Sparlin/Ryan Dates and Such

In this excerpt from a letter written by my uncle in 1992, "Dad"  is Estal Earnest Sparlin.  Like my uncle, I am providing this information just in case someone doesn't already have it, and I scanned it to remove the transcription step with its potential for errors.

For anyone finding the scan difficult to read, here's the transcription:

Minnie Lucrettia Ryan, born January 11, 1876

Maggie An Ryan, born May 27, 1878

Estella Lonore Ryan, born December 26, 1879

Ernest Eldrige Ryan, born September 20, 1881

Corre Rosett Ryan, born February 10, 1883

Dace Balnose Ryan, born March 6, 1884

Walter Gray Ryan, born April 5, 1885

Fredrich Dean Ryan, born April 6, 1886

Bertha May Ryan, born September 23, 1887

Lulie Edith Ryan, born August 27, 1889

Orson Ryan, born September 27, 1891

Jacob Irvin Ryan, born February 17, 1893

George Ervin Ryan, born February 17, 1893

Claud Clifford Ryan, born June 21, 1895.

I have in addition a few index entries from the online site, On Demand Court Records.  These are dates of Sparlin/Ryan marriages in Oklahoma and represent the date filed at a courthouse.  In this format, the first number of the date is the month.

County: Kay (Newkirk)

Case: Tripp, Harriet and Sparlin, Estal E.

Date Filed: 8/29/1928

County: Kay (Newkirk)

Case: Sparlin, Bertha M. and Paxton, James E.

Date Filed: 11/24/1919

County: Kay (Newkirk)

Case: Utah, Ollie and Sparlin, O.C.

Date Filed: 11/05/1927

County: Pawnee

Case: Sparlin, O C and Ryon, Bertha

Date Filed: 3/20/1906

With enough money and time, the originals of these documents could probably be obtained from their respective courthouses.  No doubt they hold a treasure trove of information.  Unfortunately, there are hundreds of similar documents I would like to order, and my bill would be in the tens of thousands if I paid for all of them I would like to see.

Happy Hunting!

Tall Chief

Oh how my grandfather, Estal Earnest Sparlin, would have loved today's internet!  Oh my!

In a memoir/letter he wrote about the Osage, those Native Americans who influenced him so profoundly as a boy in Oklahoma, he wrote about the chief of Gray Horse, Tall Chief.  Below is an excerpt.

Tall Chief

Fairfax, where I attended school in the third to sixth grades (1915-19), is four miles from Gray Horse.  Many Osage families lived in Fairfax and one of my classmates was an Indian boy named Tall Chief.


Do you remember that the chief of the Gray Horse group in 1872 was named Tall Chief?  It seems likely that my classmate was a grandson of the 1872 chief.


About 1960 Ed Sullivan had a beautiful young Indian lady on his popular TV show who was one of the premier ballerinas of the time.  Her name was Maria Tall Chief.  After she finished her performance, Sullivan said, "I am sure the people of her native Fairfax, Oklahoma, are proud of her."


My classmate (Tall Chief) and I were born about the same time: I have children in the same age group as Maria Tall Chief; do you suppose my classmate sent his daughter to an eastern school and she took up ballet?  Could be!

Immediately after reading this at my desk, curious, I tapped "maria tall chief" into the google search and up popped a plethora of images and articles for the prima ballerina Maria Tall Chief.  I could only imagine the delight my grandfather would have had at instantly learning that Maria "was born in Fairfax, Oklahoma to a father who was a chief in the Osage Nation and a Scots-Irish mother." and that the family moved to California in the 30s where she learned to dance and that Maria later moved to New York to further her career.

Estal Earnest Sparlin: Justice of the Peace

 Partial Transcription;

"State of Arkansas

To All to Whom These Presents Shall Come-Greeting:

Know Ye, That Whereas, It appears that

E. E. Sparlin was duly elected 

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE

in Prairie Township,

in and for the County of Washington

in the State of Arkansas, at an election held in said

County on the fifth day of November, 1940.

..."

Note: The copy of this document was amidst my dad's family papers, specifically in his notebook labeled "Glimpses of Father" by Mother.  E. E. Sparlin was Estal Earnest Sparlin, b. 1907, Oklahoma Territory, d. 1998, Ohio.

Awesome Sparlin Family

Around 2005 or so, Dad gave me a big, cardboard box of papers that turned out to be all the letters between his parents and siblings and himself, as well as, genealogical information the family had scraped together in the pre-internet era on Sparlins, together with the scrapbook "Glimpses" that my grandmother assembled on my grandfather's many accomplishments.  Grandmother continued to add photocopies, articles and pictures by mail to this book over the years.  When Dad realized his mind was failing (as a consequence of Parkinson's disease) and that I was interested in pursuing family research, he gave me this box, and I, being the grand procrastinator that I am, stored it away and never looked through it carefully...until now.

Somehow I need to share this gold mine, but I'm not sure how to do it effectively.  While I ponder, I will try to share bits now and then, like this one about my uncle, who is pretty awesome...from a family of awesome.

"Miss James was fortunate in her accompanist, Dale Sparlin, head of the music department at St. George's School, whose support was always sensitive but never obtrusive.  Sparlin made his own contribution to the program with the brilliantly projected offertory, Cesar Franck's 'Prelude, Fugue and Variation,' one of the favorites in the organ repertory."

Photo: Three RYAN Sisters of Oklahoma and their spouses, SPARLIN, RICE AND TAYLOR, c.1910s

Adults L-R; Oscar Clarence and Bertha May RYAN-SPARLIN, Cornelius and Dacie Belmore RYAN-RICE, William M. and Lula Edith RYAN-TAYLOR.

Children L-R; Estal Earnest SPARLIN, Ezekial RICE and Lena Viola TAYLOR

The youngest child on the left, Estal, was born in 1907, dating this photo to about 1910.  The place was Ralston or Fairfax, Oklahoma.

Davis Families in Indiana, Lebanon P.O., Jackson Twshp, Boone Co., 1870

At the risk of being geeky, here they are, the 16 separate Davis households enumerated on the census record of my title.

The first number is the family number from the census and roughly indicates proximity, i.e. neighbors can be determined. Columns correspond to the following headings;
given name (surname where it's not Davis and gender where the name is ambiguous)--age--date of birth--place of birth--occupation, followed by notes if any. Naturally, names are prone to error from transcription and dates are only as accurate as memories.

6

• Randolph, 27, 1815, KY, laborer (residing in Jackson family household)

37

• John W. 55, 1815, KY, farmer
• Louisa 33, 1837, KY
• Frances E. (f), 15, 1855, IN
• Mary Martha, 12, 1857, IN
• James D., 10, 1860, IN
• Andrew, 5, 1865, IN
• Leander, 3, 1867, IN

56

• Thomas J., 50, 1820, KY, farmer
• Matilda, 34, 1836, IN
• William D., 15, 1855, IN
• Mary L., 12, 1858, IN
• John R., 9, 1861, IN
• Lindy E. (f), 7, 1863, IN
• Margaret A., 5, 1865, IN
• Harriet, 2, 1868, IN

85

• John F., 36, 1834, IN, hotel?keeper
• Elizabeth J. 26, 1844, IN
• Iowa I. (f), 7months, IN

91

• Howard, 16, 1854, IN, laborer (resides with Mary E. Pollard, age 27, ??maker??)

113

• Harry, 20, 1850, IN, stone cutter (resides in hotel? of the Fullenwider family along with other boarders)

161

• James L., 34, 1836, IN, farmer
• Eliza A., 30, 1840, IN
• Sarah E., 13, 1857, IN
• William F., 1859, IN

178

• Caroline, 37, 1833, IN
• Mary E., 15, 1855, IN
• Rebecca A., 9, 1861, IN
• William W., 7, 1863, IN

208

• William L., 66, 1804, KY, farmer
• Susan, 68, 1802, IN
• William H. Sotherland, 11, 1859, IN. (grandson?)

230

• John T., 45, 1825, IN, farmer
• Orinda, 37, 1833, IN
• James H., 18, 1852, IN, farm laborer
• William M. 16, 1854, IN
• Ester C. Stewart, 18, 1852, IN

265

• Rebecca, 38, 1832, IN
• Calvin M., 17, 1853, IN
• George W., 14, 1856, IN

284

• Annias, 50, 1820, KY, farmer
• Liddie E., 28, 1842, IN
• Sarah M., 12, 1858, IN
• Willard, 10, 1860, IN
• Joseph 5, 1865, IN
• Rosetta 3, 1867, IN

309

• Catherine, 68, 1802, KY
• Martha E., 21, 1849, IN
• John 6, 1864, IN

313

• Thomas J., 38, 1832, KY, farmer
• Elizabeth, 38, 1832, OH
• Hiram A., 20, 1850, IN, laborer in mill (probably a saw mill)
• Alfred A., 18, 1852, IN, farm laborer
• Mary H., 14, 1856, IN
• William I., 10, 1860, IN
• Bauman? L., 1, 1869, IN

365

• William J., 58, 1812, KY, farmer
• Ester A., 52, 1818, IN
• Frances M (m), 22, 1848, IN
• Elzora, 15, 1855, IN
• Harriet J., 1, 1869, IN
• David D. Shelley, 15, 1855, IN (grandson or laborer?)

366

• Charles, 19, 1851, IN, laborer in saw mill
• James, 28, 1842, IN, laborer in saw mill (both young men residing with the family of the saw miller along with other laborers)

I believe my ancestors are here in family 208. Oddly enough, I don't claim any of these other Davises, who I think represent more than one other lineage. These other families I was able to piece together in a fashion while looking through the county as a whole, and I found some references to their separate family trees online, enough to tentatively eliminate them as kin. While the elder couple of William and Susan seem a little lonely here, relationships with their children are more obvious in the earlier census records of 1850 and 1860. The 1860 record I may put up, but the 1850 is a larger project of 230 pages covering District 7 (and an urban area), where it was again that I found the elder William and his wife.

Briefly for my kindred's perspective, William Davis and Susan Howard-->George Washington Davis and Mary Ann Anderson-->Nancy Caroline Davis and Robert O. Ryan-->Bertha May Ryan and Oscar C. Sparlin-->Estal E. Sparlin and Harriet Tripp-->David E. Sparlin

Biography: Oscar Clarence Sparlin

1st photo: Oscar Clarence Sparlin (abt. 1907)  2nd photo: Oscar and Bertha May (Ryan) Sparlin

.

His parents were William Bazel Sparlin of Indiana, veteran of the Civil War, and Sarah Ellen Bryant of Missouri.  They were married 18 Jan 1880 in Jasper, Missouri.  They first lived in Nevada, Vernon Co., Missouri, where the couple was recorded on the 1880 census.  Just before Oscar Clarence was born, his parents moved to Bentonville, Arkansas.  Oscar, according to his birth certificate, was born 19 Dec 1882.  His mother, Sarah, was 18 years old, and William Bazel was 41.  There were other children of this couple, and Oscar told of two sisters, but only one other whose name is known, Juanita Elizabeth (Lizzie), born 14 Aug 1888 in Bentonville.  Oscar was six years old at the time his sister was born.

Before 1989, Oscar’s parents divorced, and his father remarried to Bertha A. Ewing.  Sarah and her daughter, Lizzie, moved in with her brother-in-law, William Johnson, and her sister, another Sarah Elizabeth.  In 1900, they are recorded on the census with this large family in Jasper Co., MO.

Oscar Clarence left Missouri in 1901 at the age of 13.  According to a 1990 letter written by his son, Estal, "he [Oscar] ran away from home with an uncle who was going to Oklahoma."   He found his way in the territory to the Osage and Kaw Indian Reservation, where the census identifies him as a boarder and a farm laborer at the age of 18.

For nearly a decade, the large family of Robert Orson Ryan was also situated in Osage, where Oscar and Bertha, the daughter of Mr. Ryan, must have met.  In 1906 (20 Mar), Oscar married Bertha May Ryan, age 16, in Pawnee Co., OK, just south and west of the Osage Nation.   Shortly after their marriage, their son Estal Earnest Sparlin was born, 7 Aug 1907.  Earnest was the name of one of Bertha’s six brothers, Earnest Eldridge Ryan and, eventually, the name was also passed down to Estal’s first son, David Earnest Sparlin.

Three years after Oklahoma became a state on 16 November 1907, the federal census of 1910 was taken.  Records from this time forward support the character of Oscar Clarence as described briefly in that 1990 letter in which Estal wrote, “Dad would just not keep a job.  He worked in a livery stable, as a janitor at the school, as a carpenter, etc.  Mother finally started taking in washing (I picked it up and delivered it) in order to have a few dollars for groceries.  Mother kept complaining to dad.  Finally they were divorced in 1918.”  It is not surprising, then, that Bertha May and her son, in 1910, are living with Bertha’s father, Robert Orson Ryan, and not with her husband, Oscar Clarence.  Instead, Oscar Clarence is living as a lodger at Coal Creek, Pawnee Co., OK and listed as a laborer at odd jobs.  According to his son, he was always known simply as "Jack," which may reflect his occupation in various trades.

The couple must have been together for some of those years (1910-1918), however, because Estal Sparlin possessed memories of the family and his father’s jobs.  For example, in 1912, they lived in an Indian camp, where Oscar Clarence was a caretaker of the roundhouse (see photo below) in Osage Co. at the Gray Horse Camp, of which Estal had vivid memories.    More significantly, Bertha and Oscar had another child in 1911, a boy they named Oscar Orsen after his father, Oscar, and grandfather, Robert Orson.  At only 18 months old, this boy suffered severe burns to the bottom of his feet and died of the injuries.

Gray Horse Dance Hall 1912, Osage Co., Oklahoma

By 1915, Bertha May decided that her remaining son, Estal, who was 8, should attend school regularly, and the family moved to Fairfax, OK.

In 1918, Oscar Clarence (age 35) filed his draft registration card, required for WWI.  On the card, he listed Bertha May Sparlin as his nearest relative, so they may not yet have been divorced by 12 Sep, the day of the record.  The card also records that he was tall, slender, with brown eyes and brown hair, features as in his photographs.  At the time, he lists his occupation as janitor at a public school, remembered by his son, Estal, in his 1990 letter.  It could not have been long after that Oscar and Bertha divorced.  Estal recalled that it was in 1918.

Oscar Clarence continued to live in Fairfax, at least as late as 1930, when he is listed on the federal census as a deliveryman for a laundry.  He appears to be residing in a boarding house setting, summarily, living a life very similar to the one before his divorce.  Sometime in the years between 1930 and 1952, he moved to Pawhuska, also in Osage Co., and that is where his death occurred.

Forty Years at Raritan

In my post John Michael Sparling in NJ, I provided the following information,

"between 1720-1748. Head of family, Jan Sperling, joins the Reformed Dutch Church. Location: Six Mile Run, Somerset, NJ,"

then I promptly lost my citation and couldn't find the lists from which I took it. Two days and many hours later, I've identified the source. The lists are from a book: "Forty years at Raritan: eight memorial sermons with notes for a history of the Reformed Dutch Church in Somerset Co., NJ. By Abraham Messler, D.D., pastor of the Church of Raritan. New York, 1873."

The lists are a bit long, but invaluable, so I'll reproduce them here as I was only able to access this book through a subscription, although the book is long out of copyright.

"The following names embrace the heads of families in Six-Mile Run during the time of T.J. Frelinghuysen:
Koert Van Voorhees
Isaac Haenrooncot
J. Perrine
Cornelis Cornel
R. Merril
Peter Schenck
Gerret Veghten
Isaac Symonse
Hendrik Van Dyke
Jakobus Van Voorhees
Tobias Nevius
Aric Van Arsdalen
Jakobus Strycker
Cornelis Van Arsdalen
Abram Van Arsdalen
Jeremias Douty
Theodorus Montfort
Fredrik Van Lieuw
Jan Pijet
Jesse Van Arsdalen
Jochem Gulick
Elbert Stothoff
Cornelis Tunise
Johannes Stryker
Fredrik Ferdon
Jacobus Wyckoff
Abraham Vandoren
Benjamin Tailor
Christofel Van Arsdalen
Martynus Voorhees
Jan Van Voorhees
Nichlos Veghten
Daniel Van Vleet
Samuel Polen
Albert Schenk
Lucus Van Voorhees
Marten Polen
Johannis Vonk
John Van Arsdalen
Christ. Davidts
Nys Hagaman
Jan Fyne
Cor. Stothoff
E. Suydam
Johannes Bennet
Cornelis Wyckoff
Alexander Beert
Dirck Williamse
Jan Sutphin
Hendrik Schenk."

...

"In John Frelinghuysen's time the following additional names of families occur:
Joseph Folkerse
Benjamin Emans
Johannes Wytneght
Nicholas Boerum
Nicklas Willemse
Lamert Dorlandt
Johannes Pouelse
Gerret Veghten
Nicolas Jonsen
Peter Van Zandt
James Pruyn
Abraham Lott
Johannes Vonk
Bergun Broka
Martyies Hooglandt
Cornelius Van Houten
Peter Van Nest
Leffert Waldron
Johannes Van Pelt
Jan Sperling
Rem Gerretse
Jonitan Stout
Jan Vanderveer
Abraham Riemer
Jacobus Leek
Isaac Snediker
Hendrik Cortelyou
Peter Berrien
Peter Pomyea
Jan Harrison
William Van Tilburgh
Petrus Nevius
Jost Duryea
Jurias Van Cleef
Michal Van Buren
Alexander Beert
Abram Simonson
Jan Terhunen
Corns. De Hart
William Dannelsen
Abram Van Doren
Jacobus Vandervoort
Syme Kinne
Jokem Gulick
Corns. Van Hangelen
Joseph Brouwer
Isaac Snediker
Jonathan Provost
Peter Juricks
Ferdinandus Schureman
Johannes Groenendyke
Johannes Coevert.*"

...

"* We owe these lists to Ralph Voorhees, Esq., of Middlebush, whose extensive researches have brought olden things to light in various ways."

Anyone doing research in Somerset Co, or even anyone with ancestors during the colonial period of New York and New Jersey will recognize more than a couple of the surnames on this list. More than one, indeed, appears in conjunction with the name of Jan Sperling in the few documents I've already listed in my two NJ posts, specifically, Vleet, Hoogland, Stryker, Van Voorhees, Cornel, Lott, Gulick and De Hart.

Questions I'm currently addressing are these:

Of the generations of Jochem GULICKs, four that I know with respective birthdates of 1649, 1686, 1712 and 1757, which is assuredly the gentleman who served in the Revolutionary War?

One researcher designates that honor to Jochem GULICK, b. 1712, who married Carnelia VANDENBERG. Another researcher identifies a 5th Jochem GULICK, b. 1727; father, Johannes GULICK; mother, Rensie Van SICKLEN, as serving in the Rev. War. This Jochem married Rebecca EMANS, but of the two, appropriate Rebecca EMANS (one born 1710, the other 1729) that I found, neither married a Jochem GULICK.

If Jochem-1712 served, then he was rather elderly, at least in his 60s during the war. A date of birth, 1727, is more reasonable.

A related problem is to identify which of these Jochem GULICKs was served in New Brunswick with debtor's papers along with John SPARLING, Sep 14, 1773. What makes this a fairly interesting problem is that there are conflicting reports as to who married Catherine VAN CLEEF. One researcher states it was Jochem GULICK, another reports that it was John SPARLING, and they may both be right, depending on which generations are involved. Only accurate family group sheets of the three individuals will answer the question.

Perhaps you already know the answer or are fairly certain. If so, please leave me a comment or send me an email. Help is always warmly appreciated.

Correction: Claude, not Claudia

In my post, Puzzle Pieces, I incorrectly identified the first child of William Bazel and Bertha A. Sparlin as a daughter. "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."

Although the name is transcribed as Claudia from the census, their first born was actually a son, Claude Lester Sparlin. This information is obtained from his WWI draft registration card.

Coming Soon: Updated Jan Michiel Sperling Ahnentafel

I'm working on a new, improved ahnentafel for Jan Michiel Sperling(h). Here's a taste of some of the corrections:


Old Version

4 Edward (Ned) Sparling
.....+Mary Curtsinger
.....5 Michael Sparlin
.....+Sarah Jane Mullins
....*2nd wife of Edward (Ned) Sparling
.....+Mary (Polly) Kretsinger
.....5 David Sparling
.....and so on


New Version

4 Edward (Ned) Sparling
.....+Catherine Elizabeth Curtsinger
.....5 David Sparlin
....*2nd wife of Edward (Ned) Sparling
.....+Mary (Polly) Curtsinger (sister of Catherine Elizabeth above)
.....5 Elizabeth Sparling
.....and so on

When the dates are added, it will be clear why I made the above changes. Coming soon!

Charles Dugar's Wives

From three census records and the information from headstones in the Lynhaven Cemetery, it’s possible to follow the marriages of Charles Dugar. Charles is of interest for the reason that his line leads eventually to Edith Clairbel Kenyon, her children, and their children, who are the subject of this research. Beginning from living memory…

From family background it is known that Edith Clairbel Kenyon married Roy Hiram Tripp. Edith’s obituary confirms this information and provides a marriage date, Dec. 12, 1906.

The couple and their children are found in the Carlton, Orleans, NY census record of 1910.
Roy H. Tripp 24
Edith C. Tripp 24
Hildreth A. Tripp 2
Clifford G. Tripp 1y 4m
Harriet A. Tripp 1m

Their daughter, Helena T., was born in 1913. Edith died early at age 29 on Apr 14, 1915. After her death, Roy remarried to Grayce (maiden name unknown). Three years after her mother’s death, Hildreth passed away in 1918. Roy’s daughter Helena went to live with her maternal grandparents, Charles and Jessie Kenyon.

She appears with them on the 1920, Newfane, Niagara, NY census record.
Charles Kenyon 60
Jessie Kenyon 57
*Helen Tripp 6

Clifford lived with an aunt and uncle, the Snowdons, where he can be found on the 1920 census for Yates, Orleans, NY.
John E. Snowden 34
Harriet Snowden 32
Robert Snowden 2y 5m
*Clifford Tripp 11

He remains with the Snowdons in 1930, still in Yates.
Edward J. Snowdon 44
Hattie E. Snowdon 42
Robert T. Snowdon 12
Van E. Snowdon 9
*Clifford G. Tripp 20

Only Harriet remained in the Tripp household, relocated to Pennsylvania, until her marriage to Estal E. Sparlin in 1929.

Along with her father and stepmother, she appears on the Meadville Ward 1, Crawford, PA census record of 1920.
Roy H. Tripp 36
Grayce Tripp 37
*Harriet Tripp 9

Edith C. Kenyon’s obituary revealed the names of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kenyon, as well as those of her siblings, Henry, Ruth and Nettie. In fact, before her marriage to Roy Tripp, she appears on the 1900 census in her father’s household.

1900 Yates, Orleans, New York Census:
Charles Kenyon 40
Jessie Kenyon 38
Henry Kenyon 19
*Edith Kenyon 14
Nettie Kenyon 11
Ruth Kenyon 1

At the beginning of Charles and Jessie’s married life, they reside with Jessie’s parents, Abner and Amanda Slade, and two of Jessie’s sisters with children.

On the 1880 census record for Somerset, Niagara, NY, the household appears as follows:
Abner Slade 67
Amanda Slade 57
Hattie Petric 32
Mary Petric 4
Emma Mason 30
Clara Mason 6
*Charles Kinyon 20
*Jessie Kinyon 18

Charles Kenyon’s father, Daniel Chaffee Kenyon, is revealed in the elder Kenyon’s obituary. Charles’ mother, too, Mary L. [Louisa] Dugar is named, as well as three siblings, Clay, Ward and Ella. Two census records confirm the content of this household.

1860 census for Yates, Orleans, NY:
Daniel Kinnion 30
Mary L. Kinnion 22
Lucy E. Kinnion 2
Charles B. Kinnion 11m

1870 census for Yates, Orleans, NY:
Daniel C. Kenyon 40
Mary L. Kenyon 31
Laney Ella Kenyon 12
Charles B. Kenyon 10
Clay C. Kenyon 8
Ward Kenyon 3

The source “The Chaffee Genealogy: Embracing the Chafe, Chafy…” by William Henry Chaffee, 1909, indicates the father of Mary Louisa Dugar who married Daniel Chaffee Kenyon, that is, Charles Dugar. 1850 census for Yates, Orleans, NY supports this relationship.

Charles Dugar 40
Mary [Mercy?] Dugar 40
Sophia Dugar 16
Sarah Ann Dugar 16
Mary [Mercy?] J. Dugar 15
Sarah Dugar 13
*Mary Dugar 11
Erasta Dugar 10
Charles Dugar 8
Emma Dugar 6
Lucy Dugar 2

The above record provides the name of Charles Dugar’s first wife, Mary or, as it is known from elsewhere, Mercy. This record indicates that Mercy is the mother of the nine children who appear in 1850. The Lynhaven Cemetery provides more information concerning this wife, b. Jul 6, 1809, d. Dec 21, 1852. Therefore, she died two years after her name appears on the 1850 census.

The 1860 census for Yates, Orleans, NY provides the name of Charles Dugar’s second wife, Bethiah (maiden name unknown).
Charles Dugar 50
*Bethiah Dugar 45
Jane Dugar 25
Sophia Dugar 23
Wesley Dugar 18
Emma Dugar 16
Lucy Dugar 11

Although no other record (currently in possession) provides Bethiah’s maiden name, date of birth or death, it is possible to determine the name of a third wife for Charles Dugar. Presumably, Bethiah died in the interval between 1860 and 1870, because this third wife, Lydia, is named on the 1870 census for Yates, Orleans, NY.

Charles Dugar 60
*Lydia Dugar 39
May W. Barman 11

The source “Landmarks of Orleans Co., NY,” p19 (excerpt below) provides Lydia’s maiden name, Gaskill, and also the information to identify May W. Barman [Barnum] as Lydia’s daughter from a previous marriage.

“Lydia Ann Gaskill was thrice married, first to Clifton Barnum, who died April 18, 1863, in the hospital at Fairfax, VA, and was a member of the 6th Regiment Michigan Cavalry. Her second husband was Charles Dugar of Yates, who died in 1880, and the third was Dewitt Kenyon, whose parents built the Kenyonville mills.”

Implications:
Some family trees build a relationship between one of the Dugar children and the large Gaskill (Gascoigne) family based on this third marriage of Charles Dugar. These must be in error for clearly Mercy, Charles’ first wife, is the mother of his first nine children. If other children were born, either to Bethiah or Lydia, I haven’t personally discovered the record. At least one family tree I’ve seen publicly claims a wife, Bethiah Mercy Babcock, especially as the mother of Mary Louisa Dugar. Perhaps an amalgam of names based on a misunderstanding of the census records or simply coincidence? Mercy, however, died in 1852, so the 2nd wife, Bethiah, is definitely a unique individual and, also, not the mother of Mary Louisa.


In the interest of organization, much available data was omitted from the above summary, especially concerning family branches not in direct line between Edith C. Kenyon and Charles Dugar. I’m happy to provide any other information concerning dates, places or records upon request. Also, if you have information to share with me, please do!

1890 Veterans Schedule For William B. Sparlin

In addition to those military records for William B. Sparlin in the entry, Illinois/Indiana Sparlings in the Civil War, I found this one:

1890 Veterans Schedules
Veteran's Name: William B. Sparlin
Home in 1890: Webb City, Jasper, Missouri
Year enlisted: 1864
Year Discharged: 1865
Rank: Private
Service: 13th IN infantry

Information is consistent with the records I found previously.

"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."

Putting it together, I am confident that the 1890 census record is that of William B. Sparlin of Currysville, IN and indicates that he not only retired in AR, but that he resided in southwest MO/northeast AR for a number of years.

Comments, corrections welcome.

Illinois/Indiana Sparlings in the Civil War

This is a review of what I've uncovered in regards to Sparlings in the Civil War, at least those who may or may not be relevant to my family tree. (The first date is enlistment.)

Andrew Sparling 16 Dec 1861, Decatur, IL, pvt., Co. H 63rd IL infantry
(I know of no connection.)

Francis Sparling 19 Nov 1863, Pixley, IL, pvt. Co. K 48th IL infantry
mustered out: 15 Aug 1865, Little Rock, AR
(This appears to be the son of David and Mary (nee Holley) Sparling, therefore, Francis Marion Sparling, b.1841, IN)

George Sparling 13 Aug 1862, Chicago, IL, pvt. Co. C 113 IL infantry
disability discharge: 1 Feb 1863
(I know of no connection.)

George Sparling 18 May 1864, Snachwine, IL, Corporal, Co. B 139th IL infantry
mustered out: 28 Oct 1864, Peoria, IL
(I know of no connection.)

George Sparling 24 Apr 1861, Princeton, IL, 1st Sgt. Co. I 12th Il infantry
mustered out: 1 Aug 1861
(I know of no connection.)

Granville Sparling 19 Nov 1863, Bible Grove, IL, pvt. Co. K 48th IL infantry
mustered out 15 Aug 1865, Little Rock, AR
(This appears to be another son of David and Mary Sparling, therefore b. 1845, IN)

Isaac Sparling 16 Dec 1861, Decatur, IL, pvt. Co. H 63rd IL infantry
mustered out: 13 Jul 1865, Louisville, KY
(I know of no connection.)

John Sparling 14 May 1864, Chicago, IL, pvt. Co. F 134th IL infantry
mustered out: 25 oct, 1864, Chicago, IL
(I know of no connection.)

Michael Sparling 2 Sep 1861, Clay county, IL, pvt. Co. B 48th IL infantry
mustered out: 15 Aug 1865, Little Rock, AR
(This appears to be the son of Edward (Ned) and Polly Sparling, and a brother of David Sparling (above), therefore, b. 1841, IN)

Peter Sparling 3 Dec 1863, IL, Bible Grove, IL, pvt. Co. K 48th IL infantry
mustered out: 15 Aug 1865, Little Rock, AR
(This also appears to be the son of Edward, brother of David, therefore, (William) Peter, b. 1845, IN)

William Sparling 5 Jan 1864, Henry, IL, pvt. Co. B 86th IL infantry
deserted: 14 May 1864
(From the message boards, I understand this desertion was a confusion with his brother. By personal communication, I was informed that he retired in AR, but had no children in that area, so is probably not a direct ancestor in my family line.)

John Sparling 26 Oct 1863, IL, pvt. Co. B 48th IL infantry
mustered out: 15 Aug 1865, Little Rock, AR
(This appears to be the son of Moses C. Sparling, brother of Edward (Ned) Sparling, therefore, John W. Sparling, b. 1830, IN)

Archibald Sparling, pvt. Co. B 48th IL infantry
(This appears to be the son of Moses C. Sparling, John W.'s (above) brother, therefore, b. 1833, IN)

William Sparlin, 13 Dec 1864, Currysville, IN, pvt. Co. F 13th IN infantry
mustered out: 25 Aug 1865.
(While I don't know the connection of this Sparlin, he was from Currysville, which lies in Sullivan County, also the home of Moses C. and family. It's also possible that an AR Civil War pension record belongs to him, William B. Sparlin, service for the 13? IN infantry. He's possibly another son of Moses C., William, who was age 21 in 1864, although I would expect him in the 48th IL infantry if so.)

In the interest of organization, I omitted the details of how I made the above family connections. If you'd like to know more of my reasoning based on records, please leave a comment. Or, as always, if you can help me out, please, please get in touch.

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.

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.