March 15, 2020
Pages 1618
Whole Number 84
SOME SPARKSES WHO WERE BUSINESMEN NINETY YEARS AGO
In 1883-84, the United States Central Publishing Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, published a 1,290-page directory entitled The Southern Business Guide. The book was described as "containing the name, business, and address of the leading merchants, manufacturers and business men of the southern states." Included were Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. St. Louis was the largest city in the directory with a population of 350,522. She was followed by Baltimore (332,313), New Orleans (216,1140), and Louisville (123,758).
Persons named Sparks were sprinkled throughout the volume as follows:
Kentucky
p. 221 Maysville (5,520) J. W. Sparks & Bro., Dry Goods
p. 223 Nicholasville (2,315) J. S. Sparks, Grocery
p. 223 " Sparks & Reed, Druggists
p. 223 " T. T. Sparks, Grocer
p. 233 Vanceburg (1,400) Joseph Sparks, Wagons
p. 234 Winchester (2,275) Robert Sparks, Feed & Sale Stables
Maryland
p. 445 St. Michaels (1,200) O. P. Sparks, Undertaker
Georgia
p. 540 Macon (12,748) W. B. Sparks, Cotton Warehouse, Third & Poplar
p. 544 Quitman (1,600) A. J. Sparks, Grocer
p. 546 Sandersville (1,280) Sparks, May & Co., Dry Goods
p. 559 Swainsboro (3,050) C. W. Sparks, Editor
Arkansas
p. 752 Ft. Smith (about 5,000) J. M. Sparks & Co., Druggist
Texas
p. 1,178 Galveston (22,258) Bailey Sparks, Saloon, Post Office, corner 20th.
p. 1,260 Waco (about 15,000)Sparks, Mallory & Allen, Clothing, 314 Austin Ave.