam very clear, I was 15 years old when he passed away. I would say that he was the same height as my father, James Leslie Sparks who was Milam's grandson, which was 5"7" tall, weight 145 pounds, and 7 or 71/2 shoe or boot. Milam wasn't built like my father with heavy muscles in the upper part of the body.

Milam always had horses and a few cows. He was buying and selling in his late years. This was back when they still was having a lot of trouble with screwworm. My Dad, Leslie was gone a lot, he was a driller and was off looking for oil. When we need a cow or calf needed doctoring Grandpa Milam would come down and doctor it. He said back when he worked for them big cattle company, hides would bring almost as much as the whole cow. So when a number of cattle would die for what ever the reason would be. He had eat his dinner sitting on the side of a dead cow a many time. The way he doctored for screwworm was he took his finger or a stick (if he had one) and clean out all the worms that he could, he had some kind of mixture that he mixed up to kill the worms. Put that in the hole and then packed dry manure in on top. He said the medicine would kill most of the worms and the dry manure would be come wet and smother the rest, as this healed it would push out the cow manure.

Milam last home was about a quarter of a mile or so from his oldest child, Maggie. He would ride down there and have coffee as many did. They had open range then (no fences only pens) so it was left up to you to keep your stock in your area. There was a man that lived up in town that like to think that he ran the town. Any way, word was that this man told Milam that he was going to have to pen his cows. Milam told this guy: You may run that part of town where you live, but don't come down here trying to tell me what I'm going to do or not going to do. The best thing you can do is get your *#*++* ass back over there and don't mess with me because I'll shoot your *#*++* ass off. I Don't believe he ever said any more to Milam after that. He didn't mess with any one and he didn't want you to mess with him.


Milam would set on the front porch in a straight back chair for hours at a time looking out across open land. Probably think about the old days when he used ride all over this part of the country.I remember Bud (his oldest son) had bought his Dad a new pair of cowboy Boots. He looked at them and pitch them back in the box, "I won't wearing them dam Drug Store Boots". All he would ever wear was what they call the stove top boot, that came up almost to the knee. Bud though they would have been easer to get on and off. He wore those long-johns, two pair of pants the year round with no shirt in the summer.

Now if he went some place he would get all deck out in his best boots and hat. The story goes Milam was as good as they came when it came to bronco-busting, his son Arthur (Bud) was they said just as good. My father, Leslie told me this happened; There was a group of men standing around drinking. When one said, I got a horse out there tied to a tree has never been rode and can't be rode. Milam said for $50 dollars I'll ride him right now.

Well Milam got on that horse and after a few jumps Milam came off. Bud said Pa would have rode that horse if he hadn't been drunk. That man laughed and said can you do any better? Bud said yes; if you got a $100 dollars when I step down off that horse. The man laughed again and said hell yes. Bud put on his chaps and tied down his spurs and said hold his head. Before the horse gave up, Bud had that horse bleeding as far down as he could reach and dragging his spurs up the shoulder and neck. Bud stepped down off that horses and took that $100 and said if you all have more of them horses that no one can ride for a $100, Pa and I will take you money.

I went down to Grandpa Milam's and played with Clair Lee, who was about my age and Milam Lloyd was a little younger. (every one call Lloyd "Bull") One day I was over there and it was time for me to go home, Bull went and ask Pa (Milam) if he could go home with me for a while, Grandpa said no and you are not leaving this yard. Well in the mean time it had started raining. Grandpa Milam had gone out to the barn about 30 yards from the house to relive him self. Grandma Alice (I don't believe any one called her Grandma, Just Alice, why I don't know Because kids just didn't call adults by their first name) gave me Bull's coat and cap to wear home to keep from getting wet. I went out the back door and out in to the cow lot around the barn and started climbing over the board fence. As I was climbing over the top of the fence, Grandpa Milam grabbed me off the fence at the same time started whaling the hell out me. Saying Bull, I told you not to leave this dam yard. I was yelling Grandpa this is not Bull. Finally he said oh Hell I though you were Bull.

All these years Loid (Milam's stepson, most ever one knew Loid by the nick name of Duke.) "Duke" lived with Milam and helped support the family. If it hadn't been for Duke, for ten to fifteen years before Milam died and that long or longer after he died, the family could never have made it without him. Duke gave his whole life to supporting Milam's families. Seem like my Dad said that Bud took Duke to Beaumont to see a Uncle Nobles and some of his kinfolks, but I don't know which of the Nobles it was. Duke's father was Joseph G. Nobles from Beaumont, Tex. I don't guess his father ever came to see him or his father may have been dead. He lived his last days with a half sister Pauline (Sparks) Stoffer.

About ever one knew Pauline as "Peggy" as this was what Duke call her. Pauline was married to Vernon Stoffer at that time, Varian died 2/4/1980 and later married John Landrum (/18/1981.Of all the years that Duke lived around Clemville, I have for the first time to hear any one say any thing bad about him. Duke would help any one and would not ask for any pay. But all the people around spoke well of Duke and was always giving him extra work to do. Milam had 13 girls and 7 boys, he always said that he had 22 children. Alice lost two children, don't know if any of the other wife did.

I guess you would have to say that Milam was the last of the rough riders, for he surely was a breed of his own. He and his brother were probably like their father ;Jacob. All of Milam's boys were a little on the rough side also. To tell the truth I don't think there is a Sparks that would walk away from a fight.

http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/3139485/person/-1604307211/media/1

Census:
Milam Sparks 1863 TX TX TX
Alice Sparks, wife 1899 TX TX TX
Wilford 1901
Ellis 1903
Ruby 1905
Frank 1908
Lilly 1810
Dallas Reid 1912
Lorene 1819
Eloise 1920

William married Sarah Frances Adams about 1886. Sarah was born in 1868 in Orange Co, Texas; died on 02 May 1897 in Colorado Co, Texas; was buried in Allyton Cem, Colorado Co, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Daughter of Henry James Adams and Pricey Adelaide Cooper. Wife of William Milam Sparks - Married 2 Aug 1884 and lived in Lissie, Wharton County, Texas. Died at age 29 and left a husband, 3 young daughters and a young son.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Birth: 1833, Alabama; per 1860 census
• Census: 24 Oct 1850, Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas
• Census: 29 Jul 1860, Colorado Co, Texas
• Census: 1870, Colorado Co, Texas

Notes:

Laborer. He is living with Solomon and Martha Sparks at the time of 1850 census.
Info from Jay Sparks states he was born in Alabama, 1850 census states Tennessee.
1860 Census - living in Colorado Co, Texas, gives birth info as born 1833 in Alabama.
1870 census - living in Colorado Co, Texas, gives age as 28, born in Alabama (first child Emma is 16; so clearly he was older than he felt. Nancy also had her age too young, stated 29.)


SQ pg 3364: Jacob E. Sparks, probable son of William Sparks, was born about 1828 in Alabama. (When he registered to vote in Colorado County, TX , in 1867, he stated that he had been born in Alabama; had come to Texas in 1844 ; and had lived in Colorado County since 1854.) the first record we have found of him is in the 1850 census of Jefferson County, Texas. At that time he was living in the household of his brother, Solomon sparks, and he was 22 years of age.

Willis Sparks, mentioned earlier, tells a most interesting story about his great-grandparents, Jacob and Nancy (Johnson) Sparks. He wrote:

"About 1853, Jacob Sparks was working for a freight line which ran between Lake Charles, Louisiana, and San Antonio, Texas, probably following a trail which is present-day U.S. Highway 90. The line used oxen and wagons to haul supplies. It was at the village of Orange, Texas, that Jake met, courted, and married fourteen-year-old Nancy Johnson. They went by the freight line to the San Bernard River in Colorado County, Texas, where they started house keeping about three miles northeast of the village of Mentz. There, they reared their family. Jake died at the age of forty-three, and some descendants say he was shot."

Jacob Sparks married Nancy Johnson about 1853. According to census records she was born about 1839 in Louisiana. She and Jacob ("Jake") had seven children.
http://www.sparksfamilytree.net/ghtout/npr379.html#H02087

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:
29 Jul 1860
Post Office, San Bernard, Colorado County


Looking at other names in the census living in close proximity, looks like a German/Prussian community.

Residence 665
Sparks, Jacob 27 1833 Alabama
Nancy (Johnson) 20, 1840 Louisiana
Emma S. 5 1855 Texas
Sophronia 4 1856 Texas
William M. 2 1858 Texas
Johnson, James 22 1838 Louisiana (bro-in-law)
Shote (Schoat), Elizabeth (Johnson) 24 1835 Louisiana (sis-in-law)
Shote, William M. 9 1851 Texas


Residence 655
Cole S.W. 41 1819 Louisiana (Solomon)
Zilla A. 26 1834 Louisiana
Mary C. 9 1851 Texas
Martha 8 1855 Texas
Sarah 2 1848 Texas
Priest, John 22 1838 Alabama


Residence 656
Cole, David 43 1817 Louisiana
Ann 23 1837 Germany
F.D. (male) 22 1838 Texas
Solomon 13 1847 Texas
Ganse, Charles 13 1847 Texas
Harris, Joshua 26 1834 Texas
Roberts, Thomas (Thos Jefferson) 23 1837 Louisiana (Married Elizabeth Johnson Schoat in 1864)
Cole, Elizabeth 2 1858 Texas


Census:
Jacob Sparks 23 (age clearly wrong) Alabama
Nancy Sparks 29 1841 (age clearly wrong) Texas
Emma Sparks 16 1854
Sophia Sparks 13 1857
Milton Sparks 12 1858
Franklin Sparks 10 1860
William Sparks 8 1862
James Sparks 3 1867
Jacob Sparks 1 1869
Hedley Faris 23 laborer, Louisiana
Mathew Canales 22 laborer Texas

Jacob married Nancy Johnson in 1853 in Orange Co, Texas. Nancy (daughter of John Johnson and Melinda Ann Cole) was born on 9 Jul 1837 in Jefferson Co, Texas; died on 13 Jun 1903 in Eagle Lake, Colorado Co, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 25 Oct 1850, Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas
• Census: 29 Jul 1860, Colorado Co, Texas
• Census: 1880, Wharton Co, Texas

Notes:

Date: 9/24/99 6:11:48 PM Central Daylight Time
From: tlzumwalt@worldnet.att.net (Thomas Zumwalt)
To: WileyZ@aol.com

Dear Wiley, Ann Johnson/Jeansonne Daughter of Moses Johnson and Nancy Roberts married 19 Aug 1824 Thomas Court of England,her brother John L."Saddler" Johnson married Malinda Cole 15 Sept 1829.There daughter Nancy married Jacob Sparks. This is on my mothers side.

Census:
25 Oct 1850
residence 221
John Railey 51 1799 Georgia laborer
Delinda Railey 34 1816 LA (Malinda Cole Johnson)
Elisabeth Railey 17 1833 LA (step-dau Elizabeth Johnson)
James Railey 14 1836 TX (step-son James Johnson)
Nancy Railey 13 1837 TX (step-dau Nancy Johnson)
Sally Railey 12 1838 TX (step-dau Sally Johnson)
Moses Railey 7 1843 TX (step-son Moses Johnson)
Christian Railey 2 1848 TX
James Hayes 23 1827 LA laborer
Emily Hayes 21 1829 TX
Alzena Hayes 2 1848 2
Matilda Hayes 0 6/12 TX 1850


residence 223
Clubb, Thos B. 32 1818 SC laborer
Clubb Maria 24 1826 TX
Clubb William C. 1846
Clubb Sarah 1 1849
Burris Enos 1801 Canada blacksmith
Gibson Robert 20 1830 England laborer
Willis John 16 1834 TX laborer (relation unk)
Willis William 49 1801 TN laborer (relation unk)
Willis William J. 14 1836 LA laborer (relatin unk)
Wilson John 27 1823 LA laborer (relation unk)
Taylor John 39 1811 TN laborer (relation unk)

residence 224
Thomas F. Smith 31 1819 carpenter Tennessee
Ella A. 26 1824 Pennsylvania
Nancy F. 4 1846 Louisiana
William M. 2 1848 Texas
Sarah L. Lawrey 14 1836 Ohio (relation unk)
James Penrod 18 1832 laborer Illinois (relation unk)
James Dyson 57 1793 saddler Mississippi (relation unk)


nearby:
Solomon Sparks and Martha family
John Sparks and Melinda family and James Court and Julia Ann


Census:
29 Jul 1860
Post Office, San Bernard, Colorado County


Looking at other names in the census living in close proximity, looks like a German/Prussian community.

Residence 665
Sparks, Jacob 27 1833 Alabama
Nancy (Johnson) 20, 1840 Louisiana
Emma S. 5 1855 Texas
Sophronia 4 1856 Texas
William M. 2 1858 Texas
Johnson, James 22 1838 Louisiana (bro-in-law)
Shote (Schoat), Elizabeth (Johnson) 24 1835 Louisiana (sis-in-law)
Shote, William M. 9 1851 Texas


Residence 655
Cole S.W. 41 1819 Louisiana (Solomon)
Zilla A. 26 1834 Louisiana
Mary C. 9 1851 Texas
Martha 8 1855 Texas
Sarah 2 1848 Texas
Priest, John 22 1838 Alabama


Residence 656
Cole, David 43 1817 Louisiana
Ann 23 1837 Germany
F.D. (male) 22 1838 Texas
Solomon 13 1847 Texas
Ganse, Charles 13 1847 Texas
Harris, Joshua 26 1834 Texas
Roberts, Thomas (Thos Jefferson) 23 1837 Louisiana (Married Elizabeth Johnson Schoat in 1864)
Cole, Elizabeth 2 1858 Texas


Census:
1880 Wharton Co, Texas
Tom Roberts 49
Nancy (Johnson-Sparks) Roberts 44
Emma (Sparks) Roberts 26
S. (Sparks) female Roberts 24
Wm. (Sparks) Roberts 22
Frank (Sparks) Roberts 20
Milam (Sparks) Roberts 17
Jim (Sparks) Roberts 14
Jake (Sparks) Roberts 12
W. (Sparks) Roberts 10 male
Thos. Roberts 7
Jno. Roberts 5
Irene Roberts 14
Lizzie Roberts 13

Other Events and Attributes:

• Birth: 1785, Surry Co, North Carolina
• Census: 1830, Jackson Co, Alabama

Notes:

William's name, year and state of birth supplied to WileyZ by Jay Sparks (jsparks@beamans.com) who states that the info was supplied to him by Paul Sparks, President of The Sparks Family Association and publisher of the Sparks Quarterly. He states "All of these and about 65% of the other people, I have written a biography about them also." This line from William (1785) going back to Thomas (1615) was also found in FTM Vol 2, Tree 5319 and Vol 1, Tree 4794.

Date: 98-05-14 11:09:12 EDT
From: jsparks@beamans.com (JAY SPARKS)
To: Wileyz@aol.com (John E Sharp)
William Sparks could have been born early as 1785 and maybe as late as 1790 in North Carolina . William married some where around 1810 in Franklin County, Tennessee. As we are not sure when he and his father, Joseph and the rest of the family moved from Surry County, North Carolina to Franklin County, Tennessee.
William died some where in the late 1830 or the early 1840. The 1830 census told us that he had eight children and five were born in Tennessee and three in Alabama. The ones we have record of remain together after their father died. The s died at a young age or were never put on any record we have found. I have gone through every record that I have been able to find and have gone through all of the material that has came out in the Sparks Quarterly that is put out by Paul Sparks in Louisville, Kentucky. The only record that we found tied the four brothers together. We have hoped that one of the relatives of the other brother and sisters would come up with the answers to the other. In 1820 census there was only two families living in Tennessee, one was William Sparks and the other was Samuel Sparks. The Sparks's Quarterly has Samuel and his family also. This made it easer to identify each family. When it came to the daughter they are lost for ever. With no will there is no way to find out who they may have married. Only hope is that some ones Great, great, Grandmother was a sister to the brothers and then let it be know. We know that William's first five children were born in Tennessee. What makes it bad or sad that in so many marriages for what ever reason there is no record of the wife, not even the name. But I guess we should be thankful that we have as many records as we do. In so many cases record were devastated by fire,war, age and just wasn't taken care of were destroyed. William moved his family to neighboring Jackson County, Alabama, where he was listed as the head of his family on the 1830 census. An analysis of enumerations of his household on the 1820 and 1830 census that he had eight children, five sons and three daughters. The only record that we could find were of the four sons that moved west, such as John Sidney born near Gatlenburg, Tennessee in 1811 Married Malinda Jones, had two children William in 1834 and Julia Ann in 1836 born in Tennessee, John and family was in Jefferson County, Texas in 1838.
Daniel was born 1816 in Tennessee, and we believe that he made this trip with his older brother. He married Julia Justice in 1842 in Louisiana, where he remained the rest of his life. Solomon born 1819 in Tennessee - Married Martha Smith inh Carolina on 3/23/1841. They had two children in Tennessee, Lucy Ann 1842 and John L. 1844. Then he started his move, James Edwin born 1847 in Louisiana, and then Mary Susan born 1848 in Jefferson County, Texas.
Jacob E. was born 1828 in Alabama and believed he made the trip with Solomon in 1847 or before. he remained in Louisiana and in and out of Texas till around 1853 when he married Nancy Johnson and moved to Colorado County, Texas. He lived thill his death in 1871.
If any of the other children made these moved there have been know record to indicate such.
_________________________________________

http://sparksfamilytree.net/family_tree/wga98.html#I22824

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, June 1987, Whole No. 138, pg. 3060:

"William Sparks, probable son of Joseph Sparks, was born between 1780 and 1790. When the 1820 census was taken of Franklin County, Tennessee, he and his wife had five children living in their household, all born between 1810 and 1820. Sometime between 1820 and 1830, William Sparks moved his family to neighboring Jackson County, Alabama, where he was listed as the head of his family on the 1830 census. An analysis of thee numerations of his household on the 1820 and 1830 censuses suggests that he probably had eight children, five sons and three daughters. We have no further record of William Sparks."


**********


Also see SPARKS QUARTERLY, March 1989, Whole No. 145, pp 3355-65 , THESPARKSES OF EARLY JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS.


"William Sparks, head of the above enumerated household, [referring tothe 1820 census of Franklin County, Tennessee] was born between 1780 and1790 and was probably a son of Joseph Sparks (365), the eldest son ofSolomon (356) and Sarah Sparks, who had moved from Frederick County,Maryland, to North Carolina about 1755. Joseph was born probably about1751 in Maryland. He was listed on the 1790 and 1800 censuses of SurryCounty, North Carolina, but by 1820 he was in Franklin County,Tennessee. (He may have been there earlier but we have found no recordof him. The 1800 and 1810 censuses of Tennessee have been destroyed.)Joseph Sparks apparently had six sons: John, Abel, William, George,Solomon, and Jonathan. He probably died between 1820 and 1830 inFranklin County, Tennessee. (See pages 3057-3060 of the June 1987 issue of the QUARTERLY, Whole No. 138, for a more detailed sketch of Joseph Sparks and his family.)


"Sometime between 1820 and 1830, William Sparks, probably son of Joseph, moved his family to Jackson County, Alabama. It probably was not much of a move, for Franklin County, Tennessee (formed in 1807) and Jackson County, Alabama (formed in 1819) have a common boundary about twenty-five miles long. When the 1830 census was taken of Jackson County,the family of William Sparks consisted of 1 male, born 1825-30; 1 male,born 1820-25; 2 males, born 1815-30; 1 female, born 1815-20; 1 femaleborn 1820-15; and 1 female born 1790-1800. Living nearby was JonathanSparks, born 1780-90, and his family. He was probably a brother ofWilliam Sparks.


"From these census records, it seems apparent that William Sparks was probably born about 1785 and that his wife was born about 1790. They were probably married about 1810, and they had eight children, five sonsand three daughters, all born between 1810 and 1830. We have no further information about this couple, they may have died before the 1840 censuswas taken.


"During the 1830s, the family of William Sparks apparently scattered leaving few, if any, records in either Franklin County, Tennessee, or inJackson County, Alabama. Son, John Sparks married, probably in Tennesseeabout 1834, and his first two children were born there, but by 1839 , hewas in Texas. Son, Solomon Sparks went to Hardeman County, Tennessee, where he married in 1841. His first two children were born in Tennessee before he, too, started southward. He stopped for a while in Louisiana where his third child was born about 1846, but by 1850, he was in Texas. Son, Daniel Sparks married about 1844, probably in Louisiana, and he was in Natchitoches Parish in 1850. Son Jacob Sparks was in Jefferson County, Texas, in 1850, but shortly afterwards he married and moved to Colorado County, Texas.


"We have no further information about William Sparks, nor have we learned the name of his wife. As can be readily seen, we have used agreat deal of conjecture in trying to identify his sons. In spite of conjecture, however, we feel that there are pieces of substantial evidence in the paragraphs written above. Perhaps some of our feelings come from the similarity of the given names, such as Solomon, Joseph, John, George, William, and Jacob. These are the same names that we find in the Maryland Sparkses and were carried to North Carolina. We believe that they were also carried across the mountains to Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and on west."


[The article continues with information on his children.]
http://www.sparksfamilytree.net/ghtout/npr601.html#H03079

Census:
Name:
Wm Sparkes
[Wm Sparks]
Home in 1830 (City, County, State):
Jackson, Alabama

Free White Persons - Males - Under 5: 1 1825-1830 Jacob E.
Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9: 1 1821-1825 son6
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14: 2 1816-1820 Daniel; Solomon
Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19: 1 1811-1815 John S
Free White Persons - Males - 40 thru 49: 1781-1790 1 Wm
Free White Persons - Females - Under 5: 1 1825-1830 dau7
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14: 1 1816-1820 dau4
Free White Persons - Females - 15 thru 19: 1 1811-1815 dau2
Free White Persons - Females - 30 thru 39: 1 1791-1800 Mrs.
Free White Persons - Under 20: 8
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 2
Total Free White Persons: 10
Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored):10

next door: (Melinda b 1819 or age 11; not here)
Martin (translated Master) Jones,
Home in 1830 (City, County, State):
Jackson, Alabama
Free White Persons - Males - Under 5: 2 1825-1830
Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9: 1 1821-1825
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14: 2 1816-1820
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29: 1 1801-1810
Free White Persons - Males - 40 thru 49: 1 1781-1790
Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9: 1 1821-1825
Free White Persons - Females - 15 thru 19: 1 1811-1815
Free White Persons - Females - 30 thru 39:1 1791-1800
Free White Persons - Under 20: 7
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 3
Total Free White Persons: 10
Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored):10
(Martin Jones m Rhoda (Martin) Hodges 10 Jul 1804 Jefferson Co TN)
(Wm Jones m Elizabeth Randolph 25 May 1804 Jefferson Co)

same page:
Chesby R Jones (maybe a bro?)
[Cirby R Jones]
Home in 1830 (City, County, State):
Jackson, Alabama
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29: 1 1801-1810
Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29: 1 1801-1810
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 2
Total Free White Persons: 2
Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored):2

Tho Jone [Thos Jones] (Melinda b 1819 or age 11)
Home in 1830 (City, County, State):
Jackson, Alabama
Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19: 1 1811-1815
Free White Persons - Males - 50 thru 59: 2 1771-1780
Free White Persons - Females - Under 5: 1 1825-1830
Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9: 2 1821-1825
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14: 2 1816-1820
*** COULD BE MELINDA ***
Free White Persons - Females - 40 thru 49: 1 1781-1790
Free White Persons - Under 20: 6
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 1
Total Free White Persons: 9
Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored): 9


all names on page 101 in sequence:
Edward Berry; Jas Simmons; Geor W. Wichell; Samuel Reynolds; Barbary Lathas; Pashot Pringle; John Jolly; Wm Compbelle; Wm Davis; Thomas Molson; Wm Gowens; Robt G. Hord; David Gowens; Eliphodd Jarvis; Wm Sparkes; Master Jones; Joseph Resk; Abram Goose; Chesby R. Jones; Martin Gowens; Tho Jone; Joel Kee; Saml Kerk; Mans L. Bumalley; Barnet Cheathan; Wm Campbelle

William* married (Mrs. James Sparks*) Sparks about 1808 in Washington Co, Virginia (?). (Mrs. was born between 1791 and 1800; died after 1830 in of, Jackson Co, Alabama. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name:
Some records show Rhoda Pennington, but she was wife to another James Sparks, apparently another line of Sparks.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1829, Jefferson Co, Texas
• Residence: 2 Mar 1836, Jefferson Co, Texas; resident at Texas Independence
• Death: 1841, Texas; (not verified)

Notes:

John Johnson, son of Moses, often confused with John L. "Saddler" Johnson.
Moses shown to be in Natchez MS 1791-194
Moses shown to be in Opel in 1796 when he witnessed sis-in-law Susanne Robert, and Jacob Welsh marriage
chronology of John, Moses son - (nowhere shown as John L.)
John Johnson b 1802 Louisiana
bt 1803 Opel
m Mary Ann Clark 1827 Opel
div Mary Ann Clark bet 1827 and 1829
Mary Ann remarried 1830 in Opel
m2 Melinda Cole 1829
moved to Texas 1829
resident in Jefferson Co, Texas at Texas Independence in 1836
children Eliz 1833 TX
James bet 1835 and 1838 TX
Nancy 1837 TX
Sarah 1838
Moses 1843
probably died before 1845 when Melinda married John Riley.
some records say 1841 but not verified.


compared to John L. "Saddler" Johnson
b 1796 Kentucky
m 14 May 1820 St. Landry Parish - John Johnson m Polly Miller
1726 Atascocita Dist Texas census age 28 (1796) KY
1830? (3rd son Aaron b 1832 in Bayou Chicot, Evangeiine)
1840 census?
1841 5th son Napoleon b 1841 Leesville, Vernon, LA
1850 Calcasieu Parish 1798 KY Planter living with wife Nancy 1805, between adopted sons
1860 Rapides Parish
John L. Johnson 1797 KY farmer & wife Nancy "Polly" Miller 1804 MS
living next to family member of his future dau-in-law who later married his son Napoleon. Other side is adopted son Gibson.
1865 Rapides Parish m Mary Jane (..) Gilcrease)
1870 Sabine Parish Louisiana
John L. Johnson 1798 KY boot and shoe
1870 census with Mary Jane

John L. "Saddler" always in LA with exception of Atascocita. But I have not seen that entry to know if he used his middle initial "L" or not; but age and place of birth are consistent with John L.

John son of Moses moved early to Jefferson County and stayed there. Births of their children verify their places.

Christened:
Johnson, John (Moses & Anne Robert - residents of this post) bt 7 Aug 1803 at age 1 yr. Spons: Patrick Maglallen (perhaps McClelland) & Rebecca Robert. Fr. Louis Buhot (Opel. Ch. v.1-B, p 310)

Opelousas Post
Moses Johnson, Anna Robert
Maria - bt Aug 7 1803 seven years old
Godparents Daniel Callaghan and wife

Isabelai bt Aug 7 1803 eight years old, godparents Benjamin Robert and Ysabela Cools (?).

Abraham bt 7 Aug 1803 four years old, godparents
Robert Taylor and Rebecca Robert

Benjamin bt Aug 7 1803 three years old, godparents Thomas Gragery and Maria Johnson

Juan bt Aug 7 1803, one year old, godparents, Patricio Moglollon and Rebecca Robert

Residence:
residence 1829
First Settlers of Jefferson Co, Texas by Gifford White
Land Grants in Texas: 7th Applicant: John Johnson took and Subscribed to the oath required by the 12th Secretary of Land Law that he emigrated to this country in 1829. It was proven that he was a citizen of Texas at the date of the Declaration of Independence by the oath of James Drake and Clairborn West.

Residence:
First Settlers of Jefferson Co, Texas by Gifford White
Land Grants in Texas: 7th Applicant: John Johnson took and Subscribed to the oath required by the 12th Secretary of Land Law that he emigrated to this country in 1829. It was proven that he was a citizen of Texas at the date of the Declaration of Independence by the oath of James Drake and Clairborn West.

Died:
Melinda remarried Riley in 1845 and is shown with her children in Texas in 1850.

John married Melinda Ann Cole on 15 Sep 1829 in Opelousas, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. Melinda (daughter of James Cole, Sr and Sarah Simmons) was born in 1815 in Plaquemine Brulee, Acadia Parish, Louisiana; died on 07 Oct 1870 in Opelousas, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 25 Oct 1850, Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas
• Census: 22 Jun 1960, Duncans Wood (Precinct 2), Orange Co, Texas

Notes:

Census:
residence 221
John Railey 51 1799 Georgia laborer <<
Delinda Railey 34 1816 LA (Malinda Cole Johnson)
Elisabeth Railey 17 1833 LA (step-dau Elisabeth Johnson)
James Railey 14 1836 TX (step-son James Johnson)
Nancy Railey 13 1837 TX (step-dau Nancy Johnson)
Sally Railey 12 1838 TX (step-dau Sally Johnson)
Moses Railey 7 1843 TX (step-son Moses Johnson)
Christian Railey 2 1848 TX
James Hayes 23 1827 LA laborer
Emily Hayes 21 1829 TX
Alzena Hayes 2 1848 2
Matilda Hayes 0 6/12 TX 1850


residence 223
Clubb, Thos B. 32 1818 SC laborer
Clubb Maria 24 1826 TX
Clubb William C. 1846
Clubb Sarah 1 1849
Burris Enos 1801 Canada blacksmith
Gibson Robert 20 1830 England laborer
Willis John 16 1834 TX laborer (relation unk)
Willis William 49 1801 TN laborer (relation unk)
Willis William J. 14 1836 LA laborer (relatin unk)
Wilson John 27 1823 LA laborer (relation unk)
Taylor John 39 1811 TN laborer (relation unk)

residence 224
Thomas F. Smith 31 1819 carpenter Tennessee
Ella A. 26 1824 Pennsylvania
Nancy F. 4 1846 Louisiana
William M. 2 1848 Texas
Sarah L. Lawrey 14 1836 Ohio (relation unk)
James Penrod 18 1832 laborer Illinois (relation unk)
James Dyson 57 1793 saddler Mississippi (relation unk)


Census:
21 Jun 1860 Orange Co, Texas Precinct 2, PO Duncans Wood
pg 27
178 John Harmon 22 1838 TX <<
Mary (Means) 19 1841 LA
Martha 3 1857 TX
Milley 1 1859 TX

180 Harmon John 70 1790 LA
Elizabeth 1793 LA
Green, Manda 20 1840 TX

pg 29
res 192 Solomon Sparks 40 1820 Alabama
Martha C Sparks 40 1820 S.C
John L 16 1844 TN
James E 14 1846 LA
William E 9 1851 TX
Mary S 11 1849 TX
Joseph M 7 1853 TX
Oscah 4 1856 TX

res 193 John Railah 1798 62
Malinda Railah 1816 44
Christian W Railah 1848 12 TX
Isaac P Railah 8 1852 TX
Rachel D Railah 5 1855 TX
Mary C Railah 3 1857 TX
Julia C 2 1858


pg 30
201 Burrell James 35 1825 LA
Elizabeth 25 1835 LA
William 12 1848 TX
Robert 10 1850
Emoly 8 1852
David 3 1857
Lucy 2 1858
Frederick Burrell 19 1841 TX

pg 31
207 Gallier Jane 23 1837 MS
Rufus 6 1854 TX
Andrew 4 1856 TX
Willis 3 1857 TX

pg 36
229 Jemima Morgan 54 1806 LA
Allen 20 1840 TX
William 17 1843
Sarah 1 1847

pg 38
238 Myers James 31 1829 LA
Sarah E 27 1833 TX
James Orin 1 1859 TX
Mary Myers 70 1790 LA

240 John Cole 55 1805 farmer LA
Rachel 55 1805 LA
Absalome 20 1840 stock keeper TX
James 16 1844 stock keeper TX
Hulda 13 1847 TX
Clark 20 1830 stock keeper TX

241 Mark Cole 25 1835 TX
Hester A. 21 1839 TX
Hulda 1 1859 TX

Notes:

Married:
Melinda Cole 15 September 1829 (SLR Johnston, John (Moses & Nancy Robarbs) m 15 September 1829 Melinda Cole (Opel. Ch. p 57)