William Andrew Jackson SPARKS, Congress, IL (1828-1904)

SPARKS William Andrew Jackson , a Representative from Illinois; born near New Albany, Ind., November 19, 1828; moved with his parents to Illinois in 1836; attended the public schools; taught school and was graduated from McKendree College, Lebanon, Ill., in 1850; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1851 and commenced practice in Carlyle, Ill.; United States land receiver for the Edwardsville (Ill.) land office 1853-1856; member of the State house of representatives in 1856 and 1857; served in the State senate in 1863 and 1864; delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1868; elected as a Democrat to the Forty-fourth and to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1875-March 3, 1883); chairman, Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Interior (Forty-fifth Congress), Committee on Military Affairs (Forty-sixth Congress); did not seek renomination in 1882; resumed the practice of law; appointed by President Cleveland as Commissioner of the United States General Land Office and served from March 26, 1885, to March 26, 1888; resumed the practice of law at Carlyle and Springfield, Ill.; died in St. Louis, Mo., May 7, 1904; interment in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Carlyle, Ill.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present