May 9, 2003 2:38 PM

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When The Sparks Family Association was formed in March, 1953, membership dues were set at $1.00 per year and a six-page Sparks Quarterly was issued. Later it was decided to introduce “contributing” and "sustaining" memberships to give recognition to those who wished to contribute more than just $1.00. Meanwhile, the Quarterly has gradually grown from six pages to twenty, yet, until now, active membership dues have remained at only $1.00 per year. The officers of the Association are certain that all members must realize that a quarterly of the present size could scarcely be published if all members sent only $1.00. In fact, it has been only because a rather large number have sent several times that amount that it has been possible for us to accomplish what we have. Furthermore, it has been necessary for your editor to spend countless hours doing the routine typing, assembling, and mailing of the Quarterly--duties above and beyond those connected with the editorship--because funds have not permitted him to hire this extra work done by a clerical assistant. Your editor has enjoyed making this contribution, but professional duties now make it necessary that he limit himself just to the editorship of the Quarterly. Any “spare” time could be spent doing research on the Sparks family.

Therefore, since the cost of publishing the Quarterly has more than doubled, the officers of The Sparks Family Association feel that it is now necessary that membership dues be raised to meet this added expense. Present members may renew their 1957 membership at the former rate, but, effective with the publication of this, the March, 1957, issue, all new memberships will be at the following rates:

Active membership---------------$2.00
Contributing membership---------$3.00
Sustaining membership-----------Any amount over $3.00

Many of the back issues of the Quarterly have almost become rarities, and it will soon be necessary to reprint some of these in order to keep them in print. Therefore, the price for each back issue will be raised to fifty cents. Old members, however, who have incomplete files, may purchase back issues at the former rate of twenty-five cents each if they send their orders before June 1, 1957.

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The officers of The Sparks Family Association regret to report that the amount received from membership dues thus far in 1957 is inadequate to cover the expenses of editing and publishing the Quarterly. This is partly due to the fact that fewer new members have joined in 1957 than in 1956, with very few back issues of the Quarterly being sold. Also, a distressingly large number of our old members have failed to send their 1957 dues. We are confident that the situation will improve in 1958 with the increase of active membership dues from $1.00 to $2.00, but it is feared that a rather large deficit will have to be carried over from 1957 unless some of our loyal and enthusiastic members come to our aid. Mr. Harry F. Sparks, whose query is printed below, recently sent us a check for $10.00 “for the good of the organization.” Are there others who could afford to make similar donations so that we will not be forced to reduce the size of the Quarterly?

Whole Number 55

BACK ISSUES OF THE SPARKS QUARTERLY ARE AVAILABLE

Are you missing any issues of THE SPARKS QUARTERLY to which you are entitled? If so, let us know and we shall be glad to send you replacements. Although it has been our experience that the U.S. postal service is amazingly good, it is inevitable that an occasional copy of the QUARTERLY should fail to reach its destination. Likewise, we can hardly hope that every issue which we have mailed out has been perfect. Sometines one side of a leaf fails to print or a page is simply omitted in the assembling. We shall be glad to replace any imperfect copies as well as supply any missing issues. We keep all back issues in print.

For those who have not been members since the Association was founded in 1953 or who did not purchase a complete file of back issues when they joined, we can supply back issues for 75 cents each. If a member wishes to purchase ten or more back issues, we are happy to reduce the cost to 50 cents each.

The index covering the issues of the QUARTERLY for the years 1968-1962 was mailed to the Association members last April. Comprising some 77 pages, this index was a labor of love for several individuals. Mrs. Martha Sparks Davis of Ashland, Kentucky, did much of the initial work of making the card file, as did also Dr. Paul E. Sparks and the editor. The person who contributed the most time and effort to get the work actaully ready for the printer, however, was Mrs. James Y. Jamieson of 304 Sycamore St., Falls Church, Virginia. Mrs. Jainieson is deserving of the personal thanks of every member of the Association.

The cost of issuing the index was as follows;

Materials	$ 27.00
Printing	436.54
Envelopes	34.07
Postage	76.85
Total	$574.46

Since the membership dues to the Association were inadequate to cover this added expense, an appeal was made to each member to contribute toward the publishing of the index. Thus far, 102 members have contributed a total of $452.50. In this amount is included a check for $100.00 from a member who wishes to remain anonymous. If any member failed to receive his copy of the index, please inform the editor and one will be sent.

MEMBERSHIP DUES FOR 1966. Membership dues for 1966 have now been received from all but about one hundred of our members. A reminder is being enclosed with this issue for those who have not paid.

During the nine years that The Sparks Quarterly has been published, we have regularly reported the names and addresses of new members of the Association. As a result of this listing, we understand that a number of Sparks cousins, often many times removed, have looked each other up or begun corresponding. Since it has not been our custom to report changes of address (and there have been many such changes), your editor believes that a complete listing of current members might be of interest. Included in this list are a number of those who did not pay their dues in 1961, but who have been loyal members in the past and we hope will renew their membership in 1962.

Adams, Mrs. Betty Jane, Quarters No. 1010, U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.
Akin, Mrs. Jesse Mann, 104 Robin St., Rome, Georgia.
Allen, Mrs. Nelle 5., 2310 B. Genesee St., Syracuse 10, New York.
Bachman, Van Cleaf, 21 Wayside, Short Hills, New Jersey.
Bassett, Mrs. Ina Sparks, Minocqua, Wisconsin.
Beard, Mrs. Dan, 707 North Alameda, Carlsbad, New Mexico.
Belding, Mrs. Bettye N., 122 Crestwood Dr., Birmingham 13, Alabama.
Bidlack, Dr. Russell B., 1709 Cherokee Rd., Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Bird, Mrs. Matthew F., 303 So. 1st fl., Logan, Utah.
Bluemer, Mrs. Elm, Box 143, Shoshone, Idaho.
Boice, Irene Ethel, 6633 Crossway Dr., Pico Rivera, California.
Bond, Mrs. Tera Burgess, 1119 Virginia Ave., Norton, Virginia.
Borge, Mrs. Irene Sparks, 3632 S. Henderson St., Ft. Worth, Texas.
Bradley, Mrs. Anna M., Box 305, Rt. 1, Summit Rd., Ashland, Kentucky.
Briggs, Mrs. Edna, Box 1843, Casper, Wyoming.
Bullington, Mrs. Lawrence, Box 213, Lincoln, Arkansas.
Burcham, Elden G., Box 306, Sutherland, Nebraska.
Bryan, Mrs. Mary Neal Homer, 7-A Vanderbilt Campus, Nashville 5, Tennessee.
Burress, Mrs. Walter M.,P.O. Box 387, Dallas, Texas.
Butler, Bessie Dawson, 1131 S.E. 2nd Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Button, W. G., Box 2033, Tyler, Texas.
Byrne, Mrs. Harriet Sparks, 1136 Chargene Way, Sacramento 22, California.
Callaway, Martha Hall, 1209 West 61st Terrace, Kansas City, 13, Missouri.
Cannon, Ida, 422 So. 8th St., Alhambra, California.
Cartwright, Mrs. Betty Sparks, Drawer Q, San Augustine, Texas.
Chandler, Mrs. B. W., 1040 Burlington, Dallas 8, Texas.
Chaney, Mrs. Clara Sparks, 1908 Ave. 0, Lubbock, Texas.
Chapman, Donna S., 460 So. 1st West, Logan, Utah.
Chase, Mary Sue, 16234 Benwick St., La Puente, California.
Coombs, Ernest, 9726 Ridge Heights, East St. Louis, Illinois.
Cravens, Fadjo, Jr., 2100 South “W”, Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Crayons, Mrs. Kate Sparks Bemis, 2100 South “W’, Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Creech, Mrs. Maude, 205 Osage St., Leavenworth, Kansas,
Crowell, Mrs. Cecil, Orient, Illinois.
Dahle, Mrs. Bethea, 392 No. Main St., Logan, Utah.
Davis, Mrs. Bertha J., 1700 Harrison Blvd., Boise, Idaho.
Davis, Mrs. Martha Sparks, 2501 Montgomery Ave., Ashland, Kentucky.
Dean, George C., 826 W. Rugby Ave., College Park, Georgia.
Diamond, Mrs. Hattie Sparks, Star Route, Louisa, Kentucky.
Dorsey, Mrs. Annie C., 601 Polk St., Marietta, Georgia.
Douglas, Mrs. Sara Lynch Sparks, 2010 Bailie Ave., McKeesport, Pennsylvania.
Dowell, Mrs. W. M., Pleasant Hill, Louisiana.
Edwards, A. B., 291 N. Hawkins Ave., Akron 13, Ohio.
Elliott, Mrs. Margaret Sparks, 19 Whatley St., S,E., Lakewood Heights, Atlanta 15, Georgia.

Ellis, Walter S., 1210 E. 9th St., Muncie, Indiana
Ely, Robert Joseph, 5523 North Parkside Ave., Chicago 30, Illinois.
Ericksen, Mrs. Elizabethe Sparks, 225 N. Prospect, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Evans, Mrs. Christina, R.R. 1, Bozeman, Montana.
Fairchild, Mrs. A. R., Sr.; 6438 Vermont Ave., St, Louis 11, Missouri.
Faligatter, Mrs. Bessie Turner, 1670 Newport St., Denver 20, Colorado.
Farley, Mrs. Lynne McConnell, 4347 Tenth Ave., South, Birmingham 5, Alabama.
Field, Mrs. Elizabeth S., 1813 Lewis Lane, Owensboro, Kentucky.
Fisher, Mrs. Carl J., Box 208, Rt. 1, Gaston, Indiana.
Fisher, Mrs. Eula Sparks, 116 S. Taylor Ave., Montebello, California.
Ford, Mrs. W. R., Rhome, Texas.
Foster, Mrs. Dorothy Sparks, 524 N. Perkins St., Rushville, Indiana.
Franklin, Mrs. Mary W., 3322 Altura Ave., La Cresoenta, California.
Frazier, Barto, 4041 West Carroll St., Chicago 24, Illinois.
Freeman, Mrs. Zula Beatrice Tyson, Rt. 4, Cameron, Texas.
Gamble, Shannon M., Aladdin Road, Lookout Mountain, Tennessee.
Gibbons, Mrs. Ethel Sparks, P.O. Box 6~, Argyle, Texas.
Gibson, J. Frank, 305 N. MacDonald, Mesa, Arizona.
Gibson, Robert 0., 330 N. 9th, Los Vegas, Nevada.
Graham, Mrs. Dewey Sparks, 2998 Massillon Rd., Akron 12, Ohio.
Hackworth, Mrs. Mary Ellen, Box 230, Shelbyville, Kentucky.
Hammill, Mrs. Nola Jane Sparks, 2073 La Cresta Drive, Salt Lake City 17, Utah.
Hammond, Elizabeth S., Rural Route 1, Pleasureville, Kentucky.
Hanby, Ione F., 1021 Country Club Rd., Wilmington, North Carolina.
Harper, Mrs. Adelle, 134 W. Pace’s Ferry Rd., N.W., Atlanta 5, Georgia.
Harris, Mrs. Olive M. Wagner, 964 B. Center, Provo, Utah.
Harrison, Miss Lucy, 501 East 28th St., Bryan, Texas.
Heider, Mrs. Dorothy Stephens, 410 Greenleaf, Glencoe, Illinois.
Henshall, Mrs. G. K., R.D. 6, Jenkins Road, Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Henson, Mrs. Mary Ellen, Rt. 3, Box 97, Olive Hill, Kentucky.
Holbrook, Mrs. Anna Jane, 11,000 Montgomery Rd., Beltsville, Maryland.
Holbrook, J. Olin, P.O. Box 852, Naples, Florida.
Hood, Mrs. Vera Dove, Box 112, Katy, Texas.
Hooker, Mrs. Darthula Williamson, Apt. 2-A, Belle Meade Apts., Belle Meads Blvd., Nashville, Tennessee.
Hord, Mrs. Doris Sparks, Ivory Hill Farm, West Friendship, Maryland.
Hord, Mrs. Ruth Katheryn Smith, Creston, California.
Huffer, Mrs. Enos G., 1328 Noble Ave., Springfield, Illinois.
Hughes, Mrs. Robert A., 12 Hanley Downs, St. Louis 17, Missouri.
Ison, Ira Paulus, Stephens, Kentucky.
Jackson, Mrs. B. W., 609 Franklin Ave., Moberly, Missouri.
Jacobs, Mrs. Sarah G., 637 B. 2nd Ave., Mesa, Arizona.
Johnson, Huston B., 123 South West Temple, Salt Lake City 1, Utah.
Johnson, Mrs. Marion Sparks, Apt. 8-B, 608 Forest Rd., Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Johnson, William Perry, Box 531, Raleigh, North Carolina.
Johnson, William Ward, 115 Front St., Marblehead, Massachusetts.
Jones, Mrs. Ida H., 119 Oakwood Drive, Winston-Salem 7, North Carolina.
Jones, Mrs. John B., 1141 East 5th Ave., Mesa, Arizona.
Jones, Mrs. Mary Turner, 4430 King St., Denver 21, Colorado.
Jurney, R. L., 507 N. Jefferson St., Mt. Pleasant, Texas.
Kelly, Mrs. Stella, 1153 S.W. 7th St., Miami 36, Florida.
Kennedy, Clyde W., 1117 S. Harrison St., Shelbyville, Indiana.
King, Mrs. Catherine A., 443 Exchange, Crete, Illinois.
King, Mrs. Minerva, 8105 Fremont Ave., Seattle 3, Washington.
Lawler, A. Ethel, 512 Western Ave., Wheaton, Illinois.
Lawrence, Mrs. Lucy Sparks, La Mesa, New Mexico.
Lawton, Mrs. Leota, Plymouth, Illinois.

Loy, Mrs. Ella Nash, 719 S. Keystone Ave., Clearwater, Florida.
McGregor, Mrs. Hazel Burcham, 511 East 8th St., Loveland, Colorado.
McHenry, Mrs. Thomas, 1132 Church St., Ambridge, Pennsylvania.
McKay, Mrs. Bess S., 2601 Bishop Dr., Apt. F, Bakersfield, California.
McPherson, Mrs. Jesse Sparks, Apt 5, 1965 Bonifacio St., Concord, California.
Maley, Mrs. Bob, 1811 Manzania Rd., Box 768, Carlsbad, New Mexico.
Martin, Mrs. Charity S., 27 S. College St., Washington, Pennsylvania.
Matthews, Mrs. Mary R. Sparks, 3202 North Fircroft Ave., Covina, California.
Melton, James Carroll, 7662 Maury Arch., Norfolk 5, Virginia.
Mewhinney, Mrs. Stella McKay, Rogers, Texas.
Morgan, Mrs. Annie Sue B., 3008 Ave. F, Ensley 8, Alabama.
Murphy, Mrs. Dorothy Sparks, 952 Donald Ave., Akron 6, Ohio.
Newcomb, Mi’s. Helen Foster, White Marsh, Virginia.
Norris, Mrs. Edna Sparks, 51 Los Laureles Ave., Salinas, California.
Norris, Mrs. Ella Sparks, 2132 Wrocklage Ave., Louisville, Kentucky.
Odenkirchen, Mrs. Jeanette Rogers, 834 Washington Road, Pittsburgh 28, Pennsylvania.
Perron, Mrs. Hazel, Box 725, Shoshone, Idaho.
Peters, Mrs. Evelyn Cole, 2001 W. 103rd St., Chicago 43, Illinois.
Phillips, Mrs. Lila D., 211 B. Smiley St., Opelousas, Louisiana.
Pierce, Mrs. Howard K., 3615 Oneida, Wichita 14, Kansas.
Pierce, Rita M. 158 S. Sycamore, El Paso, Illinois.
Pierce, Mrs. Una May Sparks, 2851 Ewald Circle, Detroit 38, Michigan.
Pitcher, Mrs. Max, 3170 Broadway, Apt. 3-H, New York 27, New York.
Pitzer, Mrs. Harvey, Box 64, Ericson, Nebraska.
Powers, Helen Sparks, 2132 Wrocklage Ave., Louisville 5, Kentucky.
Ray, Mrs. Ione Sparks, 2149 Crittenden Dr., Louisville 17, Kentucky.
Redden, Mrs. Thelma, 1419 W. Hollywood Ave., Chicago 26, Illinois.
Robbins, Mrs. Helen Sparks, 1916 Blue Ridge Road, Charlottesville, Virginia.
Robbins, William M., 7350 S. University Ave., Chicago 19, Illinois.
Roberts, Victoria, Box 1149, Rt. 3, Camden Rd., Wadesboro, North Carolina.
Roberts, Mrs. Victoria, Rt. 3, Box 449, Wadesboro, North Carolina.
Robertson, Col. William C., III, 416 Millaudon St., New Orleans 18, Louisiana.
Robson, Mildred, 401 Elm St., Gordon, Nebraska.
Rode, Mrs. Florence K., 125 Wheeler Ave., Los Gatos, California.
Rodgers, Mrs. M. E., 131 E. Broadway, Girard, Ohio.
Rose, C. C., Keaton, Kentucky.
Rosenkrans, Ruth Sparks, P.O. Box 126, Waynesboro, Virginia.
Rust, Mrs. Lillian Sparks, Orderville, Utah.
Sauer, Mrs. Pearl, 4414 Ocean Beach, Long View, Washington.
Scaggs, Mrs. William, Rt. 2, Hillsboro, Kentucky.
Scott, Arthur B., Jr., 3809 Lamont, Corpus Christi, Texas.
Seals, Miss Mildred, 2312 Highland Ave., Apt. 8, Birmingham 5, Alabama.
Sears, Richard Duane, R. R. 1, Bates City, Missouri.
Selden, Mrs. Claudine Sparks, Box 614, San Augustine, Texas.
Sherman, Mrs. Robert Miller, 2807 Washington Ave., Waco, Texas.
Simpson, Mrs. W. A., Delsea Dr., Harffville, Sewell, New Jersey.
Singletary, Mrs. Margaret Sparks, “The Mill Place Plantation,” Blakely, Georgia.
Sisk, Pauline Sparks, Rt. 2, Powell, Tennessee.
Slater, Mrs. Beulah M., Box 31, Keystone Rt., Rapid City, South Dakota.
Slaughter, Mrs. Jane Elizabeth Sparks, 418 W. Vestal, San Antonio 21, Texas.
Slayden, Mrs. Marie S., 3705 N. 24th St., Waco, Texas.
Smith, Maj. Charles H., 213 Dewey St., Edgewood; Pittsburgh 18, Pennsylvania.
Smith, Col. Clifton S., 206 N. Mayo St., Compton, California.
Smith, Edwin Forrest, Rt. 3, Box 6-A, Fioresville, Texas.
Smith, Mrs. Margaret Sparks, 7958 Nichols St., Lemon Grove, California.
Smith, Mrs. Howard E., 1107 Oak Ave., Ashland, Kentucky.
Smith, Mrs. Martha Sparks, 81 President Ave., Providence 6, Rhode Island.

Spalding, Mrs. Genevieve Sparks, 172 Rumson Road, N.E., Atlanta 5, Georgia.
Sparkes, S. D., 7236 Dalewood Lane, Dallas 14, Texas.
Sparkes, Samuel Lee, 2708 Westwood Ave., Nashville, Tennessee.
Sparks, Rev. A. Harold, 1515 Boston, Waterloo, Iowa.
Sparks, A. O. B., 1121 Oak Cliff Road, Macon, Georgia.
Sparks, Dr. Alan L., 5466 N. Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis 20, Indiana.
Sparks, Miss Alice May, Rt. 2, Sheller Rd., Sunnyside, Washington.
Sparks, Allen Leroy, 1408 Justice Dr., Port Lavaca, Texas.
Sparks, Miss Amy, Apt. C, 710 N.W. 29th St., Oklahoma City 3, Texas.
Sparks, Sir Ashley, “Northaw”, Syosset, Long Island, New York.
Sparks, Dr. Aubrey L., 1180 Maywood N.W., Warren, Ohio.
Sparks, Miss Beatrice M., 1152 West Sixth Ave., Columbus 12, Ohio.
Sparks, Ben, Jr., 906 Fourth Ave., Brunswick, Georgia.
Sparks, Dr. Bernard Iverson, P.O. Box 549, Mayfield, Kentucky.
Sparks, Bert L., 75 McNaughton St., Akron 5, Ohio.
Sparks, Bradley, 301 North Main, Greenville, Kentucky.
Sparks, Carra F., 2204 Harrod St., Ashland, Kentucky.
Sparks, Charles A., 496 Mt. Vernon Rd., N.E., Atlanta 19, Georgia.
Sparks, Charles E., 2539 Vermont St., Quincy, Illinois.
Sparks, Charles Edward, 2437 Hillview Dr., Fort Worth, Texas.
Sparks, Charles Harrison, 1610 North 25th, Lawton, Oklahoma.
Sparks, Charles P., 24 Bauer Place, Westport, Connecticut.
Sparks, Charles Reed, II, 4825 Matilda St., Dallas 6, Texas.
Sparks, Hon. Chauncey, Eufaula, Alabama.
Sparks, Chilton Veach, 44934 Joy Road, Plymouth, Michigan.
Sparks, Clarence B., 2004 Woodreeve Rd., Washington 18, D.C.
Sparks, Claude E., Rt. 2, Union, South Carolina.
Sparks, Clifton, 5347 President Ave., N. Highland, California.
Sparks, Dr. Clyde C., 312 Mayo Arcade Bldg., Ashland, Kentucky.
Sparks, Conan W., 1007 Summit, Henryetta, Oklahoma.
Sparks, Rev. D. Chester, President. The Oneida Institute, Oneida, Kentucky.
Sparks, David A., 7601 Lewis River Road, Ariel, Washington.
Sparks, Mrs. David H., 1520 7th Ave., West, Birmingham 4, Alabama.
Sparks, Delmar H., 232 Thurston, Los Gatos, California.
Sparks, Delmon D,, 10875 Sparton Rd., La Sierra, California.
Sparks, Miss Delphine, 2016 Mira Vista Dr., El Cerrito 6, California.
Sparks, Derril C., 265 W. Bonneville Dr., Idaho Falls, Idaho.
Sparks, Douglas Wilbur, P.O. Box 27, Woodland, Washington.
Sparks, Dwight H., 2551 Edgevale Rd., Columbus 21, Ohio.
Sparks, E. Clyde, Chestertown, Maryland.
Sparks, Early Jack, 4618 R 1/2, Galveston, Texas.
Sparks, Edgar H., Jr., Q Harrison Ave., Raleigh, North Carolina.
Sparks, Edward Byron, Sr., 143 No. Greenwood Ave., Ft. Smith, Arkansas.
Sparks, Edward J., Ambassador--Venezuela, American Embasy, Caracas, Venezuela.
Sparks, Elmer H., 692 Westminster H. Rd., Fitchburg, Massachusetts.
Sparks, Emerson T., 3544 3rd Ave., North, St. Petersburg 13, Florida.
Sparks, Lt. Col. Enoch P., ACS/Support, Opns., AOMC, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.
Sparks, Ernest LeRoy, Box 4519 San Augustine, Texas.
Sparks, Mrs. E:rnest R., Drawer Q, San Augustine, Texas.
Sparks, Mrs. Ethel Sparks, 1205 Riverton Rd., Riverton, New Jersey.
Sparks, Felix L., 7900 W. 23rd Ave., Denver 15, Colorado.
Sparks, Floyd B., Rt. 2, Saranac, Michigan.
Sparks, Mrs. Frances, 1202 W. Washington Ave., Santa Ana, California.
Sparks, Frank E., Rt. 1, Box 207, Little Rock, Arkansas.
Sparks, Franklin D.. 108 N. Roys Ave., Columbus 4, Ohio.
Sparks, Franklin H., 2306 Chamberlain Ave., Chattanooga 4, Tennessee.
Sparks, Fred C., 1119 Plymouth Rd., S.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Sparks, Dr. Fred W., 944 Richmond Dr., Claremont, California.
Sparks, Garland C., Box 89, Stamford, Texas.
Sparks, George H., P.O. Box 242, East Point, Georgia.
Sparks, George 0., Sr., 7460 S. W. 33rd St., Miami, Florida.
Sparks, George 0., Jr., 5528 Midwood Ave., Baltimore 12, Maryland.
Sparks, George W., Plevna, Montana.
Sparks, George W., Box 165, MacArthur, West Virginia.
Sparks, George Wood, 4516 Peachtree Circle, B., Jacksonville 7, Florida.
Sparks, Gerald, 150 East 56th St., New York 22, New York.
Sparks, Miss Gertrude, 804 East Lexington Blvd, Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Sparks, Grant, 1040 Bridge St., Philadelphia 24, Pennsylvania.
Sparks, H. Warren, 3527 Vinecrest, Dallas 29, Texas.
Sparks, Harry L., R.R. 3, Milton, Kentucky.
Sparks, Dr. Harry M., 1318 Wells Blvd., Murray, Kentucky.
Sparks, Harry P., 28 Stedman St., Wakefield, Massachusetts.
Sparks, Helen, 2319 Merton Ave., Apt. 3, Los Angeles 41, California.
Sparks, Henry C., Washington, Georgia.
Sparks, Henry Hatcil, Only, Tennessee.
Sparks, Hewey, Martha, Kentucky.
Sparks, Mrs. Isabelle, 416 Woodvale lane, Birmingham 9, Alabama.
Sparks, Miss Ivora M., Socor, Illinois.
Sparks, J. F., 913 N. Rexford Dr., Beverly Hills, California.
Sparks, J. Gerald, 711-39 “A” St., N., Great Falls, Montana.
Sparks, J. Kent, Rt. 5, Linden, Tennessee.
Sparks, Jack B., 1405 H. Street, Rerrbon 2, Washington.
Sparks, James, 5508 McKinley St., Bethesda, Maryland.
Sparks, James A., Rural Hall, North Carolina.
Sparks, James D., 2104 Island Dr., Monroe, Louisiana.
Sparks, James D., 8714 Lupton Lane, Houston 24, Texas.
Sparks, James Douglas, 1105 Orlin Pk. Dr., Idaho Falls, Idaho.
Sparks, James F., 1920 Burrell Ave.., Lowiston, Idaho.
Sparks, Jerimy N., Box 184 L.V.S.R., Lucerne Valley, California.
Sparks, Jim T., 1201 Larkwood Dr., Austin 5, Texas.
Sparks, John, Mount Airy, White Post, Virginia.
Sparks, John Doane, 111 B. 38th St., Indianapolis 5, Indiana.
Sparks, John Dudley, Chester, Maryland.
Sparks, John L., R.F.D. 1, Brattleboro, Vermont.
Sparks, John Norvil, 320 First St., W., Madison, West Virginia.
Sparks, John Will, Box 85, Grahn, Kentucky.
Sparks, Chaplain (Lt. Col.) John William, Frankfurt Central Chapel, A.P.0. 757, New York, New York.
Sparks, Miss Joy, 517 Windsor, Lakeland, Florida.
Sparks, Karl A., 14180 S.E. Hawthorne Ct., Portland 33, Oregon.
Sparks, King, Jr., 2104 Chestnut Rd., Vestavia, Birmingham 9, Alabama.
Sparks, LaVomn G., 1953 Pontius ATe., Los Angeles 25, California.
Sparks, Col. Leonard C., U.S.A. Ret’d., 4545 Connecticut Ave., Washington 8, D.C.
Sparks, Lewis William Calton, 1740 Carr St., Lakewood 15, Colorado.
Sparks, Louis Otto, l26l 1/2 Cherokee St., Denver, 4, Colorado.
Sparks, Miss Lucile, Lynnville, Iowa.
Sparks, Miss Lucile, Isola, Mississippi.
Sparks, M.A., P.O. Box 542, Charlottesville, Virginia.
Sparks, Marco, 4320 Zenopia St., Denver 12, Colorado.
Sparks, Mrs. Mary A., Box 512, Lovell, Wyoming.
Sparks, Miss Mary Louise, 60 Pinckney St., Boston 14, Massachusetts.
Sparks, Mrs. Mary Sue, 155 N. lute Ave., Louisville 6, Kentucky.
Sparks, Maynard Earl, Rt. 1, Box 437, Graham, Washington.

Sparks, Merrill, 3672 Fredonia Drive, Hollywood 28, California.
Sparks, Morris Cormell, c/o Eli Lilly & Co., 740 S. Alabama, Indianapolis 6, Md.
Sparks, O. A., Rt. 1, Clio, Iowa.
Sparks, Oliver O., 313 “B” St., Apt. 12, Belton, Missouri.
Sparks, Oscar Glenn, 3215 So. Vernon Ave., Dallas 24, Texas.
Sparks, Otho O., P. 0. Box 12382, Fort Worth 16, Texas.
Sparks, Parish, U.S. No. 23, South, Louisa, Kentucky.
Sparks, Dr. Paul B., 155 North Hite Ave., Louisville 6, Kentucky.
Sparks, Dr. Paul Reed, Sterling Acres, Sunset Rd., Burlington, New Jersey.
Sparks, Mrs. Pearl A., 9866 Lawlor St., Oakland 5, California.
Sparks, Perry Hawkins, Postmaster, Box 127, Hamlin, Texas.
Sparks, Peter W., Box 14, Bladensburg, Maryland.
Sparks, Phyllis Jean, 206 B. Bridge St., Streator, Illinois.
Sparks, R. N., Martha, Kentucky.
Sparks, Ralph C., 314 Westhill Place, San Antonio 1, Texas.
Sparks, Ralph Elsworth, Box 256, Encino, New Mexico.
Sparks, Ralph Emerson, 316 N. Ave. 50, Los Angeles 42, California.
Sparks, Ray M., 2206 Junius, San Angelo, Texas.
Sparks, Reuben K., Woodward, Oklahoma.
Sparks, Robert, Box 204, Thatcher, Arizona.
Sparks, Robert L., 155 N. Hite Ave., Louisville 6, Kentucky.
Sparks, Robert L., 199 Avery Drive, N.E., Atlanta 9, Georgia.
Sparks, Robert S., 5752 Valley Oak Drive, Hollywood 28, California.
Sparks, Robert W., IV, Box 293, Orange, Virginia.
Sparks, Robert Warren, 3117 Melbourn, Fort Worth 17, Texas.
Sparks, Robert Wilson, 1112 Colborne Crescent, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Sparks, Rosa, Box 354, Louisa, Kentucky.
Sparks, Roy Baker, 1527 W. 57th St., Seattle 7, Washington.
Sparks, Ruth A., 1844 Kleber St., Pittsburgh 12, Pennsylvania.
Sparks, Mrs. Ruth M., 5066 Debby Dr., San Diego 15, California.
Sparks, S. H., R.D. 8, Box 197, Greensburg, Pennsylvania.
Sparks, Dr. Samuel Fleming, 7523 Scyene Rd., Dallas 27, Texas.
Sparks, Samuel R., Santa Rosa, Texas.
Sparks, Sherwood E., Lawton, West Virginia.
Sparks, T. C., 1005 MacLish, Ardmore, Oklahoma.
Sparks, Thomas E., 3922 Starlite Lane, Corpus Christe, Texas.
Sparks, Van J., P.O. Box 118, Neodesha, Kansas.
Sparks, Miss Vesta, 202 B. Elm St., Sabina, Ohio.
Sparks, Miss Vivian M., Rt. 1, Box 27F, Bandy, Virginia.
Sparks, Walter William, Iverness, Mississippi.
Sparks, Mrs. Wanda, Box 308, Thatcher, Arizona.
Sparks, Mrs. William, 1510 Siegfried, Victoria, Texas.
Sparks, William Clark, 2712 Donnybrook, Tyler, Texas.
Sparks, William Newell, 9210 Cordell Mews, Los Angeles 46, California.
Sparks, Willie, Rt. 1, 4244 Leppert Rd., Hilliards, Ohio.
Sparks, Winfred C., 1530 B. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend 17, Indiana.
Sparks, Winston O., 3401 Reed, Fort Worth 19, Texas.
Stanley, Mrs. Esther, P.O. Box 36, Connersville, Indiana.
Stephens, Mrs. Lucia A., 2617 N.E. 19th Ave., Portland 12, Oregon.
Stewart, George, 505 N. 14th St., Herrin, Illinois.
Stewart, M/Sgt. William E., c/o Cecil Crowell, Orient, Illinois.
Strother, Miss Mary Inez, c/o Jack L Strother, Grayson, Kentucky.
Tarman, Mrs. Hazle T., 457 West Main St., El Paso, Illinois.
Taylor, Mrs. Lawrence, 8003 Arletta, Houston 17, Texas.
Taylor, Mrs. Olive Sparks, Box 44, N. Stony Rd., Ponder, Texas.
Thale, Dr. James Sparks, 2749 Woodbine Ave., Evanston, Illinois.
Thompson, Mrs. Floren Jr., 1715 So. Ave. M, Portales, New Mexico.

Tiffin, Mrs. Katie S., Box 237, Red Bay, Alabama.
Vana, Mrs. Jessie Nickerson, 503 No. Center St., Marshalitown, Iowa.
Waite, Mrs. Russell, 1301 S. 3rd Ave., Wausau, Wisconsin.
Walker, Mrs. Ann Lee Gandy, 5918 Vanderbilt Ave., Dallas 6, Texas.
Wallin, Mrs. Edith Sparks, Box 345, Grant, Nebraska.
Ward, Alan Sparks, 205 B. 66th St., Apt. 60, New York 21, New York.
Ward, Ruth Anna, 120-10th St., Manhattan Beach, California.
Weaver, Mrs. Frances Sparks, Box 619, San Augustine, Texas.
Webb, Mrs. Hazel Sparks, 1608 Weber Rd., Columbus 11, Ohio.
West, Mrs. Lois Weatherspoon, 640 W. Main St., Gallatin, Tennessee.
Wheeler, Mrs. A. S., Rt. 2, Union, South Carolina.
Williams, Robert A., Box 100, Christian, West Virginia.
Williamson, Mrs. Eva., 639 Riverview Drive, Dravosburg, Pennsylvania.
Wilson, M. Ward, 2092 Jefferson Ave., St. Paul 5, Minnesota.
Wood, Mrs. Ruth Sparks, Pleasureville, Kentucky.
Wyles, Mrs. Walter, Rt. 3, Greenwick Rd., Lexington, Kentucky.

A GLANCE BACKWARD

THE SPARKS FAMILY ASSOCIATION AT AGE TWENTY-FIVE

By Russell E. Bidlack

With the publication of the December 1977 issue of THE SPARKS QUARTERLY (Vol. XXV, No. 14, Whole No. 100), THE SPARKS FAMILY ASSOCIATION closed the 25th year of its history. As we enter our second quarter-century, perhaps your editor may be forgiven if he uses some space to reminisce (a sure sign of maturity if not old age). Perhaps he may also be forgiven for the abandonment of the editorial second person on this occasion.

My own interest in genealogy had its beginning while I was a junior in college in 1940. A favorite English professor, Dr. Harold Francis Watson, in explaining the historical events portrayed in a play by Shakespeare or a novel by Hawthorne, would frequently refer to the whereabouts of one of his ancestors during that episode in English or American history. Thinking how much more interesting the study of the past would be if one could relate his own family to historical events, I asked Dr. Watson after class one day how a person might go about tracing his ancestry. After a long pause, Dr. Watson responded: "I hesitate to tell you because the genealogical bug may bite you, in which case you will be lost forever." He did tell me, however, and I began the search--the genealogical bug did bite and, indeed, I have been a victim of this fascinating hobby ever since.

While serving in the U.S. Army in 1942, I was married to my college sweetheart, Melva Helen Sparks. Having searched my own family lines quite extensively by this time, it was natural that I should pursue my wife's ancestry also, which, incidentally, helped to establish a close friendship with my father-in-law, Oral A. Sparks; he entered enthusiastically into the search with me. We soon traced the Sparks line from Iowa, to Missouri, then to the Wilkes-Surry County area of North Carolina.

In 1944, I found a reference in a genealogical handbook to a William Perry Johnson who was also interested in the Sparks family of Wilkes and Surry Counties in North Carolina. A correspondence was begun that has continued ever since. At that time (1944), Mr. Johnson was living in Los Angeles after having served a brief time in the U.S. Army. In his reply to my query, he revealed that he had become interested in family history when he was only 16 years old. After a decade of research, he was then considering whether he might make a professional career of genealogy. This he subsequently did, and William Perry Johnson is recognized today as one of the leading professional genealogists in the country.

It was in December 1951 that the third member of the "triumvirate" that would found THE SPARKS FAMILY ASSOCIATION was added. I had written to a Rev. Bailey F. Davis in Franklin, Kentucky, who had published a query in a magazine called Genealogy and History regarding his wife's Sparks line. In his reply, dated December 19, 1951, the Rev. Mr Davis noted: "I was in the Filson Club (in Louisville) recently and a man came in and took a chair at my table. Soon I heard him discoursing with the librarian on the Sparks family so I 'nosed in'." He went on to say that this man was interested primarily in the Sparkses of Lawrence County, Kentucky. "He had his line sketched on brown paper and I glanced at it. ... His name and address is Paul Sparks, 155 North Hite, Louisville 6, Ky."

As it turned out, Paul Sparks had recently contacted Mr. Johnson, and it was soon discovered that Paul's ancestors had come to Kentucky from the same part of North Carolina where my wife's family and that of William had lived. Paul's interest in genealogy had grown out of his close personal relationship with his grandfather, Colby Sparks, with whom he had lived following the death of his mother in 1922.  Colby Sparks, who died on June 3, 1951, at the age of 93 loved to reminisce about his forefathers and pioneer times and, with his passing, Paul had begun genealogical research to add to the store of family lore that his grandfather has passed on to him.

The three of us, William, Paul, and I, began exchanging the Sparks data we had collected, sharing our records and our speculations regarding family relationships. It usually happens that, when serious genealogical researchers pursue a family, the search extends much beyond their own direct ancestors, and the three of us gradually realized that we were building up an extensive data base on the Sparks family throughout America. We found ourselves in a position to assist other researchers concerned with branches of the Sparks family in no way connected with our own.

The genesis of THE SPARKS FAMILY ASSOCIATION is found in a letter that William P. Johnson wrote to Paul Sparks and me on February 21, 1953: "In view of the fact that our Sparks research is no longer a matter of local interest or magnitude, but has grown to national proportion (or, as the old lady said, 'My family tree has now become a forest'), I suggest that we organize a Sparks Family Association, or some such title, and publish a small quarterly sheet devoted to family history and genealogy. Call the publication THE SPARKS BULLETIN, for example, have a membership roll, and charge a fee of $1.00 per year, which entitles the member to receive also the publication."

My own response to William's plan was that, while I found the idea of an association and a family publication intriguing, I simply could not give time to such a project until I had completed my doctoral studies then in progress at the University of Michigan--I was determined to finish my dissertation by the spring of 1954. The founding of THE SPARKS FAMILY ASSOCIATION was, therefore, primarily the project of William Perry Johnson and Paul E. Sparks, although I did agree to take the post of Secretary-Treasurer. Paul became President of the Association and William accepted the title Historian-Genealogist. Paul assumed responsibility also for editing, publishing, and mailing what we finally agreed should be called THE SPARKS QUARTERLY.  The first issue was dated March 1953.

Members who own the complete file of the QUARTERLY may finding it interesting to read in the first issue the statement regarding what we were attempting to do, including a sketch of how each of us had become interested in the history of the Sparks family. A sentence from that statement may be worth quoting here: "Since the three officers and founders of THE SPARKS FAMILY ASSOCIATION were born between 1910 and 1920, they look forward to at least half a century of activity in the Association." Well--thus far we have kept half of that promise, haven't we?

At least three hundred family associations such as that of the Sparks family have been founded in the United States through the years, but very few have survived for a quarter of a century and rarely has such an organization enjoyed the generous degree of financial support from its membership as has THE SPARKS FAMILY ASSOCIATION. The primary reason for our financial stability has been the provision for different kinds of memberships and different dues structures. Initially there were two memberships, with "active" at $1.00 per year and "sustaining" at any amount which the individual member wished to contribute. Later, active membership was increased to $2.00 and then to the present $3.00, and a contributing membership was added ($14.00). As the 1977 financial report of the Secretary-Treasurer clearly indicates, it is the sustaining membership that has provided the extra margin of support which has proven to be so vital. In 1977, out of our total of 544 paid memberships, 243 paid sustaining membership dues ranging from $5.00 to $200.00.

As we invited persons with Sparks ancestry to join the new Association, there were many who laughed at our plan, especially our goal of a membership of 300. One rather well-to-do Sparks expressed his skepticism by saying, "If you can ever persuade as many as 300 people to join, I'll give you $100." He never expected to have to pay up, but he did, in 1955.

As the membership grew, the QUARTERLY increased from its original six pages to ten and then to a minimum of 20. In September 1954, I succeeded Paul as editor; my doctoral studies at the University of Michigan had been completed while his at Indiana University were beginning at that point.

As is repeated in each issue of the QUARTERLY, the ASSOCIATION was founded "as a non-profit organization devoted to the assembling and preserving of genealogical and historical materials pertaining to the Sparks Family in America." As the annual financial report of the Secretary-Treasurer to the membership indicates, all monies received are used to conduct research and to publish THE SPARKS QUARTERLY. The countless hours that have been devoted to this project by the three officers represent for each of us a "labor of love." Only with this kind of personal commitment can a family magazine survive.

The Sparks "family" encompassed in our project includes dozens of individual Sparks families that are in no way related--there is no common ancestor for all persons named Sparks in America. THE SPARKS FAMILY ASSOCIATION is not a social organization, and THE SPARKS QUARTERLY is concerned only with Sparks history and genealogy, not the personal activities of its members. We have not held, nor do we contemplate holding, any kind of family reunion. Our communication with our members is through correspondence and the QUARTERLY, in which we are always happy to include genealogical queries. Some individual branches of the Sparks family do hold reunions and other social events, of course.

Our total paid membership reached its highest figure, appropriately, in our 25^th year, with a total of 544. Likewise, the Association's income reached an all-time high in 1977 of $4,714.02. Because the study of family history has always had greater appeal to people of retirement age than to youth, few of our charter members are still living (for example, only 18 of our first 100 members remain with us). Furthermore, the interest in genealogy of many who join the Association is short-lived, so it is essential that we try constantly to attract new members. New members frequently provide new data, of course, on some branch of the family. Paul Sparks has made a special effort, at his own expense, to acquaint potentially interested people in our project. Each year he mails invitations to scores of persons named Sparks whose addresses he has found in telephone books or that have been supplied by our members. Over the past 25 years, a total of 1,691 individuals have been members of the Association at one time or another.

We are sometimes asked, having published nearly 2,000 pages of Sparks history and genealogy in the QUARTERLY, how much longer we will have new material to publish. The answer is that we cannot imagine a time when we will have nothing more to add. We have on hand enough to fill several thousand pages, and more is added nearly every day. Our chief problem is to find time to organize these data for publication.

Photographs of the three founders and officers of the ASSOCIATION appeared in early issues of the QUARTERLY: that of Paul Sparks appeared on the cover of the issue for September 1956; William P. Johnson, with pictures in the background of 214 of his ancestors, was featured on the cover of the March 1957 issue; while my picture appeared in March 1959. It will be noted that we all appear on the cover of the present issue and that the years have taken their toll. We promise to appear again, properly aged, when we celebrate the close of the ASSOCIATION'S 50th year--in 2002!

The index covering the issues of the QUARTERLY for the years 1968-1962 was mailed to the Association members last April. Comprising some 77 pages, this index was a labor of love for several individuals. Mrs. Martha Sparks Davis of Ashland, Kentucky, did much of the initial work of making the card file, as did also Dr. Paul E. Sparks and the editor. The person who contributed the most time and effort to get the work actaully ready for the printer, however, was Mrs. James Y. Jamieson of 304 Sycamore St., Falls Church, Virginia. Mrs. Jainieson is deserving of the personal thanks of every member of the Association.

The cost of issuing the index was as follows;

Materials	$ 27.00
Printing	436.54
Envelopes	34.07
Postage	76.85
Total	$574.46

Since the membership dues to the Association were inadequate to cover this added expense, an appeal was made to each member to contribute toward the publishing of the index. Thus far, 102 members have contributed a total of $452.50. In this amount is included a check for $100.00 from a member who wishes to remain anonymous. If any member failed to receive his copy of the index, please inform the editor and one will be sent.

MEMBERSHIP DUES FOR 1966. Membership dues for 1966 have now been received from all but about one hundred of our members. A reminder is being enclosed with this issue for those who have not paid.

It was in March 1953 that we mailed the first six-page issue of The Sparks Quarterly to a number of people whom we thought might be interested in joining an organization whose purpose it would be to publish Sparks family records. In that first issue, the founders identified themselves as three young men "born between 1910 and 1920" who could "look forward to at least half a century of activity in the Association." We have now met 80 percent of that pledge, having completed our fortieth year with the appearance of the December 1992 issue of the Quarterly, No. 160, the last page of which was numbered 4062.

Unfortunately, only two of the triumvirate now remain: Paul E. Sparks and Russell E. Bidlack. William P. Johnson, whose idea it was to form the Association, died in 1980.

At the end of our first year, 1953, our membership totaled 163 individuals, who had paid $237.00 in annual dues. (Active membership dues were then only $1.00, while contributing dues were $2.00, and sustaining dues were any amount over $2.00.) Today we have over 1,000 members, and the dues received in 1992 totaled $15,480.25. The Quarterly has increased in size from six pages to 40 (sometimes more). Many people who have joined the Association during the past forty years have died, of course, while others have simply dropped their membership. In fact, a total of 3,331 individuals, at one time or another, have been members of the Association.

In the September 1953 issue of the Quarterly, we listed by name the 120 individuals who had joined the Association by that time. If we consider these to be our "charter members," it is interesting to note that only ten of the 120 are among our members today. These special few are the following:  

Ina Sparks Bassett, 1730 Rochelle Parkway, Merritt Island, FL 32952-5661
Elden G. Burcham, P.O. Box 1471, North Platte, NE 69103
Lentini Sparks Combs, 6390 Shiloh Springs Rd., Dayton, OH 45426J. Olin Holbrook, 528
Broad Ave., S., Naples, FL 33940
Dorothy Sparks Murphy, 952 Donald Ave., Akron, OH 44306
Rev. A. Harold Sparks, 500 1st St., N., #303, Newton, IA 50208-3104
Delmon D. Sparks, P.O. Box 875, Monrovia, CA 91017
Emerson T. Sparks, Rt. 1, Box 399A, Arrington, VA 22922
Robert W. Sparks, IV, 10604 Baypines Lane, Richmond, VA 23233-3405
Sherwood E. Sparks, P.O. Box 1664, Beckley, WV 25802-1664