On the old homestead of the SPARLING family which was settled in pioneer days John Stanley SPARLING was born December 10, 1853, his birthplace being the third house which was built upon that farm. He was a son of George SPARLING and a brother of George E. SPARLING, who are mentioned elsewhere in this work, in which connection the family history is given. With the exception of two years spent in Iowa he has always made his home in this county and he owns a farm of one hundred and forty acres, of which he purchased one hundred acres from his father, who gave him the remaining forty. He was educated in the country schools and in early life mastered the work of plowing, planting and harvesting in the fields upon the old homestead, so that practical experience well qualified him to engage in farming on his own account after he had arrived at man's estate.
Mr. SPARLING was married in 1875 to Miss Charlotte SPARLING, a daughter of James SPARLING and a distant relative of the family. Her mother became the third wife of our subject's father and now lives in Henry. Mr. and Mrs. John S. SPARLING have two sons, James A. and George J. The former, who married Miss Nellie MARTIN, is living in Putnam and is a rural mail carrier. George J. resides in Kewanee, Illinois, and is a boiler-maker. He married a daughter of O. P. CARROLL, of Putnam.
Mr. SPARLING has a good farm and a portion of his land is leased to fishing parties, from which source he derives a good income. Mr. and Mrs. SPARLING have held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church for many years. For thirteen years he has been connected with the Modern Woodmen and is a director of Putnam camp. He is also a member of the Yeomen of America, of Henry. He belongs to one of the old and prominent pioneer families of the county and has spent almost his entire life within its borders, so that he has a wide acquaintance here.
Extracted July 2011 by Norma Hass from Past and Present of Marshall and Putnam Counties Illinois, 1907.
| Bureau | Putnam | |
| Stark |
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La Salle |
| Peoria | Woodford |
