John Peterson Sparks

FindAGrave.com Profile: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=61932790

Sparks Family Association: http://www.sparksfamilyassn.org/protect/102-B.html

John Peterson Sparks, son of Hiram C. and Talitha (Scarbrough) Sparks, was born October 14, 1846, at Kingston, Roane County, Tennessee, according to a questionnaire which he filled out as a Confederate Army veteran in Arkansas in 1911. He stated that his father name had been Hiram Sparks and that he had been born in Alabama, but he was in error on this latter point. He stated that his grandparents had been Richard and Sarah Sparks and that they had lived at Whiteley, Arkansas. He stated that his mother was Talitha Scarbry Sparks, a daughter of John and Susan Scarbry of Kingston, Tennessee. In answer to a question regarding his education, John Peterson Sparks replied, "At Point Rock, Tenn., Prof Clark, teacher." He described his occupation as farming and gave his address as Boxley, Ark. He stated that he had served in the Confederate Army in the Civil War, in Co. A, 7th Missouri Regiment--that he had entered service in 1864 and that he had been paroled in April 1865. He stated that he had married Nancy Murphy on February 7, 1911, at Boxley, Arkansas; she was a daughter of John and Parlinta Murphy of Boxley. This was a third marriage, though not so stated in this record. When the 1870 census was taken, his wife was named Susan (age 21). By 1880, Susan was dead and his wife was Sarah E. Sparks (age 23). In response to a question on the 1911 questionnaire, John Peterson Sparks named his children as:

• (a) Sarah E. Sparks, wife of John Wright of Berryville, Ark. (Census records indicate she was born about 1867.)
• (b) Altia C. Sparks, wife of Nathaniel Self, of Boxley, Ark. (Census records indicate she was born in May 1870.)
• (c) Samuel E. Sparks, married Onia, at Boxley, Ark. (Census records indicate he was born about 1873.)
• (d) Maudie Sparks, wife of James Williams of Boxley, Ark.
• (e) William Sparks and Nettie his wife, of Boxley, Ark.
• (f) Thomas Sparks and Ellen his wife.
• (g) Cleveland Sparks and Matilda his wife, of Boxley.