| 12. | Col. William Crain Sparks, Sr. was born on 14 Jun 1798 in Franklin Co, Georgia (son of James (or John?) Sparks and Nancy Ann Crain); died on 10 Oct 1857 in Rogers, Bell Co, Texas; was buried in Volo Cem, Bell Co, Texas. Other Events and Attributes:
- Religion: 1823, Hardeman Co, Tennessee; Baptist
- Residence: 2 Aug 1823, Hardeman Co, Tennessee; letter to Uncle Elijah
- Other-Begin: 25 Jul 1824, Limestone City, Alabama; letter from grandfather Thomas
- Residence: Jan 1833, Brazos Co, Texas
- Other-Begin: 28 Mar 1837, Nacogdoches Co, Texas (Republic of); letter to parents
- Census: 1850, Burleson and Brazos, Brazos Co, Texas
- Other-Begin: 8 Feb 1850, Wheelock, Robertson Co, Texas; letter to parents, siblings
- Other-Begin: 15 Jun 1851, Georgetown, Williamson Co, Texas
- Will: 6 Oct 1857, Bell Co, Texas
Notes:
(Editor's note: The June 1955 issue of the QUARTERLY, Whole No.10, sparksfamilyassociation.net contained an article entitled "Col. William C. Sparks and His Descendants." According to the information available at that time, William Crain Sparks was born on June 14, 1798, in Tennessee and was thought to have been a son of a Richard and Mildred (Crain) Sparks. Data uncovered since the publication of that article indicate that the parents were not Richard and Mildred (Crain) Sparks, but were probably James and Nancy "Ann" Sparks of Franklin County, Georgia. The same data also show that the paternal grandparents of William Crain Sparks were Thomas and Amelia "Milly" Sparks who moved from Franklin County, Georgia, to Alabama about 1820. Other children of Thomas and Milly Sparks were Elijah Sparks, Thomas Sparks, Jr., and John Sparks.
http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/42139026/person/20471881425/media/1?pgnum=1&pg=0&pgpl=pid%7cpgNum
Other-Begin:
Letter written 25 Jul 1824, St. Clair Co, Alabama to Wm (grandson William Crain) and Sally Sparks, Limestone City, Alabama
signed: Thomas and Milly Sparks
Copy of letter written to William Crain Sparks by his grandparents, dated July 25, 1824 from St. Clair County, AL, was sent to R. E. Bidlack in 1956 by Stella Mewhinney of Rogers, TX. She had obtained it from Joe Cavitt, son of Clara Sparks Cavitt, who was a daughter of William Crain Sparks.
?We received your letter by Russell Crawford, which gives us great satisfaction to hear from you. Those lines leave us in common health for which I wish to thank the protector of our lives and health. We sent letters into Georgia but have received none. We are not satisfied where we live but have not concluded on anythng positive yet, and if we cannot live here, I don?t know where we shall move to. We have no news at present of our own concern. Isaiah Hancock wishes to be remembered to you. His family is in good health - they have six children, four sons and two daughters. jeremiah Hancock has moved to Cresy Valley was the last account. Carter Hooper and family are all well.
Isaiah Hancock is glad to hear that you are doing well and wishes you to remember that when a man is doing well he ought to be satisfied. We have nothing worth relating..
Remaining your most affectionate Grand-father and Grand-mother till death.
Thomas and Milly Sparks.
To Wm. and Sally Sparks, Limestone City, Alabama.
Other-Begin:
By 28 Mar 1837, Jane Alexander Skelton, had remarried John Sparks. John and Jane Alexander apparently came to Nacogdoches in 1836 or 1837 to visit their daughter, Jane Skelton. In the following letter, John Sparks (according to Gladys Alexander's transcription of the signatures on the letter), indicates he and Jane were m: 5 Jan 1837. According to family historians, Jane Alexander Skelton m: William C. Sparks, 4 Sept 1837. Could John Sparks have been Jane's second husband and William C. Sparks her third husband? Also, John Sparks indicates in this letter that it was rumored that John Skelton left a living wife and other heirs which he is asking Ralph Skelton to settle in Washington Co.
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(Letter No. 11) Republic of Texas & County of Nakdosh, 28 Mar 1837
Dear and much beloved father & mother, Your letter arrived to me on the 20th May present which was received with open hands & heart and gave much consolation to hear that all is living and well and that you returned home safly would have written soon had I not ben wating to get your letter dear parents. The truth of _____ not withholde from you my situation. When you left some _____ & for home & allmost distitute of friend to come if could hav confiding but I have altered my situation by taking to my self the second companion Who is a better friend to him than father & Mother unnown to you yet I have been a sitisan of Texas four years last New Year. My place resident has been on the Brasas River in the upper colony. I have 2 leages of land in that Sexion and 4 labors I have moved to the place Jane lived when you left. My first fatherinlaw lived at my old place that I left he has eleven negrows his name is Michael Reed he is well known to menny of your county men of myself also. I have a brotherinlaw who married my only sister, his name is Saga. As good a citison as your county affords. I wish you to get akquanted with him I will bring Jane to see you as soon as time get akquanted with him I will bring Jane to see you as soon as time Will admit I had for known you was here I would have seen you. We was married on the 5th January last. We do not apprehend we shall ever be deperated again by the Mexicans but the indians are committing more depredations now than ever known here to fore & We are now raising troops to kill and drive them from ower country there is a stronger emigration here now than ever here to fore. Of NB My crop is likely if the season is good I shall make a thousand bushels of corn for sail. Corn is worth $4 per Bu. & pork from 7 to 10 highbows, per day $1 & upward & NB I say this is the country for a man to do well. (There is) This stimulation for a man too work seeing all there prodse he makes or raises for sail demands and bring the highest price cash NB Where as there is a report lately risen and now in sifulation we believe by some designing persons unknown unto us & by reson of this report I have administered on the estate of Jak (John Belton deseased) that you can assertain if you do not already no wheather the report be true or fals & be it as It may I wish you to no the fact so that I may no to manage my business if you do not know. Will giv yourself take trouble & show me the favor to assertain that I doo not believe sutch could have been cosealed from you until now & paid you you have none it you would _____ advised Jane how to manage her affairs here now the thing is there report ses that Skelton had a living wife & one or two heirs. Please to see Ralph Skelton and assertain the fact from him and if it is false get him to go to a Justice of the Pes or the court and Sende me his sutifficate and sho the same sertified by the court that is too how their signiture certifying the time & showing that he did appear before them & make such testimony & if the report is true please write to us & not fail NB I claim you connexion yet you persons are all known to me yet I hope one day to see you all my occupation is that of a farmer the we are strangers I would like to see you very much yet it may be that We shall never see each other faces as We are all dieing mortals and no not when the time shall come Jane wishes you to gave her beste respects to Ralph Skelton & Family NB I shall ad no mor but remain you children until death Jane owes respects to all connexion & enquirring friends & of any should ever pass threw ower country to call _______ so farewell. (Signed John and Jane Sparks)
http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/27828970/person/13415645539/media/4?pgnum=1&pg=0&pgpl=pid%7cpgNum
Census:
1850 Burleson and Brazos, Brazos Co, Texas
William C Sparkes 52
Jane Sparkes 44
Cleracy Sparkes 13
John Sparkes 11
Elijah Sparkes 9
Minerva Sparkes 7
William Sparkes 6
Samuel Sparkes 4
Stephen Sparkes 26
Elizabeth Sparkes 15
Other-Begin:
1850, William C. & Jane Alexander Sparks wrote to John and Jane Alexander in Washington, Co., Ark.
(Letter No. 18) Robertson Co., Wheelock Feb 8, 1850.
Dear Father & Mother Brothers & Sisters As life is uncertain & death is very certain we take this opportunity of addressing you one more time. We are all well & hope this may find you in health & happiness. We have your letter to Sam (Samuel S. Alexander) before us of Nov. 4th which gave us great satisfaction to hear that you were all well &c. We recd. a letter a few days ago from Sam. They were all well be says that he has found the best Saline he ever saw & has sent to N.C. for boilers to go to work making salt which will be profitable we requested Sam to send us any letters he might get from you as we could get more. We did expect to have moved to Little River before this time but have not done so yet we would be glad to get a letter from any of you often as you will write direct your letters Robertson County, Wheelock P.O. Janes greatest desire on earth is to see her mother once more in life. She is afraid it will never be her happy lot yet tis her prayer. She has my obligations to bring her to see you when ever she gets ready for the trip. The greatest hindrance is what to do with her children as we have too many to bring them along. We have six 2 girls & 4 boys. Our youngest will be 4 years old on the 19th of next August. We call him Saml. We have good Society & good schools. The times are pretty good. Health is and has been very good. Lands are increasing some in value. We are getting a large emigration from almost all parts and Provisions are very plentiful. Such as Bread & meat. The election for the location of the seat of Government for 20 years comes off the 1st Monday in March. There are several places in nomination. I think it probably will go to Washington on the Brazos 45 miles South of us. A few lines to John. We have had the pleasure of perusing your letter (to Sam) which was a satisfaction to us though you did not mention our names in it it appears that you have forgotten your sister. We think it would be little enough for you to write to us once in a life at any rate as you do not come to see us. To William we think as you are a single man you might pay us a visit and take a look at this delightful Texas. We think too that you would do better to make it your home You have wrote to us once it is time you would write again. To Mars. We have yours to Sam which gives us pleasure but would be better pleased to get a letter in our own names. When we write we address all. To Father & Mother. If you are getting tired of tumbling the Rocks about & wish to move to Texas (where you can tumble good soil) we are willing to render any assistance you may need you can have a good home in Texas long as you live. You said to Sam if you knew where he was you would write to us as we would not write to you. We acknowledge we have been negligent but have written since we recd. a letter from you. We will promise to write oftener & you must do the same when we do write we want all to consider themselves addressed. We remain your obedient children until death Wm C. & Jane Sparks (Addressed to John Alexander, Washington Co., Fayetteville, Ark. Postmarked Wheelock, TX, Feb 31, 10 in corner.)
http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/27828970/person/13415645539/media/4?pgnum=1&pg=0&pgpl=pid%7cpgNum
Other-Begin:
(Letter No. 21 ) Georgetown Williamson Co., TX 14 Jun 1851.
Dear Father and Mother this leaves us all well. I write often but receive no letters I have not received one letter with 1851 on it, the reason I know not. Still I am anxious to communicate with you all while living in this world, for I know the time is short at best and we should look seriously into our conduct throught word and deed, and see if they compare with the Devine patron Giver of God in his revealed will. I reminded you of these things although you know them. As to the affairs of this world we are getting along very well. Our crops look promising at this time. I have ten acres silked out and forty five acres of turf corn from shoulder to knee high. With a few more showers and our country will abound in plenty. Wheat harvest is over. Some crops very good. I have not seen smut nor rust nor spot nor other defect that might be attributed to the country. There is a giant want of good quality of wheat for seed. I now make the request again for some of my friends to send me by the first opertunity some of the best fall and spring wheat that can be obtained in that country. I am now prepared to give it a fair trial. I am now of opinion that we have the best wheat growing country in the West. Oats are as good as I ever saw. I planted one half bushel Irish Potatoes last spring. I have dug them and they are as good I ever raised and yield as much. Irish potato seed are worth 4 dolls. per bushel here every spring. There was want of sweet potato seed last spring and there will be few raised. There sweet potato seed last spring and there will be few raised. There seems to be a rise on every species of property this year. Land is rising very fast, and the Country crowded with Emigrants, more than any period since I have been here. Steam boats are still running the Colorado with success. Not long ago I wrote at length on various subjects for fear you have not recd anything from me I will here mention the death of William Reed in California. Inteligence came Jackson Strickland to his father which I stated in a former letter. Our Indian affairs are much the same. I have nothing new on that subject. One of my neighbors seen Wm. C. Sparks a few days since. He (Sparks) sent me word they were all well. I have intended going to see them this summer but have not got off yet. I am rather confined at home on account of having some boarders. Boarding here is worth ten Dolls. per month some have twelve. I went a fishing a few days since. I killed about 100 pounds, found a bee tree and returned home. The Buffalo have been in our settlement but I have not time to go out after them. Some (of) our neighbors went out and caught some calves. In closed I send you some grass seed. The small seed is fine for yard grass and stands grazing well. Both are mesquite grass. The large seed is what we call Winter Mesquite and stands grazing and large enough for hay. Either will grow on any rich land you please to plant it on. I have seen seven or eight kinds of this grass but I think these two kinds the best for your use. I sent James Stevenson some of the same kind by letter about two weeks ago. I will close by wishing you all well. Samuel (Alexander) I would like some of you to write once a month. What is common with you is interesting to me. No more till the next moon. S.A.(There was no stamp but 10 in the rt. hand corner directed to John Alexander Fayetteville, AK via New Orleans
http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/27828970/person/13415645539/media/4?pgnum=1&pg=0&pgpl=pid%7cpgNum
Will:
Col. William C. Sparks died on Oct. 10, 1857, and his wife Jane died Nov. 26, 1869. Both are buried in the Volo Cemetery, five miles north of Holland in Bell County. Four days prior to his death, Col. Sparks made his will which reads as follows:
I, William C. Sparks, being of sound mind and memory do briefly make the following words and figures my last will and testament, and it is my wish and desire that Jane Sparks, my present wife, and Hiram Hanover of Robertson County and State of Texas, act as Executrix and Executor of this will.
Item first--I hereby give and bequeath to Martha Ann Spence, formerly Martha Ann Sparks (my daughter), Harriet Spencer, formerly Harriet Sparks (my daughter), Elizabeth Bryant, formerly Elizabeth Sparks (my daughter), and to the children of Sarah Hanover, decsd, formerly Sarah Sparks, my daughter, and also to Martha Ann Spencer, the daughter of Nancy Spencer, formerly Nancy Sparks, my daughter, the following described property, to wit: Three thousand acres (more or less) of land in Brazos County and State of Texas, and one thousand of land in Vanzandt County and State of Texas. The above mentioned tracts of land to be divided as follows to wit: Into five different or separate parcels of equal value. One parcel for my daughter, Martha Ann Spence, one parcel for my daughter, Harriet Spencer, one parcel for my daughter, Elizabeth Bryant, one parcel for the surviving children of my daughter (decsd) Sarah Hanover, and one parcel for the daughter of my decsd daughter, Nancy Spencer (viz) Martha Ann Spencer.
Item second--I also give and bequeath to the above mentioned Martha Ann Spencer, the following described property to wit: Three hundred acres of land out of a tract of twenty-eight hundred acres owned by me in Henderson County and State of Texas, and also a good horse, saddle and bridle and five cows and calves.
Item third--In regard to the balance of my property of every description, I hereby dispose of it as follows, subject to the provisions and conditions hereinafter mentioned. My league of land on which I now live, two labors of land on the waters of the Salado and Lampasas in Bell County, Texas, and one third of a league of land on the Brazos (supposed to be in Johnson County) Texas. My negroes, Liz and child, Evaline and Child, Manda, Emaline, Til, Alick, Joe and Jack, my stock of horses, cattle, hogs and cc., I give and bequeath to my children by my present wife, viz,, Clara Jane Cavitt, formerly Clara Jane Sparks, John A. Sparks, Elijah Sparks, William Sparks, Minerva Sparks, and Samuel Sparks, share and share alike or in other words, to be divided equally among them,
Item fourth--I hereby give and bequeath to my last mentioned children, the children of my present wife, the balance of the twenty-eight hundred acres of land (say 2500) in Henderson County and State of Texas, share and share alike, or in other words to be equally divided among them..
Item fifth--I hereby give and bequeath to my wife, Jane Sparks, for the term of her natural life, two hundred acres to include the dwelling house, farm and other improvements out of my league of land in Bell County on which I now reside.
[Witnesses] Isaac Casey [signed] Wm. C. Sparks.
Frank Pendleton [dated] October 6th, 1857..
In January, 1858, an inventory was taken of Col. Sparks's estate. From the list of his possessions it is obvious that he died a wealthy man:.
Item Value.
4000 acres of H. R. land in Bell County - $12,000.
2 labors of land in Bell County - 2,124.
1/3 league of land supposed to be in Johnson Co. - 2,952.
3000 acres of land H. R. League, Brazos Co. - 6,000.
1000 acres of land, Vanzandt Co. - 2,000.
2800 acres of land, Henderson Co. - 2,800.
Liz and child, Negroes - 1,200.
Evaline, negro - 900.
Manda, negro - 600.
Emaline, negro - 500.
Til, blind and worth nothing -.
Alick - 1,000.
Joe, negro - 600.
Jack, negro - 450.
Sam Houston, horse - 200.
Romilus, horse - 200.
Thirty head horses, $65 - 1,950.
525 head of cattle - 3,150.
50 head of hogs - 20.
6 yoke of oxen - 240.
Farming utensils - 70.
Household and Kitchen Furniture - 250.
Crop of cotton, 12 bales, No. 35 - 420.
Corn and fodder - 210.
One carriage - 75
William married Jane Alexander on 5 Jan 1837 in Nacogdoches Co, Texas. Jane (daughter of John Alexander and Jane Stephenson) was born on 28 Dec 1807 in Tennessee; died on 26 Nov 1869 in Sparks, Bell Co, Texas; was buried in Volo Cem, Bell Co, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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1896 - 1986 (90 years)