GG-Grandfather of my husband, Dennis Brown

Amaziah was the father of 14 children, two sons and 12 daughters.

Amaziah, the son of Zachariah and Elizabeth (Carter) Sparks, was born in Knightstown, Hancock County, Indiana, on April 13, 1832. Some descendants believe that his full name was Robert Amaziah Sparks, but in all official records his name appears simply as Amaziah. Sometime prior to 1850, he moved with his father to Livingston, Missouri; he was listed on the 1850 census as 17 years old and living with his father and step-mother. By 1855, he had moved to Leavenworth, KS.

Amaziah wasn't quite 19 years old when he married Elizabeth Ann Rolston on February 19, 1851. They had three children: Mary born, May 4, 1853; John William, August 30, 1855; and Thomas R., September 12, 1857. Elizabeth died in Leavenworth on October 27, 1857, about six weeks after giving birth to Thomas.

Amaziah was 26 years old when he married Sarah Ann Fowler in Springdale, Jefferson Co, KS, on December 4, 1859. Sarah, born in Schuyler Co, IL, on May 13, 1843, was the 16 year old daughter of William and Rebecca Elizabeth (Thornton) Fowler. With their wedding vows she accepted the responsibility of helping Amaziah raise his three young children, ages two to six.

Sarah gave birth to their first child, Sarah Jane, on June 8, 1861. By this time the Civil War had started. About two years later, on September 12, 1863, Amaziah enlisted as a private in the Union Army in Company C 15th Regiment, KS Cavalry. On November 9, 1864, Sarah give birth to another daughter, Ella Rebecca (my husband's great-grandmother).

Amaziah was honorably discharged at Fort Leavenworth in October 1865. He was described at that time as a farmer, light complexioned, with blue eyes, and five feet nine inches tall. In his pension application made many years later, Amaziah stated that his second wife, Sarah Ann, had "stayed at home during the war and took care of the three orphan children by my first wife and two of others by her."

Their next daughter, Emma Frances, was born in Leavenworth on April 4, 1866. They left KS by covered wagon in 1866 when Emma, was six weeks old. There were six children including her. Getting their wagon and horses over the rough wagon trails was a real task. They had many trials crossing rivers and going over mountains.

Amaziah got along quite well with the Indians. It was said he would nail hardtack to a tree and let the Indians have what they could chip off with their arrows.

Amaziah appeared to have an adventurous nature, and they lived in several places before they finally settled down in Lewis Co, WA. Amaziah had a large farm at Goose Lake, CA. From there they moved to OR. Sarah Ann have given birth to May Zeralda on May 14, 1874, and to Effie Melinda, on March 28, 1876.

Perhaps they were influenced to move to Goldendale, Klickitat Co, WA, by Sarah Ann's parents who had moved there from IL. Amaziah bought a large farm, and they lived here for a few years. Sarah Ann gave birth to two daughters while here: Loda Lenore on August 7, 1878, and to Lela Leona on December 6, 1880. It was here that his daughter, Ella Rebecca, met John Henry Smith. They were married in the little town of Centerville, near Goldendale, on March 1, 1882.

Later that same year he moved the family to Mossyrock, Lewis Co. The story of an incident that happened when the family moved from Goldendale to Mossyrock was told to her children by their daughter, Emma, who was about 16 years old at the time. They traveled by covered wagon and had to ford the Cowlitz. As they were crossing the river, one of the horses got water in its ear and began to flounder around. Amaziah walked out on the wagon tongue and held the horse's head up and kept it controlled until they reached shore safely. What impressed Emma the most was her mother who was holding her baby clutched to her breast, sitting on the wagon seat, while the rest of the girls were riding in the back. That baby sister was Lela Leona.

On December 13, 1882, he purchased 20 acres of land in Mossyrock from James T. and Alida Berry for $2,500. Sarah gave birth to Gracie Marie on April 09, 1884, and to their last child, Martha "Verda" Elverda, on May 17, 1886. That was a total of 11 lovely daughters.

In 1902 Amaziah got a patent from the United States government for 160 more acres of land.

Thanks to Elsie Wilson, who married Emma's son, Lee Howard Wilson, for preserving the history of the family, which includes much of the above. I talked to her in 1993 or so, and she was always very pleasant and helpful.

Saturday, Sept. 7, 1918
"Amaziah Sparks Dies
Yesterday morning Amaziah Sparks, aged 66 years, died at his home in Mossyrock. The funeral was held this morning at 10 o'clock. Mr. Sparks was a native of Indiana and for many years was a resident of this city. Eleven children survive him. Edward Newell had charge of the funeral arrangements.
Source: The Centralia Daily Chronicle

September 13, 1918
A. Sparks, a former resident of Centralia, passed away Friday morning, September 6, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. John Rich, of Mossyrock. Mr. Sparks was born in Indiana in 1832, and was married to Miss Sarah Fowler in 1859, coming west in 1866. He was a Civil War veteran and a pioneer of Washington. Deceased was a member of the First Christian church. Funeral services were held Sunday morning at Mossyrock, interment in the Klickitat cemetery.
Source: The Chehalis Bee-Nugget

Researched & compiled by Virginia Brown
January 2010