Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 5).djvu/657

Rh ton's Letters" (1853). Sparks was the editor of "The Library of American Biography" (10 vols., Boston, 1834-'8), containing twenty-six lives, to which a second series of thirty-four lives was added (15 vols.. 1844-7). This work passed through many editions. Of the lives he wrote those of Ethan Allen. Benedict Arnold, Father Marquette, La Salle, fount Pulaski, John Ribault. Charles Lee, and John Ledyard, the latter being reprinted from his previously published work. He edited also the " Works of Benjamin Franklin, with Notes and a Life of the Author " (10 vols., 1886-'40). The first volume, containing Franklin's " Autobiography," with notes and a continuation by Mr. Sparks, was issued separately (1844). Besides "Remarks on American History" (Boston. 1837), additions to William Smyth's " Lectures on Modern History" (Boston. 1*41). and other minor works, his only other publication was "Correspondence of the American Revolution, being Letters of Eminent Men to George Washington from the Time of his taking Command of the Army to the End of his Presidency " (4 vols., 1853). He left manuscript journals containing reminiscences of Thomas Jef- ferson, James Madison, and other eminent men, and recorded conversations with many of them. His manuscript collection of original materials for American diplomatic history was given to Harvard college. See a "Memoir of Jared Sparks," by Brunt/. Mayer (Baltimore. 1867), and one by George E. Ellis (Cambridge, 1869).

SPARKS, William Henry, author, b. on St. Simon's island, Ga., 16 Jan., 1800; d. in Marietta. Ga.. 13 Jan., 1882. He was taken in infancy to his father's plantation in Greene county, and in his eighteenth year was sent to complete his education in Litehfield, Conn., where he subsequently stud- ied law. On his return to Georgia he practised lii- profc-Mon and was a member of the legislature. In 1830 he removed to Natchez, Miss., engaged largely in sugar-planting, and about 1850 entered into a law partnership with Judah P. Benjamin in New Orleans, which was dissolved ten years later. He declined many public offices, once only accept- ing the nomination for U. S. senator from Louisi- ana, but withdrawing in favor of his friend, Alex- ander Barrow. He contributed largely to south- ern publications, and among other verses wrote " Somebody's Darling." " The Dying Year," and " The Old" Church - Bell." He 'published " The Memories of Fifty Years " (Philadelphia, 1870 ; 4th ed., 1882), and left ready for the press a second volume; also " Father Anselmo's Ward," "Chi- lecah," " The Woman with the Iron-Gray Hair," and other manuscripts.

SPARROW, William, clergyman, b. in Charles- town, Mass., 13 March. 1801 ; d. in Alexandria, Va., 17 Jan., 1874. He was taken by his father to Ire- land in 1805, where he remained until 1817. His education was obtained partly in that country, and was completed in his native land. He entered Co- lumbia in 1819, and remained for three years, but was not graduated with his class. In 1822 he re- joined his father's family in Ohio. He engaged in teaching, first in Worthington, Ohio, then in Cin- cinnati, in Miami university as professor of an- cient languages, and in 1825 as professor in the same department in Kenyon college, Ohio. He was ordained deacon in Columbus, Ohio, 7 June, 1826, by Bishop Philander ('hast-, and priest, 11 June, 1826, in Worthington. Ohio, by the same bishop. From this date onward he was occupied in paro- chial work in different parishes in Ohio, in editing a church paper, and in the duties of theological professor in Kenyon college. In 1840 he re- moved to Virginia and became professor in the Episcopal theological seminary at Alexandria, which post he held during the remainder of his life. He received the degree of D. D. from Ken- yon college in 1838. Dr. Sparrow was evangelical after the pattern of Charles Simeon, Bishops Meade and Mcllvaine. and Dr. Stephen H. Tyng. He was an able and successful teacher and was a ser- monizer of rare excellence. He published numer- ous addresses, sermons on special occasions, trac- tates on important topics, and the like. Two years after his death a volume was published containing his " Life and Correspondence " (Philadelphia. 1876), together with " Fragments." selected from his manuscripts.

'''SPAULD1XG. Edward''', inventor, b. in Milford, N. H., 3 Sept.. 1*24. He was educated at the pub- lic school of his native town, and has since followed the trade of a blacksmith and machinist. Mr. Spaulding has invented a graduated elliptic spring for carrying heavy loads that is applicable to horse- cars or to freight - cars for which he received in 1880 a medal of excellence at the American insti- tute fair in New York city. He has also patented a wrought-iron shackle which is used in conjunc- tion with his spring, and a magnetic and electric ear telephone for enabling the deaf to hear more readily. Among his other inventions is a process for keeping cider sweet in any climate without bottling or preserving in a cool place. He has taken out about ten patents in the United States and eleven in various foreign countries.

SPAULDING, Elbridge Gerry, banker, b. in Summer Hill, N. Y., 24 Feb.. 1809 ; d. in Buffalo, 5 May, 1897. He was a lineal descendant in the seventh generation of Edward Spaulding, who came from England to Massachusetts soon after the arrival of the Puritans in the " Mayflower." His father, Edward, was a pioneer from New England to central New York. The son studied law in Batavia and Attica, N. Y., was admitted to practice in Genesee county, and soon afterward removed to Buffalo, N. Y. He was associated in practice with Heman B. Potter, George R. Babcock, and John Ganson. After accumulating a fortune in the practice of the law he gave his attention to banking, in which he has been equally successful. He was instrumental in causing the "removal of the Farmers' and mechanics' bank of Batavia to Buffalo, and soon there- after became its president. Upon the passage of the Federal banking-law the bank was reorganized under its provisions with the name of the Farmers' and mechanics' national bank, and Mr. Spaulding as president and principal owner. He had been largely identified with public affairs. He was mayor in 1847 and assemblyman in 1848, was a representative in congress in 1849-'51, having been chosen as a Whig, was state treasurer in 1853, and again elected to congress as a Republican in 1858, serving till 1863. During his last term in congress Mr. Spaulding achieved a wide reputation. He was a member of the ways and means committee, and chairman of the sub-committee that was intrusted with the duty of preparing legislative measures. The result was the presentation and passage of the Greenback or Legal-Tender act, and the National currency bank bill. Both of these were drawn by Mr. Spaulding. They were offered and urged as war measures, and are claimed to be the best financial system that was ever conceived or adopted by any government. Mr. Spaulding is entitled to the cre'dit of formulating these measures and securing their adoption. By reason of his connection with this important legislation he has been called the " Father of Green-