James, Elizabeth "Eliza" and their growing family live with Elizabeth's parents, Andrew & Martha McElroy, for a couple of decades.
In the 1860 Census in Van Buren Co., TN, John R. Sparkman & Lavina (McElroy) Sparkman are living next door to James Madison Sparkman & Eliza (McElroy Sparkman. John R. is brother to James Madison Sparkman & Lavina is sister to Eliza (McElroy) Sparkman.
In the 1870 Census there is no sign of James Madison Sparkman. His wife, Eliza is the head of the household and bringing up several children on her own. Plus, you never see James Madison Sparkman after that, so I think he died prior to 1870, not in 1889 as most people claim.
1850 U.S. Census. Warren, TN. Andrew McElroy 62 born in TN. Martha McElroy 57 born in SC. James Sparkman 31 born in TN. Eliza Sparkman 25 born in TN. Children: James M. 8; Fanny J. 6; John T. 4; Andrew J. 1849. All of the children were born in Tennessee.
1860 U.S. Census. Van Buren Co., TN. Andrew McElroy 70. Martha McElroy 68. James Sparkman 39. Eliza Sparkman 35. Sparkman children: J.M.M. 18; F.J. 16; John T. 13; A.J. 11; V.E. 10; M.A. 6; M.C. 4; J.B. 1 year old. All children born in Tennessee.
1870 U.S. Census. Van Buren Co., TN. Eliza Sparkman 45 years old & head of the household. Children: Andrew 21; Martha 16; Mary 14; Julia 10; Adaline 8; Frank 4. [No sign of Eliza's husband, James Madison Sparkman, in this Census or in any later Census. What happened to him. Everyone says he died in 1889, but it does not look like it unless he left Eliza to provide for all of those children herself.]
Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5826343/james-madison-sparkman: accessed 15 March 2023), memorial page for James Madison Sparkman Jr. (16 Jun 1819–7 Sep 1889), Find a Grave Memorial ID 5826343, citing McElroy Cemetery, Van Buren County, Tennessee, USA; Maintained by Ken Anderson (contributor 46503547).
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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with James by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA.
However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line.
It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with James: