Confederate Civil War Veteran 
James Harrison Sparks, was born July 24, 1842, in Osgood, Shelby county, Indiana. He came to Texas when only a youth, lived in Dickens county for a number of years, was one of the "Old Tmers" and true to the spirit of the great West, was a man full of hospitality. He was one of the few remaining ex-Confederate soldiers, while he fought in the Sixties for the Stars and Bars, he gave up the lost cause and became true to the Stars and Stripes. He married Mrs. Maggie Lambert in the year 1876. To this union were born two children, J.E. Sparks of Dickens county and Mrs. John Holt of Arizona. He made a profession of religion in the summer of 1893.He heard the summons and was mustered out of the battles of this life, June 30, 1924, after several months of declining health. The body was laid to rest by the side of that of his faithful wife, in the Red Mud cemetery, the writer officiating at the funeral service, which was attended by a large number of friends and several of the old ex-soldiers. In Grandpa Sparks was fulfilled Job 5:26, "Thou shalt come to they grave in full age, like as a stalk of corn cometh in his season." His age being 81 years, 11 months 6 days. Thus, he spent his days and at a ripe old age quietly passed out from the busy scenes of this life into the great beyond.
"From whose bourne no traveler returns." A.P. Stokes.
© The Texas Spur, July 11, 1924
© Dickens County Historical Commission 1997-2022
This site may be freely linked to but not duplicated in any fashion without consent. |
