Sparkman, Dallas
County, Arkansas
The First High School in Sparkman, Arkansas. Photo provided
by Oren C. Jones, Sr
Sparkman No. 1, or old Sparkman, was located in Owen Township
about 15 miles southwest of Princeton and settled about 1892
as a sawmill community. The sawmill was owned by Lemuel "Pete" Sparkman
(also the first postmaster), hence the name. It was located
about 1/4 of a mile southwest of the present town of Sparkman,
or Sparkman no. 2. Sparkman no. 1 was located on the Ultima
Thule railway. In 1898-99, the businesses included DeLaughter
and King Cotton Gin, S. Leonard and Son General store, L. E.
L. Boseman, H. O. Nall, and A. Posey blacksmiths, Wozencraft
and Wi1son as doctors, Mrs. J. D. Leonard as music teacher,
a depot and one church. When the new, main line railroad went
through the area, it missed Sparkman no. 1 by a short distance.
Sparkman no. 2 was established on the railroad between 1911-13.
The 640 acres of land for the town site had belonged to only
one landowner, Herman Willis (who homesteaded on a 160-acre
tract in 1899). In 1913 S. B. Horne had a sawmill and gin.
Sparkman no. 2 had a post office in 1914 with High McElwain
being the first postmaster.
In 1915, Sparkman had four doctors. They were C. A. Henry,
Joe C. McFadden, J. Y. Smith and Marvin Taylor (who also owned
and operated the Palace Drug Store). The first full run of
the Malvern and Camden railroad through the Sparkman community
was in 1913. It was sold to Rock Island and continued operation
for many years.
Sparkman's first hotel was operated by a Mr. Dale and his
wife from Dalark, assisted by a Mrs. Rambo (Dale's sister)
and sold to Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Cole in 1916. Dr. J. Y. Smith
bought the hotel from the Cole's and operated it until 1936
when it burned. The Sparkman News was established in 1915 with
J. J. Burdine as publisher and editor. Sparkman's first election
was in 1915. The first mayor was Claude F. Kennedy and recorder
was H. O. Nalls. Those receiving votes for alderman were Arthur
Lee, H. O. Theatt, George DeLaughter, C. A. Doak, Jess A. Leamons,
C. R. Pedigo, Bob Russell, and W. C. Arnold. Electricity was
installed in Sparkman by a company owned by S. B. Horne in
1915 on the east and north sides of Main Street.
Bank officers in 1916 in the Merchants and Planters bank of
Sparkman were John T. Taylor, John T. DeLaughter, John N. Stuart,
John M. Key and George W. DeLaughter. The oldest Ford dealership
in Arkansas with continuous family ownership is Sparkman Motors,
owned by the DeLaughter family. The first school in Sparkman
was a two-story building with an enrollment of 132. H. O. Theatt
was the first principal and Miss Ethel Fite (Mrs. Scott Leamons)
and Miss Ella Adams were the first teachers.
When Sparkman no. 2 was established, there were no churches
in town. A large warehouse was used for a community Sunday
School in which all denominations participated. Bill Sinquefield
was the superintendent. The Baptist church was organized in
1914, the Methodist congregation in 1916. The colored citizens
also organized a Baptist church in 1914 and an A. M. E. congregation
in 1916.
Source: Merritt, Richard (1976) Review of Dallas County,
AR History gleaned from the Bicentennial Edition of the
FORDYCE-NEWS ADVOCATE.
Resources
- Cemeteries,
these are the Cemeteries located within 10 miles of Sparkman,
Arkansas. If I have missed any, please let me know. Only
cemeteries in blue have been canvassed.
- Centerpoint (African-American)
Cemetery, located
approx. 1 mile West off Hwy 7, between Sparkman & Dalark
in Manchester Township.
- Chapel Hill Cemetery, located
6 miles South East of Sparkman, on Hwy 207, one mile
south of Hwy 128. Left off Hwy 207, onto Dallas 275.
- Harmony (African-American)
Cemetery, located
about four miles northeast of Sparkman on Hwy 207.
- Harmony Community Cemetery;
a.k.a. Williams Cemetery; located on
Hwy 207 south of Hwy 8.
- Sparkman
Cemetery, located 1 mile east of Sparkman on Hwy
207, in Owens Township. Cemetery canvassed by Oren
C. Jones.
- Sparkman
(African-American) Cemetery, located approx. 1/2 mile
past end of North Kelly Street. Some photos &
cemetery canvassed provided by Debbra Szymaski.
- Churches
- Census
- Maps
- Other link
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