History of Texas, Together with a Biographical History of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson Counties. Page: 423

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

moved to Lawrenceburgh, Tennessee, and in
1855 to a point near Clifton, that State,
where the mother died in 1880 and the father
in 1884. The latter was a minister in the
Missionary Baptist Church for fifty years,
and during that time gave particular attention
to missionary work, having established
many churches in middle Tennessee. Mr.
and Mrs. Sparkman were the parents of three
children: William T., a farmer of Lauderdale
county, Alabama; John W., a minister of the
Christian Church at Mifflin, Tennessee; and
J. H., the subject of this sketch.
J. H. Sparkman was born in Columlbia,
Maury county, Tennessee, February 5, 1837.
He attended the common schools, and also
spent two years in Jackson College, Coluinbia.
At the age of seventeen years lie engaged
with his father in a tannery, and in
1870 opened a hide business in Sulphur
Springs, Hopkins county, Texas. In 1874
he located in Rockdale, Milain county, where
he was engaged as a dealer in hides until.
1886, and since that year, under the firm
name of Sparkman & Co., has been a conveyancer,
land and loan agent, life and insurance
agent and Notary Public. In 1861
Mr. Sparkiman joined'Captain J. B. Biffle's
company of cavalry, which became a part of
the First Tennessee Cavalry, under Colonel
James Wheeler. The summer of 1861 was
spent in a camp of instruction, and in tlhe
following fall was ordered into Kentucky,
under Buckner. On account of the monotony
of service Mr. Sparkman sought work in the
secret service department, where he served
during the remainder of the war or in prison.
His first trip was in company with Alexander
Todd, a brother of Mrs. Lincoln. He had
many exciting and perilous trips within the
enemy's lines, was captured several times,
but was always fortunate in being released.
a7

Mr. Sparkman was married at Sulphur
Springs, Texas, April 9, 1809, to 5Mallie S.,
a daughter of Dr. J. E. Robertson. The
lRobertsons are of Scotch descent, and .settled
in Virginia in an early day, where Mrs.
Sparkman was born and raised. Our subject
is independent in his political views, is liberal
in. religious matters, and, socially, is a member
of the K. of 11. and the K. & L. of II.
Ile is a stockholder and was formerly vicepresident
of the Rockdale MIining and Manufacturing
Company.
V 1k ILLIAM1 VANCE HIEFLEY, an old
settler of Milamn county and the head
of a large and influential family of
this county, is a native of North Carolina,
born in the county of Haywood, July 25,
1820. His American ancestors, who were
early settlers in the old States, came originally
from Holland and Ireland, Thomas [Hefley,
his paternal grandfather, being a native
of Holland, who emigrated to this country
in an early day and settled in South Carolina,
whence he moved later to Haywood county,
North Carolina. Both he and his wife died
in that county, having lived to an advanced
age, and passed their entire lives in the peaceful
pursuits of agriculture. Martin Hefley,
the father of the subject of this notice, was
probably born in Holland, being young when
his parents came to America. He was reared
in Haywood county, North Carolina. He
married Clarissa Mahaffey, of Lincoln county,
that State, she being a daughter of Joseph
Mahaffey, a native of Ireland, who settled in
the Catskill country of Pennsylvania toward
the close of the last century, whence he moved
about 1780 or 1785 to North Carolina. Clarissa
Mahaffey was born in Lincoln county,

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