Denver County, History of Colorado, BIOS: SPARHAWK, Edward Magee (published 1918) *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Maggie Stewart-Zimmerman http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00015.html#0003643 August 23, 1999 *********************************************************************** "History of Colorado", edited by Wilbur Fisk Stone, published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. (1918) Vol. II p. 13-14 EDWARD MAGEE SPARHAWK. The ideals and standards of life are fast changing. There has been too much truth in the statement that America was concentrating her attention too largely upon commercial activities to the exclusion of other interests, yet there have been many men who have never lost the vision of that broader life which takes Into recognition the three-fold nature of man, physical, mental and moral, and that well rounded development is the result of the attainment of perfection along each of these lines. While extensive and important business interests have claimed the attention of Edward Magee Sparhawk, he has at the same time recognized his obligations to his fellowmen and has put forth earnest effort to support and advance the standards of moral right and has been an active church worker. From the outset of his business career he has been identified with the steel industry and is now manager of sales at Denver for the Carnegie Steel Company. Mr. Sparhawk was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 10, 1868. His father, Samuel Sparhawk, was a native of Philadelphia, as was the paternal grandfather of E. M. Sparhawk. The father engaged in the mercantile collection business in connection with a brother and has now departed this life. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Axford, was a descendant of John Hart, one of the signers oŁ the Declaration of Independence. To Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Sparhawk were born seven children, four sons and three daughters, of whom three are yet living. Edward M. Sparhawk after completing his education with a high school course in Philadelphia turned his attention to the iron and steel industry as a representative of the Reading Iron Works of Philadelphia and subsequently spent two years in the employ of the Crane Company. In November, 1890, he arrived in Denver and became associated with the Carnegie Steel Company in February, 1891. His pronounced ability won him advancement to the position of manager in June, 1895. In 1901 he assumed the management of the Interests of the Illinois Steel Company and in May, 1903, was made manager of the American Sheet & Tin Plate Company. The next change in his business career brought him to the position of manager of the Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railroad Company in January, 1908. He is now controlling the interests of the four companies above mentioned in Denver, with offices in the First National Bank building, and broad experience has brought him to a most prominent and responsible position in this connection. His powers have grown through the exercise of effort and continued activity is keeping him intensely alert. There is no phase of the business with which he is not thoroughly familiar and, actuated by a spirit of enterprise, he has never allowed obstacles or difficulties to bar his path in the successful and honorable accomplishment of his purpose. On the 12th of September, 1898, Mr. Sparhawk was united in marriage to Miss Mary Nancy Howard, a native of Iowa but a resident of Denver since 1890. She is a daughter of Henry and Amanda V. (Reiff) Howard. To Mr. and Mrs. Sparhawk have been born three children: R. Dale, eighteen years of age, now a student in Princeton University; and Elizabeth, sixteen years of age, and Helen, aged twelve, both in school. In his political views Mr. Sparhawk is a stalwart republican, believing firmly in the principles of the party as factors in good government. He is a member of St. Mark's Episcopal church, in the work of which he takes an active and helpful interest, serving now as senior warden and as chairman of the finance committee. He is also a member of the Denver Club and the Denver Athletic Club and the Denver Motor Club. The nature of his interests is further Indicated by his membership in the Young Men's Christian Association and the Civic and Commercial Association. He has ever been active in business, in church and in sociological matters and has been a close student of the vital questions which have touched the welfare of mankind, keeping abreast with the best thinking men of the age in regard to all the significant problems which affect the race.