Sparks - Franklin Forrest - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

There are young men of the present day who are conscientiously following a teacher's vocation, whose talents and scholarships fit them for spheres of activity in which the emoluments would be greatly increased. They are men to whom the call of learning has always appealed in their own cases, and they work to help others because they are convinced that education is an essential. To scholarly men like Franklin Forrest Sparks, principal of the Broadwater County High School at Townsend, work in the educational field has always been most congenial. He has had broadening official experience in different sections of the country, and came to his present office in September 1919. Franklin Forrest SPARKS is a descendant of an old English family that settled in Virginia in colonial times. He was born August 7, 1882 at Advance, Boone County, Indiana. His parents were Charles M. and Emma (Fishback) Sparks and his paternal grandfather was George Sparks, who was born in Kentucky and died at New Ross, Indiana in 1884. Charles M. Sparks was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky in 1850, and was an infant when his parents moved to Indiana where he was reared. He was married there to Emma Fishback, who was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky in 1852. They shortly afterward settled on a farm near Advance in Boone County. His death occurred at Advance, November 3, 1919, his widow still residing there. They were the parents of the following children, Nellie M, who is the wife of Charles M. Ray, who is railroad ticket agent at Hoopston, Illinois; Franklin Forrest; Lillith, who is the wife of Frank Heady, a farmer near Advance Indiana; Anna Gould, who is the wife of Russell Wynkoop, an insurance broker in Lebanon, Indiana; Chester who is a chemist by profession, resides at Indianapolis, Indiana; and Maurice who died in infancy. This family was reared in the Christian Church. Franklin F. Sparks attended the public schools of Advance, Indiana being graduated from the high school in 1902, then entered Wabash College, at Crawfordsville from which he was graduated in 1907 with the degree of A. B. In the same year he became principal of the high school at Amo, Indiana where he remained one year, then entered Harvard University at Cambridge, Mass, where he took post graduate work in History and Government and remained one year. Upon his return to Advance he became superintendent of the schools of that place, returning then to Harvard from which university he was graduated in 1911. In the above year he accepted the position of principal of Summerville Academy, Augusta, Georgia where he presided until 1914, when he came to the West and from 1914 until 1917, was superintendent of schools, Mountain Home, Idaho. In the meanwhile, recognizing the military dangers impending, he tried to enlist in the officers' training camp at Fremont, California but before he had succeeded, the armistice was signed and further effort in that direction was unnecessary. On January 1, 1919, Mr. Sparks resumed educational work, becoming superintendent of the Perry Township HS, Lebanon Indiana and remained until May 16th of that year, in the following September accepting the invitation of Broadwater County, Montana. The new modern high school building is situated on Spruce street, Townsend, and Professor Sparks has under his supervision 7 teachers and 65 pupils. Ever since taking charge he has been formulating and shaping an educational policy to meet the needs of the students in charge, and has been able to establish the kindest of personal relations with teachers and pupils alike, In 1911, at Linden, Massachusettes, Mr. Sparks was united in marriage to Miss Helena Nelson, daughter of Capt. William and Lena (Donovan) Nelson of that place, the father of Mrs. Sparks having followed the seat for years. She was educated in the exclusive Moses Brown School for Young Ladies at Providence, Rhode Island. Mr. and Mrs. Sparks have children as follows: Dixie born Sept 30, 1912; Blanche, born in October 1914; Charles born in September 1915; and Nancy born December 1917. The family belongs to the Christian Church. Like his father before him, Mr. Sparks is a democrat in politics. He belongs to Advance Lodge; Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, Advance, Indiana, Indiana State Teachers' Association.

[NOTE: Charles & Emma Fishback Sparks are buried in Montgomery County.]