John G. Sparks 1811-1891
John G. Sparks was of Scotch ancestry. His parents settled in Virginia and afterwards moved to Posey County, Indiana, where he was born on September 22, 1811. When about eight years old his parents brought him to Staunton, McCoupin County, Illinois, where he remained until he was twenty-one.
He then came to Sarahville, Williamson County, IIIinois, where he was married January 16, 1834, to Miss Rebecca Casey. In 1836, they had their first child, a daughter named Mary S. Sparks.
He had previously learned the hatter’s trade, and in 1839 came to Marion, Illinois and began the manufacture of all kinds of hats. In the spring of 1840 he established a hat shop in the northeast corner of the public square. In the same year, the couple had their second child, a son named Francis Marion Sparks.
In January of 1840, Squire Howell of Marion was contracted to build a log house as the county’s first jail. John G. Sparks was the first county jailer. A man awaiting trial in Frankfort as a horse thief was the first prisoner.
The year following he began the study of law under the late Judge Allen and was one of the trustees of Marion Academy, an early attempt to promote education in Marion. In 1842, he closed out his hat business and moved to Belleville, continuing his law studies for two years more, when he received his license to practice by Judge Underwood.
In 1844, as soon as he received his parchment, he opened an office in Jonesboro, but three years later removed to Murphysboro, where he continued the practice of his profession for about five years.
In the census of 1850, the family is found to be living in the Northern District of Jackson County, Illinois. John G. Sparks is aged 38, his wife Rebecca is 32, their children are Mary S. aged 14 and Francis M. aged 10. He is listed as a lawyer.
In the year of 1852, the California gold fever carried him to Sacramento and he left his family behind forever. He did not go overland but took the water route via Cairo, New Orleans and Panama, crossing the isthmus. He was four months on a sailing vessel before reaching San Francisco.
Without unnecessary delay, he entered the gold fields of Sacramento, and was soon half owner of the Table Mountain mine, for which he was offered the snug sum of $100,000, but refusing he was soon afterwards tricked out of it and lost it all.
In disgust, he turned his back upon the whole business, and in the dead of winter started on horse-back for Walla Walla, Washington. He suffered much on that trip, often floundering through snow three feet deep in the mountains. On reaching Walla Walla, however, he immediately “stuck out his shingle” and resumed the practice of law. While practicing in the Illinois Courts he had become acquainted with Abraham Lincoln, and a warm friendship had sprung up between them which would later serve him.
In the 1860 census, his wife Rebecca, aged 42, is living alone with her single son Francis Marion Sparks inside the city limits of Marion, Illinois. John apparently did return home at least long enough to divorce Rebecca. A proclamation in the Marion Monitor newspaper announced their divorce on July 20, 1860.
In 1861 John received an appointment from Abraham Lincoln as Assessor of Internal Revenue for the then territory of Washington where he was currently living. His headquarters were at Olympia, Washington. He served in this important office, with eight assistants, until the assassination of the president in 1865 brought Andrew Johnson and a change of administration and officers, when he returned once more to his profession.
The 1870 census finds John G. as a 58 year old, practicing lawyer in Olympia, Washington with a new wife named Margaret, aged 48 and a family of children with births dating from the early 1860’s.
Rebecca (Casey) Sparks died November 2, 1878 in Marion, Illinois and was buried in Aikman Cemetery.
John G. Sparks continued to practice law till his death November 14, 1891, in Tumwater, Thurston County, Washington.
(Data from 1905 Souvenir History, WCHS; Pioneer Folks and Places, Barbara Barr Hubbs; Federal Census Records; Marion Monitor, 1860; compiled by Sam Lattuca on 03/14/2013)