Christopher Columbus Sparlin

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS SPARLIN. Among the extensive farmers of Cherokee County, who have been residents of the State 25 years or more, Christopher Columbus Sparlin stands as an example of the more progressive class of the world's providers. Mr. Sparlin was born in Newton County, Missouri, December 15, 1852, and came to Kansas in 1879, and for a few years lived north of Columbus and then located on his present farm of 160 acres in section 31, township 34, range 24, in Spring Valley township.

His father, Jonathan Sparlin, who was a native of Ohio, was reared as a farmer and received the usual common-school education to be obtained in the country schools of his day. After reaching manhood, he followed the occupation of farming, for which the experience of his younger days so well fitted him. Some time before the opening of the Civil War, he moved to Newton County, Missouri, and later to Jackson County, of the same State, being engaged in farming in both places. In 1858 he removed to Wyandotte County, Kansas, and at the opening of the Civil War enlisted in Troop A, 15th Reg., Kansas Vol. Cav., and served for nearly three years. Nine years later, in 1867, he returned to Newton County, Missouri, where he remained until 1879, when he again moved to Kansas, locating this time in Cherokee County, where he engaged in farming and stock-raising. Here he remained until his death, which occurred in 1884.

Jonathan Sparlin, our subject's father, married Rachel Wells, and their family consisted of six children, as follows: Christopher Columbue,[sic] the subject of this sketch; Thomas D., who died in 1874, at the age of 21; Martha, who died in 1892; Mrs. Cedelia Parsons, of Baxter Springs; Julia (Mrs. Benjamin Rhodes), who resides in Joplin, Missouri; and Joseph, who died when young. Mrs. Sparlin is still living, and resides in Baxter Springs.

Christopher C. Sparlin received his early education in the schools of Wyandotte County, Kansas. For some years after leaving school, the work of which was completed at the age of 15, he worked for his father on the farm. Later he located in Johnson County, Missouri, where he farmed for one year and in the fall of 1875 removed to his native county, remaining there for four years. Believing that greater success and better fortune awaited him farther West he removed to Kansas in 1879 and located in Cherokee County, where he has since resided, engaged in farming and stock-raising.

Mr. Sparlin was united in marriage, on September 25, 1874, to Margaret Beagle, of Wyandotte County, Kansas. To this union eight children were born, only two of whom are living, namely: Fredonia, the wife of Harry Hooper, a clerk, of Parsons, Kansas; and George, who resides in Oregon. The mother of these children died in 1886. On July 8, 1888 our subject married Belle Osborne, a native of Indiana, and the daughter of James W. Osborne, of that State.

Mr. Sparlin's life in the community has been most exemplary, living the life as set forth by his faith—for as a well known worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church and for some time past one of its trusted officers, his influence is always for the best welfare of the community.

Politically, Mr. Sparlin is a Democrat and socially he affiliates with the A. O. U. W. and the M. W. A.

History of Cherokee Coun ty Kansas and its representative citizens, ed. & comp. by Nathaniel Thompson Allison, 1904, transcribed by Carolyn Ward, instructor from USD 508, Baxter Springs Middle School, Baxter Springs, Kansas, 5/5/97.