James Christian (Coleman) Sparks, Sr

1853 - 1898  (45 years)

• Name	James Christian (Coleman) Sparks  [1]
  Suffix	Sr
  Birth	10 Dec 1853	Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas
  	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.
  Gender	Male
  Census	12 Jul 1860	Sabine Pass (Precinct 5), Jefferson Co, Texas
  	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
  		1860 Texas, Jefferson County, Sabine Pass census James and Julia Sparks Court family; John and Melinda Jones Sparks family; and Samuel and Eliza Sparks Lee.
  Census	23 Jun 1870	Sparks and River Settlement, Jefferson Co, Texas
  	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
  		1870, Texas, Jefferson County, Sparks Settlement census
  Census	7 Jun 1880	Jefferson Co (District 41), Texas
  	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
  		1880, Texas, Jefferson County, District 41 Gentz, Fred and family, with Charlotte Gentz; Samuel Lee and family, Melinda Jones Sparks, and family; Brewton, Smith, Gray, Emmett Courts.
  Possessions	Dec 1889	South Park, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
  	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.
  Death	12 Dec 1898	Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
  Other-Begin	22 Mar 1936	Port Arthur News, Port Arthur, Jefferson Co, Texas
  		Mrs. Jack C. Beaumont Recalls Early School Days When She Was One of First Five Port Arthur Pupils Port Arthur News Sunday, March 22, 1936 Mentioned in article and linked to: Emma Lee, husband Jack Beaumont, daughter Pearl Beaumont Fred Gentz and wife Bell Sparks, children Welby Gentz and Helen Gentz and husband M.E. (Mathew Edmond) Nobles John Sidney Sparks and wife Melinda Jones; their sons: Albert, Frank, William, Thomas, James, Worth, Henry; daughters: Julia, Sarah and husband Frank Brewton and heir children Grace and Frank, Eliza Jane and husband Samuel Lee (parents of Emma Lee); Belle and husband Fred Gentz
  Other-Begin	30 Sep 1952	Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
  	court case: Smith graves
  		McFaddin Cemetery - TF Smith Homestead 1952 Article Beaumont Enterprise; "Early Burials Found on Neches"; "One of Area Private Cemeteries Uncovered on DuPont Tract"
  		Court Cause No. 16187: "W.P.H. McFaddin, Jr., et al, vs. Unknown Heirs of Caroline Sparks, et al" 30 Sep 1952 named deceased persons to-wit: Caroline Sparks, Edward Sparks, John L. Sparks, William Sparks, Joseph Sparks, Susan Sparks Crawford, Phillip Crawford, James C. Sparks, Lura Sparks Spriggs, James M. Court, Julia A. Court, James F. Court, Lillian Court Smith, Irvin Smith, Francis Court Sparks, Viola Court Sparks, Madison Court, Sarah A. Court, Edna Court, Beulah Court, a Mrs. E. Bordeman and child... 45.7 acres on T.F. Smith homestead tract; included in league bought by J.S. Johnson in 1924, who later conveyed the property to E.I. DuPont in 1952, at which time private cemetery was discovered. Court proceedings to have the remains relocated. The following family members not named in the suit but were included in cemetery records: in Grave 1 were: Tilda Courts, Homer Courts, Caudine (Claudie) Courts, Estie baby Courts, Carmel Courts, (unknown), Buff Courts, (unknown), James C Sparks Sr, Fred Frugia (unknown), Genevia Frugia), Florence Frugia (unknown), Brad Courts Sr.
  Other-Begin	10 Aug 1961	Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
  	court case: Smith graves
  	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)
  		McFaddin Cemetery - TF Smith Homestead Forest Lawn Index Card on occupants of graves.
  Burial	McFaddin, TF Smith Homestead, Forest Lawn Cem, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
  		McFaddin Cemetery - TF Smith Homestead Grave 2 SPARKS, John L. - died 1867 (s/o Solomon Sparks - m Martha Courts d/o James & Julia SPRIGGS, Lura Sparks - died bef 1930; Ada Lura Sparks d/o James Chester, Sr ; Julias bro SPARKS, William - son of Solomon and Caroline - d 1919 CRAWFORD, Phillip maybe hubby or son to Susan Sparks Crawford SPARKS, J.C. (James Chester Sr) SPARKS, Joseph bro to John L and Susan SPARKS, James C. (James Chester Sr or Jr) -- Sr. died 1898 - Jr. died aft 1940 CRAWFORD, Susan Sparks prob Mary Susan Sparks, sis to James L Sparks - Phillip Crawford must be hubby or maybe a son - ??
  		McFaddin Cemetery - TF Smith Homestead McFaddin Cemetery was located on property south of Beaumont, in Port Neches, Central Gardens at a location within the grounds of where DuPont is now. The cemetery was discovered in the Fifties, and due to the impending construction of the plant. (See attached newspaper coverage). There were about 30 people buried there whose remains were subsequently placed in four separate concrete boxes and relocated to Forest Lawn Cemetery where they were laid once again to rest in the Garden of Peace section. The headstones for the four graves are all identical, reading simply "TF Smith Homstead Tract Cemetery." The detailed list of occupants only exist on an index card in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park records (see copy attached). All of these people were either residents or descendants of the Sparks Settlement, also called Aurora, (what later became Port Arthur. The families were predominantly the Sparks, Courts and Gentz families and other family names who married into these families. Sparks Settlement was abandoned in late 1800s due to storms and disease; even the houses were moved. Most of them started another community in the Port Neches, Central Gardens area where they started a new cemetery - i.e. what was called the McFaddin Cemetery. Sparks Cemetery was also abandoned. The occupants of that cemetery, those who died while the community was active, were never moved; only recognized by a historical marker placed in a boulevard on DeQueen at Lakeshore (see photo). There is some false information on the Internet that the remains in Sparks Cemetery were removed to Forest Lawn. But what I have been able to discover is that is not the case. It is the later cemetery, McFaddin Cemetery, that was removed. There is also some belief that the cemetery was used even into the 1920s for burial needs; but that also seems to be mistaken information. The were fine and strong and brave pioneers who I am so proud to call my ancestors. They helped build our community here, and somehow, I hope to bring to mind the signifcance of those four plain little headstones marked simply "TF Smith Homestead Tract Cemetery."
  		McFaddin Cemetery - TF Smith Homestead
  		McFaddin, TF Smith Homestead, Forest Lawn Cemetery, Garden of Peace Section
  		McFaddin, TF Smith Homestead, Forest Lawn Cemetery, Garden of Peace Section
  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).
  Person ID	I412	Roots
  Last Modified	9 May 2015

  
  

  Father	John Sidney* Sparks,   b. 26 Mar 1811, North Carolina d. Aug 1870, Sparks Settlement, Aurora, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age 59 years)
  Mother	Melinda* Jones, (maybe dau?),   b. 25 Mar 1819, Middleton, Rhea Co, Tennessee (?) d. Aft 1880, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age > 62 years)
  Marriage	1 Mar 1833	near Gatlinburg, Franklin Co, Tennessee
  Family ID	F187	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Ella Janet Smith,   b. Nov 1857, Texas d. 21 Nov 1928, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age ~ 71 years)
  Marriage	22 Oct 1869	Jefferson Co, Texas   [2]
  Children	1. Iola Janet Sparks,   b. 15 Oct 1882, Sparks Settlement, Aurora, Jefferson Co, Texas d. Bef 1904 (Age < 21 years) + 2. Arthur Worthy "Slim" Sparks,   b. 11 Jan 1884, Sparks Settlement, Aurora, Jefferson Co, Texas d. 29 May 1957, Bay City, Matagorda Co, Texas (Age 73 years)   3. Ada Lura Sparks,   b. 9 Jan 1893, Jefferson Co, Texas d. 1910, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age 16 years) + 4. Clara Alice Sparks,   b. 15 May 1895, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas d. 1986, Vidor, Orange Co, Texas (Age 90 years) + 5. James Chester Sparks, Jr,   b. 19 May 1897, Sparks Settlement, Aurora, Jefferson Co, Texas d. 20 Mar 1952, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age 54 years)
  Family ID	F193	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	7 Apr 2011

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - 10 Dec 1853 - Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas Census - 12 Jul 1860 - Sabine Pass (Precinct 5), Jefferson Co, Texas Marriage - 22 Oct 1869 - Jefferson Co, Texas Death - 12 Dec 1898 - Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas Other-Begin - court case: Smith graves - 30 Sep 1952 - Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas Other-Begin - court case: Smith graves - 10 Aug 1961 - Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas Burial - - McFaddin, TF Smith Homestead, Forest Lawn Cem, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Photos » Slide Show		Sparks Exhibit, Museum of the Gulf Coast - Sparks, James 700 Procter Street Port Arthur, Texas
  		Sparks and Courts Family Members James and Joseph Sparks
  		Sparks, James

  
  

  Documents		Origins of South Park Neighborhood and Schools Two founders of South Park, James and Worthy Sparks, were brothers to my great-great grandmother Julia Sparks Courts. J.F. (John Fredrick) Kline and wife Emaline Smith were Worthy Sparks' in-laws, Worthy's wife being Bertha Kline; and another Kline daughter, Sarah Matilda, married William George Gentz, our Claudie Gentz first cousin. Ray Asbury, the author of "The South Park Story," was married to Grace Sparks, who Worthy's granddaughter and our Claudie's cousin. (d)
  		Sparks and Aurora Originally published in about 1940, and published on the Internet by "Old and Sold, Turn-of-the-Century wisdom for today." Tells of life among the Sparks and families who lived in the Sparks Settlement in the mid to late 1800s. (d) http://www.oldandsold.com/articles11/port-arthur-4.shtml

  
  

• Sources

  [S151] 1880 Jefferson Co, Texas, Census. [S570] Yellowed pages, Vol 2, County Rec p.