The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-06-09
SOMETHING OF ME-. SPAR.
LING'S LEE AND WORK

has the following to say OF MT. }.
NJ. Sparkling, who passed away in
this city on June /:
James M. Sparkling, former and
highly respected resident of indie
rendence, passed away Saturday af-
ternocn at 4 O'Clock at his home in
Lakeland, Fla. The news of his
death was received by relatives here
On Sunday.
His death was a sudden one, as
lie was attired to accompany his
comrades to the decoration services
on Friday, but when the hour ar
rived he remarked: II don't feel
real we'll, and believe l will sit here
on the veranda." Saturday morning
ne fell asleep and quietly passed out
at the hour above stated The re-
mains, accompanied by the widow
and her sister, Mrs. G. 7. Fleming, Of
Buffalo, N. Y, arrived here TuesdaT
evening at 6:2O and were taken to
the home of Mr.. and Mrs. |. B. King,
in the Fifth ward, where they were
kept until yesterday afternoon,
when, at $3.50 o'clock, the funeral
services were conducted in the Meth
odist Episcopal church. Rev. NJ.
J. Locke, the pastor officiated. The
G A. r. and w. r. G. attended in a
body, members Of the l. O. 0. F.. act
ing as pallbearers The interment
was in lakewood, the impressive G.
A. r. service being carried out at the
grave. The floral tributes were un-
usually profuse and beautiful.
James Madison Sparkling was born
Oct. 26, 1881, in the State of New
York. His boyhood was spent in
Pennsylvania. He, with his father :
family, came to Iowa in the early
SOS. In 1858 he was united in mar
riage with Miss Jennie Fuller and
| by this marriage three children were
born---Alfieda, now Mrs. Freeman, OF
independence; Jessie, Mrs. d. N
King, of Hazleton, and Oscar J.. Of
Oklahoma, now deceased. His frs
wife died Feb. 10, 1871, and on Jan
1883, Mr.. Sparkling was married t.
Mrs. Fanny Daily, of Independence
! Mr.. Sparkling was a member of the |
O. O. +. lodge of this place, prefer
ring to retain his membership her,
rather than to transfer it to hi
Southern home. Lakeland, Fla, ha
claimed Mr.. and Mrs. Sparkling TO
the past twenty-three years. The de
ceased was a member of COmpan,
G, Ninth Iowa, AMI had since tn
va" taken deep interest in the G
A. r. work He was a volunteer an
served his country the full fou
years Mr. Sparkling was highly re
srected in Lakeland and the Who'll
community was shocked at the new
of his death. After going to Lake
land he was quite extensively inter
estcd in orange groves and for sex
eral years successfully superinten.'
ed the growing of that fruit on hi
lands there About five years az
he disposed of his orange interes;
and had since been residing in tina
city. During his many years resi-
dence in Independence Mr.. Spar
ing's thorough worth as man, hi
high character, ideals, an duniforn
kindly nature won him large Gil
Gle Of friends ami from everyone VIII
knew him here, when the announce
ment of his death was made, cam
the same statement-"Mr. Sparlin
was one of the finest of men,"
Mr.. Sparkling leaves to mourn hi
death his devoted and loving widow
the two daughters mentioned above
a step-daughter, Mrs. l. B. King, G
this city, and two sisters, Mrs. i
Morphy, and Mrs. Celia Whitney, G
: Crown Point, Ind Judge C. e Ran
sier, of whom Mr.. Sparkling was a
uncle, was here from Waterloo to at
tend the funeral, and there wer
many friends present from othe
points