Elias Madison "Matt" Courts

1859 - 1919  (59 years)

• Name	Elias Madison "Matt" Courts
  Birth	11 Dec 1859	Sparks Settlement, Aurora, Jefferson Co, Texas
  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 (Dist 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.
  Census	23 May 1910	Beaumont (Precinct 6), Jefferson Co, Texas
  	(Near McFaddin) residence 537 Smith, Thomas F. 51 1859 Texas USA USA m1 23 yrs farmer truck and corn Mary E. wife 57 57 1853 Texas m2 7 births 6 living Brewer, Bella D. stepdaughter 26 1884 single Smith, James T. son 22 1888 Texas laborer oil fields Smith Ella V. daughter 16 1894 Texas Courts Julia A. mother-in-law 73 1837 widow TN USA USA Sparks, William E. cousin 59 1851 single Texas Texas Texas laborer truck farm residence 538 Courts Matte E. 49 1861 Texas Texas Texas m2 21 yrs farmer truck farm Mary E. wife 49 1861 m2 10 births 8 living Texas NY Texas Coy G. son 16 1894 Texas Emma S. daughter 8 1902 Texas Emmet M. brother 34 1876 single Texas Texas Texas farmer truck farm
  		1910 - Texas, Jefferson County, Beaumont, Precinct 6 census Julia Sparks Courts, living with daughter Mary E and husband Thomas Smith, also Matt Courts and family next door. Residence "near McFaddin"
  Death	28 Nov 1919	Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
  	d.c. name: M.E. Courts residence 1075 Franklin married, occupation: City Pound keeper cause: typhoid informant H.C. Courts (Henry Clifton, brother) (d.c. shows birth year as 1860, but he is listed in the Jul 1860 census at 6 months old.)
  Burial	29 Nov 1919	McFaddin, TF Smith Homestead, Forest Lawn Cem, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
  		McFaddin Cemetery - TF Smith Homestead Grave 4 COURTS, Madison Elias Madison "Matt" - s/o James & Julia m Sallie Gibson SMITH, Irving (or Ivy) son of Lillian Courts Smith SMITH, Lillian Courts d/o James & Julia - m Mr. Smith, prob Irving COURTS, James F. s/o James & Julia, died 1910 - m Matilda Gibson COURTS, Julia A. (our Julia) COURTS, James M. (our James) COURTS, Sarah A. - might be d/o Thomas and Ann, m Lewis King COURTS, Beulah - unknown COURTS, Brad - likely James Bradley s/o Elias "Matt - m Sallie Gibson, m Maggie Bumstead; however his d.c. says buried in Saratoga. No other Brad's known of. Perhaps erroneously included in this group.
  		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
  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.
  Notes	1880: Not listed in James' household. on (pg 196 in 1880 Jeff Co) Buried in old cemetery. Cemetery was moved in 1960s, Elias was moved to Magnolia Cemetery near the graves of his first wife and a child of his. (Frank Courts)
  Person ID	I512	Roots
  Last Modified	30 Jun 2011

  
  

  Father	James* Madison Court,   b. 1829, Louisiana d. Aft 15 Aug 1899, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age > 70 years)
  Mother	Julia* Ann Sparks,   b. 13 Oct 1836, Franklin Co, Tennessee d. 25 Jan 1925, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age 88 years)
  Marriage	15 Oct 1850	Jefferson Co, Texas   [1]
  	Name: James Courts Marriage Date: 15 Oct 1850 Spouse: Julia Ann Sparks Marriage County: Jefferson Marriage State: Texas Source: County Court Records - FHL microfilm # 1311466 license 12th day of October 1850 by I.K. Robertsosn, county clerk marriage 15th day of October 1850 by William Chisholm, Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 5.
  		James Madison Court and Julia Sparks Marriage Certificate 15 Oct 1850 Beaumont, Texas
  Documents		Courts, James and Julia Ann Sparks Marriage certificate license 12 Dec 1850 recorded by I.K. Robertson, county clerk of Jefferson County, Texas marriage performed by Wm Chisholm, Justice of the Peace, Jefferson Co, Texas Precinct 5 provided to me by Jaye Hendon on 10/13/2015
  Family ID	F203	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Sally Gibson,   b. 1864, Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas d. Aft 1885 (Age > 22 years)
  Marriage	26 Jul 1882	Jefferson Co, Texas   [2]
  Children	+ 1. Julia Court,   b. 25 Apr 1882, Jefferson Co, Texas d. 6 Jan 1925, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age 42 years) + 2. James Bradley "Brad" Courts,   b. 20 Oct 1884   d. 24 Oct 1948, Saratoga, Hardin Co, Texas (Age 64 years)
  Family ID	F244	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	10 Feb 2011

  
  

  Family 2	Mary Ellen Stockholm,   b. Dec 1860, Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas d. 27 May 1940, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age ~ 79 years)
  Marriage	6 Nov 1890	Jefferson Co, Texas   [3]
  Children	1. Sadie Ellen Courts,   b. Abt 1891   d. 1892, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age ~ 1 years) + 2. Coy Vernon Courts, Sr,   b. 19 Mar 1894, Jefferson Co, Texas d. Aug 1981, Woodville, Tyler Co, Texas (Age 87 years) + 3. Emma Etta Courts,   b. 1902, Jefferson Co, Texas d. 11 May 1992, San Patricio Co, Texas (Age 90 years)
  Family ID	F245	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	10 Feb 2011

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - 11 Dec 1859 - Sparks Settlement, Aurora, Jefferson Co, Texas Census - 12 Jul 1860 - Sabine Pass (Precinct 5), Jefferson Co, Texas Census - 7 Jun 1880 - Jefferson Co (Dist 41), Texas Marriage - 26 Jul 1882 - Jefferson Co, Texas Marriage - 6 Nov 1890 - Jefferson Co, Texas Death - 28 Nov 1919 - Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas Burial - 29 Nov 1919 - McFaddin, TF Smith Homestead, Forest Lawn Cem, 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  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Documents		Family Brands (1 of 2) Family Brands Burrell, Burris, Court, Courts, Gentz (document obtained by Debbie Spurgeron, Jul 28, 2003) (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

  [S371] Marriage license. [S581] Yellowed Pages, Vol 2, County Rec. p 904. [S352] Marriage Books A&B Jefferson Co 1837-1899.