Circa 1890s photo of Josiah Sparks (1855-1930)
I recently purchased the subject undated studio portrait of a middle-aged man taken by Jackson's, Warren, IN.It is identified on the back of the mount in period ink cursive writing:
"Josiah Sparks
S. W. cor Franklin & Werber St
Hartford City
Ind"
This individual appears in public member trees posted on ancestry.com.He is listed in the 1860 and 1870 Census data for Rock Creek Township, Wells Co., IN; the 1880 Census data for Salamonie Township, Huntington Co., IN; the 1900 Census data for Okolona, Chickasaw Co., MS; the 1910 Census data for Township 4 (resided on Main Street), Fresno Co., CA; the 1920 Census data for Long Beach (resided at 200 South Grand), Los Angeles Co., CA; and the 1930 Census data for Long Beach (resided at 315 Cherry), Los Angeles Co., CA.
Josiah Sparks, born Dec 1855 in IN, died 1930 in Long Beach, Los Angeles Co., CA, was the son of a farmer, Andrew Jackson Sparks (1833-1873), and Mary Eikenburg (1838-1921).Enumerators list Josiah's occupations as farm worker (1870), sawmill worker (1880), baker (1900), hotel proprietor (1910), and oil fields manager (1920).The 1895 directory for Hartford City and Montpelier and Blackford Counties, Indiana, lists Josiah Sparks as a partner with George A. Shinville in the Bee Hive grocery and bakery, located at the southeast corner of Monroe and Washington, with Josiah's residence located at the southwest corner of Franklin and Werber, Hartford City (matches the address written on the photo).
On 12 May 1878, Josiah married Amanda L. Priddy, born Apr 1862 in IN.The couple had four children: Julia Margaret Sparks (1879-?), Jefferson Cameron Sparks (1882-1938), Mary Effie Sparks (1884-1921), and Jasper Tillman/Tilghman Sparks (1887-1938).
Contact me for free scans.