Zachariah Sharp (1801)

Ancestors

Descendants

Biography

Zachariah Sharp, the fourth son of Isaac and Mary (Woolverton) Sharp, was born near Waynesburgh, Greene Co. , Penn. When eighteen years of age he became an apprentice to one William Hart ford, a blacksmith of Fredericktown, Washington Co., Penn., serving his full time, and afterward working a few months for wages. After leaving his employer the young man began business for himself and erected a small shop near Curry's run, Carter's creek. A few months later he was wedded to Elizabeth, only daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Yoder, residents of Fredericktown. The parents were Germans, and called themselves Pennsylvania Dutch. The father was a skilled potter. Mr. and Mrs. Sharp resided on Carter's creek about four years after their marriage, then moved to the village of Amity, Penn., where he followed his trade for many years with untiring industry, also teaching many young men in the trade. In those days everything had to be made in a slow and laborious fashion, the sickle and broad hoe being pounded out in the same way as the tiniest nail. In those days a person who brought a young horse to be shod for the first time was expected to meet his social obligations in a rather peculiar but most suggestive manner. A quart bottle of whisky, called the "colt's tail," was brought by the owner of the animal, and when the horse was shod the men were " switched in the face " by their favorite beverage — a pioneer observance of the modern "treating" custom now in vogue among different social circles. Zachariah Sharp finally abandoned the blacksmith's trade and became one of the leading country merchants of the community, afterward adding a small farm and several tenant houses to his store. Business prospered for a time, but the constant confinement was more than he could endure, and he began to long for a change. In 1855 certain mill property depreciated in value and Mr. Sharp incurred a heavy expense in its purchase. He attempted to repair and manage the old mill, but times were hard, money was scarce and interest was high, and soon, in this unfortunate experiment, the savings of many years had vanished like a mist before the sun. He was a total abstainer, positive in opinions, and usually following his own counsel. In politics he was a Whig, an ardent advocate of protective tariff and a warm admirer of Henry Clay, also favoring the United States Bank. Although never as piling to political honors, he was nominally the postmaster for many years, the actual incumbent being a maiden lady, to whom he gave all the proceeds. He was an admirer of Jack Downing' s letters, was fond of reading (owning a good library), and. like his relations, was a great hunter and a very skillful marksman. In religion he worshiped with the Presbyterian denomination, but was very liberal in his views. After an illness of but three days' duration he was called to rest from the labors of a long and busy life on September 1X, 1874, in his seventy-fourth year. Mrs. Sharp was a kind and industrious companion, an affectionate arid true mother, a zealous and devoted Christian. Possessing a cheerful, trusting disposition, that person was vile indeed for whom she could find no word of praise. After months of severe pain, caused by a fall, she passed over the river October 14, 1881, in her seventy-eighth year.

Sources

• "Commemorative Biographical Record of History of Washington County, Pennsylvania 1873" Vol. 1 page 170-171. THE SHARP FAMILY J.H. Beers & Co. (1893), pages 171-174.