Washington Tharp

THARP, RYAN, WHITE

Posted By: Diane Wilson (email)
Date: 5/25/2004 at 22:02:16

Washington Tharp was born in Indiana, October 24, 1831. He is a son of Andrew and Jane (Ryan) Tharp. His mother is a native of Kentucky, and his father was born in North Carolina, near Guilford Court House. Shortly after their son’s birth the parents moved to Central Indiana; first located in Rush county; then moved to Henry, soon afterward to Hancock, and then to Hamilton county. In the latter place his father entered some land, and there they lived three years and then moved to Hancock county, where they remained some time, and then returned to Rush county and still later to Hamilton. In 1853 they came to Iowa and located in Bremer county. Here they lived on a rented place for a year and then purchased and improved a farm.
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Washington remained at home until June 10, 1863, when he enlisted in Company G, Eighth Iowa Cavalry. He entered the army as a private, but was soon afterward promoted to commissary sergeant. He was taken prisoner at Newman, July 26, 1864, and carried to Andersonville, where he remained until September 15, 1864. He was then taken to North Carolina, where he was held prisoner until March 3, 1865. At this time he was restored to the Union army and was placed in a hospital on account of sickness, where he remained until able to return home. He was honorably discharged at Clinton, Iowa, June 16, 1865.
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In the fall of 1866 he settled on the farm on section 13, Shell Rock township, where he now resides and owns 135 ½ acres. He was married March 1, 1866, to Miss Mary Jane White, of Waverly, a native of Delaware county, New York. They are the parents of five children – Frank, Ezra W., Roy F., Leta Eliza and Ray. Mr. Tharp’s mother died during the year 1863, and his father passed away February 6, 1878. He bought his farm in Butler county in 1854, and holds a patent from the government for his land in Shell Rock township.
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Source: History of Butler and Bremer Counties, Iowa
Union Publishing Co., Springfield, IL, 1883
Pages 702 - 703