Name Stephen Sparkman Role U.S. representative | Died September 26, 1929 | |
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Stephen Milancthon Sparkman (July 29, 1849 – September 26, 1929) was a U.S. Representative from Florida.
Born on a farm in Hernando County, Florida, Sparkman attended the common schools. He taught school 1867-1870. He studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1872 and commenced practice in Tampa, Florida. State's attorney for the sixth judicial circuit 1878-1887. He 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. He served as member of the county Democratic executive committee 1890-1894 and served as chairman in 1890 and 1891. He served as member of the State Democratic executive committee 1892-1896, serving as chairman. He served as delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1892.
Sparkman was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-fourth and to the ten succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1917). He served as chairman of the Committee on Rivers and Harbors (Sixty-second through Sixty-fourth Congresses). He did not seek renomination in 1916. He resumed the practice of law in Tampa, Florida. He served as president of the board of port commissioners until 1920. He died in Washington, D.C., September 26, 1929. He was interred in Woodlawn Cemetery, Tampa, Florida.