Married George Herndon in 1847. Married Judge Newton Adams on 02 MAR 1851 in Monroe County, Missouri.

MO d/c 7618

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PIONEER RESIDENT PASSES AWAY

At the home of her daughter, Mrs. Basil Williamson, in Hunnewell, early Friday morning Feb. 9th 1923, occurred the death of Mrs. Martha Adams, widow of the late Judge Newton Adams. Mrs. Adams' death was due largely to infirmities of age, she having by far passed her 92nd birth anniversary. She had been for several months suffering with a crushed hip and was making her home temporarily with her daughter, when she died. Her remains were brought to Shelbina, Missouri and on Saturday at her late residence, a funeral service was held for her, conducted by Rev. B. F. Kennedy. Interment was in Shelbina cemetary by the side of her husband. Martha Margaret Sparks was born at Pleasureville, KY June 28th 1830. In 1839, she came with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. James or "Jeams" Sparks, to Missouri and settled south of Shelbina, where she grew to young womanhood. Early in life she became a Christian and took membership in Crooked Creek Baptist church. March 2nd 1851 she was married to Newton Adams. To this union eight children were born, seven of whom survive their mother, as follows: Mrs. Catherine Combs, Mrs. C. H. 'Brooks' Magruder, Shelbina; Mrs. W. B. Williamson, of near Hunnewell; Otis of Nevada; Newton, of Jerome, Idaho; Miss Jane of Chicago; and Mrs. H. J.Gerling of St. Louis. Besides those three, others died in infancy or early childhood, and one son Robert died a few years ago in North Dakota. She is also survived by 17 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren. One of her brothers, Wm. Sparks, father of the late George Sparks of Moberly, Gerard of the same city, and the late Leonard Sparks of Shelbina, is distinguished by having selected the name "Shelbina" for this city. Another brother is credited with having hauled the first load of lumber that ever came to the town site to be used in building a dwelling. Mrs. Adams sprang from a large family, 6 brothers and 8 sisters: 14 in all. For many years, she, with her husband and family resided just outside the Western limits of the city on the place now known as the Mark Sparks place. Later they improved the residence property on South Center Street where they have for years lived.