William A. J. Sparks
Encyclopedia
William Andrew Jackson Sparks (November 19, 1828 - May 7, 1904) was a U.S. Representative
from Illinois
.
Born near New Albany, Indiana
, Sparks moved with his parents to Illinois in 1836.
He attended the public schools.
He taught school for a time. He then graduated from McKendree College
in 1850.
He studied law.
He was admitted to the bar
in 1851 and commenced practice in Carlyle, Illinois
.
United States land receiver for the Edwardsville (Illinois) land office 1853-1856.
He served as member of the State house of representatives in 1856 and 1857.
He served in the State senate in 1863 and 1864.
He served as delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1868.
Sparks was elected as a Democrat
to the Forty-fourth
and to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1875-March 3, 1883).
He served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Interior (Forty-fifth
Congress), Committee on Military Affairs (Forty-sixth
Congress).
He did not seek renomination in 1882.
He resumed the practice of law.
He was appointed by President Cleveland as Commissioner of the United States General Land Office and served from March 26, 1885, to March 26, 1888.
He resumed the practice of law at Carlyle and Springfield, Illinois.
He died in St. Louis, Missouri, May 7, 1904.
He was interred in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Carlyle, Illinois
.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
.
Born near New Albany, Indiana
New Albany, Indiana
New Albany is a city in Floyd County, Indiana, United States, situated along the Ohio River opposite Louisville, Kentucky. In 1900, 20,628 people lived in New Albany; in 1910, 20,629; in 1920, 22,992; and in 1940, 25,414. The population was 36,372 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of...
, Sparks moved with his parents to Illinois in 1836.
He attended the public schools.
He taught school for a time. He then graduated from McKendree College
McKendree College
McKendree University, formerly known as McKendree College, is a private liberal arts college located in Lebanon, Illinois. The area is a part of the Metro-East region of Greater St. Louis. Founded in 1828 as the Lebanon Seminary, it is the oldest college in Illinois...
in 1850.
He studied law.
He was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1851 and commenced practice in Carlyle, Illinois
Carlyle, Illinois
Carlyle is a city in Clinton County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,406 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Clinton County.Carlyle is located approximately 50 miles east of St...
.
United States land receiver for the Edwardsville (Illinois) land office 1853-1856.
He served as member of the State house of representatives in 1856 and 1857.
He served in the State senate in 1863 and 1864.
He served as delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1868.
Sparks was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the Forty-fourth
44th United States Congress
The Forty-fourth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1875 to March 4, 1877, during the seventh and...
and to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1875-March 3, 1883).
He served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Interior (Forty-fifth
45th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:-Leadership:-Senate:*President: William A. Wheeler *President pro tempore: Thomas W. Ferry -House of Representatives:*Speaker: Samuel J. Randall -Members:This list is arranged by chamber, then by state...
Congress), Committee on Military Affairs (Forty-sixth
46th United States Congress
The Forty-sixth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1879 to March 4, 1881, during the last two years of...
Congress).
He did not seek renomination in 1882.
He resumed the practice of law.
He was appointed by President Cleveland as Commissioner of the United States General Land Office and served from March 26, 1885, to March 26, 1888.
He resumed the practice of law at Carlyle and Springfield, Illinois.
He died in St. Louis, Missouri, May 7, 1904.
He was interred in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Carlyle, Illinois
Carlyle, Illinois
Carlyle is a city in Clinton County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,406 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Clinton County.Carlyle is located approximately 50 miles east of St...
.