In the year of 1852, the California gold fever drew his father away and he left his family behind forever. He would later be appointed to a government job in the newly established state of Washington by Abraham Lincoln, remarry and have another family never to return.
In the 1860 census, Francis M. is single and living with his deserted mother Rebecca in the city limits of Marion, Illinois.
In 1862, A.N. Lodge went into partnership with Francis M. Sparks and the Hon. James M. Washburn. Sparks and Washburn had opened a grocery store at 605 Public Square two years earlier and Augustus would provide the store as a druggist.
On February 18, 1863, Francis M. married Francis Ann Aikman, the daughter of the pioneer land owner Samuel Aikman. Shortly after that he moved to Bainbridge, Illinois where he lived briefly through 1865 to farm.
In 1866, he moved to the Eight Mile Prairie area in western Williamson County around Cambria, Illinois and was appointed postmaster of the Fredonia post office on January 29, 1867. The 1870 census catches them living near Fredonia (Cambria area). Francis M. is 40 and Francis is 25. Their children are Edgar Sparks, aged 5, Charles Sparks, aged 3 and John G. aged 9 months. Francis is farming for a living.
Shortly after the 1870 census, the family returns to West Marion Township and in 1877 Francis M. Sparks serves as City Alderman under Mayor J. C. Jackson.
By the 1880 census they have added three more children, Mary Elizabeth Sparks, Henrietta Rebecca Sparks, and Robert L. Sparks. The same year of 1880, they have another child on August 7, 1880 but it dies unnamed, followed by another daughter Francis Ann born in 1881.
The birth of the last child spelled the end of Francis Ann (Aikman) Sparks who died on 22 May 1881 and was buried in the Aikman family cemetery.
Francis M. Sparks, now with a load of children quickly remarries on December 24, 1882, to Mary J. Pease in Williamson County, Illinois.
Not to be deterred with having children, Francis M.’s new young wife delivers Benjamin F. Sparks in 1884, Bert F. Sparks in 1887, Guinn in 1892 and Harry in 1895, all boys.
In 1903, their son Robert L. Sparks, who has taken up contracting and carpentry, builds a home for them at 909 West Main Street that was designed by Francis M. and his wife Mary.
In the 1910, census, Francis is aged 70 and Mary J. is 46. They have two sons left at home; Guinn M. Sparks aged 18 and Harry C. who is 15. They take advantage of their large home on West Main by housing eight additional boarders.
By the time of the 1920 census, Francis has reached 80 and is now living with his son Robert L. Sparks on his farm outside Marion. His wife Mary J. continues living at the home on West Main Street with their son Harry C. Sparks and his wife Mildred. Harry is working for the Egyptian Engineering Company where they are found in the 1922 directory.
Francis M. moved to Michigan with his daughters in the early 1920’s and died in Decatur, Michigan on February 26, 1926. His wife Mary Jane Sparks passed away in 1934 and was buried at Rose Hill Cemetery.
Sam’s Notes on the children: Edgar Sparks, 1865-1918, died in Cobden, Illinois; Charles Alfred Sparks, 1867-1950, died in Olympia, Washington; John G. Sparks, 1869-1892, died in Marion, Illinois; Mary Elizabeth Sparks, 1871-1943, died in Decatur, Michigan; Henrietta Rebecca Sparks, 1874-1963, died in Decatur, Michigan; Robert L. Sparks, 1876-1961, died in Marion, Illinois; Unnamed Sparks, 1879-1879, Died in Marion, Illinois; Francis Ann Sparks, 1881-1962, died in Decatur, Michigan; Benjamin F. Sparks, 1884- xxxx; Bert F. Sparks 1887-xxxx; Guinn Sparks 1892-xxxx; Harry Sparks, 1895-xxxx.
In 1922 Benjamin F. Sparks was a grocer at 1709 W. Main Street and living at 1711 W. Main St.
(Data from 1905 Souvenir History, WCHS; Pioneer Folks and Places, Barbara Barr Hubbs; Federal Census Records; Death Records; City Directories, Marion City Cemetery Records; compiled by Sam Lattuca on 03/14/2013)