Sparks - Mahala
Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Sept 16, 1926
Aunt Mahala Sparks, one of the best known women in this part of the state and probably the oldest, died at her home near alamo last night at 6:15. Death followed a year of failing health and was due to the infirmities of age., Had Mrs. Sparks lived until this morning, she would have celebrated her 99th birthday. For many years friends and relatives in Montgomery and Fountain County have been in the habit of celebrating Aunt Mahala’s birthday with a huge community gathering on the third Sunday in September and plans had already gone forward for a birthday party next Sunday at Alamo but those plans were dropped last week when her condition became critical. The Alamo Homecoming each year was to a certain extent in honor of Alamo’s oldest citizen and she was always in attendance at these gatherings until ill health forced her to miss the one held two years ago. Mahala Sparks was born Sept 16, 1827 in Hamilton County, Ohio, the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Copner. With her parents she came to Indiana in April 1848 and has since resided south and east of Alamo in Montgomery County. She was married on December 23, 1848 to Phillip Sparks of near Alamo. To this union were born three children. The mother lived to see her husband and the three children pass into the Great Beyond one child dying in infancy. George Sparks having died in March 1923 and Dr. Joseph Sparks of Yeddo having passed away about a month ago. Although she left no immediate survivors, Mrs. Sparks left a host of friends in whom she seemed as a relative. She was a member of the Christian Church at Alamo. No funeral arrangements had been made last night and it is not know yet whether the services will be held from the home or from the Christian Church. Burial will likely take place in the family cemetery. -thanks so much to Linda B for this one