William Wesley "Billy" Sparks ^62,65,68

  Research Notes:

Per the research of David Rogers: "In 1878, a group of people in Butts County (including Billy Sparks) made the decision to move to the Sand Mountain plateau of Marshall County, Alabama. They were influenced by the stories they heard of the rich, easily-tillable sand mountain soil.

On October 31, 1878, a wagon train, consisting of ten wagons drawn by horses and one wagon drawn by oxen, left Butts County and headed for the Sand Mountain area. There were 42 people and two dogs (Cricket and Touse) in the train, which was in charge of the wagon-master, Billy Sparks. They arrived at what is now the town of Boaz on November 11, 1878.

Four days later, on November 15, 1878, Billy Sparks bought 500 acres of land from his nephew, Bob Sparks, for $960. The land was located in what is today downtown Boaz. Billy divided it into lots and offered to give a lot to anyone who would start a business on it. According to the history referred to above, he gave land for the first store, the first public school, the first cemetery, and the first Baptist church. He built his home on Main Street. The town prospered and was named Boaz in 1886.

Billy Sparks died on January 4, 1891. His will was probated on February 7, 1891. In it he named four of his children: Sarah F. Williamson, Wesley W. Sparks, Martha A. Stewart, and Francis Marion Sparks. Billy named his son, Francis Marion Sparks, as his executor. All of the children lived in or near
Boaz." ⁶²

Billy married Elizabeth W. Evans, daughter of Archibald W. Evans and Unknown, on Dec 10, 1844 in Butts Co., GA.⁶² The marriage ended in divorce. (Elizabeth W. Evans was born on Apr 28, 1824 in GA,⁶² died on Jun 24, 1893 ⁶² and was buried in Old Boaz Cemetery, Boaz, Marshall Co., AL ⁶².)