Doubts

While I continue to see the best case for the identity of William B. Sparlin (married to Sarah E. Bryant, father of Oscar Clarence Sparlin, residing in southwest MO) to lie with the Moses C. Sparling family of Turman, Sullivan, IN, a few records continue to cast doubt on that conclusion.

1. Oscar Clarence Sparlin’s birth certificate states that his father was born in IL, while Moses C.’s son was born in IN. (I need to see that document.)

2. A census record I found yesterday states that W. B. Sparling was age 30 when he married Sarah E. Bryant. Moses C.’s son should be 39 or 40.

1880 census, Nevada, Vernon, MO
W.B. Sparling 30, b. KY, Father/Mother birthplace: blanks
Sarah E. Sparling 15 b. MO, Father born in IN, Mother in NY

In addition, W.B. Sparling’s birthplace is incorrect. For that matter, so is Sarah’s father’s. Strangely enough, if the two are switched, they’re correct. The two most compelling facts from this record is that Sarah is 15, in good accord with other evidence for this marriage, and the couple resides in Vernon, MO, also in agreement with other information. Whether it’s significant that Sparling is spelled with a “g” here, I don’t know. (Unfortunately, searches for a William B. Sparling, age 30, born in IL yielded nothing.)

3. There exist multiple Civil War records for William (B.) Sparlin(g) and other Sparlin(g)s, who may or may not be related. One researcher believes that the sons of Moses C., Archibald and John W. enlisted in IL. I can, indeed, find three Illinois records, one for Archibald Sparlin (48th IL infantry), one for John Sparling (48th IL infantry) and one for William Sparling (86th IL infantry). This same researcher, however, claims these Sparlings served in the same regiment, “Six Sparling's were in the Civil War all in 48th Ill. Inf. John W. and Archibald were brothers and the others related.”

To muddy the water, there is the record of William B. Sparlin from Currysville, IN (located in Sullivan county, the home of Moses C.) who enlisted in Co. F. 13th IN infantry and who filed for his Civil War pension in AR, where Oscar Clarence was born.

If you have any information to help me sort this all out, or if you'd simply like to join in my confusion, please leave a comment.

Puzzle Pieces

The following pieces may or may not fit together to form a picture of Oscar Clarence Sparlin’s father.

PIECE A: BIRTH CERTIFICATE
Oscar Clarence Sparlin’s birth certificate states (according to his son) that his…
Father’s name was William Bazel Sparlin, born in IL.
Mother’s name was Sarah Ellen Bryant, born in MO.

PIECE B: MEMORIES
According to his son, Oscar stated that his…
grandfather was living in IL during the Civil War and served in the Union.
(While this may be true, it’s more likely that Oscar’s father [William B.] served, due to the fact that he would have been in his twenties during the war, 1861-1865. Oscar’s grandfather would more likely have been in his forties.)

According to his son, Oscar stated that he…
had two sisters with which he had lost touch.

According to his son, Oscar stated that his…
family resided in Cassville,[Barry], MO before Oscar was born, moved to Bentonville, AR, where Oscar was born (1882), then moved back to Cassville, [Barry], MO after Oscar ran away from home at age 13 (1895) with an uncle.

PIECE C: MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE
A marriage certificate (online) states that …
Mr. William Sparlin married Miss Sarah Bryant in Jasper, MO on 13 Jan 1880.

PIECE D: OSCAR IN OK
A 1900 U.S. Census for Osage, Oklahoma Territory, lists…
Oscar Sparlin, age 17, boarding with a family and working as a farm laborer. Oscar lists the birthplace of both his parents as MO. Himself, born in KS.
(Either this is the wrong Oscar Sparlin or these birth places are incorrect. However, when Oscar ran away from home, he went to OK, where he eventually met Bertha May Ryan and married her. In 1900, according to his birth certificate, he was 17.)

PIECE E: OTHER FAMILY TREES
LDS Family Archives (USER-SUBMITTED) provides this information:
William Brazel Sparling b. 4 Nov 1840, Turman Twp, Sullivan, IN
d. 22 Mar 1925, Cassville, Barry, MO
buried: Rogers, Benton, AR
Father:Moses C. Sparling, Mother:Louisa Dawson, Wife:Sarah Ellen Bryant, b. 22 Oct

PIECE F: WILLIAM B.'S CHILDHOOD CENSUS RECORDS
1850/1860 census records for Turman Twp, Sullivan, IN list…
William Sparling, son of Moses C. Sparling and Louisa Dawson.

1850/Turman Twp, Sullivan, IN
Moses C. Sparling 50
Laviey [Louisa] Sparling 40
Charlotte 24
Nancy 18
James 14
Mahala 11
*William 9 (b. abt. 1841)
Samuel 7
Emmons 3
Benjamin 1

1860/Turman Twp, Sullivan, IN
Moses C. Sparling 60
Levicia [Louisa] Sparling 50
John W. 30
Nancy 26
James M. 23
Mahala 19
*William 17 (b. abt. 1843)
Samuel C. 15
Emins 14
Benjamin P. 10
Charlotte Blackman, servant, 34
Bishop W. Blackman 5

PIECE G: WAR RECORDS
American Civil War Records turn up a…
William Sparlin of Currysville, IN [Currysville is in Sullivan county.]
Enlistment date: 13 Dec. 1864, Company F, 13th Infantry Regiment, Indiana
Rank: Private
Side served: Union
Mustered out: 25 Aug 1865

U.S. Civil War Records confirm enlistment for a…
William B. Sparlin in the 13th Indiana Infantry
Rank: Private
Side served: Union

From the Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934…
William B. Sparlin filed for a war pension in the state of AR, in Feb, 18??. Service: 13? Ind Inf

PIECE H: WILLIAM B.'S ADULT CENSUS RECORDS
The 1920 census for Esculapia, Benton, AR records…
S.C. Sparlin 73, head
Laura E. Sparlin 73, wife
William B. Sparlin 75, widowed (brother to the head of household)

The 1870 census for Turman, Sullivan, IN records…
Samuel C. Sparlin 25
Laura E. Sparlin 25
George E. Sparlin 2 mos.
(This census identifies S.C. Sparlin of AR [above, 1920] as Samuel C. of IN.)

Fitting the PIECES together:
1. By analysis of census data for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1920, it’s possible to determine that the older brother by two years, William, of Samuel C. Sparlin is William B. Sparlin. In addition to the Civil War Pension Index, the census data also tracks William B. from IN to AR, furthermore, Benton, AR, the same county where Oscar Clarence was born.
2. The family data from Oscar’s birth certificate doesn’t match an Indiana birth for William B. Sparlin, yet his father was William Bazel. Even if the conflicting birth place of MO from the 1900 census provided by Oscar C. is thrown out, the birth certificate remains as IL (at least according to his son—I don’t have the document).
3. If William B. Sparlin of Benton, AR, born in IN, is not Oscar C.’s father, then two William B. Sparlins lived in Benton, AR in the same generation.
4. Oscar passed along a memory of his grandfather from IL serving in the Union Army. In fact, his father was a better age to have served and there exists a good record of a William B. Sparlin from IN who served the Union side and later resided in AR. It doesn’t rule out the possibility that his grandfather served.
5. All these areas of MO and AR mentioned are in the southwest corner of MO, northwest corner of AR, just across the border. In general, the same region. [See records for Sarah Ellen Bryant for more on how her family resided in this area.]
6. 1880, 1900 and 1910 census data with either the name of William B. or Sarah Ellen Sparlin would be helpful.

More puzzle pieces:
In fact, a search does yield more information from 1880 to 1910, still, however, in pieces.

The 1900 census, Jackson, Jasper, MO, contains the following:
William S. Johnson 49
Sarah E. “ 41
Isaac N. “ 20
Ollie J. “ 15
Rhoda E. “ 10
Elvira E. “ 8
Laura E. “ 5
Bertha J. “ 2
*Sarah E. Sparlin 35 sister-in-law, divorced, b. MO, father born KY, mother born NY
Lizzie M. Sparlin 11 niece, b. Aug 1888 AR, father born IN, mother born MO

(Is this Sarah Ellen Bryant, divorced from William B. Sparlin, and their daughter, one of Oscar’s sisters? If she’s William Johnson’s sister-in-law, she must be the sister of Sarah E., because if she was the wife of one of William Johnson’s brothers, her surname would be Johnson. But…two Sarah E.’s? Daughters of the same family? The relationships need to be determined.)

1900 census, Mineral Springs, Barry, MO:
W.B. Sparlin 55, b. IN, Father born KY, mother born VA, married 1 year
Bertha Sparlin 23, married 1 year
Claude Sparlin 1

(Is this William B. Sparlin, remarried, remaining in the southwest corner of MO?)

1910 census, Flat Creek South Ward, Barry, MO:
William B. Sparlin 65, b. IN, Father born KY, Mother born VA, 3rd marriage, married 9 years
Bertha A. Sparlin 33, first marriage, married 9 years
Claudia L. Sparlin 11
Clara M. Sparlin 8

(W.B. Sparlin of 1900 is, in fact, the William B. Sparlin of 1910. The statement that he’s married 9 years to Bertha is, of course, an error. In 1900, he claimed to have been married 1 year, and they have a 1 year old child.)

Possible Scenario:
1. William B. Sparlin was born in Sullivan, IN (around 1840), lived there with his father, Moses C. Sparling, to 1860 or until he enlisted in 1864.
2. He served in the 13th Indiana Infantry in the Civil War.
3. After he was mustered out in 1865, he married a woman for whom we have no record or name.
4. In 1880, at age 39, he married his second wife, Sarah Ellen Bryant, in Jasper, MO, and they settled in Barry, MO.
5. For some years, they lived in Benton, AR, across the border, where their son, Oscar Clarence, was born. Another child, a daughter Lizzie, was also born there.
6. After Oscar ran away from home with an uncle in 1895, the family moved back to Barry, MO.
7. Between 1895 and 1900, William and Sarah divorced.
8. Not long afterward, William married his third wife, Bertha A., and set up a household in Barry, MO, where they had a daughter, Claudia.
9. Sarah and her daughter, Lizzie, found a home with Sarah’s brother-in-law, William Johnson, in Jasper, MO.
10. Sometime, perhaps before 1900, William B. filed in the state of AR for his Civil War Pension earned in the IN infantry.
11. William B. Sparlin and Bertha A. remained in Barry, MO, where they had another daughter, Clara, in 1902.
12. Both William B. Sparlin’s second and third wives died before him. Sarah may have died in 1914; Bertha before 1920.
13. In 1920, William B. is a widower, living with his brother, Samuel C. in Benton, AR. Supposedly, he is buried in Rogers, Benton, AR.

Conclusion: There are missing pieces and some of the pieces don't fit. If you can help piece them together or have some of the missing ones, please leave a comment.

Obituary: Edith Clairbel Tripp nee Kenyon

EDITH KENYON TRIPP (1886 - 14 Apr 1915)

Newspaper: The Medina Tribune; Thurs., 15 Apr 1915 Surnames: TRIPP, KENYON, CONLEY
Mrs. Roy TRIPP, who was operated upon for appendicitis at the Medina Hospital on Monday, died last night. Her age was twenty-nine years. Besides her husband, she is survived by four children under eight years of age.

Newspaper: The Medina Tribune, dated 29 April 1915

Edith, the beloved wife of Roy H. TRIPP passed to the higher life, at the Medina hospital, after a brief illness, April 14, 1915. She is survived by her husband and four children: Hildreth, Clifford, Harriet and Helen; a father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Charles KENYON, a brother Henry, a sister Ruth, all of Hartland; and a sister, Mrs. Nettie CONLEY, of Lyndonville. The deceased was born in the town of Somerset, near Millers, 29 years ago last June, and had lived nearly all her life in the town of Yates, since her marriage, until last fall, when she moved to Medina. Her kind and amiable disposition won for her many friends who sincerely mourn her loss. The funeral was held in the Methodist Church at Lyndonville, Rev. R. E. Brettle, of Waterport officiating, assisted by Rev. B.(R?) R. Germer, pastor of the church. Interment was in Lynhaven Cemetery.

Lum's Dad

Although from a quick glance at the census records, I was fairly certain that George Washington Smith (b. Oct 1847, MO) was the father of Elbert Columbus (Lum) Smith (b. 1878, MO), I like to double-check. Here's my data.

1. Children (with birthdates) of George W. and Susan M. Smith (combining names from the 1880 [Washington, Harrison, MO] and 1900 [Franklin, Greene, MO] census data for the couple)

William L. 1870
Andrew T. 1872
Lutice O. 1876
Albert C. 1878
Sarah E. 1879
Manford 1881
Lethia 1886
Vinson D. 1889
Alva C. 1892
Matilda A. 1895

2. In examining the 1900 census, one discovers some interesting neighbors of George W. and Susan. These are:

Andy Smith 1872
Leticia Crabtree 1876
Albert C. Smith 1878

These three children of George and Susan, apparently old enough, have married and set up households adjacent to George W.'s farm.

3. A [E]lbert C. Smith is listed as married to Etta G. that very year on the 1900 census, in agreement with the family history information (and Etta's obituary) that Elbert Columbus Smith married Etta Gertrude nee Groves.

4. In addition, there exists a book, "The Grand River Trail, Clinton and Dekalb counties, 1833-1979," which pictures George W. and Susan Smith along with 11 of their 12 children. One son is listed as Elbert.

5. Other details, such as parents' places of birth and dates, are in full agreement. (...something found rarely in census data, but it's nice to have such a tidy picture.)

I have much more information for both generations of Smiths. If anyone is interested in knowing more or has information to share, please leave me a comment.

Eller Update

WWI Draft Registration Cards 1917/1918 confirm that the names Jasper and Joseph Eller, which appear on the 1910 and 1920 Alva, Woods, OK census records, respectively, belong to the same Jasper Joseph Eller. In addition, we know from the card that he was born 16 Oct 1893 in Liberal, KS, and was residing in East St. Louis, St. Clair Co, IL in 1917. He was married to Marybelle, age 30, born in OH. He was assistant foreman in a steel foundry, American & ? ?. In 1920, he is listed as foreman.

Jasper's older brother, William L. Eller, also filled out a draft card in 1917. He is said to be a "cement quickener(?)," employed by Nick Eller of Woods, OK. William was born 16 Oct 1889, also in Liberal, KS and remains single at that time. He wrote out his middle name, so we know the L. to stand for Lazreth, William Lazreth Eller. The 1930 census records William as a WWI veteran. Jasper, on the other hand, marked "no" for veteran in 1920.

William F. Davis of Kentucky

I ran into another one of those frequent brick walls today. Its name was William F. Davis. Although he died young, he left quite a legacy, five daughters. I only wish I could do him the honor of establishing his ancestral lineage. Maybe someone will help. Here's what I know about him, not inconsiderable.

William F. Davis was born 1 Oct 1824 in Bath, Kentucky.
On 2 Apr 1846, he married Catherine Clodfelter in Greencastle, Putnam, Indiana. He was 22, and she was 18 years old.
In Jan, 1847, about nine months later, they had a daughter, Elizabeth.
In 1848, Louisa was born.
In 1850, Sarah J.
In 1852, Menerva.
In 1855, lastly, Amanda E. was born. She was the only one born in Iowa--her sisters in Indiana--so I surmise the family moved between 1852/55.
On 21 Oct 1857, William Davis died at age 33 in Washington Twp, Wapello, Iowa. He was buried in Ashland Twp.

If you would like more information or can help me identify William's parents or siblings, please leave a comment.

Which Sarah Jane?

I want to point out a possible error I found today while searching for the parents of Sarah Jane Roop, spouse of James Monroe Groves and mother of Etta Gertrude Groves. In one source, this Sarah Jane is identified both as Rupp (in the notes) and Roupe (in the index).

The index gives her data as
“Sarah Jane Roupe b: 19 Mar 1850 in Echo, Armstrong, PA
Married: 3 Aug 1871 in Alexandria, Clark, MO”

In trying to confirm this information, I found a Sarah Rupp born in 1850 in Echo, Armstrong, PA. On the 1870 census, she is listed as residing with her parents, John and Harriet, and her younger siblings, John and Mary. While I thought it slightly unusual for her to be in PA in 1870 and in MO in Aug 1871 to marry James Monroe Groves, not impossible.

At the same time, I was looking for a possible sister, Phoebe Ann, to confirm my information, but it was entirely probable that the sister had already left the home in 1870, the date of the census, especially considering that Sarah Jane is already 20 by this time, a ripe old age for marriage in these years.

Not entirely satisfied that the Sarah Jane I had found in PA in 1870 was the mother of Etta, I continued the search and came upon the record of a Sarah Jane Roop, also 20 years of age in 1870. In addition, Sarah Jane “Roop” had a sister named Ph(o)ebe Ann. Significantly, this census records Sarah Jane and Ph(o)ebe Ann living with their parents in Clay, Clark Co., Missouri, the same county in which Sarah Jane married James Monroe Groves in Aug 1871.

Summary:
It’s possibly incorrect (unless there is compelling family or historical evidence) to claim the parents of Sarah Jane Roupe, b. 19 Mar 1850 in Echo, Armstrong, PA, as the grandparents of Etta Gertrude Groves. Families with trees listing Michael Roop and Sarah nee Taylor as the grandparents should take another look at their records. I could find no record that this couple had a daughter named Sarah. Also, trees with John and Harriet Rupp of Echo, Armstrong, PA as the grandparents may be incorrect. Although they had a daughter named Sarah, it’s more likely that the Sarah Jane living in Missouri (with a sister named Ph(o)ebe) is that one who married James Monroe Groves.

In the absence of additional conflicting evidence, it’s probable that the grandparents of Etta Gertrude Groves (through Sarah Jane Roop) are Jonathan (b.1819) and Sarah (b.1820) Roop, both born in PA. If this is the case, then Sarah Jane’s siblings are the following:

Ph(o)ebe b.1849, PA
Adam b.1852, PA
Jonathan b. 1854, PA
William b.1856, PA
David A. b.1863, MO (Place and time of birth suggests the family moved from PA to MO, at least, by 1862/3)

Jonathan and Sarah Roop also appear on the 1880 Census, where David, Adam and Jonathan still live at home, working on their farm. Both Phoebe and Sarah Jane are gone from the household. This supports the story that Phoebe and Sarah Jane married two Groves brothers, Franklin and James Monroe, respectively.

If anyone would like more information or has some to share with me, please leave a comment.

The Case of Sarah Ellen Bryant

The Sarah Ellen Bryant I have to identify in the records must fit these distinguishing facts.
1. She was born in Missouri.
2. She married William Bazel Sparlin.
3. She had a son named Oscar Clarence (Jack) Sparlin (b. 1882) and two unnamed daughters.
4. Shortly prior to 1882, she resided in Cassville, Barry Co., Missouri.
5. In 1882, she resided in Bentonville, Arkansas.
6. After 1895, she resided in Cassville, Barry Co., Missouri.
Source: letter written by her grandson to family members

Records Online:
1. A marriage certificate issued in Jasper, MO, 18 Jan 1880, unites a “Mr. William Sparlin” with a “Miss Sarah Bryant.”
Place- Jasper County is in the extreme southwest corner of Missouri, as is Barry County. Bentonville, Arkansas is just across the border in that same corner.
Time- An 1880 marriage is realistic for the 1882 birth of Oscar Clarence.

2. The 1870 census for Virgil, Vernon, MO contains the following:
William Bryant 56, basket maker, b. KY
Rachel M. “ 44, b. NY
Elizabeth “ 14, b. Ill
Ada “ 10, b. Ill
*Sarah “ 6, b. MO
Emma “ 3, b.MO
Charles “ 3, b.MO
Place- Vernon County, MO, again, is located in the southwest corner of Missouri, a bit north of Jasper.
Time- If Sarah is born in 1864 (as according to this census), she is 16 in 1880, old enough to marry.

3. The 1880 census for Jackson, Jasper, MO contains the following:
William Bryant, 66, farmer
Rachel “ 54
Emma “ 13
Charles “ 13 (listed as grandson here, but not in the 1870 census. Considering he joined the household by age 3 and that in all other records he appears to be a son, Emma and Charles are probably twins.)
Place- Again the Jasper, MO area.
Time- At age 16, Sarah is missing from this 1880 census, presumably having left the household to marry.

4. 1890 census records are missing.

5. The 1900 census record for Jackson, Jasper, Mo contains the following:
William S. Johnson 49
Sarah E. “ 41
Isaac N. “ 20
Ollie J. “ 15
Rhoda E. “ 10
Elvira E. “ 8
Laura E. “ 5
Bertha J. “ 2
*Sarah E. Sparlin 35 sister-in-law, divorced
Lizzie M. Sparlin 11 niece
Significantly, the birthplace data is:
*Sarah E, b. MO, father born KY, mother born NY
Lizzie M, b. AK, father born IN, mother born MO
Place- SW corner of MO
Time- If this Sarah E. Sparlin is the same Sarah, daughter of William and Rachael Bryant, on the 1870 census, she should be age 35 or 36, which she is. According to that same census, William Bryant was born in KY, Rachael in NY, which also agrees with Sarah E.’s data. Additionally, William B. Sparlin(g) is possibly born in Indiana, which agrees with the parent data for Lizzie M. Oscar Clarence Sparlin spoke to his son of having two sisters; it’s likely that Lizzie M. (b. Aug 1888) is one of them.

Summary:
The above is evidence that Sarah, daughter of William and Rachael Bryant, is the same Sarah Ellen Sparlin, mother of Oscar Clarence Sparlin. Time, place and names are correct. However, I have no record with a direct statement that the Bryant’s daughter is the same Sarah Bryant who married William Sparlin(g) in 1880 in Jasper, MO.

Another Sarah Ellen Bryant was also born in 1864/65, she in Illinois to Andrew and Elizabeth Bryant. She’s a possible candidate who can’t be entirely eliminated on the above information, although her case is less substantial. There is considerable confusion with this Sarah E., because the Bryants were married in Illinois and their older children born there. However, after moving to southwest MO, they seem to have stuck. Both William and Rachael died and were buried in the area.

“User-submitted family trees” claim William and Rachael as the grandparents of Oscar Clarence. In addition, these trees list two children who died as infants and another daughter, born in 1888, named Juanita Elizabeth. This might be the “Lizzie” of the 1900 census. Oscar Clarence, however, spoke of two sisters. If a daughter was born to William and Sarah E. in 1884, she would have been old enough to marry and, thus, not appear on the 1900 census, and would have been born too late to appear on the 1880. (Remember the 1890 records are lost.) Oscar does not appear on these records for the very good reason that he was born in 1882, missing the ’80 census and that he, as told by his son, “ran away from home with an uncle who was going to Oklahoma and that he was 13 years old at the time.” That would have been in 1895. The first appearance of Oscar on a record is as a “boarder” and “farm laborer” with Alexander Irons in Oklahoma Territory on the 1900 census.

Until I see better evidence to dispute the claim that Sarah Ellen Bryant, mother of Oscar Clarence, is the daughter of William and Rachael Bryant, I’m inclined to include this information in my family tree. I continue, however, to look for corroborating information.

If you can help me or would like further information, please leave a comment.