Biographies
For
Muscatine County Iowa
1889



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 197

THOMAS SHARP, an honored and respected citizen of Muscatine County, Iowa, residing on section 13, Bloomington Township, was born on the 20th of February, 1796, in York, Pa. His parents, John and Elizabeth ( Kennard ) Sharp, were also natives of the same State, the former born in Chester County, and the latter in Bucks County, although they were married in York County. On the death of his mother, his father removed to Knox County, Ohio, where he edited the Baltimore Almanac for a number of years. His death occurred in Knox County, Ohio, in 1840, in the eighty-seventh year of his age. Both were members of the Society of Friends, earnest Christian people, and to them, were born three children: Elizabeth became the wife of Joseph Barrington, but both died in Knox County, Ohio; John, who died in Morrow County, Ohio; and Thomas, who was the eldest of the family.

John Sharp, who was a great student and a very intelligent man, superintended the education of our subject, who, with his father, also studied astronomy, and for three years was the Editor of the Baltimore Almanac. When thirty -two years of age he began teaching as his profession. For his first school he received $15 per month, and for eight years he followed this line of work during the winter months, being employed upon a farm during the summer. In 1833 he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Willits, and the young couple began their domestic life upon a farm of 160 acres which Mr. Sharp entered in the heavy beech timber land in what is now Morrow County , Ohio. He at once began to clear the land, and built a log cabin. At that time the bears and wolves were very numerous in the neighborhood, and the settlements were few and far between. By perseverance and hard labor Mr. Sharp developed a fine farm from the heavy timber land, cheerfully enduring the trials and hardships of frontier life, until at length his labors were rewarded. While living in that county four children came to gladden the pioneer home by their presence: Townsend, who is now a merchant in Adair County, Iowa; Elizabeth, now deceased; Addison, a retired farmer of Morrow County, Ohio; and Tacy, who makes her home in Muscatine County. The mother of these children died in Morrow County, Ohio, in 1841, and was laid to rest in the Friends' burying-ground at Weston, Ohio. She was a devoted Christian woman, a member of the Society of Friends, and was a lady who won the love of all.

In 1842 Mr. Sharp was again married, Esther Giddley, widow of Henry Osborne, becoming his wife. One son was born of this union, Hervey, who died at the age of seventeen years. They resided in Morrow County until 1864, when the farm was sold and they came to Muscatine County, where he bought an improved farm of 200 acres on section 13, Bloomingtin Township. By care and cultivation this has become one of the best farms in the county, and pays a golden tribute to the labor bestowed upon it by its owner. Public spirited and progressive, Mr. Sharp has ever taken an active interest in the building up of church and educational institutions, both since coming to Iowa and also while a resident of the Buckeye State. He is now an old man, having lived under every administration since the time of Washington. He voted for William Henry Harrison in 1840, being a strong supporter of the Whig party, and also voted for Benjamin Harrison, the illustrious grandson of the Tippecanoe hero.

When the slavery question was a topic of discussion throughout the land, Mr. Sharp was called an Abolitionist, when it was dangerous to be known by that term, and strongly advocated the emancipation of the race in bondage. When the Republican party was formed and in its platform embodied his views of the question, he enlisted in its ranks and has since continued to fight under its banner. He still takes great interest in political affairs, and is well informed on all leading issues of the day.

Mr. and Mrs. Sharp are members of the Society of Friends, in which body, they have been lifelong workers. Their Christian lives, their kindliness, and their consideration for the opinions and feelings of others, have won them the love of both young and old, rich and poor, and the sketch of these worthy people deserves an honored place in the history of their adopted county.

It is seldom, the opportunity is afforded of giving the portrait of one who has lived so long over the usual threescore and ten years, and it is with pleasure that we present the readers of the Album with the portrait of this good man, who, at the age of ninety-three, is yet hale and hearty.


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