The Russellville Democrat., 1879-02-13
RUssELLvILLE POPE COUNTY ARKANSAS. THURSDAY.
IN nIEMoRIAM.

III hiS aobh ' Nats ~AtJc. z. -As v p'Ai iA ,i proprietor, and far many years editor of the Fort Smith Herald.
 It becomes our sad duty to record, as above, the death of our esteemed brother. aud sorrowfully to sllot a small space to pay a last tribute of love and respect to the memory of our deceased brother and friend. A man of warm and noble impulses, without guile or disslmulation, with spirit of dauntless and lndefatiga- ble activity and energy, and with a life and character of spotless and unquestioned integrity, to know Major Sparks was to love him. Combiring in his character, to per haps as great extent SIS any living man, all that "suaviter in modo, fortiter in re- which IS characteris- tic of the true man, he was not only loved by his friends, but respected by his enemies. With an arm al ways nerved to strike blow for the right, an eye ever piercing to detect breakers in the path of the onward progress of the people for whom he labored, and heart always open to the appeals of'the oppressed, he was man whose loss will leave d yacan- cy which will long be felt and mourned.
 As journalist he had acquired an enviable reputation. Bold, az gressive and forclble, disdaining all attempts at elegance and rhetorical elaboration, his pen, like a true da- mascus blade, struck straight home, cutting with a keen, clean edge, and arriving at once at the very gist of the subject discussed. His paper, the Herald, was one of the oldest and most widely circulated papers in the State, and always keeping in the advance, helping to mould public sentiment instead ot tagging back and waiting for public sentiment to develope itself so that he might fol low, it exerted a widespread innu- ence upon the politics and morals of our State. His selections were al ways chaste and moral, and his edit orials clear and pointed. To the journalistic profession the death of Major Sparks is a great loss.
 May the green sod of the valley rest lightly upon his grave; and may He who tempereth the wind to the shorn lamb comfort and console the disconsolate wife and the broken hearted daughter who gre thus be reft of a loving husband and fond and indulgent father.
 The Fort Smith Herald of the 29th gives some historical "reminiscences of Major Sparks life and services in the following words:
 It is with heartfelt sorrow we pen these lines, announcing the death of our devoted friend, Major Jas. II. Sparks, which sad event occurred at ten minutes past twelve o'clock on Monday night, January 27. Major ! Sparks had been in ill health for some time, and had been confined to his bed for twelve weeks priyious to his death. His suflerings were great, and throughout his long lll- ness he was marvel of patience and resignation. At his dying bed slds were his devoted wife and daughter; his faithful physician, Dr. ! A. Dunlap; tine Rev. Wm. A Sam pie oi the Presbyterian Church (who comlorted him in his last moments ], and 8 few of his most intimate friends. His death was peace Iul one and his soul wended it's way to the Heavenly land
 Major James II. Sparks was born in Elphin, county of ROsecommon, Ireland. on Fcbuary l4, 1850, con sequeully he was in tue 49Ih year Of | hIs age at the time of his death. lie came to Fort Smith n lS49. aud wasi a resident of this city for thirty years, excepting from 1862, to 1868, ben he resided in Texas, Memphis and afterwards in Pine Blud, where be conducted the Pine Bluff Dis ! patch. During the late war he was Che Captain of the Fort Smith Rifles ' (og which she lamcnted Joseph Wal ! ton was lst Lieutenant, and our tusnsman, Steve Mcdonald, was 2d [ Lieutenant), the first volunteer com pauy formed in Ft. Smith and which was incorporated in the third Ar kansas Regiment He occupied sey- cFal prominent positions during the war. was iu command at Austin, ' Texas; Provost Marshal at Fort ! smith, commanded the post at Waco, ! Texas, and Dardenelle Arkansas. He ceutgaetcd the rheumatism from ex. ! posture at the early part of the war, and though disabled, yet continued ' la actiye service. He was proprietor