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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Prairie County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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J. D. Sparks is a stockman and farmer of Center Township, Prairie County, Ark., and was born in Tennessee in 1854, being the youngest of ten children born to David and Comfort (Marphat) Sparks, the former a native of the “Old North State,” born in 1808, one of a large family of children born to John Sparks. His youth was spent in his native State, but while still young he was taken to Middle Tennessee, and in this State received the most of his education. He was reared to a farm life, and in 1834 was married to Miss Marphat, she being a daughter of John Marphat, of North Carolina, who removed to Tennessee during the early history of that State. Mr. Sparks’ family are as follows: Julia, Minas, Findly, Sarah, Comfort, John, William, Elmira, Amanda and Jonas D. (the immediate subject of this biography). The father was a Democrat, and a member of the Primitive Baptist Church. The early life and school days of Jonas D. Sparks were spent in Center Township, and there he was married, in 1876, to Miss Margie Anna Mills, a daughter of Thomas and Catherine Mills, natives of Tennessee. Mrs. Sparks was born in Arkansas, and has borne her husband four children: Pearl, Ross, May and Berney. In 1876 Mr. Sparks engaged in farming for himself, and by judicious management and industry has become the owner of 120 acres of land, and has about seventy under cultivation. He is a stanch Democrat in his political views, and has always been one of the public-spirited citizens of the county.

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This family biography is one of 94 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Prairie County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Prairie County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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