JOHN MORGAN SHARP is one of the leading and influential agriculturists of Cross Creek township, and owns an extensive and valuable tract of land, which yields him a large annual profit. He is a son of John F. Sharp, whose father's name was also John. John Sharp (the grandfather of subject) was born January 1, 1774, in New Jersey, where his boyhood was passed, afterward moving to Fayette county, Penn. On January 26, 1797, he was wedded in Pennsylvania to Miss Hannah Freeman, who was born March 26, 1778, and after marriage they made their first home on a farm in Fayette county, where four children were born to them, namely: Mary (wife of James Gardener, of West Virginia), born November 17, 1797; John F., born February 20, 1801; Levi, born July 1, 1804 and Ruth (wife of Samuel Gardener, near Eldersville), born August 18, 1806. Afterward the family moved to Washington county, Penn., settling on a farm near Eldersville, where the rest of their children were born, as follows: Edmund (living in Sharptown, Ind.), born November 18, 1808; Sarah (married to Alexander Walker, of Jefferson township, this county), born May 2, 1811; Jane (wife of John Steene, residing near Eldersville, this county), born July 14, 1813; Hannah (married to John Wheeler, a tailor of Jefferson township, this county), born March 9, 1817, and Elizabeth (Mrs. John Stephenson, also of Jefferson township), born March 23, 1819. John Sharp died September 11, 1860, having been preceded by his wife, Hannah, July 26, 1838, and both are buried in Cross Creek graveyard.
John F. Sharp was seven years of age when he came to Washington county with his parents. About 1826 he was united in marriage in West Virginia, near Steubenville, Ohio, with Miss Narcissa Atkinson, daughter of Thomas Atkinson, and settled on a farm which he purchased from his father, and upon which they lived over sixty years. The children born to this marriage were Eliza J. (Mrs. Nathaniel Halley, of Owen county, Ind.), born December 18, 1827, Thomas A., born May 14, 1829 (married to Olivia Walker, daughter of James Walker, of Jefferson township), Absalom, born March 3, 1831 (married to Lucinda Stephens, and living in Indiana), Hannah A., born March 18, 1834 (wife of J. G. Walker, son of James Walker, of Jefferson township), John M. (whose name opens this sketch), Harriet N., born April 3, 1843, died July 13, 1844, and Sarah M., born June 28, 1846, died February 11, 1850, both of whom were buried in Cross Creek graveyard. The mother of these children passed from earth January 10, 1847, and was laid to rest in Cross Creek graveyard. Mr. Sharp was afterward married to Maria Price, of Perry county, Ohio, to which union three children were born: Mary E. (wife of W. D. McKay), born May 30, 1850; Clara R. (wife of Thomas Lindsey of Steubenville, Ohio) and Ella S. (married to John M. Russell, of Smith township, this county). John F. Sharp died December 19, 1887, and was buried in Cross Creek graveyard.
John Morgan Sharp was born March 7, 1838, on the home farm in Cross Creek township, where his youth was passed. On December 22, 1859, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah M. Virtue, of Cross Creek township, who was born January 23, 1842, daughter of James and Mary Virtue. William Virtue, father of James, came from Ireland in pioneer days. To the union of John Morgan and Sarah M. Sharp the following children have been born: John Freeman, born March 18, 1861; Mary B., born July 12, 1863 (wife of Charles W. Scott, residing near Bethel Church, Jefferson township); Flora A., born August 5, 1865; Hattie May, born December 6, 1868; Jessie Leola, born March 14, 1876, and Jennie E., born October 20, 1880. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Sharp resided for twenty years on a farm in the vicinity, belonging to his father, when, upon the death of his father, Mr. Sharp moved to the old home farm near his former residence, and has since remained on the homestead, which he purchased under authority of his father's will at $66 per acre, at which it was appraised. He carried on an extensive agricultural business, making a specialty of sheep raising, and now owns 223 acres of land, also an interest in 550 acres of his father's estate. In politics he follows the example of his forefathers, voting the straight Democratic ticket, and he has held various office of trust in his township. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church in Cross Creek village. He is one of the original stockholders, incorporators and directors in "The Cross Creek Cemetery Company."
Text taken from page 597 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed May 1997 by Marilyn K. MacKendrick of N. Charleston, SC as part of the Beers Project.
Published May 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]