Stephen Milancthon SPARKMAN, Congress, FL (1849-1929)

SPARKMAN Stephen Milancthon , a Representative from Florida; born on a farm in Hernando County, Fla., July 29, 1849; attended the common schools; taught school 1867-1870; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1872 and commenced practice in Tampa, Fla.; State's attorney for the sixth judicial circuit 1878-1887; declined the position of circuit judge for the sixth judicial circuit in 1888 and also the appointment of associate justice of the supreme court of the State in 1891; member of the county Democratic executive committee 1890-1894 and served as chairman in 1890 and 1891; member of the State Democratic executive committee 1892-1896, serving as chairman; delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1892; elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-fourth and to the ten succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1895-March 3, 1917); chairman, Committee on Rivers and Harbors (Sixty-second through Sixty-fourth Congresses); did not seek renomination in 1916; resumed the practice of law in Tampa, Fla.; president of the board of port commissioners until 1920; died in Washington, D.C., September 26, 1929; interment in Woodlawn Cemetery, Tampa, Fla.

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