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Below is a family biography included in The History of Dent County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  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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William Sparks, a wealthy agriculturist and stock raiser of Dent County, Mo., has resided on his present fine farm of 440 acres since his marriage, which took place in 1875. He has 120 acres under cultivation, and is now completing a large, two-story frame residence at a cost of $1,500. He has a thrifty orchard of 700 trees, and is considered one of the successful farmers of the county. He was born in Wilkes County, N. C., in 1846, and when twenty-nine years of age was married to Miss Sarah J. Shirley, who was born in Dent County, Mo., January 15, 1849, a daughter of Jacob and Lucinda Shirley, both of whom died when Mrs. Sparks was quite young. She is the mother of six children, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Sparks has always been a Democrat in politics, and is a son of Reuben and Blineld (Gray) Sparks, who were born in Wilkes County, N. C., about 1812 and 1829, respectively. The father was of German descent, a farmer by occupation, and in 1868 immigrated with his family to Dent County, Mo., where he died in 1881. He and wife became the parents of ten children, eight of whom are living. Six reside in Dent County, one in Douglas County, and one in Kansas.

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This family biography is one of 82 biographies included in The History of Dent County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Dent County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Dent County, Missouri family biographies, click here

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