Ascension County Louisiana Archives Obituaries.....Sharp, Andrew Jackson - May 24, 1881 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Mary K. Creamer marykcreamer.00@gmail.com March 22, 2020, 11:27 pm source: The Donaldsonville Chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, June 03, 1882, Image 3 Andrew Jackson Sharp . - The demise of this well known and universally esteemed citizen will vibrate sadly through the tenderest chords of the sympathetic hearts of his many friends here and elsewhere. To many it would seem that the editorial tribute bestowed upon his memory in the last issue of the Chief, in such faithful and befitting colors, would suffice to make known the profound regret entertained in this parish over the loss experienced in the person of one of its truest and noblest citizens; but the temptation of one who has known and loved Jack Sharp for more than a quarter of a century, to cast an humble flower upon his tomb, is too strong to be resisted. It is therefore proposed to draw aside the curtain in which grief of family and friends should be more properly veiled in the silence and privacy of home; in order simply to elaborate the beautiful editorial notice of last week, that the writer wishes to record a few of the many pleasing memories of the deceased. The subject of this sketch was born in Clinton county, Illinois, on the 21st day of July, 1816, and emigrated to this State in 1834, at the early age of 18 years. he first embarked in business on Bayou Sale, St. Mary's parish, and during the same year, 1834, returned to his native State whither he went to gather a fair flower in the person of Miss Mary I. Nichols, to transplant in the warm gardens of the sunny South. In 1845 he removed to Assumption to take charge of the princely Davenport plantation, on which he remained for two years, subsequently managing the Glenwood and Augustin Pugh plantations with marked ability and success. here I recall a remark of the Hon. A. Franklin Pugh, Sr., of Assumption, who in speaking of Mr. Sharp, said that he was one of the most successful overseers he ever knew. "Sharp," said Mr. Pugh, "always made an over abundance of corn. He could make more corn on less land than any man I ever saw, and experience has taught me he was right; for the whole success of planting is based upon plenty of home grown corn and fat, healthy mules." In 1852 Mr. Sharp removed to Hynes Bay, Refugion county, Texas, where he invested in a stock ranche (sic), but for recreation or business reasons, in March, 1859, leaving his family at the Texas home, he returned to Louisiana the same year, and was induced upoh (sic) his arrival here to take charge of the Belle Terre place, then belonging to Foley & Wilson. As soon as the Federal troops invaded the Lafourche, he accompanied the retreating Confederate forces to Texas, returning at the conclusion of hostilities between the States to Bayou Lafourche, where he again engaged in agriculture on a large scale. His success, while he handled the Xavier and Harry Daigle plantations as lessee, was marvelous. When his lease expired, he withdrew with $60,000 cash, owing no man a dollar and with a city credit unlimited. Unfortunately, injudicious investments, coupled with bad seasons, political misgovernment and financial depressions, culminated in destruction of his hard earnings, leaving the old veteran with an empty pocket, but an undaunted will and energy. Nevertheless, our friend was advanced in years, overworked and loth to enter upon those huge agricultural enterprises that require an extraordinary amount of physical and mental vigor, courage and persistence; consequently, he retired from the unequal contest and sought quiet and solitude in the bosom of his family in a cottage home on the lovely banks of Bayou Lafourche, where the grim-visaged monster ruthlessly snatched him from his family on the 24th day of May, 1882. Mr. Sharp, although born in the West, plunged at the early age of 18 years into the uncertain billows of southern planting operations, surrounded with slavery and all its patriarchial, arbitrary and aristocratic features. He seemed at once to have dived into his natural element, and soon accomplished the task of controlling and swaying slave labor with the hand of a connoisseur. With kindness, patience and fortitude, he never failed to govern them to their own satisfaction and to their owners' benefit. After their freedom had been attained as one of the results of the war, and the privilege of the elective franchise had been conceded to them, Mr. Sharp, who was then extensively engaged in planting and working freedmen, was one of the first to call the attention of his neighboring planters to the fact that by virtue of the military bill, the colored people had been invested with the right of suffrage, and it was the bounden duty of the planters to take steps to explain the obligations incident to such an important concession and to solicit the good will and co-operation of the colored voters in behalf of wholesome local self government. With this idea in view, he called a meeting of his neighbors, prominent among whom were Ed. Scanuel, Esq., now of St. James, Dr. John Pugh, now of St. Mary, and others, prepared a bounteous barbecue for the benefit of all the colored laborers on the surrounding plantations, and invited the most distinguished speakers attainable to address the newly-born suffragans upon the novel duties they were called upon to assume by the reconstructionists. The meeting was duly organized by appointing Dr. John Pugh president. Mr. Sharp in a brief speech replete with excellent, sound, practical sense, addressed the vast multitude, advising harmony and peace among all classes, and the utmost caution in the selection of true and tried men for elevation to positions of preferment and trust. Other speakers, following the programme marked out by Mr. Sharp, delivered impressive addresses, and no meeting of a similar nature ever held in Assumption parish was more fruitful of beneficial results to both capital and labor. I might proceed ad infinitum to recount interesting reminiscences of my friend, but at the risk of trespassing upon space given for the present communication. The living issue of the marriage of Mr. Sharp with his bereaved surviving widow consists of eight children, Josephine N., wife of T. O. Dalferes, Esq., Fannie T., wife of our well-known merchant, C. Kline, Willie B. Sharp, Esq., Emma M., wife of Victor Maurin, Esq., Lillie B., wife of Wm. Hamilton, Esq., Elida Sharp, who died in infancy, Frank P. Sharp, a manly, handsome fellow, who married the lovely daughter of Robt. Maurin, Esq., Malvina, who died in 1877, and Alice, who also died in infancy. During the illness of Mr. Sharp, Josephine, his eldest daughter, was ever by his side. Like a guardian angel, she watched with a devotion and ceaseless care worthy only of such a father's daughter. When she saw the dread hour of her father's earthly end approach, in soft tones she asked the dear object of her solitude, "Father, are you going to rest?" An affirmative nod told the sad tale and the good, true man, the honorable, beloved father, the pure citizen, passed to the home of his fathers. In person Mr. Sharp was a tall man, six feet and one inch, not stout, always erect in standing, walking or speaking, had a well shaped head and splendid profile, withal displaying a well-formed figure and imposing aspect. He conversed with ease, pleasantly and intelligently upon almost every subject agitated by his fellow citizens. Although so long and assiduously engaged in agriculture, he was not unmindful of the current events of the world, and generally managed during leisure moments to keep posted in all matters of moment requiring the attention of the enlightened citizen. Need I say more of you, my friend! While death has demanded its victim and Louisiana contains your ashes, rest assured that old and faithful friends, those who knew you longest and loved you best, will cherish your memory and defend your fair name and honor on earth, forever. - HIRAM. source: The Donaldsonville Chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871- current, January 31, 1885, Image 3 The succession of the late Andrew Jackson Sharp, who died in this parish in May, 1882, has just been opened. Mrs. Rebecca J. Sharp, widow of the deceased, has applied to be appointed administratrix. Additional Comments: NOTE: www.findagrave.com memorial # 90238691 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/ascension/obits/sharp8044gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/lafiles/ File size: 8.9 Kb