Bio: Sparks, Robert W. (History - 1859)

Contact: Janet Schwarze

Surnames: CALKINS MESSING EAGER CHANDLER

----Source: 1891 Biographical History of Clark and Jackson Counties, Wisconsin

Robert W. Sparks (1859)
 

Robert W. Sparks, a farmer of section 24, township 23, range 1 east of Sherwood Forest township, Clark County, Wisconsin, was born February 28, 1859, in Sullivan County, New York, the youngest son in a family of eight children, three daughters and five sons. Their names were: Thomas, James and John (twins), Jesse P., Robert W., Elizabeth, Emily and Hannah. All these are married excepting Jesse and James, and are all settled in the town of Sherwood Forest excepting Emily, who was married in New York State and never emigrated West, and is now deceased. Seven members of the family reside here. Mr. Sparks father, born July 25, 1818, was originally from Schoharie County, New York, and removed with his family to Waushara County, Wisconsin, in 1869. Seven years later he came to Clark County, where he is still living. His mother, whose maiden name was Sylvia Calkins, was born in 1913, of parents originally from Connecticut, who located in Sullivan County when that region was new, and died in 1871. The grandfather Sparks came to this State in the '50s, locating in Plainfield, Waushara County. The grandfather Calkins was born in Connecticut, but lived and died in New York State, over eighty years of age. The great-grandfather, James Sparks, served in the war of the Revolution and finally died of cancer. While he was in the war his wife was left at home and was forced to secrete herself at night to avoid the Tories and Indians. The uncle of the subject of this sketch, named also Robert Sparks, enlisted in the late war, in 1861, and served to the end was in the battle of Murfreesboro and several others. At one time he was reported dead, but he is still living, in Portage County, this State.

Mr. Robert W. Sparks, our subject, was married October 8, 1883 to Miss Julia E. Messing, who was a daughter of George and Marian Messing, of Portage County. In their family were two sons and eight daughters, all of whom live in this State, five in Clark County. Her father's parents were natives of Germany. The Grandfather was forty-one years of age when he came to this country, and he and two of his sons died of cholera just as they were landing at Mew York. Mrs. Sparks maternal grandmother was a Connecticut Yankee. Her mother's father's name Eager, and her mother's name was Chandler. The children of Mr. Sparks are: Laura Grace, born September 22, 1884 Myra Viola, March 30, 1886 Edna May, May 27, 1887 Bessie Naomi, October 24,1888, and Cyrus Clyde, April 8, 1890.

CALKINS MESSING EAGER CHANDLER