Among the lawyers of Davenport who have achieved distinction and won the esteem and confidence of their clients and the public is Emmett M. Sharon, who was born at Sterlingville, Jefferson County, New York, on the twenty-third of March, 1817. The home of Mr. Sharon's ancestors was near the “Hall of Tara ” in County Meath, Ireland, famous in early Irish history as a royal residence. His grand father emigrated from there when Thomas Sharon, the father of the subject of this sketch, was an infant, coming to New York. Thomas Sharon was a farmer and in his leisure moments an omnivorous reader and student. He was a leading man in the community where he lived and many looked to him for counsel. He filled many positions of private trust, and for fifteen years previous to his death filled the office of Justice of the Peace. His wife, Mary (Keon) Sharon, was also a native of Ireland, born at Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, and came to this country at an early age. She was a woman of domestic character and deep religious convictions. Emmett M. Sharon received his earlier education at the public schools, Antwerp Academy and the Watertown High School, from which he graduated in the class of 1871. He subse quently entered Hamilton College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1875. He won honors in writing and in extemporaneous debate. The year following the completion of his college course he was principal of the Lawrenceville Academy, St. Lawrence County, New York. In 1876 he came to Iowa and was principal of the high school at Laporte City in Black Hawk County for a year. He studied law in the office of George and C. A. Bishop, and was admitted to practice at VVaterloo in June, 1878.
After admission he began the practice of law at Laporte, where he remained until September, 1887, when he came to Davenport, which offered inducements and opportunities for business not to be found in a smaller or less wealthy town. During his residence at Laporte Mr. Sharon was successful as a lawyer and highly esteemed by his fellow-townsmen, who elected him member of the school board in 1885, and mayor of the city in 1887. In the year 1891, after four years' residence in this city, he was elected city attorney of Davenport and reëlected in 1892, 1893 and 1894. Among the public enterprises he has been connected with are two building and loan associations, the Hibernian Hall Association and the Davenport Club, all of which he helped to organize. He has been associated with the following societies: Ancient Order of United Workmen, Knights of Honor, Modern Wood men of America, Knights of Pythias, Roman Catholic Mutual Protective Society and Ancient Order of Hibernians, in three of which he has been presiding officer; he has also been a member of the County and District Judicial and Congressional political committees, and is now secretary and treasurer of the Democratic County Committee of Scott County. He was one of the organizers of both the Horace Boies Club and the Scott County Democracy. His lifelong membership in the Democratic party, however, does not prevent him from taking un partisan views of men and measures. On the tenth of October, 1878, Mr. Sharon married Miss Ida May Bishop, the daughter of George Bishop, one of the earliest lawyers of Northern Iowa, whose ancestors settled in Vermont generations ago. Mrs. Sharon is descended on the maternal side from the Spencer family of New York, whose ancestors came to America in the Mayflower.
Conservative and slow to make acquaintances, Mr. Sharon has been successful in retaining friends, of whom he has a large circle. As a lawyer he has been a painstaking student and a hard worker. Knowing that work means success, he has not shrunk from the "drudgery of preparation” incident to law practice, and now finds himself, while comparatively a young man, esteemed as a lawyer of integrity and ability, who has won an honored position in the profession by industry and perseverance, and for whom the future holds yet other honors and successes in store.
BIOGRAPHIES