William A. J. Sparks

William A. J. Sparks
Personal details
Born (1828-11-19)November 19, 1828
New Albany, Indiana
Died May 7, 1904(1904-05-07) (aged 75)
St. Louis, Missouri
Resting place St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Carlyle, Illinois
Political party Democratic
Alma mater McKendree College

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.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress website http://bioguide.congress.gov.

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
James S. Martin
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 16th congressional district

1875–1883
Succeeded by
Aaron Shaw
Political offices
Preceded by
Noah C. McFarland
Commissioner of the General Land Office
March 26, 1885 – March 27, 1888
Succeeded by
Strother M. Stockslager
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 6/15/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.