Untitled
Surnames: Phillips, Calvert, Armstrong, Rick, Straw, Jeffrey, Tomlinson, Watson, Wilkinson, Buell, Teed, Blank, Keys, Larson
From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901 - page 246-247
JOSEPH SPARKS, a retired miner and farmer, is now passing the closing years of a well-spent and useful life in well-deserved peace and comfort.
Mr. SPARKS was born in Carlisle, County of Cumberland, England, May 4, 1827, son of John and Ann (PHILLIPS) SPARKS, both born in England, he in March 1786, and she July 19, 1791. In 1836 they came to this country, and made their home for a short time in Chicago. The same fall they moved to Galena, Ill., where Mr. SPARKS followed mining until he purchased 200 acres of government land in Jo Daviess county, Ill., along the Wisconsin line. There he made his permanent home. He died in 1854, and his widow in October, 1877. Both were members of the Episcopal Church. A family of seven children was born to them in England; (1) John, born in January, 1819, obtained his education in the English schools, and was a farmer and miner in this country. In 1851 emigrated to California, where he died July 4, 1870, leaving a widow and two children, who still reside in that State. (2) Elizabeth, born in 1820, married Michael CALVERT, and died in Fair Play, Grant county, May 16, 1882, leaving ten children, all grown up. (3) Sarah, born in 1823, married William ARMSTRONG, of Jamestown, and died leaving two daughters, Ann and Emma. (4) Thomas, born in 1825, went to California in 1849, when a young man, in company with his brother Joseph, and they were very successful in the gold mines, taking $8,000 from one mine in six months. They returned to Wisconsin in 1850. Thomas married Miss Maria RICK, and they settled in Hazel Green, on a farm, where she died. Mr. SPARKS then married her sister, Louisa. After this marriage he moved to Clay county, Kan., for the purpose of engaging in farming in that region. Mrs. SPARKS died ten years after their arrival in that country; Mr. SPARKS four days after her. He left six children, one now living in New Mexico. (5) Joseph is our subject. (6) Mary, born in 1830, married Benjamin STRAW, and resides in Hazel Green. (7) George, born in 1833, married Miss Annie JEFFREY, of Jamestown, and is now living in Jackson county, Minn. with four children, Marvin, James, George and Clyde.
Joseph SPARKS obtained his education partly in England and partly in Illinois, and when he was a young man went to California, as noted above. He had three yoke of cattle and left Dubuque in April, 1849, reaching Grass Valley in August. Theirs was the first wagon to cross the Valley. On Deer creek they began their mining operations, and found large quantities of gold, Joseph discovering what was afterward known as the Dubuque Ravine Mines. After a year of mining the two brothers came back to Wisconsin, intending to go back to hold their mines, but did not return in time, and this great mine was lost.
In 1853 Joseph SPARKS married Miss Mary A. TOMLINSON, daughter of William and Eliza TOMLINSON, natives of England, and emigrants to this country in 1842. Mr. TOMLINSON settled at New Diggings, Lafayette county, where he died in 1850. The widow married John WATSON, and died in 1889. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. TOMLINSON, three of whom are still living: John is a resident of Alden, Iowa; Elizabeth is the wife of W. A. WILKINSON, of Alden, Iowa; William was a soldier in the Civil war, was with Gen. Sherman on his march to the sea, and was killed in one of the last skirmishes in North Carolina; Mary A., Mrs. SPARKS, was born at Manchester, England, in May, 1837. After his marriage Mr. SPARKS bought a farm in Jamestown, which was highly improved, and where he lived for over forty years; it was sold in 1896. Mr. and Mrs. SPARKS are living in Fair Play, Grant county, and he is now retired from active labor. During all these years Mr. SPARKS has had lead mining interests which have richly rewarded his labors.
To Mr. and Mrs. SPARKS were born ten children, six of whom are now living. Two died in childhood. (1) John W., born in 1856, was drowned in 1875, in the Mississippi river. (2) Eliza A., born in December, 1858, married C. E. BUELL, and is now living in Webster City, Iowa, where he is engaged in the real-estate business. They have four children, Laura B. (Mrs. George M. TEED, of Webster City, Iowa), Herbert J., James A., and Walter. (3) Walter P., born in June, 1863, was engaged in the furniture business. He was taken sick, and died at Webster City, Iowa in June, 1897. (4) Mary A., born in May, 1865, married M. R. BLANK, of Stillwater, Minn., and has one son, Harrison J. (5) Franklin T., born in January, 1868, married Miss Nellie WATSON, of Williams, Iowa, and has two children, Hazel and Arline. They live at Bancroft, Iowa, where he is a very prominent man, and was elected mayor of that city in 1900; he is an active Republican. He is a furniture man, and stands high in business circles. (6) Florence E., born in 1870, is the wife of Edward KEYS, of Stillwater, Minn., and is the mother of two sons, Edward and James A. (7) Arthur J., born in January 1873, married Miss Lena LARSON, and resides on a farm purchased by his father in Jackson county, Minn. He has one son, Stacey H. (8) Clinton A., born in April 1875, is unmarried, and lives on the farm in Minnesota, with his brother Arthur.
In 1897 Mr. SPARKS purchased a large place near Lakefield, Minn., where his sons run a fancy stock farm. A Republican since the organization of the party, he has held the office of treasurer of Jamestown, and has been on the town board for three years. The family support the Methodist Church.
This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck