Christian County IL Archives Biographies.....Sharp, John
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Stan Jacobs sajake@ezl.com December 1997

Biographical Sketch of John Sharp - Macoupin, Christian Counties, Illinois

JOHN SHARP

Was born in Claiborne county, Tennessee, November 23d, 1822.  He was the
son of William and Barbara Sharp.  His ancestry on the paternal side
were Scotch-Irish, and on the maternal side, German.  William Sharp was
a native of Tennessee, born in 1799.  The Sharp family settled in
America long prior to the Revolutionary war.  They first settled in
North Carolina, afterward moved into Virginia, and subsequently moved
into the state of Tennessee in an early day.  William Sharp married
Barbara Hunter in Tennessee.  They had nine children born to them in
that state.  In 1836 they emigrated to Macoupin county, Illinois, and
settled in the north-west part of the county.  They bad one child born
to them after coming to Illinois.  In 1838 Mrs. Sharp died.  Mr. Sharp
afterwards married Miss Elizabeth Wilson, by whom he had five children,
of which two are now living.  Mr. Sharp followed the life of a farmer
and blacksmith.  He died at the residence of his son, John Sharp, the
subject of our sketch, June 20, 1875.  John Sharp was fourteen years of
age when his father moved to Illinois.  He assisted on his father's
farm, in Macoupin county, until he was of age, and attended the common
schools of that county during the winter months.  At the age of
twenty-three be enlisted in the Mexican war.  He was in Company G.,
under Captain J. Wyatt, lst Illinois Vols., Col John J. Hardin having
command of the regiment.  He was in the battle of Buena Vista, where
Col.  Hardin was killed, and within a short distance of the Colonel when
he fell.  Mr. Sharp enlisted in this war in June, 1846, and returned
home July, 1847, after his discharge.  His brother, Henry H.,
accompanied him through this war.  The following fall after their
discharge they went to Iowa to lay their land warrants.  After traveling
about over the state for some time, they made a choice near where
Oskaloosa is now located.  After laying their claims they remained in
the state for a few months, returning the following year.  From that
time until 1849 Mr. Sharp farmed, broke prairie and taught school. 
September 9th, 1849, he was united in marriage to Miss Emeline Redfern,
a native of Macoupin county.  By this union they have had a family of
eight children, of whom seven are living, three boys and four girls,
viz. : Henry E., Joseph M., Sarah A., Ida E., Ira G., Emma C. and Lulu
May.  Henry E. is married and lives in Taylorville township.  Sarah A.
is now the wife of.Dr. F. A. McNeill, living in Sharpsburg.  In 1853 Mr.
Sharp moved into Christian county, and settled in Buckhart township,
where he now resides.  He sold his land, one hundred and sixty acres, in
Iowa, for $2.50 per acre, and bought where he now lives for $5.00 per
acre.  His first purchase was eighty acres.  He has made farming and
stock-raising his life occupation. When the Springfield, Illinois and
South-Eastern railroad was being constructed through the county, Mr.
Sharp and his brothers, George R. and Henry H,, were instrumental in
getting a depot located near them, in order to facilitate their
shipments.  The railroad company gave the name of the place Sharpsburg. 
In politics Mr. Sharp is a democrat. He cast his first vote for James K.
Polk, and he has continued to vote for every democratic nominee to the
present time.  When the countv went into township organization he was
elected as the first Supervisor from Buckhart township.  He is now
Notary Public, a position he has held for five years.  For a number of
years he has been a member of the Masonic order.  Mr. Sharp started out
in life with nothing, but his mind was made up from the start to fight
his way upward in the world if anything could be accomplished by hard
work and perseverance. He now has a comfortable home, with everything
about him to make his declining years full of ease and serenity.

         Taken from "HISTORY OF CHIRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS".
          Published by Brink, McDonough & Co., Philadelphia.
               Corresponding office. Edwardsville, Ill.
                                  1880
    
                       
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