Hi, Erath Listers: I'll add a bit to the Sparks info. that's been coming in. My Sparks line came to TX from MS about 1833-34 having lived in Lawrence Co., Homes Co., Yazoo Co., and a short stay in Copiah Co., MS before coming to the San Augustine area and then on the Nacogdoches, TX where the Sparks family settled in a group. Col. Richard Sparks was born in 1793, Athens Co., GA and went with his family as a child into the Creek Indian Territory when a family group moved there in 1811 on a Passport from the Governor of GA. In the family group were William C. Sparks with wife Mary Polly Fielder and five children and his brother in law, Stephen Noble with wife Sarah Sally Fielder (sisters) and his seven children. Stephen's first wife was Sarah Kemp and online information states that Kemp, Kaufman Co., TX was named in her honor (family input). They had children together and then Stephen married #2-Sarah Sally Fielder and they had children. According to what I have learned, Stephen died befo! re his famiy moved on to TX, but some ended up around the Houston area. Fielders also moved into TX, but I haven't explored their connection. Col. Richard Sparks was appointed the last alcalde of Nacogdoches by Adolphus Sterne about four months before the outbreak of the TX Rev. He was a large landowner at the time, owing some 50,000 ac. before he was killed on a surveying mission. He was shot through the head by a maurauding Indian party as he lay sleeping near present day Corsicana in Navarro Co., TX. Two others were killed in the Indian attack also. He had served as sheriff in Yazoo Co., MS; constable in Holmes Co., MS and served 3 years in the MS State Legislature before leading a family group to TX. He also delivered goods to Chief Bowl(e) or Duwali of the Cherokee and the delivery receipt was also signed by Chief Bowl(e), Thomas J. Rusk and Sam Houston, Chief Egg (Bowle's son). His wife was Elizabeth May Cooper and she died 1 Jan. 1848 in Nacogdoches Co., TX. Sparks' daughter, Elizabeth Ann Cooper Sparks, married Samuel Everett Rogers, b. NC and they moved from Nacogdoches to Smith Co., TX when it wa! s formed and then removed to Erath Co., TX where they lived for some time. Son of Samuel was James Carroll Rogers who m. Nancy Elizabeth Howard. Her sisters married William Franklin Stephen of Stephenville, Rufus Bean White and William Henry Stracener - all these families were early Erath Co. settlers. I've found that many of these early TX relatives are buried in the Barbee Cemetery. Richard Sparks had several brothers and sisters who moved to TX also. Anyone related to this Sparks line? Nancy in CA