Biography of SPARKS, Robert C.,  Cherokee County, AL., then Ouachita Parish, Louisiana

Submitted by Mike Miller
Source: Louisiana:  Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, 
Institutions and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form 
(volume 3), pp. 574-575.  Edited by Alice Fortier, Lit.D.  
Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.
 


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Sparks, Robert Clayton, a citizen of Monroe and prominent 
in the cotton trade of North Louisiana, is a son of B. C. 
and Mary E. (Garrett) Sparks, and was born in Cherokee 
county, Ala., Nov. 11, 1860. B. C. Sparks was a native of 
Putnam county,Ga. He moved to Alabama when a young man and 
for more than 40 years practiced medicine in that state.  
He died in Dec., 1894.  Mary E. Garrett was also a native of
Alabama, and bore her husband 7 children:  Elvira,  Mary E. 
(deceased),  Sallie B.(deceased),  Samuel J. (deceased),  
Lelia,  Robert C. and  Manly A.  R. C. Sparks remained in
Alabama until 18 years old, receiving his education in 
private schools and later in a business college at Nashville, 
Tenn.  After returning, he accepted a position with Howell,
Vandiver & Co., Rome, Ga., as bookkeeper, where he remained 
18 months; then to Little Rock, Ark., and for 4 years was 
employed in the German National bank.  At the end of that
time he accepted a position with T. F. Howell & Co., cotton 
dealers, whose principal office was at Rome, Ga., with a 
branch at Little Rock.  From the latter place Mr. Sparks
was sent to Pine Bluff to manage the company's business there.  
He remained at that place a few years until, at the age of 33, 
he came to Monroe and engaged in business for himself as R. 
C. Sparks, Cotton, being a direct buyer for Southern and New 
England mills.
Mr. Sparks was one of a half dozen men who were induced to 
take a position on the directorate of the Bank of Monroe 
when its affairs were not satisfactory, and he, with others,
came forward and put up money.  This act not only saved the 
depositors from loss, but also preserved a good name for 
the banking business of Monroe.  Oct. 25, 1904, Mr. Sparks,
with others, established the People's Warehouse and Compress 
Co., and he is still secretary of the company.  In 1908 Mr. 
Sparks was one of the four to establish the Riverside
addition to the city of Monroe, which is now one of its 
finest residence sections. Politically he has always endorsed 
the principles of the democratic party, but has never
sought nor held public office.  June 27, 1894, Mr. Sparks was 
married to Mary Louise, daughter of R. J. Nelson, of Monroe,
and 4 children have been born to them:  Robert N.(deceased),  
Margaret E.,  Robert, Jr.,  James Dilling.

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