History of
Taylor County, Iowa
by Frank E. Crossen. Chicago: S. J. Clarke
Pub. Co., 1910.
S
William G. Sharp
transcribed by Tracy St. Claire
Although William G. Sharp has been a resident of Blockton only since the spring
of 1909, he is not unknown among her citizens, for he has lived in Taylor county
since 1877, and in the thirty-five years which have passed he has become well
known and highly respected citizen. Mr. Sharp was born in Shelby county,
Indiana, April 25, 1849, a son of John and Catherine (Golding) Sharp, natives of Ohio and Indiana respectively. They were married in
Indiana. John Sharp eventually became a resident of Clay county, Indiana,
where he served as surveyor and in other official positions but later he removed
to Mercer county, Illinois, the year 1860 witnessing his arrival in that state.
William G. Sharp of this review, was a lad of eleven years
when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Mercer county, Illinois, so
that he was largely reared in that section. He acquired his education in
the district schools, which, however, was somewhat limited, owing to the
unsettled condition of the country at that time. It was in Mercer county
that he was united in marriage to Miss Maria Nelson, who was born in that
county, the marriage ceremony being performed on the 10th of November, 1872.
Following his marriage Mr. Sharp located on a farm in
Mercer county, cultivating the same for five years, or until 1877, when,
believing that the opportunities and advantages farther west would more quickly
enhance his financial condition, he took up his abode in Taylor county, Iowa,
purchasing a tract of eighty acres in Gay township. The place at that time
has some improvements on it but Mr. Sharp added other buildings and further
improved the place and eventually purchased more land until his possessions now
aggregate three hundred and twenty acres all in one body, on which stood a
comfortable farm residence, good barn and other outbuildings, and he also set
out fruit and shade trees and made the place a valuable property. For many
years he followed general farming and stock raising and met with excellent
success in his business transactions. In the spring of 1909, he abandoned
his farming interests and took up his abode in the city of Blockton, where he
owns two good residential properties, one of which he occupies. The rest
which he now enjoys has been truly earned, for when Mr. Sharp first located in
Taylor county he had to face many difficulties and obstacles in order to
establish his home here, for the country at that time was not in its present
state of development and it has been through the labors of such men as Mr. Sharp
that this county has been made the rich agricultural center it is now.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Sharp has been blessed with five
sons and four daughters, namely: Warren F., who owns a good farm in Jefferson
township; John Clint and Arthur, who cultivate the old homestead farm and also
raise stock; Claud, a druggist of Blockton; Nellie, the wife of P. P. Ledgerwood,
who is an implement dealer of this city; Cora, the wife of W. A. Livingston, a
farmer of Gay township; and Addie and Zelda, who are young ladies and still
reside with their parents. The other son, Walter, died when a little lad
of five years.
A republican in his political belief, Mr. Sharp cast his
first presidential ballot for General U. S. Grant in 1872 and has voted for each presidential
candidate of the party since that time. While living on the farm in Gay
township he served as township trustee for nine consecutive years and in 1906 he
was elected to the office of supervisor, and at the present time is serving on the county board and the bridge committee, looking after all the
bridges in the southeastern part of Taylor county. He has likewise served as a delegate to county conventions, and has served on the grand jury in
the federal court at Creston and on the petit jury in Taylor county. Both
he and his wife are devoted and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal
church at Blockton and both are active workers and teachers in the Sunday-school
and Mr. Sharp once served as the superintendent of that organization.
Fraternally Mr. Sharp is identified with the Knights of Pythias lodge at
Blockton. In reviewing the lives of the older residents of Taylor county
we find a large number who are now living retired but we find none who are more
worthy of such rest than Mr. Sharp, for a glance at his fine farming property of
three hundred and twenty acres in Gay township leads us to believe that it
required much hard labor to bring it to its present state of cultivation and
improvement and he is now able to spend the evening of life in ease, surrounded
by many comforts and by a host of warm friends who have for him none but the
highest praise and commendation.
|
