Izard Co., AR - Biographies - John Sharp

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John Sharp, farmer and stock raiser, Evening Shade, Ark. Originally from
Independence County, Ark., Mr. Sharp's birth occurred on the 15th of September,
1843, and he is the son of Hon. William and Catherine (Barnes) Sharp, the
former born in Indiana, and the latter in Ohio. William Sharp came to
Independence County, Ark. (near Sulphur Rock), in 1838, and engaged first in
farming, which occupation he continued for two or three years. He then embarked
in the tannery business, and established the second yard in the county. It is
now known as the Gelpin tanyard. Mr. Sharp was a practical tanner, and followed
this pursuit until 1852, when he moved to what is now Sharp County, and settled
close to Evening Shade. He purchased a mill, rebuilt it, and it is now known as
Sharp's mill. This business he followed until his death, which occurred in
1864. In 1860-61 he represented Lawrence County in the legislature, was a
member when the State seceded, but was opposed to secession. During 1863 and
1864 he was at home attending to his mill, and was also engaged in tilling the
soil. He was one of the old land-marks in the early settlement of Northeast
Arkansas, and was one of the prominent men of his section of the county. He was
a man well read, and although he had never attended school but about three
months, he was a much better informed man than many who had every advantage for
schooling. He died in his fiftieth year. He was a Democrat in politics. He was
married in Ohio, about 1835, to Miss Catherine Barnes, and eight children were
the fruit of this union, five of whom lived to be grown: Isaac E. died in 1875,
and was quite a prominent man in Northeast Arkansas after the war; Zaccheus
(deceased), Mary (deceased), John, Rachel, wife of E. Berry, resides in Dent
County, Mo.; Margaret, wife of William Martin, resides in Independence County;
Elijah resides in Dent County, Ark., and Ephraim (deceased). Mrs. Sharp died in
1855, in full communion with the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1857 or 1858
Mr. Sharp married Mrs. Louisa Simpson, nee Douglas, and they became the parents
of four children, one now living, Samuel, residing in Washington Territory. The
second Mrs. Sharp died in 1864. John Sharp, the subject of this sketch, joined
the Confederate army in 1861, under Capt. Nunn, and served east of the
Mississippi River until after the fall of Vicksburg. He was engaged in two
prominent battles, Champion's Hill and Black River Bridge. He was taken
prisoner at the last named place the day before the siege of Vicksburg, and was
sent to Fort Delaware, thence to Point Lookout, Md., and was retained from the
17th of October to the 24th of December, when he was paroled. He then returned
home, remained there until 1864, when he enlisted the second time as a private
under Capt. Huddleston, and served the remainder of the war, surrendering at
Jacksonport on the 5th of June, 1865. He was with Gen. Price on his raid
through Missouri in 1864, and after the surrender he returned home, where he
worked in the mill until 1867. He then engaged in tilling the soil on his
present farm, which now consists of 800 acres, with 300 under cultivation. Part
of this is in Sharp County, but all joins except one tract of 253 acres, which
is, however, within one-fourth of a mile from the home place, with eighty five
acres under cultivation. Mr. Sharp was married the first time in 1865, to Miss
Catherine Summers, and they became the parents of these children: William,
married and resides on the farm; Anna, wife of Dan. T. Taylor, resides on the
home place; Mary E., wife of Jeff. Davis, resides in this county; Emma died at
the age of nine years; Robert I., at home, and one unnamed. Mrs. Sharp died on
the 13th of December, 1876. She was a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Sharp's
second marriage was to Miss Susan J. Yeager, in 1878, and they have a family of
five children (two being deceased); Katie, Prussia, John C., Frank and one
unnamed. Mr. Sharp is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Knights of
Honor. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a
Democrat politically, but though well posted, does not take an active interest
in politics.