"Early History of Thurston County, Washington; Together with Biographies and
Reminiscences of those Identified with Pioneer Days." Compiled and Edited by
Mrs. George E. (Georgiana) Blankenship.  Published in Olympia, Washington, 1914.
p. 300.
 
MRS. JOHN G. SPARKS

     Mrs. John G. Sparks, Grandma Sparks, as she is affectionately called by her
intimates, was born and christened Margaret Isabella Scott, in the year of 1820.
She was a native of South Carolina, but removed with her family to Georgia when
she was but, five years of age and later lived in Arkansas. In 1841 she was
married to William A. Brewer of that state. From this union ten children were
born, six of whom are still living: Mrs. Martha A. Crowe of Walla Walla; John F.
Brewer, of Eugene, Oregon; Mrs. Ed Harris of Boisfort, Washington; Mrs. A. C.
Sherwood, of Satsop; James H. Brewer, of Tacoma, and Mrs. C. B. Mann,
of Olympia.
     Mrs. Mann, in speaking of her mother's life, said: "The further West spirit
was in the blood of father and mother when they were young and full of energy,
and breathed ever stronger and stronger from the air of the early 50's. So on
March 16, 1853, this heroic pair, with their small children, started by wagon
over the Old Oregon Trail to the far-off North Pacific coast.
     "When we talk of hardships in our lives we ought to blush with shame when
we compare our trials with the dangers and difficulties encountered by this
young couple. Eight long, weary months on the way from their old home were they
until they finally reached Eugene. Oregon, in November. Once they never tasted
bread for five weeks; once, when they were travelling through a narrow valley,
five hundred Indians seemed to rise from the ground and, surrounding the
frightened emigrants, demanded all their food. The redskins enforced their
demands by stampeding all the emigrants' cattle and shooting a buffalo calf. It
was,only after a pow-wow lasting nearly all day that the Indians were shown that
the party would all starve if robbed of their supplies that a final agreement
was reached that the emigrants would give the robbers one-half of all their food
and provisions if they would not further molest them. Every article of food
which the emigrants were carrying with them to sustain life in the new country,
flour, bacon, dried fruit, corn meal, everything, was impartially divided before
the Indians would allow the party to proceed on their way.
    "On the trip a son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Brewer. 'My husband was kind,'
said mother, "and wished to lay by for a few days, but I said, 'no, just put a
feather bed in the bottom of the wagon and drive on. He did so and all was well
with me.' "
    In 1858 Mr. Brewer died, leaving the wife with a large family of small
children dependent upon her. In 1860 the family moved to Grand Mound, Thurston
County, thus giving the mother and children the right to be numbered among the
pioneers of this county.
    Mrs. Brewer was afterwards married to Henry L. Palmiter, who died in 1867.
Later on she was married to John G.  Sparks of Olympia, where she afterwards
resided until the time of her death in March, 1913.
    At the time of her death it was said by one who loved "Grandma Sparks": "In
laying away the body in which her heroic spirit had dwelt for over ninety-two
years we parted with one who was strong, cheery, courageous and religious. We
shall miss her."

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Submitted to the Washington Bios. Project in June 2007 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.