Norwich bulletin., 1911-02-07
SUDDEN DEATH OF
 ALBERT A. SPARKS.
Found Dead at His Home Monday Morning Soon After Reaching There Result of Cerebral Hemorrhage- Learned Printers Trade orr Bulletin Fifty Years Aao-Night Editor for Eighteen Years.

With shocking SuddennaSS came the news of the death of Albert A. Sparks, which occurred at his home, No. 49 Colt street, Monday morning, within a short time after his arrival home from work. For fifty years MT. Sparks had been connected at different times with The Bulletin as compositor and night editor, having held the latter position since the change from hand compost ton. He had complained somewhat of not feeling well on Sunday at home and at the office, but seemed to main. tain his cheerful disposition, however, there being not the slightest indication of any serious trouble. He completed his work about 3.3e o'clock Monday morning and soon started for home, which he must have reached about APO o'clock.
 He was found at 6.15 lying before the kitchen stove where he had fallen when stricken with the cerebral hem orrhage. death having been instantane- ous. As was his custom, he had given his attention to the kitchen fire when he reached home and had evidently started to rake it down while sitting in a chair when he fell to the floor. Mrs. Sparks noted that he had not been heard at 6.15 and seeing that his bed was not disturbed went, down stairs, where she was mortified to find
  Stark was at once called, but life had been extinct for over an hour and Medical Examiner R. w. Kimball, M. D., was called, the doctors deciding that death resulted from cerebral hem or;rhage. It was thought that the fall he had six weeks ago, when he fell in Bath street, striking on the back of his head, may have hastened the end
 Albert A. Sparks was born in Dan ielson 65 years ago. being one of six teen children of John and Selinda Field Sparks. That part of the town of Killingly was settled chiefly by members of the Danielson and Sparks families. His father moved to this city and conducted a large bakery, after which he moved to Wi1limantic and they returned to this city. The de- ceased was apprenticed to the printing trade and learned it in The Bulletin job room. having been employed there when Fort Sumter was fired upon at the opening of the Civil war He was a finished workman and after leaving the job room started out to see the country and went west, his brother John having gone to California in AZ. He made his first trip to California by way of the isthmus, visiting the cities along the Pacific coast and being in California during the first earthquake. He worked in ali the prominent cities of the west and visited the entire coast. d because of lameness. but when he went west he went with a cane. On the steamer he threw this overboard and never used one from that time.
 Returning to Norwich, it was not long before he was united in marriage with Margaret L. Andrews by Rev. E. McChesney, this being Aug. 5, 1869. Mrs. Sparks died in 1871, leaving one daughter. now Mrs. George E. Parsons of this city.
 For his second wife MT. Sparks mar ried Lucy A. Rogers of Groton, Oct. 9, 1876. Rev. W. $. Palmer, D. D.. per forming the ceremony. Mrs. Sparks survives with two sons, Merton r. of Elgin, H., and Earl L. Sparks of this city. He leaves several nephews and nieces, Chief Howard L. Stanton, George H. Stanton. Mrs. Julia Hotch- kiss of Norwich, Frank A. Stanton of Hartford, John and Henry Sparks of Mystic.
 He was the last of his imme1iat 2 family with the exception of his sister, Mrs. Oliver M. Smith, Of Jersey City.
 He was descendant of Revolution ary stock, his grandfather, John Sparks, coming to Rilhngly from Eng land in 175O, and took part in the war a quarter of a century later.
 Ahout 1886 MT. Sparks went to Cali forIia a second time being gone about 8 year, following the trade to which he had aIlleq himself, and he had a fund Of interesting tales of his experiences in the west. After his return he re- stunned his former place on The Bulletin and remained there until his death
 Mir. Sparks became night editor of The Bulletin in March 1893. and had for eighteen years read the proof and Se- lected and prepared for the printers the telegraph news. He was man of ex- Cellent judgment in the selection of news and an expert at making attrac- tive headlines upon the telegraph page He was welded to his business and never left his post for trivial physical disorders. Tn fact he was so inter- ested in his work and so anxious to have the work well done that he could not neglect it. and often returned to his work when urged by his employers to take time to recuperate- His fidelity to duty, his dependableness and his by no man. He was first class in every respect and highly esteemed be- cause of his worth.
 He was of 8 rather retiring disposi- tion and usually cheerful. His travels and his general informa ton made him 6 good converSationalist and compan- ionable. He lived much to himself and in warm weather found pleasure in country strolling> and visiting the woods. The faculty of self entertain ment was well developed and he found Dfeasl1re in anietness and meditation more than in society of any kind
 He was devoted to the home and family and in every respect was a worthy citizen. He was 8 man of ex = eTeuIary habits and his bright. cheary