** I have chosen this evening's life story and monument restoration as our "Non Profit Feature of the Week "
Your generous donations help support what we do in restoration, research, and allow us to pay it forward to Veterans, Scouts, students, and everyday folk looking to make an impactful difference in their own communities all across the United States...
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** Also, I am going to share a link to our online store for those of you who would like to purchase a "The Good Cemeterian" t-shirt or tote bag !! The proceeds of these items items help us to purchase supplies throughout the year ..
https://www.thegoodcemeterian.org/tgc-merch
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Elijah Byrd Sparkman just celebrated his 200th birthday as he was born in Camden County Georgia on October 28th, 1819 to his Father Stephen Lewis Sparkman Sr. and Mother Elsa Ann (Keightly) Sparkman.
** Interesting events that occurred around the World during Elijah's birth year of 1819 included.
• On January 25th, 1819 Thomas Jefferson founds the University of Virginia.
• On February 22nd, 1819 Spain cedes Florida to the United States, in exchange for the American renunciation of any claims on Texas that it might have from the Louisiana Purchase, and $5 million dollars.
• Between April 6th and June 21st, 1819 the French slave ship Le Rodeur sails from Bonny in West Africa en route to Guadeloupe in the West Indies. During the course of the transatlantic voyage many onboard become blind, and as a consequence 30 slaves are thrown overboard.
• On May 22nd, 1819 the SS Savannah leaves port from Savannah, Georgia on a voyage to become the first steamship to cross the Atlantic Ocean. The ship arrives @ Liverpool, England on June the 20th.
• On December 14th, 1819 Alabama is admitted as the 22nd U.S. state.
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Elijah Byrd was the fifth of seven children born to his Mother and Father. Chronologically his older siblings were Simeon Lewis, Ann, Harriet Ann, and Nathaniel Keightly. He had a younger Sister by the name of Charlotte and Brother, Stephen Lewis.
Elijah Byrds Father, Stephen Sparkman was born in 1782 @ Bertie, North Carolina and resides there until 1806 when he moves to the Peach State of Georgia with his new bride Elsa Ann Keightley. Eighteen years later, in 1824 he relocates his growing family to what is now Lake City in the new territory of Florida when Elijah is just five years old. The Sparkman's were the first "white settlers" in the region. ** Note: The town was known as "Alligator" Florida until being renamed Lake City in 1832.
Elijah was a Cavalry officer in the second Seminole War between 1835 and 1839 as well as in the third Seminole War in 1856 and 1857. During the third Seminole War, Elijah was a 1st Lieutenant with the Florida Mounted Volunteers, which was led by his Brother, Captain Simeon Lewis Sparkman.
** According to family notes, although Elijah served during the third Seminole War, he was known to give sides of beef to needy Seminoles in the area.
In 1844, he marries Sarah Ann Mizell who also hailed from Camden County in Georgia. Together they would have two Sons during the course of their marriage. ( Simeon Elijah, and George Bascom Sparkman )
Elijah Byrd and Sarah Ann also raised her niece, Cornelia Tippens, after she was orphaned and nearly killed herself while just a baby in an 1838 Indian attack at Tiffens Pond, in Sanderson, Florida.
*** This is the verbatim text of a letter written by the Tippen family's neighbor shortly after the massacre...
" "It is again my painful duty to inform you of a most shocking Indian massacre - I mean the murder of Mr. John Tippins and family. Mr. Tippins was bringing his wife and children out of Florida to see her parents, and when within a few miles of her father's house, was fallen in with about seven Indians, between 10 o'clock, A.M. and 12 o'clock. Mr. Tippens was shot from his horse, the Indians then made an easy capture of his helpless family and vented their savage spleen by beating them on the heads with their tomahawks. Mrs. Tippins lived (senseless) about forty hours, but did not speak; her skull was smashed in many places by the tomahawk. She died in the arms of her father, Mr. David Mizell. Her children are not yet dead, although the skull of each is factured in many places by the tomahawks. This melancholy occasion took place in this county last Monday not far from Ocean Pond.
We are most critically situated. The Indians on the north of us close to the Okefinokee Swamp. On the south in the nation our market road leading from here to any market accessible to us passes through their gateway & we are here exposed on the border of the Okefinokee down both sides of the Indian gangways to the nation and no protection whatsoever from the army."
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In 1845 when Florida is granted its statehood, Elijah and Sarah Ann move Southward and settle in what was at the time called "Hickapussassa Hammock", in Hillsborough County just a short distance North of the Dover station on the Atlantic Coast Line railroad. He supports his family in the field of farming and cattle ranching, amassing a small fortune during his lifetime.
Family Matriarch Sarah Ann Mizell Sparkman would lose her life on May 7th, 1857 at the age of 29 leaving her Husband Elijah Byrd, Sons Simeon Elijah, George Bascom and Niece, Cornelia Tippen's behind to mourn her loss.
On December 1st, 1859, Elijah Byrd at the age of 40 would marry for a second time when he weds Margaret Elizaneth Carney who at 25 is fifteen years his junior. The couple welcome a Daughter, Mary Virginia on October 7th, 1861
** Full Disclosure: While researching Census records I discovered an 1860 "Slave Schedule" showing that Elijah Byrd was a slave owner.
In 1862, Mr Soarkmanwould once again enlist with the military when he joins the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.
** Elijah Byrd and Sarah Ann's Son George Bascom
graduated from the University of Virginia Law School, became an attorney, and was twice elected as the Mayor of Tampa, Florida. While working in his yard on election day, passing neighbors told him that he better get to the Courthouse because people were voting for him to be Mayor. He hadn't even run for the office !!
George Bascom Sparkman died of yellow fever at the age of 42 on August 31st, 1898. He was Mayor of Tampa at the time of his death and his wife Mary Elizabeth was expecting their seventh child.
** Elijah Byrd and Sarah Ann's Son Simeon Elijah attended College at Eastman Business College in Poughkeepsie, New York. He returned to Florida where he taught school and farmed near Plant City, Florida
He was the tax assessor of Hillsborough County from 1881-1882; the County Commissioner between 1883-1884; and represented Hillsborough County in the state legislature in 1891. He was again elected tax assessor in 1907. Simeon Elijah was also a member of the Masonic Order. He passed away at the age of 87 on May 31st, 1939 in Plant City, Florida
After a brief illness Elijah Byrd Sparkman would pass away at the age of 83 on October 16th, 1903.
Elijah Byrd Sparkman ... Beloved Husband, Father, pioneer, and Veteran of three historical American conflicts.