Francis Marion Sparks was born on April 21, 1840 in Marion, Illinois to John G. Sparks and Rebecca (Casey) Sparks. While a baby, his father followed the pursuit of attaining a law degree and by 1850 the family was living in the Northern District of Jackson County where his father John G. Sparks practiced law. Continue reading
Category Archives: All Marion Content
John G. Sparks 1811-1891
John G. Sparks was of Scotch ancestry. His parents settled in Virginia and afterwards moved to Posey County, Indiana, where he was born on September 22, 1811. When about eight years old his parents brought him to Staunton, McCoupin County, Illinois, where he remained until he was twenty-one. Continue reading
702 S. Market Street appears to have been built very shortly after the turn of the century for Charles W. Schwerdt. It was built specifically for Shwerdt by Robert Sparks, a local contractor who also built the Marion Opera House at 400 N. Market St. Continue reading
Manheim Cantor was born July 27, 1848, in Prussia, Germany. His father, Nathan Cantor, who brought up his son to the mercantile business, never came to America, but died in Germany in 1882. Continue reading
This home at 512 S. Market Street was built in 1893 by Manhiem Cantor for the sum of $5,000. Manhiem was a German immigrant and his family was prominent in Marion society. Continue reading
