History of Fulton County, Illinois; together with
Sketches of its Cities, Villages and Townships, Educational, Religious,
Civil, Military, and Political History; Portraits of Prominent Persons
and Biographies of Representative Citizens. Chas. C. Chapman & Co.,
Peoria, Illinois, 1879, page 462, Astoria Township
James C. Sparks, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of
Hamilton Co., O., where he was born Nov. 3, 1830. His father, Levi
Sparks, was a farmer by occupation and for a number of years dealt in
grain; he was married in Ohio to Miss Sophia Comstock. To better their
condition in life they concluded to move farther west and accordingly
took passage on the Ohio river, going to St. Louis, from there to
Beardstown, thence to Rushville and then came to the old town of
Washington; moving to Schuyler Co., he established what was known in an
early day as Sparks Landing. This was afterwards purchased by Jacob
Sharpe. Mr. S. died in 1844, leaving to the care of his wife 3
children. James grew to manhood in Schuyler; on attaining his
twenty-first year he moved to Fulton, where he has since been
permanently identified with the farming interests. March 12, 1857, he
was united in marriage with Miss Ida C. Carter, daughter of the
well-known pioneer, James Carter, deceased. Mr. S. is extensively
engaged in stock-raising and his short-horn cattle are unsurpassed.
submitted by Carla Finley
Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County, Illinois: containing
full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and
representative citizens of the county: together with portraits and
biographies of all the presidents of the United States, and governors
of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890; page 406;
Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
James Comstock Sparks, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser
of this county, occupies a leading place among the intelligent,
progressive agriculturists of Astoria Township. He has here a fine
stock farm, and one of the most attractive homes in this locality. He
is a native of Ohio, born in Hamilton County, November 3, 1830, to Levi
and Sophia (Comstock) Sparks, who were also natives of the Buckeye
State.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was Mathew Sparks. He
came originally from France and was a soldier in the War of 1812. He
removed from Ohio to Schuyler County, this State, about 1830 or 1833,
and was one of its early settlers. The maternal grandfather of our
subject was Dr. James Comstock, a physician and an early pioneer of
Ohio. The parents of our subject were married and lived in their native
State until 1837, when they became pioneers of this State. They made
their way by boat to St. Louis, and after arriving here settled in the
county before mentioned, where Mr. Sparks had a warehouse and a landing
pier on the river. He was a man of considerable prominence in those
parts and was a Justice of the Peace. His untimely death in the month
of March, 1844, was a blow to the interests of the community. His
family continued to reside at Sparks Landing until 1850, when they came
to this county and located in Pleasant Township. The mother came to
Astoria in 1856 and lived there until her demise in 1861. She was a
Christian and a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The subject of this sketch is one of a family of three children,
and the names of the others are Prudence W. and Esther A. He was
educated in the common schools, and was reared to the life of a farmer.
After his father's death he took charge of the home affairs and resided
with his mother until his marriage, which took place March 12, 1857,
when he was united to Miss Idress E., a daughter of James and Ala
(Lane) Carter.
In the fall of that year our subject and his bride settled where
they now reside on section 11, Astoria Township. He operates one
hundred and sixty acres of land, which he has placed under cultivation,
and has greatly increased its value by many fine improvements. He has
erected a handsome residence and two substantial barns, besides other
necessary buildings. He has paid great attention to breeding
thoroughbred Short-horn cattle for the past fourteen years, and he was
one of the first to establish a herd of that breed in this township. He
has been a leading and active Mason since 1852 and is highly thought of
both socially and as a man of honorable business traits.
