Tag: Sparkman

SPARKMAN, John J. (b. 1857)

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John J. Sparkman, a representative and leading farmer of the First district of Van Buren county, was born December 7, 1857, on the farm where he still continues to reside.  His parents, Andrew J. and Elizabeth (Hunter) Sparkman, were also natives of Van Buren county, the former born November 2, 1838, the latter May 8, 1840.  The paternal grandparents, John and Lavina (McElroy) Sparkman, were natives of North Carolina and Van Buren county, respectively.  The father of our subject was a farmer by occupation and served as constable in his district for two years.  During the Civil war he entered the Confederate service, was captured near St. Louis, Mo., and was taken to a hospital in that city, where it is supposed that he died.  His widow made her hoe with our subject until she, too, was called to her final rest in February, 1894.

Upon the home farm John J. Sparkman grew to manhood, and attended the public schools of the neighborhood, where he obtained a good practical education.  For many years he devoted his attention exclusively to his agricultural interests, but for the past ten years has also engaged in merchandising at Bone Cave and has built up a lucrative trade.  He also served as postmaster at that place for about twenty years, but was removed a few months since on account of his advocacy of the free coinage of silver.  He has been district constable for six years, and also served as deputy sheriff for two years with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the general public.  In connection with general farming he has been interested in stock raising, making a specialty of fine hogs and poultry, and has been instrumental in improving the grade of the same in Van Buren county.

On the 9th of June, 1881, Mr. Sparkman married Miss Rebecca A. Moore, who was born in Van Buren county, May 12, 1852, and they have become the parents of three children:  Andrew J., born April 11, 1882, died April 22, 1888;  Mary E., born June 30, 1884, and Emma T., born November 24, 1886, are both attending school.  The parents and older daughter are members of the Missionary Baptist church, and the family is one of prominence in social circles.

Memorial and Biographical Record, an Illustrated Compendium of Biography.  Geo. A. Ogle & Co., Chicago, 1898, p. 326.

MOORE, Patrick (b. 1825)

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Rev. Patrick Moore, father of Mrs. Sparkman * , has for over a half century been a tireless worker in the cause of Christianity as a minister of the Missionary Baptist church, and is one of the most honored citizens of Van Buren county, his home being in the Sixth district.

He was born in Greene county, N.C., October 17, 1825, a son of Thomas and Rebecca (Stepp) Moore, who were born, reared and married in Virginia, whence they removed to Greene county, N.C., and later to Cumberland county, Tenn., locating in the Crocker Neck neighborhood.  Subsequently they removed to Ball’s Bottom on Caney Fork, when bears and panthers were still quite plentiful in that region and from there they went to Big Bottom, finally settling near Spencer, Van Buren county.  The father died at the age of fifty-three years and was the first person buried at that city.  His wife reached the advanced age of eighty-six years.  He was probably of Irish parentage, was by occupation a farmer and mechanic, and was a soldier in the war of 1812.  In early life Mrs. Moore was a Methodist, but in 1849 joined the Missionary Baptist church, with which she ever after affiliated.  Of her six children only our subject is now living;  James, a farmer and Baptist minister, died in White county, Tenn.; Amanda and John both died in childhood; Frederick, a brick mason and farmer, died in Warren county, Tenn., at the age of seventy-three; Jane married William Mayfield and died in Fisher county, Tex.

Patrick Moore obtained his literary education in a small free school conducted at Laurel Cove, and while not in school he engaged in farming until twenty years of age, when he joined the Missionary Baptist church and commenced preaching.  Ever since he has been a devoted minister of the gospel, and has been the means of bringing many souls to Christ.  For one year after his marriage he lived in Warren county, Tenn., the following year made his home at Rocky Run, and then purchased his present farm in Van Buren county, where he has now resided over half a century.

Feeling the need of a better education, Mr. Moore attended Burritt College for two terms after his marriage, and subsequently engaged in teaching on Pine Ridge, in a free school in Spencer, and in his home district.  For the long period of forty years he has faithfully served as pastor of the Laurel Creek Missionary Baptist church, and has also had charge of many other congregations, including those at New Hope and Bethel in White county; Macedonia; Greenwood; Shells Ford; Friendship; Hebron; Philadelphia; Grundy; Rutledge Falls; Coffee; Morrison and Blue Spring, both of Warren county.  At times he has also served as missionary, was pastor of the church at McMinnville for time and of a church in the upper part of Bledsoe county, has preached for many miles around his home, and has taken a deep interest in the Sunday School at Laurel Creek Seminary.

Mr. Moore was married on the 5th of December, 1845, to Elizabeth Jane Neal, who was born on Rock river, in 1829, and died November 6, 1882, beloved by all who knew her.  Her father was Charles Neal, and the family came to this county from East Tennessee.  Of the thirteen children born to Mr. and Mrs. Moore only four are now living, namely: James M., a resident of Van Buren county; Rebecca, wife of John J. Sparkman, of Bone Cave; Lansford M., a farm of this county, though formerly a merchant; and Homer, a farmer of Warren county.  Those deceased are Amanda and Docia, who died at the home of their parents; Charles, who married, but died at home; and Richard, who was married and lived in the same neighborhood.  In July 1884, Mr. Moore married Nancy Cunningham, who was born in Irving College, Warren county, December 5, 1849, a daughter of Thomas Cunningham.  Four children blessed this union: Claude Fate and Fred Clay, who are still living; and an infant and John, now deceased.  Mrs. Moore is also a consistent and faithful member of the Missionary Baptist church.

Mr. Moore has placed his farm under excellent cultivation and in connection with farming he successfully engaged in merchandising for fifteen years at Laurel burg, where he also erected a mill, and did quite an active business as a miller and shipper of grain.  He was also instrumental in establishing the post office at that place, and for a short time after the war he served as circuit court clerk.  Fraternally he is a charter member of the Masonic lodge od Spencer, with which he has affiliated for thirty-five years, and politically he was originally a Whig, but is now identified with the Democratic party.  During his ministry Mr. Moore has received thousands into the church, and has married hundreds.  His life is exemplary in all respects, and he ever supports those interest which are calculated to uplift and benefit humanity, while his own high moral worth is deserving of the highest commendation.

*In the original book, Rev. Moore’s biography followed John J. Sparkman’s  and, of course, referred to Sparkman’s wife.

Memorial and Biographical Record, an Illustrated Compendium of Biography.  Geo. A. Ogle & Co., Chicago, 1898, pp. 326, 327 and 328.

HASTON, E.S. (b. 1850)

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E. S. Haston, a well known farmer of the Second District, was born September 11, 1850, in Van Buren County, a son of Isaac T. and Elizabeth (Sparkman) Haston. His father was born March, 1828, also in Van Buren County, and died in 1875. His father (grandfather of our subject), David Haston, was a pioneer settler of Tennessee. Subject’s mother was born about 1826, and died in 1882. E.S. Haston is of Irish descent; he was raised on a farm and educated at Spencer, Bird College. In 1871 he began business for himself. He was interested in merchandising at Spencer from 1877 to 1880, at which time he closed out and has since been exclusively engaged in farming. In 1884 he moved to his present place of residence. He is a self-made, industrious and substantial man.  By judicious management and economy has accumulated his possessions. He is a Democrat, a member of the I.O.O.F. and belongs to the Masonic Lodge at Spencer. In November, 1880, he wedded Miss Maggie Cummings, a native of Van Buren County. To their union four children have been born: Fred Dexter, Walter Eugene, Willle Burt and an infant.

Source: undocumented