458                 HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

on the 5th of November, 1840, and his parents. Charles P. and Sophia
(Vogt) Kumpf, were also natives of the fatherland, the father born in
1809. The mother was the widow of John P. Houk at the time of her
marriage to Mr. Kompf, the former dying in Germany, and they had
one son. Mr. and Mrs. Kumpf were married in their native land. and
their onion was blessed by the birth of four children two sons and two
daughters, all of whom claimed Germany as their native land and John F.
was the second born.
    In the year of 1847 the family sailed for America. spending their
first seven years in this country in Ohio, and in the schools of that state
John F. Kumpf learned to speak the English language. In 1854 the
family came to Clay county, Indiana, and located in Posey township, where
the senior Mr. Kumpf at first bought eighty acres of land. Selling that
tract he bought forty acres of the present Kumpf farm. added a one-
room frame addition to a log building, and at once began the task of
clearing his land. His death occurred on this farm when he had reached
the age of fifty—five years, after a long and useful life in harmony with
the teachings of the Methodist Episcopal church. His political allegiance
was given to the Republican party.
    At the time of his father’s death John F. Kumpf became the owner
both by inheritance and by purchase of the old family homestead in
Posey township, and his farm now contains one hundred and forty-five
acres, on which he has made many valuable and substantial improve-
ments, and in addition to this home farm he also owns two other farms
in Posey township, containing one hundred and twenty and fifty—three
acres, respectively, and he has improved both tracts, while on one he has
cleared ten acres. In 1901 he transferred his residence from the old
Kumpf homestead to one of his newer farms. He has attained promi-
nence in the agricultural circles of Clay county and is well and favorably
known. In politics he has been a life-long Republican, favoring the
principles of that party, although he votes independently at local elections.
    On the 1st of November, 1868, Mr. Kumpf was married to Mag-
daline Ell, whose parents, John and Anna Margaret (String) Ell, were
pioneers in Posey township. The six children, three sons and three
daughters, of this union are: Nellie, deceased; Samuel E.; Charles W.;
Clara, the wife of Gustave Seigling, a farmer; John F., Jr.; and Bertha,
the wife of John R. Folke. Mr. Kumpf is a member of the Methodist
Episcopal church.

    SAMUEL SPARKS.---A well known farmer and highly respected citi-
zen of Perry township, Samuel Sparks has been actively identified with
the agricultural development and growth of this part of Clay county for
many years, having cleared and improved an excellent farm. During
his long and busy life he has pursued the even tenor of his way as an
honest man and a good citizen, and now in his declining years is reaping
the reward of his persistent toil and enjoying the regard and esteem of
his neighbors and friends. A son of Owen Sparks, he was born April 3,
1834, in Linton township, Vigo county.
    Richard Sparks, grandfather of Samuel, was born in Virginia. and
from there moved to Kentucky, where he resided a number of years.
Coming to Indiana in pioneer days, he was an early settler of Linton
township. This part of Indiana was then largely a wilderness, through
which wild beasts of all kinds roamed at will, and in which the red man