Sparks, Jeremiah S.

SPARKS, SIMS, ROTEN, MATHEWS, SHERMAN, NOBLE, ELSTOM, SYLVESTER, ANDREWS, MAXOM

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 12/3/2008 at 12:19:35

SPARKS, J. S.
Farmer; Sec. 9; P. O. Lynnville; owns 320 acres of prairie and forty-five acres of timber land, valued at $11,000; born in Morgan Co., Ill., August 8, 1829; moved to Lee Co., Iowa, with parents in 1836, and to this county in 1845. Married Nancy M. SIMS, in this township, Oct. 2, 1851; she was born in Logan Co., Ky., Sept. 30, 1828; moved to Logan Co., Ill. With parents when 1 year old, and to this county in 1849; they have six children living and one deceased-Mary E. (now Mrs. ROTEN), resides in Kansas; Martha P., born Feb. 28, 1854, resides at home; David J., born April 1, 1857, resides in Kansas; Albert L., born Oct. 7, 1859; John H., born Dec. 19, 1862; Benjamin M., born April 3, 1865, died Jan. 18, 1966, and Nellie L., born April 24, 1867; the last three living are at home. Is a Republican and Protestant Methodist. ~ "Lynn Grove Township Biographies," The History of Jasper County, Iowa, (Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1878)
=================================================
Jeremiah Sparks S. Among those to whom this county owes a debt of gratitude for their share in the development of great agricultural resources and in the various affairs through which the interests of society are advanced, the name of Jeremiah S. Sparks should not be passed unnoted. He is a resident of Lynn Grove Township, Jasper County, and was born in Morgan County, Ill., August 8,1830. The father, John R., and the mother, Elizabeth (Mathews) Sparks, were both natives of Kentucky, and were good and honest farmers. A more extended account of the father will be found in the sketch of a brother, John Sparks.

Our subject came to this state with his parents in 1836, and in 1845 came to this county. Attending the district school as opportunity afforded, our subject obtained but a limited education. He early learned the workings of the farm, and now is the possessor of a good estate.

Three of the brothers of our subject were soldiers in the late war, two of them, Mathew T. and William H., dying in Andersonville Prison. The first named was in Company K, Fifth Iowa Infantry, and died July 9, 1864. He was born November 5, 1838. William H. was born October 10, 1840, and enlisted with his brother. He died in 1864, the month not being exactly known. Samuel T., the third brother who fought bravely for his country, was born August 27, 1847, and enrolled his name in Company B, Fortieth Iowa Infantry. He is now residing near the farm of our subject, engaged in the same occupation. The other brothers and sisters of Mr. Sparks are as follows: John B., of whom a sketch will be found elsewhere in this volume; Peninah, wife of Thomas Sherman, who resides in this township; and Elizabeth, wife of Andrew Noble, who lives in Casey, Iowa.

October 2, 1851, Mr. Sparks was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Sims, a native of Logan County, Ky., her birth occurring September 30, 1829. She is a daughter of David and Elizabeth (Elstom) Sims, natives of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively. Mrs. Sparks is one of ten children born to her parents. To our subject and his wife were born the following children: Mary E., born July 7, 1852, is married and is the mother of two children; Martha P., born February 22, 1854, is the wife of Joseph B. Sylvester; David J., born April 1, 1857, is married and is the father of six children; Albert L., born October 7, 1859, is married and had three children; John H., born December 19, 1862, is married to Emma Andrews; Nellie, born April 24, 1867, is the wife of Perry O. Maxom; Benjamin M., born April 3, 1865, died at the age of ten months.

After his marriage our subject settled on his present farm, then wild and uncultivated land, erected a log cabin 18x18 feet in dimensions, and made his home there until 1862, when the present substantial and comfortable abode was built. The original estate comprised eighty acres, and he now has in his possession three hundred and twenty broad and fertile acres. He at one time had over five hundred acres, but bas sold a little at a time until he has diminished it to its present acreage.

Mr. Sparks is a stalwart Republican. He cast his first Presidential vote in 1852. He has held local offices in his township, and is a man honored and respected by all. Mr. and Mrs. Sparks are connected with the Methodist Protestant Church, and are active and valued members, he holding office in the same. Our subject and his father were the principal builders of the church, and hence the family takes a great interest in it now.
Portrait and Biographical Record, Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, IA (page number unknown)