John B. and Elizabeth Sparks Kidd
Thanks for visiting my Kidd page. I started this page in February 2000 and I am still actively researching John Kidd. Hopefully, the information here will become more complete and accurate as time goes on. I sincerely want to hear from anyone connected with my Kidd line or from anyone who may have information regarding this family so please drop me a line!
John B. Kidd was my ggg-grandfather. John lived from Oct. 1819 until 1905. Very little is known about John B. Kidd and no one has ever discovered who his parents were. One story that was related to me hinted that John B. may have had a disagreement with his family and separated from them, apparently leaving no trace of who he came from. While this may or may not be true, discovering his roots is proving to be very difficult.
There are a few things we do know about John. According to John's Civil War muster, he had gray eyes, dark hair, dark complexion, and stood 5' 10" tall. He was born in York County, SC and it is believed that he was in Oglethorpe County, GA for a time. (I am still looking into this.) Census records tell us that John was living in Talladega County, AL in the 1850 and 1860 censuses. By 1870 the area of Talladega County where he resided had been turned into Clay County, AL. John B. was in Winston County, AL in the 1880 and 1900 censuses.
John B. Kidd married Elizabeth Sparks in August of 1846. They had seven children while living in Talladega County. Their children were as follows:
Sarah A. Kidd
Margaret Mirinda Kidd
Asbury Able Kidd
David Milton Kidd (my gg-grandfather)
Janie Eugenia Kidd
Julia Ann Caldonia Kidd
Thomas White Kidd
On April 15, 1864, John Kidd enlisted in the Civil War as a Private in Company "C", 3rd Alabama (Confederate). From July 20 to September 1, 1864 he was actively engaged in the War. He then took a leave of absence with his family. On September 29, 1864, John rejoined the Confederate forces, being assigned to Company "A", Hardie's Battalion Confederate Cavalry Reserves which was formed in Talladega County. John was injured during an engagement at Oxford in December of 1864, sustaining a leg injury. As a result of his injury his right leg had to be amputated four inches below the knee. (Note the wooden leg in the picture above.) The injury resulted in his capture by the Union forces. On May 22, 1865 he was released as a prisoner of war. He served a total of 13 months. More information on Hardie's Battalion is available here.
By 1880 John had moved his family to Winston County, AL, between the towns of Double Springs and Haleyville. The 1880 census lists a grandson, Thomas Washington Kidd ("Little Tom", son of Asbury), living in the household of John Kidd. The 1900 census shows them still living in Winston County but by 1901 John and Elizabeth were living with Little Tom in Lawrence County, AL. Elizabeth died on July 24, 1901 and John died a few years later in 1905. They are both buried at the Old Liberty Congregational Church cemetery in Hatton, Lawrence County, AL.
In addition to the information I have on John Kidd, there is strong evidence that his wife, Elizabeth Sparks Kidd, was the daughter of David and Permelia Medlock Sparks. In the 1860 census of Talladega County, AL, John and Elizabeth were living next door to a D. and P. Sparks. This is David and Permelia according to several Sparks researchers. Later in the 1870 Clay County census Permelia Sparks, 81 years of age, was living with John and Elizabeth. I am still searching for documented proof of this relationship.