pg 551, 552

John W. Sparks farmer, sec. 14, Chippewa Tp., was born Feb 11, 1830, in Crawford Co., Pa. He is the fifth child of Henry and Rebecca (Davis) Sparks. His father was born in Trenton, N.J., and was a son of Leonard and Lydia Sparks. The family are of mixed Welsh and German origin on the paternal side, the great-grandparents of Mr. Sparks having been natives of those countries respectively. His father was a teacher of prominence in Pittsburg, Pa., and after marriage went to Crawford County, and reestablished himself as a farmer when that portion of the Keystone State was primeval wilderness. He passed 40 years on his homestead and then died July 23, 1883. The mother was born in West Virginia, Aug. 4, 1804, and died in March 1875.

Mr. Sparks was reared to the age of 18 years under the personal care of his father. He then went to work for Uriah Foust, blacksmith, with whom he remained two years, going thence to Hartstown, where he remained three years. While there he was married, July 3, 1852, to Marry Harris, a native of Crawford County, born Sept. 12, 1835. She was a daughter of John and Annie (Boyer) Harris, natives of Pennsylvania and of German origin. Mr. Sparks went to Williamsfield, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, and worked at his trade until 1863, when he went to the oil regions of Venango Co., Pa.; thence he came four years later to Michigan and located where he now lives, in September, 1867. That part of Mecosta County was almost wholly a wilderness, there being but one settler within the limits of Chippewa tp. He built a log house, the second structure for several miles, and when the township was organized he was elected its first Supervisor, and served two terms. The first township meeting was held in his house, as was the first religious meeting; and the first Sunday school was organized there. This is the historic house of the township of Chippewa, and is still occupied by the original proprietor and his family.

The first wife of Mrs. Sparks died in Willliamsfield, in 1859. Two of her five children yet survive: George E. and Emma A. (Mrs. Edgar Morford). Mr. Sparks was married a second time to Celia, daughter of William H. and Permelia (Grout) Manning. She was born June 17, 1835. Of this marriage five children were born two of whom are yet living, Celia Bell and Ceylon Manning.