The Sharp Family of Kane, Pennsylvania

In a record of the Scotch-Irish Presbyterian families who were the first settlers at the “Forks of Delaware,” now Northampton county, Pennsylvania, is found the name of Robert Sharp, from Cumberland county, who was a son of Thomas and Margaret (Elder) Sharp, “Covenanters,” who because of their religious faith were driven from Scotland to the province of Ulster in the north of Ireland, residing in Belfast, county of Antrim, until 1747, when they came to America, the family consisting of Thomas Sharp, his wife, five sons and four daughters; they settled in the township of Newton, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania.

(II) Robert Sharp

Robert, son of Thomas Sharp, after coming to this country, later returned and came again bringing the remainder of the family. He located at the “Forks of the Delaware,” where he married. This was before the revolution in which he and his brother Alexander served as wagoners. He married Margaret Boyd, a descendant of John Boyd, born in Scotland. Children:

1. James Sharp.
2. John Sharp.
3. David Sharp.
4. Thomas Sharp.
5. Margaret Sharp.

(III) _____ Sharp

One of the sons of Robert and Margaret (Boyd) Sharp

(IV) Robert (2) Sharp

Robert (2), grandson of Robert (1) and Margaret (Boyd) Sharp, was born about 1820. He was an early settler and a farmer of Lawrence county. He was a prosperous farmer. He was an influential Whig. He served in the Pennsylvania house of assembly and held county office. He died in Lawrence county, aged seventy years. He married Ann Christie, born in Allegheny, died in Lawrence county, long before her husband. Children, all born in Lawrence county:

1. William Sharp, born 1837; a farmer and miller; has a grist mill in Lawrence county.
2. Rev. Joseph Sharp, born 1839; a minister of the Presbyterian church at New Castle, Pennsylvania.
3. Hess Sharp, born 1842; resides in New Wilmington; a farmer.
4. Thomas Sharp, born 1843; a carpenter, living in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
5. James Sharp, born 1845; a prominent manufacturer of Morehead, Clay county, Minnesota; has served twenty-four years on the school board of Morehead and is now probate judge of Clay county.
6. Martin Luther Sharp, born 1847.
7. John Sharp, born 1850; when last heard from was prospecting in the Black Hills, Wyoming.
8. Robert C. Sharp, of whom further.

(V) Robert C. Sharp

Robert C., youngest child of Robert (2) and Ann (Christie) Sharp, was born in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, April 6, 1852, died in Kane, December 9, 1905. His mother died when he was young and he was reared by his brother William. He was educated in the public school and began business life as a tool dresser in the Venango county oil fields. He followed this vocation for several years in the oil fields of Pennsylvania and New York state, coming to Kane in 1885. He became interested in several Kane industries, operated in oil and gas, organized the Valley Gas Company, and was engaged actively in business until his death. He was a Republican in politics, and was reared in the Presbyterian church, but three months prior to his death joined the Roman Catholic church, the faith of his wife.

He married, in Warren, Pennsylvania, Ellen Ramsey, born November 8, 1862, daughter of Owen Ramsey, born in county Cavan, Ireland, in 1832, an Orangeman. He settled in Edinburgh, Scotland, where he married, and prior to 1854 came to the United States and lived in various parts of Pennsylvania, accumulating considerable property. He died in 1907, in Warren, Pennsylvania. He married Rose Glenn, born in Ireland, in 1833. She followed her husband to the United States, in 1854, and died in Warren, in 1908. Rose Glenn, while living in Edinburgh, was the proprietor of a large inn. Living children of Owen and Rose Ramsey:

1. Mary Ramsey, born in Edinburgh, Scotland; now living in Warren, Pennsylvania; married Patrick Murphy; children:
   1. Rose Murphy.
   2. Cecelia Murphy.
   3. Anna Murphy.
   4. Others.
2. John Ramsey, born in Edinburgh.
3. Ellen Ramsey, of previous mention; married Robert C. Sharp.
4. Owen Ramsey, born in Warren, Pennsylvania; now living in Youngstown, Ohio.

Children of Robert C. and Ellen Sharp:

1. Reuben Johnson Sharp, of whom further.
2. Robert Crawford Sharp, born in Warren, May 12, 1881; now living in Youngstown, Ohio, an office employee of Republic Iron and Steel Corporation.
3. Mary Sharp, born in Warren, May 8, 1883; married Oscar Ford, a merchant, now living in Shinglehouse, Pennsylvania.
4. Josephine Sharp, born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, June 22, 1885; married Hugh McAndrew, of Bernhard Bay, New York, now engaged in business with his brother-in-law, Oscar Ford, at Shinglehouse.
5. James Harvey Sharp, born in Kane, July 27, 1887; now a shoe salesman of Youngstown, Ohio; unmarried.
6. Rose Sharp, born in Kane, January 27, 1891; resides in Youngstown.
7. Edward Sharp, born in Kane, January 28, 1893; now residing in Youngstown; a salesman.
8. George Evan Sharp, born in Kane, May 14, 1898; resides in Youngstown.
9. Maude Sharp, born November 15, 1900, in Kane.

Mrs. Ellen (Ramsey) Sharp, mother of the above children, survives her husband and resides in Youngstown, her unmarried children making their home with her. She married (second) M. O’Byrne, of East Emporium, but separated from him because of friction over her children, Mr. O’Byrne not wishing to have them reside with him.

(VI) Reuben Johnson Sharp

Reuben Johnson, son of Robert C. and Ellen (Ramsey) Sharp, was born in Warren, Pennsylvania, June 21, 1879. He was educated in the public schools and was graduated at Kane high school, class of 1896. In September of that year he became clerk in the Kane postoffice, continuing until 1899 when he was appointed assistant postmaster. He was acting postmaster from May 18, 1909, until August 1, 1909, then again assistant until June 22, 1912, and since that time again acting postmaster, October 1, 1912. He is a capable official and a journalist of recognized ability, having for the past two years been one of the editorial writers of the Kane Daily Republican. He is president of the Kane fire department, member of the board of directors of the Kane Republican Publishing Company, state consul for Pennsylvania Modern Woodmen of America, venerable consul of Kane Camp, No. 5728, of that order, serving his third consecutive term; grand knight of Kane Council, No. 715, Knights of Columbus, for three terms; delegate to the state convention three years and in 1908 national delegate to the Supreme Council that met in St. Louis, and in May, 1912, was a delegate to the state convention at Harrisburg, serving on the committee on resolutions. He organized Kane Assembly, Knights of Columbus, in 1909, was the first chairman and now is serving as “Active Faithful Admiral.” He is one of the energetic, capable young business men of Kane and stands high in his community. In 1912 he was one of the active workers that organized the Kane Board of Trade. He was elected a director of the board, and he was then elected secretary of the board. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church, and politically a Republican, and during the campaign of 1908 and 1910 was one of the regular staff of speakers on McKean county platforms. In June, 1910, he was a delegate to the state convention held in Harrisburg and at that convention was elected president of the Republican organization of the twenty-third senatorial district.

He married, April 3, 1901, Laura Eliza Yount, born in Richardsville, Jefferson county, Pennsylvania, June 12, 1876; educated in the public school, entered the first class for nurses ever formed at Kane Summit Hospital, and was a member of the first class graduated, following her profession one year, until her marriage. She is the daughter of Jacob Yount, born in Clarion county, Pennsylvania. He was a lumberman on the Clarion river in the early days, but during the last fourteen years of his life lived with his son Samuel in Brockport, Pennsylvania, being an invalid nearly that entire period. He died there in 1904. He married Eliza Wilson, born in county Donegal, Ireland, 1830, died in Brockport, December 8, 1905. Their children:

1. Samuel Yount, a merchant and farmer of Brockport; twice married and has a son:
   1. Raymond Yount.
2. Martha Yount, married Thomas Chamberlain, a farmer, and resides in Pueblo, Pennsylvania.
3. James Yount, a farmer of Richardsville, Pennsylvania.
4. John Yount, in charge of the State Coal and Iron Police at Ambridge, Pennsylvania.
5. Silas Yount, postmaster, merchant and farmer at Pueblo, Pennsylvania.
6. George Yount, a laborer, living in Elk county.
7. Laura Eliza Yount, of previous mention.
8. Melvin Yount, now steward of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Club at Ambridge, Pennsylvania; married a Miss Wildow, adopted daughter of his brother Samuel.

Children of Reuben J. and Laura Eliza Sharp, all born in Kane:

1. Virginia Sharp, August 25, 1902
2. Paul Yount Sharp, August 13, 1903
3. Catherine Sharp, January 17, 1905
4. Samuel Sharp, October 12, 1906
5. Mary Martha Sharp, August 25, 1912.

See: Genealogy of the Allegheny Valley Pennsylvania

Source

Jordan, J. W. 1840-1921. (1913). Genealogical and personal history of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania. New York: Lewis Historical Pub. Co.

This genealogy is based upon the source cited above. Only the structure and formatting have been changed for clearer presentation; the genealogical and biographical content has been preserved.