| 10. |  James Christian (Coleman) Sparks, Sr was born on 10 Dec 1853 in Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas (son of John Sidney* Sparks and Melinda* Jones, (maybe dau?)); died on 12 Dec 1898 in Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas; was buried in McFaddin, TF Smith Homestead, Forest Lawn Cem, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas. Other Events and Attributes:
- Census: 12 Jul 1860, Sabine Pass (Precinct 5), Jefferson Co, Texas
- Census: 23 Jun 1870, Sparks and River Settlement, Jefferson Co, Texas
- Census: 7 Jun 1880, Jefferson Co (District 41), Texas
- Possessions: Dec 1889, South Park, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
- 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:
He married a widow, Mrs. Ella Cleveland on October 22, 1869. The 1880 Census shows him living with his mother, Melinda Sparks, and brother Worth, also shown is Ella, age 23, born in TX, father in TN, mother in PA, probably his wife. James and Ella had four children, although they are not listed in 1880 census.
James and his brother Worthy left the lakeshore homestead in 1890 and bought a 34-acre tract of land 3 miles south of Beaumont (now South Park) located near the public road to Grigsby's Bluff (now Port Arthur Highway) and built homes where y spent the rest of their lives. They jointly owned and farmed the land until 1904 when James died. The property was divided. Court records reflect that 17 acres (east half) were deeded to Ella Sparks, widow of James, and her four children, Arthur W, James Chester, Ada Lura, and Clara Alice. The remaining 17 acres (west half) were retained by Worthy. This tract extended from Adams Street on the north to Lavaca Street on the south, and fronted by what is now Howard Street (Beaumont, Texas).
Birth:
Born in the new home; shortly after his birth the house was destroyed by fire and the family moved back to Pavell's iland until 1854.
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:
Residence 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
ekner 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:
Note: It appears the first page is the Sparks Settlement. And the 2nd page seems to be the Port Neches, Grisgsby Bluff area, a few miles north.
7 Jun 1880 District 41 Justice Precinct No. 2
Page 1
residence 1
Gentz Fred 35 Dec 1845 laborer Prussia Prussia Prussia
R. Belle 28 Aug 1852 TX NC TN
Welby 8 Jun 1872 TX NC TX
H.M. 7 Feb 1873 TX NC TX
M.J. dau 6 1874 TX
J.W. son 4 1876 TX
Buler 2 dau May 1878 TX
J. Lee 4/12 son Jan 1880 TX
Charlotte 77 mother widow Prussia NC TX
(census taker just carried the NC down the columns.
Only person from NC is Belle's father.
residence 2
Lee, Samuel 62 farmer Denmark Denmark Denmark
E. Jane 36 Oct TX NC TN
Emma A. 12 Jul 1868 TX
Hayes, Eliza Black 19 Jan 1861 servant Texas Texas Alabama
Eddy, Albert 37 Jul 1843 carpenter Ireland Ireland Ireland
Sparks, William E. 27 Mar 1853 TX
residence 3
Melinda Sparks 61 Mar 1819 TN VA TN
Worthy 24 Mar 1856 TX NC TN
James 26 son Dec 1854 TX NC TN <<<
Ella 23 Nov 1857 dau-in-law TX TN PA
Thomas George, Black 8 1872 servant TX
residence 4
Sparks, Caroline 60 May 1820 self widow SC VA SC
Sparks, J.M. 26 Aug 1854 son TX
residence 5
Kilgore, James S 28 1852 Mar Michigan Michigan Michigan
Elizabeth 50 Oct 1830 mother wid Michigan Michigan --
Columbus 28 25 May 1855 brother Texas Michigan Michigan
Susan F. 20 Feb 1860 sister Texas Michigan Michigan
Eugenia 17 Jun 1863 sister Texas Michigan Michigan
Swift, Fuller 3 May 1877 nephew Texas Michigan Michigan
Swift, Ida 3/12 Feb 1880 niece Texas Michigan Michigan
residence 6
Brewton, W.P. 47 Aug 1833
Sarah C. (Sparks) 30 Dec 1850
Grace 15 Feb 1865 TX
Silas F. 10 Oct 1870 TX
Esther 8 Dec 1872 TX
Almond 6 Apr 1874 TX
Inas 3 dau Aug 1877 TX
John Smith 14 June 1866 TX TN PA
residence 7
Gray, H.L. 33 head Sep 1847 Michigan VA MI
Gray, S.E. 33 wife Aug 1847 LA PA Indiana
Carey, Coy 11 son May 1873 TX Indiana Louisiana
Clara 7 dau Mar 1873 TX Indiana Louisiana
Gray H.E. son 9 Sep 1871 TX MI TX
Smith, T.F. 21 Apr 1859 TX TN PA
Courts, E.M. 20 1860 TX unk TX
___________
page 2
8 Jun 1880
residence 8
Yantz (Gentz), Wm Apr 42 1838 farmer Prussia Prussia Prussia
Susan 31 Jan 1849 wife TX GA LA
Leuvinia 12 Jan 1868 dau
William Y. 10 Jan 1870 son
H.L. 6 mos Nov 1879 son
residence 9
J. T. Rogers 28 Aug 1852 TX TN TX
Izzie J. Rogers 27 Aug 1853 TX NY LA
C. O. Rogers 3 Dec 1877
Wm. A. Rogers 1 Sep 1879
Levina Keith 68 Feb 1812 mother-in-law tx ga tn
residence 10
Keith, O 39 Feb 1841 Self TX OH LA
Margaret 39 Jun 1841 TX TN TN
George 7 Jun 1873 son LA TX TN
William O. 5 Mar 1875 son
Berry, Lethean female 11 Jan 1869 servant TX Prussia Prussia
Possessions:
Written by James Wills Sparks; posted to Ancestry.com
http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/3139485/person/-1696529283/story/1?pg=32817&pgpl=pid
In the winter of 1885 they had an epidemic of Yellow Fever to hit the Sparks Settlement that took a heavy toll of both children and adults. On August 20, 1886 (shortly after Mary Kate was born) a severe hurricane struck the section, the brunt of it felt at Sabine Pass. Discouraged, the families on the Lake decided to move nearer Beaumont. They dismantled most of the Aurora house and took them along.
James and his younger brother, Worth Cryndon (born 3/23/1856 first to be born at the Sparks Settlement) bought a 34 acre tract of land three miles south of Beaumont (now called South Park) located near the public road to Grigsby's Bluff (now Port Arthur Highway), and each of the brothers started building a new home where they were destined to spend the rest of their lives. Deed records at the Jefferson County Courthouse show that the Sparks brother's purchased this property jointly for the sum of $600, paying $200 down in December 1889 and balance in two equal notes of $200 due in 1891. (Would you believe that while I am typing this it has been 100 years ago, January 27,1991. Just think how things were then and what it is now. I some time wonder if their time wasn't the best. Family was closer and lived as a family. Now it s such a rat race, and every one going their own way and have very little time for a family or friends. Hopefully some one will keep up with us Sparks's in years to come.
The two Sparks brothers owned and farmed the 34 acres jointly until 1898. In December 21, 1904 following the death of James the property was divided. We have no record saying when James Christian died. The above indicate that he died in 1904, but his granddaughter, said her father, Arthur Worthy (James's oldest son) always said he was 14 years old when his father (James) died. James Leslie (James's Grandson) was born in 1904 he said his Grandpa was already dead when he was born. He didn't know when, and only knew his Grandma Ella. He was born in Beaumont and Maggie and Arthur were living with Ella at the time. They lived in Beaumont till 1911, Leslie was seven years old.This would indicate that it was in December 1904 they decided to divide the 34 acres.Court records reflect that 17 acres (east half) were deeded to Ella Sparks, widow of James Christian and her four children Arthur Worthy, James Chester, Lura and Clara Alice. (this also indicate that the other three children, Iloa Janet, Mary Kate, and James Christian Jr. were all deceased at this time.) The remaining 17 (west half) were retained by the Worthy Cryndon family. This extended from Adams Street on the north to Lavaca Street on the South, and fronted on what is now Howard Strayer. (Worthy made this road to his home and called it Howard Street, and when the City took it over they kept the name Howard.I guess it was good that the Sparks's were carpenters, as much building they did over the years. Jim built a large house out of cypress wood, the house stood for many years.
List of carpenters that I know of:
1st generation John Sidney
2nd " James Christian
3rd " Arthur Worthy
4th " ?
5th " James Willis
6th " Alfred Ricky
Deed record show that on November 18, 1895 the Sparks heirs received $3,300 for the 150 acres John Sparks bought 42 years before, for $375.
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)
James married Ella Janet Smith on 22 Oct 1869 in Jefferson Co, Texas. Ella (daughter of Thomas Floyd Smith and Ella Ann Lowrey) was born in Nov 1857 in Texas; died on 21 Nov 1928 in Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
|
1963 - 
Clara Alice Sparks was born on 15 May 1895 in Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas (daughter of James Christian (Coleman) Sparks, Sr and Ella Janet Smith); died in 1986 in Vidor, Orange Co, Texas; was buried in Williamson Cem, Orange Co, Texas. 
Ella Janet Smith was born in Nov 1857 in Texas (daughter of Thomas Floyd Smith and Ella Ann Lowrey); died on 21 Nov 1928 in Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas. 