James (or John?) Sparks

1772 - 1807  (35 years)

• Name	James (or John?) Sparks
  Born	1772	Maryland
  Gender	Male
  Died	1807	Franklin Co, Georgia
  Other-Begin	28 Mar 1837
  	letter from son William
  	(Letter No. 11) Republic of Texas & County of Nakdosh, 28 Mar 1837 Dear and much beloved father & mother, Your letter arrived to me on the 20th May present which was received with open hands & heart and gave much consolation to hear that all is living and well and that you returned home safly would have written soon had I not ben wating to get your letter dear parents. The truth of _____ not withholde from you my situation. When you left some _____ & for home & allmost distitute of friend to come if could hav confiding but I have altered my situation by taking to my self the second companion Who is a better friend to him than father & Mother unnown to you yet I have been a sitisan of Texas four years last New Year. My place resident has been on the Brasas River in the upper colony. I have 2 leages of land in that Sexion and 4 labors I have moved to the place Jane lived when you left. My first fatherinlaw lived at my old place that I left he has eleven negrows his name is Michael Reed he is well known to menny of your county men of myself also. I have a brotherinlaw who married my only sister, his name is Saga. As good a citison as your county affords. I wish you to get akquanted with him I will bring Jane to see you as soon as time get akquanted with him I will bring Jane to see you as soon as time Will admit I had for known you was here I would have seen you. We was married on the 5th January last. We do not apprehend we shall ever be deperated again by the Mexicans but the indians are committing more depredations now than ever known here to fore & We are now raising troops to kill and drive them from ower country there is a stronger emigration here now than ever here to fore. Of NB My crop is likely if the season is good I shall make a thousand bushels of corn for sail. Corn is worth $4 per Bu. & pork from 7 to 10 highbows, per day $1 & upward & NB I say this is the country for a man to do well. (There is) This stimulation for a man too work seeing all there prodse he makes or raises for sail demands and bring the highest price cash NB Where as there is a report lately risen and now in sifulation we believe by some designing persons unknown unto us & by reson of this report I have administered on the estate of Jak (John Belton deseased) that you can assertain if you do not already no wheather the report be true or fals & be it as It may I wish you to no the fact so that I may no to manage my business if you do not know. Will giv yourself take trouble & show me the favor to assertain that I doo not believe sutch could have been cosealed from you until now & paid you you have none it you would _____ advised Jane how to manage her affairs here now the thing is there report ses that Skelton had a living wife & one or two heirs. Please to see Ralph Skelton and assertain the fact from him and if it is false get him to go to a Justice of the Pes or the court and Sende me his sutifficate and sho the same sertified by the court that is too how their signiture certifying the time & showing that he did appear before them & make such testimony & if the report is true please write to us & not fail NB I claim you connexion yet you persons are all known to me yet I hope one day to see you all my occupation is that of a farmer the we are strangers I would like to see you very much yet it may be that We shall never see each other faces as We are all dieing mortals and no not when the time shall come Jane wishes you to gave her beste respects to Ralph Skelton & Family NB I shall ad no mor but remain you children until death Jane owes respects to all connexion & enquirring friends & of any should ever pass threw ower country to call _______ so farewell. (Signed John and Jane Sparks) http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/27828970/person/13415645539/media/4?pgnum=1&pg=0&pgpl=pid%7cpgNum
  Other-Begin	8 Feb 1850	Washington Co, Arkansas
  	letter from son Wm C.
  Other-Begin	14 Jun 1851	Washington Co, Arkansas
  	(Letter No. 21 ) Georgetown Williamson Co., TX 14 Jun 1851. Dear Father and Mother this leaves us all well. I write often but receive no letters I have not received one letter with 1851 on it, the reason I know not. Still I am anxious to communicate with you all while living in this world, for I know the time is short at best and we should look seriously into our conduct throught word and deed, and see if they compare with the Devine patron Giver of God in his revealed will. I reminded you of these things although you know them. As to the affairs of this world we are getting along very well. Our crops look promising at this time. I have ten acres silked out and forty five acres of turf corn from shoulder to knee high. With a few more showers and our country will abound in plenty. Wheat harvest is over. Some crops very good. I have not seen smut nor rust nor spot nor other defect that might be attributed to the country. There is a giant want of good quality of wheat for seed. I now make the request again for some of my friends to send me by the first opertunity some of the best fall and spring wheat that can be obtained in that country. I am now prepared to give it a fair trial. I am now of opinion that we have the best wheat growing country in the West. Oats are as good as I ever saw. I planted one half bushel Irish Potatoes last spring. I have dug them and they are as good I ever raised and yield as much. Irish potato seed are worth 4 dolls. per bushel here every spring. There was want of sweet potato seed last spring and there will be few raised. There sweet potato seed last spring and there will be few raised. There seems to be a rise on every species of property this year. Land is rising very fast, and the Country crowded with Emigrants, more than any period since I have been here. Steam boats are still running the Colorado with success. Not long ago I wrote at length on various subjects for fear you have not recd anything from me I will here mention the death of William Reed in California. Inteligence came Jackson Strickland to his father which I stated in a former letter. Our Indian affairs are much the same. I have nothing new on that subject. One of my neighbors seen Wm. C. Sparks a few days since. He (Sparks) sent me word they were all well. I have intended going to see them this summer but have not got off yet. I am rather confined at home on account of having some boarders. Boarding here is worth ten Dolls. per month some have twelve. I went a fishing a few days since. I killed about 100 pounds, found a bee tree and returned home. The Buffalo have been in our settlement but I have not time to go out after them. Some (of) our neighbors went out and caught some calves. In closed I send you some grass seed. The small seed is fine for yard grass and stands grazing well. Both are mesquite grass. The large seed is what we call Winter Mesquite and stands grazing and large enough for hay. Either will grow on any rich land you please to plant it on. I have seen seven or eight kinds of this grass but I think these two kinds the best for your use. I sent James Stevenson some of the same kind by letter about two weeks ago. I will close by wishing you all well. Samuel (Alexander) I would like some of you to write once a month. What is common with you is interesting to me. No more till the next moon. S.A.(There was no stamp but 10 in the rt. hand corner directed to John Alexander Fayetteville, AK via New Orleans http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/27828970/person/13415645539/media/4?pgnum=1&pg=0&pgpl=pid%7cpgNum
  Person ID	I81727	Roots
  Last Modified	18 Jun 2015

  
  

  Father	Thomas Sparks,   b. 1740, Maryland ,   d. 1824, Stephens Co, Georgia  (Age 84 years)
  Mother	Amelia "Milly" Nalle,   b. 1743,   d. Aft 1834  (Age 92 years)
  Married	Abt 1764
  Family ID	F26700	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Nancy Ann Crain,   b. 1775, of, Franklin Co, Georgia ,   d. 1810  (Age 35 years)
  Children	+ 1. Col. William Crain Sparks, Sr.,   b. 14 Jun 1798, Franklin Co, Georgia ,   d. 10 Oct 1857, Rogers, Bell Co, Texas  (Age 59 years)   2. Thomas Sparks   3. John Sparks   4. Elijah Sparks,   d. 21 Dec 1832, Franklin Co, Georgia   5. (1 daughter) Sparks
  Last Modified	18 Jun 2015
  Family ID	F26699	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart