June 3, 2023 12:12 PM

Pages 5026-5030
Whole Number 183

THE FAMILY OF SARAH (SPARKS) HOLT
DAUGHTER OF BENJAMIN AND AMANDA (BOLEY) SPARKS


In the December 1994 issue of The Sparks Quarterly, Whole No. 168, appeared Part II of an article by Paul E. Sparks entitled "32.1 James Sparks (ca. 1752-1834) of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and Indiana, and His Family." Part I of this article had appeared in the issue of the September 1994, Whole No. 167. James Sparks was a son of 32. Richard Sparks and had been born ca. 1752 in Middlesex County, New Jersey; he had moved with his parents to western Pennsylvania as a boy and had served from there in the American Revolution before moving to Jefferson County, Kentucky. About 1820, James Sparks moved again, this time to Jackson County, Indiana, where he died in 1834. Among the children of James Sparks and his wife, Caty, was a son named 32.1.7 Moses Sparks who was born in Kentucky ca. 1789; he died in Collin County, Texas, on December 20, 1858 (see pp. 4390-96 of Issue 168, cited above). Moses Sparks was married ca. 1810 to Elizabeth MNU, probably in Jefferson County, Kentucky; she died in February 1860, in Collin County, Texas.

A son of Moses and Elizabeth Sparks was 32.1.7.3 Benjamin Sparks, born January 17, 1816; he was married in Jackson County, Indiana, to Amanda Boley (sometimes spelled Baley) in 1836. When the 1840 census was taken, Benjamin and Amanda were in Van Buren (now Cass) County, Missouri, but by the fall of 1847, they had moved to Collin County, Texas. (A list of their children appears on page 4993 of the December 1994 issue of the Quarterly.) Among the twelve children of Benjamin and Amanda Sparks was a daughter named 32.1.7.3.4 Sarah ["Sallie"] Sparks, who was born in Van Buren County, Missouri, on May 26, 1845, not July 31, 1845, as stated on page 4393 of the Quarterly.


SARAH ["SALLIE"] (SPARKS) HOLT (1845-1919)
WITH GRANDSON JAMES EARL NICHOLS

Information about Sarah Sparks and her children has been provided for this additional article by Erschel Paul Nichols, one of her great-grandsons. Sarah Sparks married Andrew Jackson Holt prior to 1864. He had been born in Carroll County, Arkansas, and was a son of James Simpson and Elizabeth (Fortner) Holt. He died on August 18, 1882, in Hood County, Texas; Sarah was married a second time to E. J. Henderson. She died on June 1, 1919, in Newton County, Arkansas.

Andrew Jackson and Sarah (Sparks) Holt were the parents of four children:

32.1.7.3.4.1 James Holt was born ca. 1864 in Texas.

32.1.7.3.4.2 William Silas Holt was born ca. 1867. He married Mandy Yates. He was buried at Tahlequah, Oklahoma. They had six children;

32.1.7.3.4.2.1 Artie Holt.
32.1.7.3.4.2.2 Rosella Holt.
32.1.7.3.4.2.3 Yancy Holt, born May 20, 1896, in Coal County, Arkansas.
32.1.7.3.4.2.4 Julia Holt, born in 1905. She was married in 1922 to John B. Gritts.
32.1.7.3.4.2.5 Porter Holt.
32.1.7.3.4.2.6 Dee Holt.


CHARLES JACKSON AND MARY LIZBETH (ROGERS) HOLT
Wedding Photograph - August 2, 1891

32.1.7.3.4.3 Charles Jackson Holt was born June 30, 1868, at Valley Mills in Bosque County, Texas. He was married on August 20, 1891, in Yell County, Arkansas, to Mary Lizbeth Rogers (or Rodgers), who had been born on February 3, 1866. She died on December 15, 1899.

Charles Jackson Holt's second marriage was to Nancy Jane Doty on October 25, 1900; she had been born September 9, 1878; she died on January 27, 1966. Charles had died on January 20, 1956, at Porum, in Muskogee County, Oklahoma. By his first wife, Mary Lizbeth, Charles had two children:

32.1.7.3.4.3.1 John William ["Willie"] Holt, born June 17, 1893; died February 5, 1863; he married Laura Thompson on October 8, 1913.

32.1.7.3.4.3.2 Mamie Viola Holt, born June 10, 1898, died December 31 1962; she married Monroe Bowden Laffery, on October 11, 1914.

Charles Jackson Holt and his second wife, Nancy Jane (Doty) Holt, were the parents of six children:

32.1.7.3.4.3.3 Wynona ["Nonnie"] Holt, born March 9, 1904; she was married, first, to Ausby Maxon; she was married, second, to Clarence Jensen.

32.1.7.3.4.3.4 Albert Lee Holt, born October 3, 1910. He married Jewell Dell Cosper.

32.1.7.3.4.3.5 Joseph Andrew Holt, born November 29, 1911 [twin birth]. He married Jessie Hestes Cosper.

32.1.7.3.4.3.6 Cecil Bluford Holt, born March 23, 1914. He married June Massey.

32.1.7.3.4.3.7 Sarah Eva Holt, born December 12, 1915. She was married, first, to Clarence Patterson and, second, to Thomas Stout.

32.1.7.3.4.3.8 Laura Bell Holt, born December 10, 1919. She married Maywood Albert ["Jeff"] Bryan.

32.1.7.3.4.4 Julia Ann Jeanette Holt was born May 11, 1873. She was married on January 22, 1891, in Newton County, Arkansas, to John Samuel Nichols. He had been born January 4, 1851, at Mt. Judea in Newton County, Arkansas, and died on October 24, 1924, at the same place. He was a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Davis) Nichols. Julia died on August 4, 1951, also in Mt. Judea, Arkansas. They were the parents of four children, all of whom were born at Mt. Judea.

32.1.7.3.4.4.1 Infant son Nichols, born May 24, 1892, died May 26, 1892, at Mt. Judea, Arkansas.

32.1.7.3.4.4.2 Sarah E. Nichols, born July 24, 1893, died October 4, 1894, at Mt. Judea, Arkansas.

32.1.7.3.4.4.3 William Ernest Nichols was born May 31, 1896, and died on August 29 1964. He was married, first, to Rosa Lee Criner, and they had seven children:

32.1.7.3.4.4.3.1 Norman Earl Nichols,
32.1.7.3.4.4.3.2 Helen Nichols,
32.1.7.3.4.4.3.3 Syble Nichols,
32.1.7.3.4.4.3.4 Ruth Nichols,
32.1.7.3.4.4.3.5 John Samuel Nichols,
32.1.7.3.4.4.3.6 Billie Nichols, and
32.1.7.3.4.4.3.7 Violet Nichols.

He was married, second, to Aulcie Jane Hudson, who had been born on December 18, 1910, and died on May 27, 1990, in Kansas City, Missouri. She was a daughter of Samuel Anthony and Ida (Johnson) Hudson. William Ernest and Aulcie Jane (Hudson) Nichols were the parents of two children:

32.1.7.3.4.4.3.8 Erschel Paul Nichols, born November 7, 1933. He was married on on November 12, 1954, to Roxanna Rozell Rowen, daughter of Rockford and Darlene (Mossman) Rowden. They have two children:

32.1.7.3.4.4.3.8.1 Dennis Paul Nichols and
32.1.7.3.4.4.3.8.2 Joni Ann Nichols.

32.1.7.3.4.4.3.9 May Ernestine Nichols was born October 21, 1939. She married Clyde Ray Keller on June 9, 1956.


Seated, L-R: John Samuel Nichols; William Ernest Nichols
Julia (Holt) Nichols, holding James Earl Nichols
Standing: William Nichols, brother of John Samuel Nichols
[John Samuel and Julia Ann Jeanette (Holt) Nichols with their two children who survived infancy; also included is William Nichols, brother of John Samuel.]

[It is Erschel Paul Nichols, son of William Ernest Nichols in the above photograph, who provided the information and the photographs for this issue of the Quarterly. He is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution through James Sparks, his fourth great-grandfather, who served in the Revolution.]

32.1.7.3.4.4.4 James Earl Nichols was born January 2, 1903; he died on March 2, 1980, at Harrison, Boone County, Arkansas. He was married, first, to Grace Sullivan on February 1, 1923. They had three children:

32.1.7.3.4.4.4.1 John Harvey Nichols, born November 7, 1924;
32.1.7.3.4.4.4.2 Kenneth Charles Nichols, born March 15, 1926; and
32.1.7.3.4.4.4.3 Wanda May Nichols, born May 28, 1928.

James Earl Nichols married, second, Pearl Hudson on December 2, 1935. She was a sister of Aulcie Jane Hudson, second wife of William Ernest Nichols.