The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1889-02-09
DUB PICTURE GALLERY.
The senator from johnson and the
Handsome Young StatesmaL
from Greene.
IFrom the Jefferson City Tribune. ]

the Seventeenth district, composed OF
the counties of johnson aud Lafayette,
was born in Snrry county, N. c.,
January l., 1874; emIgrated to Lafay-
cite county, Mo-, with his parents, In
June of that year, settling near the
site where the town of Odessa now
stands. His mother, whose maiden
name was Pryor, died in September
following. His father, William w.,
followed school teaching in western
Missouri from that time TO 1856, when
he settled upon large tract of land
entered by him, situate in the north
western part of johnson county, where
he lived until his death, in 1875. The
subject of this sketch received an En-
glish education in the schools taught
by his father; was prepared for college
at Chapel Hill college. lafayette
county, Missouri. In September, 1861, he
entered McKendree college, Lebanon,
ILL.,, where he remained until he was
graduated i'm classical course in 1870,
except one year, 1869, that he attended
the University OF Missouri, at Columbia.
The same year of his graduation be
returned 10 johnson county, Mo,
where he was elected clerk of the
county court, which Office he filed
accepfably. For the four years follow
ing and during this time he applied
himself industriously to the study Of
the law, and in October, 1874, stood
his examination and was admitted to
the bar as an attorney. He Immediately
entered the law department of the ST.
Louis law school, where he remained
one year. Returning to Warrensburg,
he formed partnership with the late
Judge Russell Hicks, which continued
to the death of that distinguished jnrist
and lawyer. A year later he formed q
law partnership with Garrett G.. Land,
a graduate OF Harvard University, who
was considered by eminent LAWYERS TO
possess an exceptionally fiHe legal mind
well cultivated. This partnership
continued up to the death of Mr.. Land,
which occurred, in November, 1882.
In 1888 he formed law partnership
with Levin ii. Campbell, ESQ, now of
Washington, ID. G, which lasted till
that gentleman removed to the latter
place. In 1882 Senator Sparks was
elected 10 flll vacancy in the office of
representative OF the eastern district of
johnson county over II. Martin
Williams, a greenbackrr, by over 100
majority, Mr.. Williams being the cam
didate of a fusion between greenback-
ers and republicans. In 1887 he was
nominated, without his knowledge, to
fill vacancy caused by the resignation
of Senator Harmon, and was the hero
OF the celebrated coup d etdt by which
tue republicans of the district tried TO
defeat him bv stealing march on the
democrats the night before the special
election, which was on May II, 1887.
Mr.. Sparks has been twice married,
the first time, in 1871, 10 Miss Myrah
Curtis, daughter of the late Capt.
Curtis, of Clinton, Mo-, but she only
lived few months after she was
married. In April, 1874, he married
his present wife. Miss Mamie II. Cum
ningham ,of Little Rock, Ark, daughter
of Hon. &. K. Cunningham, of that
place, once a prominent democrat OF
that state, but since 1875 leader of
the greenback party there, and in the
last campaign the union labor candi-
date for vice-president. Three children
have been born OF this marriage, two
OF whom were boys, and with their
mother, are spending the winter at the
| capital city. MIR. 5. has devoted his
" hole life to the preparation for the
study of and practice OF the law.
Since 1870 he has resided in Warrens-
burg, the county seat of johnson
county, where he has been counsel i'm
| nearly every case of Importance tried
i'll the county, civil or criminal, for the
past ten years. AT the last general
| election he was nominated by and
elected without opposition in his own
party, over his opponent, John B.
Jones, republican,, by the handsome
majority OF LOGO, leading the national
and state tickets in every precinct in
his district. MIR. Sparks has never
made any pretentiOns to being politi-
cian. Beside being in the very prime
OF life, be is blessed with a vigorous
constitution, willing and capable OF
performing great deal of work. At
| the present session he was awarded
| the honorable distinction OF being made
| chairman OF the Judiciary committee of
the senate. He is lawyer of nigh
standing, and has large and lucrative
practice in the appellate and federal
| courts OF the state. He has an enviable
record as conscientious, industrious
and able legislator, and will add to his
| reputation by his labors of this session.
HON. ROBERT A. HICKLIN
was born in Lafayette county, Mo-.
January Is, 1859, and, although having
spent some time in Texas In the stock
business, has always made his home in
the county of his birth. His father,
James Hicklin, and his uncle, Gilead
| Rupe, were the first white men to
settle IN Lafayette county. They left
| east Tennessee, near Knoxville, in
1ol5, and located in Lafayette county.
Mr.. Hicklin received his first educa-
ton in the common schools and the
Catholic parish school OF Lexington, at
that time presided over by Rev.
Father Hoog, now of st Peters church
of this city. Later Mr.. Hickliu at
tended the state university and grad
uated in the law department in 1878,
alter which he settled down to the
practice of law in Lexington, having
married in the meantime. He was
elected city attorney twice in sue
cession and atterward public admins
traitor of the county.
| Mr.. Hicklin was elected 10 represent
Lafayette county in the Thirty-iourth
general assembly and was placed on
the Judiciary, Insurance and state
university committees. He distinguish
ed himself OH several occasions in
debate and was recognized as clear
headed, fearless. industrious and able
member. No member OF The Thirty
fourth general assembly acquitted
himself with more credit than Mr..
Hicklin. His ability was so generally
recognized that he was selected as the
member of the Fifth congressional
district on the state democratic cen-
tral committee, and the district was
never better represented on the COM
mittee.
Mr.. Hicklin was reelected last No
vember to the legislature. He is now
chairman of the committee on o9icial
salaries aud fees and is member of
the committees on labor and education.
He is u man of whom Lafayette county
and Missouri may well be proud. Mr..
Hicklin is one OF the very best orators
in the house. He never wearies aay
one and never speaks unless he has
something to say
QUAR2ELING WOLVES.