Dennis C. Sparrow was born August 27, 1864, in Kentucky, the son of Michael G. Sparrow and Laura B. White.  Philip E. Sparrow was Dennis' brother, older by two years.  Michael apparently died when the boys were young.  Both left home to find work.

In 1870 the widowed Laura Sparrow was counted with her family in District 5, Anderson County, Kentucky.  In 1880 Dennis was living and working in Spencer County, and Philip was in Nelson County.  Sometime after the Federal Census of 1880 was conducted, the brothers came to McDonough County, Illinois, where they would marry sisters.

McDonough County marriage license #3115 was issued on February 20, 1889, at Macomb, to Dennis C. Sparrow, 24, of Blandinsville, and Miss Katie F. George, 24, of Hire Township.  They were married on February 22 at Hire Township by D. McLeish, a minister from Blandinsville. Witnesses were Florence George (Catharine's niece) and Charles Riser.  Marriage Documents

One year, one month and a few days later, on March 26, 1890, Dennis died and was buried at Friendship Cemetery.  Catharine suffered another loss when their infant son died seven months later.

Dennis and Catharine's son was:

Josiah Fisher was born about 1848 in Illinois, the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Fisher, both natives of Pennsylvania.  In 1850 the family was counted in Township 8 North, 6 West, in Henderson County, Illinois.  In 1860 they were residing in LaHarpe Township, Hancock County.  In 1870 Josiah was working as a hired man in Hire Township, McDonough County.

Josiah married Nancy E. Farris on October 15, 1871.  They became the parents of one daughter, Cora.  Nancy died August 17, 1878, and was buried at South Cemetery in Hire Township.

Josiah and Nancy's daughter was:

Josiah married Elizabeth Gilmore on September 15, 1881.  It appears that she and Josiah divorced.

Catharine and Josiah were married about 1891.  In 1900 they were counted in the home of Cora and her husband, Calvin Inman.  Also counted was Wilbur, Catharine and Josiah's only child.

Catharine died in 1906 and was buried at Friendship Cemetery.

We have not been able to locate Josiah after the 1900 census.  In 1910 Wilbur was counted in the home of his uncle, William George; in 1920 he was living with his aunt Dora and her husband, Charles Riser.

Josiah and Catharine's son was:

i.	Wilbur R. Fisher, also found as Wilber, born October 13, 1894 or '95.  He died December 22, 1958, burial at Friendship Cemetery.

Local Fisher researchers should visit Fisher Family Genealogy presented by Stephen Fisher.

Thomas Fisher, 59, male, miller, born PA
Elisabeth Fisher, 40, female, born PA
John Fisher, 17, male, miller, born IL
Margaret Fisher, 15, female, born IL
Cyrus Fisher, 9, male, born IL
Thomas Fisher, 8, male, born IL
Abell Fisher, 6, male, born IL
Josiah Fisher, 2, male, born IL

[no entries for school attendance for any of the children in this family]

Thomas Fisher, 70, male, farmer, value of real estate 800, value of personal estate 550, born PA
Elizabeth, 54, female, born PA
Mathias, 20, male, farm laborer, born IL, attended school within the year
Thomas, 17, male, farm laborer, born IL, attended school within the year
Able, 15, male, born IL, attended school within the year
Josiah, 12, male, born IL, attended school within the year

Farris, Wm J, 30, male, white, farmer, value of real estate 6000, value of personal estate 500, born IL, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
Leantha D, 26, female, white, keep house, born MI
Walter J, 8, male, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Oscar, 10/12, male, white, born IL, born Sept
Fisher, Josiah [looks more like Joseap], 22, male, white, laborer, born IL, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more

Sparrow, Lausia, 25, female, white, keeping house, born KY
Philip E, 10, male, white, born KY
Denis, 8, male, white, born KY
Wooden M, 6, male, white, born KY
Sparrow, Thos, 36, male, white, farm labor, value of personal estate 250, born KY, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more

George, Jacob, 41, male, white, farmer, value of real estate 6000, value of personal estate 2000, born Hesse Darmstadt ?, both parents foreign born, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
Catharine, 41, female, white, keep house, born Hesse Darmstadt ?, both parents foreign born
Mary E, 18, female, white, born IL, both parents foreign born
John H, 17, male, white, born IL, both parents foreign born, attended school within the year
Louisa, 15, female, white, born IL, both parents foreign born, attended school within the year
William, 12, male, white, born IL, both parents foreign born, attended school within the year
Cornelius, 8, male, white, born IL, both parents foreign born, attended school within the year
Catharine, 5, female, white, born IL, both parents foreign born, attended school within the year
Clara, 4, female, white, born IL, both parents foreign born
Dora, 10/12, female, white, born IL, both parents foreign born, born Aug

Fisher, John, white, male, 47, married, farmer, born PA, both parents born PA
Diantha, white, female, 39, wife, married, keeping house, born MI, both parents born VA
Willie, white, male, 15, son, single, helps on farm, attended school within the year, born IL, father born PA, mother born MI
Frak J [sic], white, male, 14, son, single, at school, attended school within the year, born IL, father born PA, mother born MI
James, white, male, 10, son, single, at school, attended school within the year, born IL, father born PA, mother born MI
Charles, white, male, 8, son, single, at school, attended school within the year, born IL, father born PA, mother born MI
Mary, white, female, 5, daughter, single, attended school within the year, born IL, father born PA, mother born MI
Martha J, white, female, 1, daughter, single, born IL, father born PA, mother born MI
Fisher, Josiah, white, male, 31, brother, single, works on farm, born IL, both parents born PA
Cora, white, female, 7, niece, single, born IL, both parents born IL
Martin, Susan, white, female, 22, servant, single, servant, born IL, both parents born KY

Smith, Thomas J, white, male, 46, single, farmer, born KY, both parents born VA
Sparow, Denis, white, male, 16, servant, single, laborer, could read but not write, born KY, both parents born KY

George, Jacob, white,male, 50, married, farmer, born Germany, both parents born Germany
Catharine, white, female, 50, wife, married, keep house, born Germany, both parents born Germany
Cornelius, white, male, 21, son, single, works on farm, born IL, both parents born Germany
Catharine, white, female, 15, daughter, single, at home, attended school within the year, born IL, both parents born Germany
Clara V, white, female, 13, daughter, single, at school, attended school within the year, born IL, both parents born Germany
Belle, white, female, 10, daughter, single, at school, attended school within the year, born IL, both parents born Germany

Inman, Calvin, head, white, male, Feb 1873, 27, married for 1 year, born IL, father born IL, mother born VA, day laborer, months not employed - 0, could read, write and speak English, rented his home

Cora, wife, white, female, Apr 1873, 27, married for 1 year, mother of 0 children, born IL, both parents born IL, could read, write and speak English

Fisher, Josiah, father-in-law, white, male, July 1848, 51, married, [duration of marriage - no entry], born IL, both parents born PA, day laborer, months not employed - 0, could read, write and speak English

Catharine, mother-in-law, white, female, Sept 1864, 35, married for 8 years; mother of 1 child, living; born IL, both parents born Germany, could read, write and speak English

Wilbur, brother-in-law, white, male, Oct 1895, 4, single, born IL, both parents born IL