First Baptist Church Cemetery, Marshall, Alabama http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/marshall/cemeteries/firstbap.txt ==================================================================== USGENWEB PROJECT NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Project Archives to store this file permanently for free access. This file is copyrighted and contributed by: Mary Copeland ==================================================================== October 2001 First Baptist Church Cemetery, Boaz, Marshall County, Alabama BOAZ-FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH CEMETERY (Sparks Family Cemetery) Located 225 South Main Street (State Hwy 205 S) Boaz, Marshall County, Alabama HISTORY OF CEMETERY "This old cemetery, first known as the "First City of the Dead", was the burial ground for the Sparks family. The Sparks family first settled here, in what would later become Boaz, in the 1850's. In 1878, William Wesley "Billy" Sparks and Elizabeth Evans Sparks reserved a choice spot of two acres for the First Baptist Church that included the cemetery. The Billy Sparks heirs, knowing his wishes, deeded the land for the first "Baptist Church of Boaz" and the old cemetery on September 16, 1897. The deed stated that the land was for a Missionary Baptist Church and must be completed in twelve months or said deed would be null and void. The heirs gave two acres for the church and the cemetery "for love we have for the cause of Christ". It has been passed down that area Indians had used this plot of land as a burial place and their graves had been left undisturbed. An ancient rock marker was located in the plot until the 1970's. Markings were on the rock, but were undistinguishable to the white residents. Sadly the rock disappeared in the 1970's. One early date of burial of a white settler was 1861, but quite probably goes back further because of the Sparks 1850's settlement. Sparkstown was the name of this settlement until the late 1890's. Billy Sparks was buried in this cemetery in 1891 and his wife Elizabeth was buried here in 1893. His father, Zerah Sparks and his wife, Louranna, are buried under the large rock formations of unmarked graves. The cedar tree was planted next to the graves. This first burial ground in Boaz, just north of the church, is a proud plot of land for the old settlers as well as the present church members. The Alabama Historical Commission added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage the First Baptist Church and Cemetery on February 6, 1998. The cemetery was closed but reopened to allow Joel Noel to be buried there in 1904. He was the last person buried in the cemetery. The following are some of the people known to be buried in unmarked graves at the First Baptist Church Cemetery. Zerah Sparks, Louranna Horn Sparks, Joshua A. Sparks, Dr. Russell Sparks, Elizabeth Hill Sparks, Amon Walter Sparks, Marion J. Sparks, John Lee Norris, Lonzo Gibbs, Francis Marion Sparks, Meredith Sparks (and two of his two infant children), William Gibbs, Winney Gibbs, Amon Sparks, Elizabeth Jane Sparks, Minnie Sparks, Elizabeth W. Sparks, Sara Sparks, Otis Leon Sparks (infant), William A. Sparks (infant), Elnoe S. Sparks, Luther W. Sparks and Lena Sparks." Submitted by: Elizabeth Mandaine Noel Miller Boaz, AL September 2001 With the assistance of Gail Noel, past President of the Boaz Historical Society, we recorded each tombstone in the following manner: Beginning with the SW corner and reading toward the NW corner, then beginning with the next row going south, then north on the next row, etc. Listing unmarked stones in order of placement. Searcher's comments enclosed in ( ), and not inscribed on the tombstones. Adelle GARRISON April 9, 1886 Sept. 17, 1903 Dau. of J.F. & Nancy GARRISON Unmarked No graves until the NW corner which was an Indian burial ground. There are no tombstones marking the Indians buried here. Next row going south. (No name given) Feb. 17, 1899 Oct. 8, 1903 Dau. of T.P. & L.B. CARTER 3 Unmarked Joel NOEL Nov. 5, 1859 Sept. 1, 1904 (Last person buried in cemetery) Lee F.L. PRUITT April 30, 1879 Feb. 10, 1903 James A. GRUMP Dec. 6, 1876 April 18, 1896 J.S. STANCIL June 30, 1857 Jan. 11, 1902 Bertha L. LAY Aug. 13, 1901 Feb. 28, 1904 Dau. of L.H. & H.J. LAY P.H. SNOW Mar. 5, 1868 Nov. 18, 1893 Vera M. NOEL Mar. 6, 1886 Feb. 12, 1902 Larkin A. NOEL Jan. 31. 1812 Jan 30, 1897 (One stone) Matilda M. NOEL Mar 18, 1818 Dec. 28, 1891 Wife of Larkin A. NOEL Ella L. NOEL Nov. 22, 1884 Feb. 1, 1897 Zettiee ROBERTS Dec. 9, 1897 Jan. 11, 1898 (One stone) Clabra U. ROBERTS June 10, 1899 Sept. 18, 1899 Unmarked Infant-NOEL Dec. 22, 1900 Dec. 22, 1900 Son of Joel & W.L. NOEL (Willie Lavonia NORRIS NOEL) Luther (No date) (No date) (Small stone next to Elizabeth ROE) Elizabeth Ava ROE Sept. 18, 1859 Oct. 26, 1897 Wife of C.O. ROE 2 Unmarked Infant-BURDEN (No date) (No date) Infant of Wm. H. & F.A. BURDEN Wm. H. BURDEN Mar. 14, 1849 Feb. 2, 1898 Unmarked Infant-DECKER "Born and died Dec. 19, 1903" Son of J.A. & M.E. DECKER L.G. MIMS April 19, 1824 June 30, 1898 (Masonic emblem on stone) 5 Unmarked William SPARKS Dec. 28, 1818 Jan. 4, 1891 (Known as "Billy") Elizabeth W. SPARKS April 28, 1824 June 24, 1893 (One large stone. A small stone to the left "Father" one to the right "Mother") Sallie E. WILLIAMSON Jan. 2, 1846 Aug. 20, 1897 (Dau. of William & Elizabeth SPARKS. Sarah Elizabeth Mandane "Sallie" SPARKS married John WILLIAMSON in 1867. She was the first school teacher in Boaz.) Infant-CROFT "Born and died April 23, 1900" Infant of W.T. & Delilar CROFT Atha A. EUBANK Sept. 19, 1837 Mar. 27, 1896 Unmarked Willie R. WEIR May 3, 1875 Feb. 9, 1899 Wife of J.H. WEIR Augusta BARRETT Sept. 21, 1874 Oct. 15, 1901 (One stone-Mother & Son) Joel Benjamine BARRETT Aug. 4, 1900 Oct. 5, 1901 Lucinda E. PRICKETT Feb. 25, 1813 July 8, 1898 Wife of Thomas PRICKETT Zelpha Ann TIDWELL Aug. 5, 1883 Oct. 30, 1894 Jimmie Corbon TIDWELL Feb. 8, 1897 June 27, 1897 3 Unmarked Noah J. NELSON Sept. 25, 1826 April 6, 1902 (Masonic emblem on stone) Leona BARNARD June 12, 1863 Mar. 16, 1896 Wife of N.C. BARNARD 2 Unmarked Ray McCLESKEY April 20, 1900 May 31, 1900 Son of J.D. & F.E. McCLESKEY Dollie McCLESKEY Jan 7, 1892 Mar. 7, 1892 Dau. of J.D. & F.E. McCLESKEY Fannie Lee GROOVER Sept 13, 1888 Dec. 15, 1903 Dau. of Rev. W.L. & Laura O.GROOVER GROOVER 3 Unmarked Luther W. SPARKS Dec. 25, 1884 June 27, 1886 Son of W.W. & A.B. SPARKS Unmarked (Patrirot of Sparkstown, Zerah SPARKS, b. 1783 in VA, d. 1867 1st wife: name unknown. Mother of William Wesley "Billy"SPARKS; 2nd wife: Louranna R. HORN, b. 1810 NC, d. 1903, Mother of Marion J. SPARKS, d. bef. 1878, and Dr. Russell SPARKS, d. 1889 1st. Dr. in Boaz.) P.H. GILLESPIE Aug. 22, 1809 April 23, 1895 Unmarked Bessie E. HOPPER Feb. 12, 1891 Mar. 16, 1900 Dau. of Rev. J.T. & M.A. HOPPER Willie May ADDINGTON Mar. 24, 1899 Feb. 22, 1904 Dau. of E.B.S. & M.L. ADDINGTON ADDINGTON Nancy A. JAMES Sept. 9, 1815 May 20, 1901 Wife of Rev. J. P. JAMES Elenora S. SPARKS Sept. 20, 1861 Dec. 30, 1896 Wife of F. M. SPARKS William A. SPARKS "Born and died May 26, 1894" Otis L. SPARKS Oct, 18, 1895 June 7, 1896 Sarah E. SPARKS Aug. 1858 Nov. 11, 1884 Wife of F.M. SPARKS 3 Unmarked Nannie SMITH McCLESKEY May 8, 1863 July 3, 1891 Wallace Joyce McCLESKEY Dec. 7, 1893 Sept. 1, 1894 R.A. McCLESKEY Oct. 1, 1827 Dec. 7, 1899 Wife of L.E. McCLESKEY Ima Lu VINCANT Jan. 12, 1882 May 19, 1891 M.S.L. BISHOP May 26, 1860 Nov. 4, 1861 Dau. of A.L. & S.A. BISHOP J.L. BISHOP Aug. 28, 1856 Oct. 25, 1881 Son of A.L. & S.A. BISHOP 3 Unmarked J.M. GIBBS Dec. 2, 1850 Nov. 6, 1902 Infant-GILLESPIE Feb. 19, 1900 Dau. of Mr. & Mrs. E.P. GILLESPIE Eura GILLESPIE Sept. 12, 1900 Feb. 23, 1902 Dau. of J.P. & C.D. GILLESPIE James L. GILLESPIE Feb. 4, 1841 Aug. 18, 1896 6 Unmarked John W. GANN Sept. 16, 1870 Aug. 15, 1892 Pat & Mike (Marker reads:) "Irish immigrant workers killed in construction accident on the Railroad 1890 Boaz Historical Society, 1977" Mrs. Elisa MORRIS (No date) Aug. 30, 1893 (carved on stone rock) "Age 45" Marker "Fence given by the Boaz Historical Society" (Wrought iron fence around the cemetery) 2 Unmarked Little Pinson GARRETT Feb. 3, 1899 Aug. 19, 1899 Son of T.W. & N.E. GARRETT Irene SNELLGROVE May 16, 1901 Sept. 5, 1901 Dau. of Mr. & Mrs. E.G. SNELLGROVE SNELLGROVE Grady Edward DODD Dec. 7, 1894 Oct. 8, 1898 Son of J.J. & C.D. DODD