Thomas J. Sharp

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THOMAS J. SHARP, a highly respected farmer residing in section 13, township 34, range 20, in Hackberry township, Labette county, Kansas, is one of the pioneer settlers of the county. He was born in Macoupin county, Illinois, in 1849, and is a son of Madison Sharp, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume.

Thomas J. Sharp was reared in Illinois, until he reached the age of seventeen years, when he moved to Hunt county, Texas. In 1868, he moved to Neosho county, Kansas, and one year later to Labette county, where he took up the southwest quarter of section 7, township 34, range 20. This he greatly improved, and still owns the farm. In 1892, Mr. Sharp removed to the farm of his mother-in-law in Hackberry township. Her property consists of a half section, and is finely improved. This farm had been purchased by her husband from Mr. Peck. Mr. Sharp prefers and raises Shorthorn cattle and Poland-China hogs. He is very well informed on all agricultural matters, and uses many modern implements in tilling the soil.

Mr. Sharp was married in Labette county, to Harriet Snow, a daughter of Henry and Mary J. (Colby) Snow. Mr. Snow located in Labette county in 1868, and took up a claim adjoining Mr. Sharp's. He died there in 1873. Mrs. Snow married Mr. Houts in 1885, and he died several years later. Mrs. Houts now lives in Oswego. Mr. Sharp's wife was born in Macoupin county, Illinois, in 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Sharp have been blessed with seven children, namely: Henry, who is a buttermaker in a creamery at Matfield, Kansas, and who married a daughter of D. M. Miller, and has two children, - Myrl and Gladys; Isaac M., who is a stenographer for a hardware and implement company at Shreveport, Louisiana, and was formerly with Funkhouser, of West Plains, Missouri; May, who is cashier in C. M. Condon's store at Oswego; Maude; Lula; Ettie; and Bessie.

In politics, Mr. Sharp is a Republican. He has served in township offices and on the school board, in District No. 7. He was formerly a member of the Anti-Horsethief Association. Religiously, he attends the Methodist church at Oswego. Mr. Sharp is always all active supporter of all public enterprises, and is a useful and irreproachable citizen. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Sharp, engraved from photographs taken in July, 1901, accompany this sketch, and may be found on a page in proximity to this.