Sacramento County
Biographies
MRS. LIDA SPARKS BOWMAN WARD
MRS. LIDA SPARKS BOWMAN WARD--Nothing is more typical of the present generation than the place that women have taken in civic and political life, thus contributing a new and valuable viewpoint to the real democracy of government. Well qualified for the office of justice of the peace of Galt which she is now holding, Mrs. Lida Sparks Bowman Ward has thoroughly demonstrated her especial fitness for her task by the fair and impartial justice she dispenses. She is the daughter of Merritt A. and Mary (Driscoll) Sparks, old-time residents of Galt, the father coming to California in 1875. He was born in Crawford County, Pa., the son of Merritt S. and Angelina (Kettle) Sparks, both natives of New York. When he was nine months old they moved to Clay County, Ind., and here and at Bowling Green he received his education and learned the carriage maker's trade, which he followed in Cincinnati, Ohio, St. Louis, Mo., Peoria, Ill., and Crawfordsville, Ind. In 1875 he came to California and for a time was at Sacramento, then went to Dutch Flat, where he followed his trade for a year and a half. In 1878 he came to Galt and for twelve years worked along the line of his trade, but is now retired from active business.
Reared and educated at Galt, Lida Sparks was married on February 5, 1903, to William W. Bowman, who was born at Downey, Los Angeles County, where he was reared by his grandparents, his father and mother having died in his childhood. For the past ten years Mrs. Bowman has been agent for the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Company at Galt. Prominent in the social and civic life of the community, she is a member of the Rebekah Lodge and is president of the Women's Civic Improvement Club, to which position she was duly reelected. She is now serving her second term as justice of the peace of Lee Township most capably and to the entire satisfaction of her constituency. She is the mother of two children, Grace Florence and William Merritt.
Grace Florence was married March 15, 1923, to Mr. Frank Elmer Anderson of Galt. Mrs. Bowman was married a second time April 26, 1923, to Mr. La Fayette Ward, prominent rancher and dairyman in the Dry Creek district on San Joaquin County.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Source: Reed, G.
Walter, History of Sacramento County,
California With Biographical Sketches, Page 635. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA.
1923.
© 2007 Jeanne Taylor.