James H. Sparks was the fourth of eight children of parents, William Sparks and Mary 'Polly' Fielder Sparks, born 1808 in Clarke County, Georgia. From Georgia, the family moved westward stopping for a few years in Mississippi Territory before moving on to the country of Mexico, state of Texas, Nacogdoches County.

 

Sparks married Massie (this is the spelling on her tombstone) Caroline 'Chick' Wadlington Larence, Mississippi in 1834. They are enumerated in the first U.S. Census of Nacogdoches: James (26) and Massie (20) with no children. Jesse Wadlington Sparks was born in 1 Jan 1837 and 21 Sep 1838 William Noble Sparks was born.

 

James Sparks died in the spring of 1838. There are conflicting reports to the cause of his death. One account says he died after a brief illness (http://www.sparksfamilyassn.org/pages/134-A.html). Another says he suffered an arrow wound . What we DO know is he left Massie with a one-year-old son and another on the way. James also left her with a considerable estate, both real and personal. 

 

The Nacogdoches County Court appointed Massie and her brother-in-law, Dr. John Marion Sparks, as administrators of the estate. Probate court documents confirm the 1838 date.

 

James burial was "in a field northeast of the North Church cemetery" which would have been in the "Sparks Settlement" land grant area. Any markers put on the grave are long gone.

 

James' brother, Col. Richard Sparks, was killed by Indians in 1838 while doing survey work. Massie and Dr. John Sparks (Richard's brother) became the Administrators of his probate estate.

 

Following James death, Massie married Robert Fenwick Millard, 7 Dec 1843, at her home with Adolphus Sterne officiating the marriage. In Jun 1844, RFM petitioned the Probate Court of Nacogdoches County and was appointed guardian for Jesse Wadlington Sparks (Sr) and William Noble Sparks (Sr).