Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Sharkey, George E. 1887 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ila Wakley iwakley@msn.com January 24, 2011, 12:14 am Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 777 - 779 Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company GEORGE E. SHARKEY, manager of the long established and well known firm of P. Sharkey & Son, of Portland, has spent his entire business career in connection with this concern, in the later success of which he has been a most important factor, and is recognized as one of Portland's capable and reliable business men. He was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1887, and is a son of Edward J. and Frances Virginia (Davis) Sharkey. The father died in 1926 and is survived by his widow, who still resides in Portland. The paternal line is traced back to Mr. Sharkey's great-grandparents, John and Katherine (Carroll) Sharkey, of county Monaghan, Ireland, where the former was engaged in farming until about 1843, when he brought his family to America. He took a donation land claim on Prince Edward island, Canada, and there developed a farm. To him and his wife were born seven children, of whom the third in order of birth was Patrick, who was born in county Monaghan, Ireland, March 17, 1835. He attended the public schools of his home neighborhood and at the age of eight years accompanied his parents on their removal to America, completing his education in the schools of Prince Edward island. He learned the trade of a harness and collar maker at Georgetown and when twenty-three years of age went to St. Johns, New Brunswick, where he worked at his trade for two years. He then removed to Grand Falls, where for four years he conducted a general store, after which he sold out and went to Boston, Massachusetts. During the Civil war he enlisted in the United States service as a harnessmaker and was sent to Chattanooga, Tennessee. After the close of the war he went to Baltimore, Maryland, where he followed his trade for eight months. His next removal took him to Wheeling, West Virginia, where for twenty years he continued to make his home, devoting his attention to the harness business. While there he heard much about the Pacific coast and its wonderful possibilities and in 1883 he made a trip of investigation to this locality. So well pleased was he with the outlook and the appearance of the country that on his return east he disposed of his business and came back here for permanent residence. Settling in Portland, he established a harness and collar factory in McMillan's addition. Later he established the factory on a small scale at Union avenue and Taylor street, in East Portland, where he continued the operation of the business up to the time of his death, which occurred on August 20, 1902. Sometime prior to his death he admitted his son, Edward J., to a partnership. He was a republican in his political views and was a Roman Catholic in his religious faith. On November 4, 1859, Patrick Sharkey was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth McClement, a daughter of Patrick and Elizabeth (Miller) McClement. Mrs. Sharkey was born on the same day as her husband, the place of her birth, however, being in county Derry, Ireland. When four years of age she was brought to America by her parents, who located on a farm near St. Johns, New Brunswick, where their remaining days were passed and where she was reared and resided until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Sharkey were parents of the following named: Edward J. was the father of George E. Sharkey; Josephine became the wife of Charles Sweeney, a locomotive engineer in Portland, and had three children, Irene, Grace and Edmund; Katherine became the wife of Frank Southard, of Portland, and they have five children, Harry, Helen, Catherine, Mildred and Elizabeth; Louise married John Casey, of Portland, by whom she has four children, Margaret, Allen, Edward and Charles; John P., who engaged in the real estate business in Portland, married Miss Jennie Graham and to them were born four children, Graham, Clement, Ellis and Herman; Helen became the wife of Rudolph Zeller, of Portland, and they have three children, Philip, Rudolph and Marie; and William T., who married Cecelia Cahill and has two children, Gertrude and Helen. Edward J. Sharkey was born September 1, 1860, and received his education in the public schools of Wheeling, West Virginia. On leaving school he became associated with his father in business, first in Wheeling and later in Portland, and became thoroughly familiar with every detail of the business. In 1903 the factory on Taylor street was destroyed by fire, and the plant was reestablished at Union and Oak streets, where it was operated until 1926, when it was moved to 141 East Twenty-first street north, where the firm erected a two-story building, fifty by one hundred feet, and here engages in manufacturing horse collars exclusively. Mr. Sharkey remained actively identified with the business until his death, which occurred in 1926. In 1886 he was married to Miss Frances Virginia Davis, a representative of an old family of Virginia of Welsh descent, and to them were born four children, namely: George E., of this reveiw, and his twin sister, Mary E., the latter the wife of Dr. P. T. Meaney, of Portland; Ralph L., who is engaged in the practice of medicine in Portland; and William P., who also is engaged in the practice of medicine. The son Ralph is a veteran of the World war, in which he was commissioned a lieutenant. He was aboard the United States steamship "Antilles" when that vessel was sunk by a German submarine and floated for four hours upon a raft before being rescued. The mother of these children still resides in Portland. George E. Sharkey attended the public and high schools of Portland and Columbia University, in this city, after which he took a commercial course in the Behnke-Walker Business College. He at once entered his father's business, in which he eventually became assistant manager and office manager, and since the death of his father has had complete charge. This is now the only firm in the northwest engaged exclusively in the making of horse collars, and enjoys a high reputation for the superior quality of its product, which is sold throughout the west. Mr. Sharkey has devoted his attention closely to the business, in the management of which he has shown exceptional executive ability and sound judgment, and is accounted one of the able and successful business men of this city. In 1920 Mr. Sharkey was united in marriage to Miss Marion Leahy, of Astoria, Oregon. He is a strong republican in his political views and has in every sense exemplified a high type of citizenship, giving his support to those things which count for the most in the life of his community. Because of this as well as for his splendid personal qualities, he is held in the highest regard by all who know him. 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