Sparks family.

The Sparks family of Bell County, Texas, was founded by William C. Sparks, a native of Mississippi. Having obtained a grant of land from the Mexican government, he settled in Robertson county and moved to Bell County in the early 1850s. He married Jane Alexander (d. 1867), a native of Arkansas. They had six children: Clara Jane (who married Volney Cavitt and lived in Wheelock, Robertson County), John, Elijah (private of Co. I of the 17th Texas Infantry, who died of pneumonia in camp in Dec. 1862), William C. (private of Co. E of 2nd Texas), Minerva (wife of Michael Reed), and Samuel A. (who ended the Civil War with the rank of the Lieutenant, and later was a farmer in Wilkinson Valley and sheriff of the Bell County).

Michael R. Reed, son of John R. Reed and husband of Minerva Sparks, joined the 17th Regiment of the Texas Infantry in June 1862, together with his brothers, Henry and Edmund, and his brother-in-law, Elijah. The regiment, part of Walker's Texas Division, McCulloch's Brigade, took part in the Red River Campaign. In Dec. 1862, Michael Reed was a male nurse at a hospital in Austin, Arkansas. In June-July 1863, he was sent to a convalescent camp four miles north of Monroe, Louisiana. In Dec. 1863 he went home on furlough. In March, when he returned to camp, he was arrested and was about to be court-martialed. He died of wounds in July, 1864 near Alexandria, La.

William Sparks, brother of Minerva Sparks Reed, joined the 2nd Texas Infantry, nicknamed "2nd Texas Sharpshooters." The regiment, one of the best drilled regiments in the Confederate Army, took part in the battle of Shiloh, Farmington, occupation of Juka, siege of Corinth, and siege of Vicksburg. It surrendered with the remainder of the Vicksburg garrison on July 4, 1863. After the surrender of Vicksburg, William Sparks made it back to Texas. The regiment was reorganized at Houston in the fall 1863, and served on the coast of Texas to the end of the war.

From the description of Sparks family papers, 1856-1897 (bulk 1861-1864). (Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens). WorldCat record id: 122644015