November 12, 2023

Pages 2267-2268
Whole Number 113

THE OLD KENTUCKY HOME OF MADISON SPARKS (1795-1873)
OF OWEN COUNTY, KENTUCKY



On the cover of this issue of the Quarterly we have reproduced a photograph of the home of Madison Sparks located near the town of Monterey in Owen County, Kentucky, along the Kentucky River. The photograph was taken in 1908 and was sent to the editor some twenty years ago by the late Margaret R. Miller. Mrs. Miller was a granddaughter of 21.1.5.8 Madison Sparks (1795-1873) who was a son of 21.1.5 Henry and Lucy (Clark) Sparks (see the Quarterly of March 1962, Whole No. 37, for a record of this family.) Madison Sparks married as his first wife Fanny Sparks, daughter of 21.1.3 Humphrey and Milly (Nalle) Sparks (see page 2279 of the current issue of the Quarterly). Madison and Fanny were first cousins. Fanny died sometime after 1820 - - there were no children. Madison married, second, in 1827 Mrs. Winifred (Thomas) Stafford, by whom he had nine children.

21.1.5.8.1 Alvah Thomas Sparks, born January 8, 1828, died October 1888.
21.1.5.8.2 Joseph Spencer Sparks, born May 12, 1829, died January 27, 1892. He married Melissa C. Eachus.
21.1.5.8.3 George Washington Sparks, born June 4, 1831, died October 8, 1896. He married Clarissa (?) Weems.
21.1.5.8.4 Russell Hill Sparks, born May 5, 1833, died December 1912. He married Addie Yarbrough.
21.1.5.8.5 Reuben Moore Sparks, born January 8, 1835, died April 17, 1902. He married Elizabeth Bank.
21.1.5.8.6 Canfield D. Sparks, born September 1836, died August 18, 1837.
21.1.5.8.7 Jordan Sparks, born January 8, 1839, died October 1, 1864. He married Sarah Thower (or Thrower).
21.1.5.8.8 Lucy Sparks, born May 17, 1841, died February 20, 1922. She married (first) a Dr. FNU Jones and (second) Thomas Smoot.
21.1.5.8.9 William Henry Sparks, born ca. 1844, died November 17, 1904. He married Englantine ArnoId.

Mrs. Miller wrote the following description of the Madison Sparks house in 1960: "The old home of Madison Sparks & Winifred where their children were born was quite a mansion in its day. It had 12 rooms. The front faces the Kentucky River. The old portico with its large posts has been taken away, but the stone steps still remain. In the front was the entrance opening onto the parlor on one side and the large living room on the other. Each had a large fire place. The living room and parlor open into the hall where the stairs have fancy bannisters. From the hall the large dining room and then the kitchen. There was formerly a large cook room and on the side a large veranda, both upstairs and downstairs. The location commanded a beautiful view of the river. There were cabins for the Negroes and several barns. The produce from the farm was sent down the river."

Descendants of Madison Sparks are urged to write to the editor. An article on this branch of the Sparks family is being planned for future publication.

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