Sarah Eve Sharp (Diffenbach)

 

Sarah Eve (Diffenbach) Sharp — Her Life and Origins 

Birth and Early Life

Sarah Eve Diffenbach was born 1795–1800 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, into a long‑established Pennsylvania German Lutheran family. Her name — Sarah Eve — is a distinctly Pennsylvania German naming style, confirming she was born in America, not Germany.

Adam and Eve's son, Frederick's death certificate lists Eve as           Sarah Eve Diffanie.   “Diffanie” is a misreading of the German          surname Diefenbach/Diffenbach because old German                 handwriting makes the letters b‑a‑ch look like n‑i‑e, causing          American clerks to record the name phonetically rather than accurately.

Her family belonged to the Pennsylvania German communities that had been present in Lancaster County since the mid‑1700s.

Missouri census records from 1850–1870 list Sarah Eve’s birthplace as Germany or France. Census takers frequently confused Pennsylvania‑born German families with foreign‑born Germans and recorded their ethnic origin instead of their true birthplace.

 Parents

Sarah Eve was the daughter of:

• Henry Diffenbach

• Elizabeth (maiden name unknown)

Henry Diffenbach is the only Diffenbach in Pennsylvania with a daughter of Sarah Eve’s age bracket in the 1800 and 1810 census records. No other Diffenbach household in Pennsylvania contains a female of the correct age.

This makes Henry and Elizabeth the only viable parents for Sarah Eve.

Grandparents

Her grandparents were part of the established Pennsylvania German Diffenbach/Diefenbach families of Lancaster County, likely descended from:

• Johan Philip Diffebach, the documented 1773 immigrant

• His wife (name varies in early records)

These families appear in early Lutheran and Reformed church records throughout Lancaster County.

Proximity to the Scherb Family

The Diffenbach and Scherb families lived in close proximity in Pennsylvania:

• Both families appear in Franklin County records

• Both families appear in Pittsburgh during the same years

• Both families belonged to Pennsylvania German Lutheran congregations

• Both families followed the same migration corridor westward

This geographic and cultural proximity strongly supports the conclusion that Sarah Eve Diffenbach is the correct wife of Adam Sharp.

Marriage

Sarah Eve married Adam Sharp (born Georg Adam Scherb) between 1819–1824, most likely in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Their marriage is confirmed by:

• Adam’s 1858 will

• their children’s birthplaces

• their shared migration path

• their consistent appearance together in census records

Children

Sarah Eve and Adam had the following documented children:

• John D. Sharp (born 1824, Pittsburgh)

• George D. Sharp (born 1827, Chambersburg)

• Elizabeth Sharp (born 1829, Pittsburgh; married in Livingston Co., MO in 1847)

• Frederick Sharp (born 1832, Chambersburg)

• Martha Sharp (born approx. 1827, likely Pittsburgh)

No other children have been documented in Pennsylvania or Missouri records.

Life in Pennsylvania

Sarah Eve lived in two major Pennsylvania German communities:

• Pittsburgh (early 1820s)

• Chambersburg / Franklin County (late 1820s–1830s)

These areas were heavily populated by Pennsylvania Germans whose families had been in America since the mid‑1700s.

Migration West

Sarah Eve migrated west with Adam and their children, following the classic Pennsylvania German frontier route:

Pennsylvania → Ohio → Indiana → Illinois → Missouri

By the 1840s, the family was living in Livingston County, Missouri.

Life in Missouri

Sarah Eve appears in:

• 1850, 1860 and 1870 Missouri census

• Adam’s 1858 will, naming her as his wife

• Adam’s 1874 probate, where she is named as inheriting Adam’s land

These records prove:

Sarah Eve lived until at least March 23, 1874, when Adam’s estate was settled.

Death

Sarah Eve died after 1874 in Livingston County, Missouri.

Although no formal cemetery record exists, local eyewitness Anna Dockery Burgess documented two unmarked Sharp graves on the south part of the Frederick Sharp farm — originally owned by Adam Sharp.  These graves almost certainly belong to Adam and his wife, Sarah Eve, who both died after 1870 and were living on the property at the time of their deaths.

Her Legacy

Her story continues to unfold as Pennsylvania church records — especially Upper West Conococheague — are being searched for her marriage or her children’s baptisms.

George Adam Sharp 1797-1874

 Hello Sharp Family!

It's been a while since I posted an update but I have finally found the Sharps in Germany and am ready to share that information with you.

First, the German name for Sharp is Scherb and Sarah Eve Diffanie is actually Sarah Eve Diffenbach.  I took a course called Germanology Unlocked and they steered me to a site called Archion where you can search the original German Churchbooks, which is where all the German records on families are kept.  I will give a brief outline of the family but if anyone wants a more detailed explanation or copies of the German documents, I am happy to either email it to you or if you have an Ancestry.com account, I have made my tree shareable.    I am waiting on a couple of original documents in the next week, but then I am going to send the entire file to Livingston County, MO library so that others can research the information.

Adam Sharp (born Georg Adam Scherb), 1797–1874 — His Life in Germany

Birth and Baptism

Adam Sharp was born Georg Adam Scherb on 12 Apr 1797 in Höpfigheim, Württemberg, Germany. He was baptized in the local Lutheran parish, where his family had lived for generations.

Parents

Adam was the son of:

• Johann Peter Scherb (born 1765 in Höpfigheim)

• Helena Dorothea Trautwein (born 1773 in Steinheim)

Both parents lived their entire lives in Württemberg. Neither emigrated to America. Peter was a Bürger und Weingartner or citizen and vineyard gardener, which could have been he grew grapes, managed plot of vines, or he sold grapes or wine locally.

Siblings

Adam had several siblings, all documented in the Höpfigheim Familienregister. Only Adam and his brother Johann Jakob Scherb eventually emigrated, with Jacob settling in Franklin County, PA. The sisters, Margaretha Dorothea and Christina Barbara remained in Württemberg, marrying and raising families in nearby towns such as Aalen.

Grandparents

Adam’s grandparents on the Scherb side were:

• Johann Michael Scherb (the younger) — born 1709

• Maria Barbara Pfeiffer — born 1713

Johann Michael was a Bürger und Zingler (citizen and twiner), a trade involving twisting fibers for rope or cord. This occupation appears repeatedly in the Scherb family.

On the Trautwein side, Adam’s grandparents were:

• Johann Georg Trautwein

• Anna Barbara (surname varies by record)

The Trautwein family also lived in Höpfigheim and surrounding villages for generations.

Great‑Grandparents

Adam’s great‑grandparents on the Scherb line were:

• Johann Michael Scherb (the elder) — born ca. 1680–1710

• Anna Maria (maiden name not yet confirmed)

This couple appears in the earlier Höpfigheim family tables. They are the origin of the two “Johann Michaels” that required careful distinction in your research.

The Scherb Family in Württemberg

The Scherb family lived in Höpfigheim for over 150 years before Adam’s birth. They appear consistently in:

• baptism records, marriage registers, death entries, the Familienregister (family book) and local occupation lists

The surname appears in several spellings:

• Scherb, Scherp, Scherpp, Scherpf

All refer to the same family.

Adam’s Emigration

Adam applied to emigrate in 1817, at age 20. His emigration application included his parents and his siblings and his intention to leave Württemberg for North America.

He arrived in Philadelphia by December 1819, where he opened a bank account under the name Adam Sharp — the Americanized form of Scherb.

Life in America

Adam settled first in Pennsylvania, then moved west with his wife and children, eventually reaching Livingston County, Missouri, where he died in 1874. His will, written May 3, 1858, lists his wife and children and confirms his identity as the same man born in Höpfigheim. Some Ancestry trees list Adam and his siblings living with a Pfister family in 1808, but this is not the actual Scherb Familienregister. The real Familienregister on Archion shows Adam's parents, Johann Peter Scherb and Helena Dorothea Trautwein, with 10 children. The Pfister Familienregister (the one misinterpreted on Ancestry) includes the note "all other children died young" and shows Adam and his brother Jakob as the only two children who emigrated to America. The 1817 emigration application lists Peter and Dorothea Scherb and their four living children, which matches the Archion Familienregister. Because the parents were preparing to emigrate, it is likely that the children were temporarily listed in the Pfister household for parish registration purposes - a common practice when families were transitioning between residences or preparing for departure.

Tomorrow I will upload another blog on what I have on Sarah Eve Diffenbach Sharp.

ALVENA ELIZABETH (MAXEY) SHARP

ALVENA ELIZABETH (MAXEY) SHARP

Alvena Elizabeth (Maxey) Sharp was born on February 27, 1874 in Hickory, Grundy County, MO to William Thomas and Eliza Jane (Mason) Maxey.  She married George William Sharp on October 8, 1893 in Grundy County, MO.  They had 11 children.  Alvena died on May 3, 1893 in Grundy County, MO and is buried next to her husband in Maple Grove Cemetery in Grundy County, MO.

Alvena's name is spelled several ways, but I will use the spelling shown on her grave stone.  Other spellings are Alvina and Alvenia.

Much of the information for Alvena's family comes from the book, The Maxey's of Virginia, 3rd Edition, by Edythe Maxey Clark.  It is a genealogical history of the descendents of Edward and Susannah Maxey.  I have researched and added additional information that pertains to our direct line.

EDWARD MAXEY
In the book, The Maxey's of Virginia, it is written that Edward Maxey came to Virginia from England.  The earliest documented evidence has been found in original court records placing Edward Maxey in Virginia on March 24, 1691.  It is believed that Edward was one of eight white indentured servants, who signed a contract for 5-7 years to work for William Byrd, Esquire, in exchange for their passage from England to Virginia.  Few records have survived of the colonial records of Charles City County, VA so there is a gap of 29 years before Edward settled in Henrico County, Virginia, with his wife Susannah (Gates) and children.

The first existing record for Edward Maxey in Henrico County, VA is in a minute book containing records of the December, 1720 court, when Edward paid 100 pounds of tobacco for one wolf's head after the animal was killed by his "negroes".

On August 17, 1725, he and his son Edward Jr each patented 400 acres in Henrico County, VA to supplement 400 acres secured by Edward Sr on March 25, 1725.

The children of Edward and Susannah are: Edward Jr, Susannah, Elizabeth, John, William, Nathaniel, Sylvanus and Walter.  Their son William is our line.

In Edward Sr's will dated May 20, 1740, he left William a tract of 100 acres of land in Goochland County, VA.  In Susannah's will dated September 20, 1743, she left William one pound, one shilling and six pence and a half dozen pewter plates.

I do not have access to England records, but those with the subscription state that Edward was born March 31, 1677 in the City of Westminster, England and died May 31, 1743 in Manakin, Goochland County, VA.

WILLIAM MAXEY
William was the 5th child of Edward and Susannah Maxey.  He secured his 1st patent of new land on December 11, 1730, which was 400 acres in Goochland County, VA.  On September 25, 1746, he patented 400 acres of land in Goochland County, VA.  In 1750 he bought 150 acres but sold those in 1760.

Williams had 2 wives, both named Mary.  He and his first wife had 2 children, John and Mary.  He and his second wife Mary had 5 children, Kerenhappuck, Nathaniel, Jemima, Kezia and Bede "Biddy". William's will dated May 27, 1769, named all of his children and Mary's will in 1771 named all the children except John and Mary from William's first marriage.  William's son Nathaniel is our line.

NATHANIEL MAXEY
 Nathaniel was the 4th child of William Maxey and his second wife, Mary.  Nathaniel was left 400 acres in Buckingham County, VA in his father's will.  Nathaniel married twice and it is reported that he had 14 children.  Some indicate his first wife and mother to his children was Ruth Ford, daughter of James and Anne (Bondurant) Ford, but there is no primary documentation to verify this.  Nathaniel's second wife was named Elizabeth.  Some verification of his children come from land records. In the personal property tax records beginning in 1782 in Buckingham County, VA list his name and children.  From 1782-1785, Nathaniel is listed with his son, later verified to be Thomas.  The following year,  another son, William as listed and in 1789, his son Nathaniel Jr. is listed.  In 1792, Edward "Ned" in listed and in 1796, his son Samuel is listed.  In 1798, sons Edward, Samuel and Jacob are listed.  The personal property tax records list the sons of "taxable age".   There are other names attributed to Nathaniel, but there is no documentation.  Those names are John, Elizabeth, Keziah, Olivia and Malinda.  Documented children's names are Thomas, William, Nathaniel, Edward, Samuel, Jacob, Mary "Molly", Amy Esther and Lucretia.  Note: the first 108 years of Buckingham County, VA courthouse records were destroyed in a fire making it hard to verify Nathaniel's information.  Nathaniel's son Samuel is our line.

SAMUEL MAXEY
Samuel was born in 1775 in Buckingham County, VA and died in 1856.  His name is first documented on personal property tax rolls with his father in 1796 and was recorded in those books for the next two years.  After that, he dropped from sight until he appeared in 1806 in Garrard County, Kentucky.

On August 27, 1802, Samuel married Judith "Judah" Ford, daughter of Peter and Judith (Maxey) Ford in Madison County, KY.  In 1801 Judith was left 61 acres of land in Buckingham County, VA in her father's will.

Printed records show Samuel in the infantry company of KY militia during the War of 1812, but was not found in the National Archives Index for soldiers that fought in that war.

Samuel's sons are shown on the tax books of Garrard County, KY - Colvit in 1828 with 40 acres, Nathaniel in Butler County, KY in 1833 and Garrard County, KY in 1835-1836.  And son Peter was listed in Butler County, KY in 1833-1835.

In 1836, Samuel sold land and that was the last year he shows up in Garrard County, KY tax records.  On May 5, 1839, Samuel purchased 40 acres in Coles County, Illinois and later added another 40 acres.  His land was located about 7 miles southeast of Charleston, Illinois.

Samuel's sons Colvit, Nathaniel and Peter were named on the 1840 federal census of Coles County, IL.  Samuel was not found in the 1850 census of Coles County, IL and a will was filed there dated February 19, 1856.  Samuel bequeathed land to Colvit and Peter, and bequeathed $10 to Nathaniel and $10 to the heirs of his daughter Lucretia.

Children of Samuel and Judith Maxey:
Colvit Maxey b ca. 1803 in KY, d 7/3/1864 in Coles County, IL
Peter Maxey b 11/19/1806 Garrard County, KY d 1874 Coles County, IL
Nathaniel Maxey b 1810 Garrard County, KY d 2/2/1860 Doniphon County, KS
Lucretia Maxey Arbuckle b 1808 Garrard County, KY d ca 1838 Butler County, KY, married Drinkard Arbuckle

Samuel's son Nathaniel is our line.

NATHANIEL MAXEY
Nathaniel Maxey was the youngest son of Samuel and Judith Maxey.  On March 19, 1832 Nathaniel married Temperance "Tempy" Embry, the daughter of Burrell Embry.  Nathaniel was found in the tax books of Butler County, KY in 1836.  Nathaniel and Tempy moved to Coles County, Illinois about 1837 where there lived approximately 7 years before moving to Grundy County, Missouri.  On September 7, 1849, they sold land in Mercer County, KY that Tempy had received from her deceased father.

Nathaniel was traveling in Doniphan County, KS when he died of typhoid fever on February 2, 1860.
Tempy lost 3 children in 5 months, Effie in 1859 of scarlet fever, Nelson in 1859 of typhoid fever and Scott in 1860 to typhoid pneumonia.  Tempy and her remaining children were listed twice in the 1860 census - the 2 censuses were taken on different dates, so they must have been in the middle of moving and were counted twice.  Once in Buchanan County, MO and then again in Grundy County, MO. The census in Grundy County, MO listed children John M., Henry C., Temperance, Lucinda, America, William T., Mary E. and Sarah.  Oldest two were born in Illinois and the remaining in Missouri.  In the Grundy County census, all children except Lucinda and Sarah are listed.

On December 30, 1862, Tempy married Augustus B. Snidow, but they were divorced in Livingston County, MO on July 30, 1869.  In the federal census of 1880, Tempy was living with her son William T. and his family.  The last documentation of Tempy is a letter she wrote in 1886 appealing a pension application.

The children of Nathaniel and Tempy are:
Talton b 10/12/1836 Butler County, KY d 8/16/1913
Lucretia Elizabeth b 1838 Coles County, IL
John Milton b 1839 Coles County, IL d 11/20/1862 m. Paulina Jane Embry on 3/20/1861
Effie b 1840 Coles County, IL d Sept 1869 Buchanan County, MO
George W. b 1842 Coles County, IL died young
Henry Clay b 1843 Coles County, IL d 5/20/1863 Center Creek, MO
Temperance b 1/18/1845 Grundy County, MO d 9/1/1911 Grundy County, MO m. Jacob M Snidow
Scott b 1847 Grundy County, MO d 1860 Buchanan County, MO
Nelson b 1848 Grundy County, MO d December, 1859 Buchanan County, MO
Lucinda b 1/13/1849 Grundy County, MO m. James A Vineyard 7/28/1868 Grundy County, MO
America M. b 11/6/1851 Grundy County, MO d April 1873 Grundy County, MO m. George W. Hartman 4/25/1869
William T. b 7/5/1854 Grundy County, MO d 10/27/1909 Grundy County, MO
Mary Ellen b 9/22/1856 Grundy County, MO m. John Mason 6/11/1874 Grundy County, MO
Sarah b 1858 Grundy County, MO died young

Nathaniel and Tempy's son William T. is our line.

WILLIAM T. MAXEY
William T. was the 12th child of Nathaniel and Tempy Maxey.  He was born in Grundy County, Missouri on July 5, 1854.  

On March 28, 1873, he married Eliza Jane Mason (9/25/1855-12/8/1938), daughter of Thomas and Frances (Lamb) Mason.


The children of William T. and Eliza Jane Maxey are:
Alvena Elizabeth b 2/27/1874 Hickory, Grundy County, MO d 5/3/1956 m. George W. Sharp 10/8/1893 in Grundy County, MO
Mary A. b 11/18/1876 d 9/9/1877
Ora Frances b 11/151878 d 3/26/1963 m. Charles Dockery
Anna Belle b 3/2/1881 d 12/19/1964 m. Rayford Marlin m. KB Conrad
Eva b 12/13/1883 d 4/1/1864 m. John C. Davis
William Alvin b 5/9/1886 d 4/3/1966 m. Ethel Brummitt
Maude V. b 11/2/1888  d 11/7/1907 
Robert Franklin b 3/25/1891  d 1/28/1971 m. Lillie E. Bell
Temperance "Tempe" A. b 11/1/1893 d 6/7/1910 
Roy b 1896 d 1898
Bessie Blanche b 3/17/1899 d 5/18/1945 m. James Morris

Alvena Elizabeth Maxey is our line.

CENSUS INFORMATION

1850 - William's family moves from Illinois to Grundy County, Missouri, where William is born in 1854.

1860 - Lake Township, Buchanan County, MO and Grundy County, MO.  William's family passed away while traveling in Buchanon County and Tempy and children were counted twice in the enumerations.  

1870 - Jefferson Township, Grundy County, MO.  William is living with his mother and sister Mary.  His mother had remarried and was going by Tempy Snidow but was divorced at the time.  

1880 - Jefferson Township, Grundy County, MO.  William is married and living with his wife, Eliza Jane (Mason) and children Alvena and Ora Frances, along with his mother (going by Tempy Maxey) and 2 nieces, Frances and Angeline Mason.

William is noted as a farmer.

1900 - Jefferson Township, Grundy County, MO.  William and Eliza are living with their children, William, Maude, Frank, Tempa A and Bessie.  William & Eliza have been married 28 years and are renting a farm.

1910 - Jefferson Township, Grundy County, MO.  William died in 1909 and Eliza is living with her children, Frank, Tempa and Blanche.  She is renting a farm.  She is noted as having 11 children born, with 8 living.

1920 - Trenton Ward 3, Grundy County, MO.  Eliza has bought home at 2309 Chicago Street in Trenton, Grundy County, MO which she owns without morgage.  She is living there with her daughter, Blanche.

1930 - Trenton, Grundy County, MO.  Eliza is living in same place in Trenton, which the home has a value of $1,800.  She is living alone.

PICTURES

JOHN AND MARTHA (ROSSON) SHARP

JOHN D. AND MARTHA ELIZABETH (ROSSON) SHARP

John D. and Martha Elizabeth (Rosson) Sharp were the parents of George William Sharp.

John D. Sharp was the oldest son of George Adam and Sara Eve Sharp.  He was born in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsyvania in approximately 1824.  Early reports from family gave his birth place as York County, Pennsylvania, but his daughter Mary Jane Dockery's death certificate names his place of birth as Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA.  His parents and siblings, George D., Frederick, Martha and Elizabeth moved to Livingston County, Missouri sometime between 1832 and 1848.  

In November, 1848, John purchased 78.075 acres in Livingston County, Missouri in Township 59-N, Range 25W, Section 2.  This is on the Livingston/Grundy County lines in the NE corner of Livingston County, in the area known as "Poosey".  The map shown below shows the land as belonging Jno Sharp - as of 2013, the land was owned by the Swank family.  The land to the west of John's acreage belonged to his father Adam, and was purchased by his brother Frederick after their father's death.

The first census which lists the family in Missouri is the 1850 census for District 51, Livingston County.  John is listed with his parents and two brothers, George and Frederick.  His sister Elizabeth had married William Wilson Black in 1847 and was also living in District 51.  I have not been able to find his sister, Martha.  She also could have married or possibly died before 1850.

On January 24, 1854, John married Martha Elizabeth Rosson in Livingston County, MO.  John and Martha lived their entire married life in Poosey, raising 5 children: Mary Jane, George William, John W., James Don and Elzira F. Sharp.  Family stories tell that John and Martha are both buried in unmarked graves on the Sharp farm.  

John's wife, Martha Elizabeth Rosson, was born to James & Elizabeth D. Rosson in October of 1834 in the state of Tennessee.  The Rossons were early settlers in Poosey, acquiring land in Livingston County, Missouri as follows: 120 acres purchased from 1848-1856 - all which are in Township 59 North, Rand 25 West, Section 12.  James & Elizabeth Rosson had 4 other children in addition to Martha - Sarah Jane, William Thomas, James Harvey and Mary Mahala Susan.  James was born in Virginia and Elizabeth was born in Kentucky.  All of their children were born in Tennessee, the last child was born in 1838 making their move to Missouri between 1838-1848.  All of the children and wife Elizabeth are named in Martha's father, James Rosson's will dated August 11, 1860.

John was a farmer, although in Anna Dockery Burgess' writing "A Place Called Poosey", she notes that John was "one of the men who officiated at funerals.  He had a good team and all that went with it."  She also notes that he was a "qualified taxpayer and voter" who voted on the contract to build the first school in Poosey.

Livingston County, Missouri's census for 1850 - 1880 include John and Martha, and Martha is listed as a widow on the 1900 census with daughter Elzira and grandson Dewey.  John's date of death is reported as January 15, 1893 and this coincides with his will, which went through Probate at February 7, 1893 and the list of inventory dated February 10, 1893.  Both documents were filed in Livingston County, Missouri.

John and Martha's children were:

1) Mary Jane Sharp (7/9/1860-12/25/1934) who married Henry Richard Dockery (10/8/1868-5/21/1954).  They lived in Buchanan County, Missouri and farmed their entire married life and are buried there in Kerlin Cemetery.

2) George William Sharp (Our Line)

3) James Don Sharp (3/5/1866-2/17/1949 who married Lenora Alice Stevens (11/16/1869-5/1/1965) on October 3, 1866.  They lived their early married life in Livingston County, Missouri and lated moved to a farm near Humeston, Wayne County, Iowa where James was known as a trainer and fancier of racing horses.  He lived his last eight years in Corydon, Wayne County, Iowa and he and Lenora are both buried there in the Corydon Cemetery.  They had 15 children, 10 sons and 5 daughters.

4) John W. Sharp (5/13/1865-4/19/1941) who married Belle Dockery in 1892 and then Emma Stevens (4/2/1876-6/9/1913).  Emma was the sister to James Sharp's wife Lenora Stevens.  John living in Livingston County, Missouri per the 1900 census, working as a farm laborer.  In 1920, after the death of Emma, he moved to Vernon County, Missouri and then moved to Wayne, Buchanan County, Missouri and lived close to his son Bernie and is listed in the Wayne, Buchanan County, Missouri censuses of 1930 and 1940.  John died in 1941 and is buried in Halls, Buchanan County, Missouri next to his daughter, Frankie L. Bonnett.

5)Elzira F. Sharp (June, 1974-9/3/1913) Elzira is listed on the 1900 census with her Mother and son Dewey V.   The census shows she was a widow and of the 3 births, Dewey was the only living child.  Both Elzira and Dewey show a last name of Sharp, which I believe is an error.  Per the 1910 census, Elzira was married 3 times and had 6 births.   On July 1, 1898 she married RS Hamilton in Gallatin, Daviess County, Missouri.  Because of the dates, I am assuming that Mr. Hamilton is the father to Dewey and from whom she was widowed.

Her next marriage is to Charles E. Mason, her name on the license is Ella F. Sharp.  They were married 9/26/1902 in Maysville, DeKalb County, Missouri.  Dewel V. Mason was born to them on July 14, 1902 in Jamesport, Daviess County, Missouri. (I believe this is a 2nd son that she named Dewey probably in memory to her 1st born).  On the 1910 census, Elzira is listed with her 3rd husband Isaac C. Blizzard and it shows that they have been married 6 years, making their marriage date approximately 1904.  There are two children listed - Delphia Blizzard 10 and Duel Mason 7.  In a newspaper article, Delphia is reported as missing, having run off after her Mother's death and not wanting to live with her stepfather.  (In that same interesting Newspaper article, George William Sharp is the constable who helped Isaac Blizzard track Delphia down.)  Due to this, I believe Dewel V. Mason and Delphia Blizzard are both children of her marriage to Charles E. Mason.

Elzira died September 3, 1913 in Jamesport, Daviess County, Missouri.  

CENSUS INFORMATION

1850 - District 51, Livingston County, MO - John is listed as farmer living with his parents and two brothers.

1860 - Jackson, Livingston County, MO - John is listed with Martha.  He is listed as a farmer with a $1,000 Value for Real Estate and $400 Value for Personal Estate Value.

1870 - Jackson, Livingston County, MO - John is listed with his wife Martha and 4 children: Mary, George, James, John.  John is listed as a farmer with real estate value $1,200 and personal estate value of $550.

1880 - Jackson, Livingston County, MO - John is listed with his wife Martha and all 5 of the children.  John is listed as a farmer and the census states that he cannot read or write.

1900 - Jackson, Livingston County, MO - Martha is listed as widow with daughter Elzira and grandson Dewey.  The census notes she can read and write, gave birth to 5 children, all 5 living.

DOCUMENTS

Updates

Family members,

Someone indicated that they thought Edna Thompson (Loren Sharp) had passed away.  I just received an email from her daughter Susie and she confirmed that Edna is still alive.  Susie said that Edna had several strokes this year but was still "hanging on".

On a separate note, I am close to posting a blog on the Maxey family, which Alvena Sharp was a Maxey.  I have received a digital copy of the book "The Maxey's of Virginia" and I am trying to compile a shorter version with just our "line" included.  I am also researching some of the information to verify as I have found a few discrepancies.    Hopefully I will have the blog on the Maxey's up soon.


Debbie Sharp Iseminger

L.D. SHARP

L.D. SHARP

L.D. Sharp was born on February 24, 1915 to George W. & Alvena E. (Maxey) Sharp in Grundy County, Missouri.  He was the youngest of their 11 children.  He registered for the draft in 1940 in Chillicothe, Livingston County, MO and at the time was employed by A Reich and Son. LD left Missouri to find work in Michigan where several of his siblings had relocated.  He enlisted in the US Army on September 8, 1942 in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan and was released on November 8, 1945 as a Staff Sergeant.  His enlistment papers state he had completed grammer school and was semi skilled in fabrication of metal products.

On June 25, 1949 he married Eileen Mary Claeys in Detroit Michigan.  They had two children during their marriage, a boy and a girl.  After their marriage in 1949, LD and Eileen moved several times within Michigan where they owned and operated Taverns/Bars.  They lived in Canton, Garden City, and Grosse Point Woods, finally moving back to Detroit.  LD and Eileen divorced in 1971.  LD died on February 25, 1988 in St. Clair Shores, Michigan and was buried in Resurrection Cemetery in Macomb County, Michigan.

Eileen Mary Claeys was born in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan to Remi John and Bertha Josephine Claleys on November 5, 1926.  After she and L.D. divorced, she married George S. Chalmers on December 8, 1978.  George preceeded her in death in 2003.  She died in Mt. Clemens, Michigan on December 28 2017. 

CENSUS

1920 - Jackson, Grundy County, MO - LD was living with his parents and 7 siblings.  

1930 - Chillicothe, Livingston County, MO - LD was living with his parents and sister Lizzie.  He was not attending school but was able to read and write. 

1940 - Was not able to find LD on 1940 census, but according to his military draft registration, he was in Chillicothe, Livingston County, MO in 1940.

1950 - Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan - LD and his wife Eileen are living at 1283 Fairview, Dwelling 5.  LD is a meat salesman for Wholesale Meats and Eileen is a stenographer with Tool & Gear Mfg.  

PHOTOGRAPHS AND DOCUMENTS

L.D. Sharp 

Resurrection Cemetery, Macomb County, MI

L.D., Eileen Sharp and family

Sharp brothers

R-L Loren, Luster, Loyd, Lex, LD, Lewis

LIZZIE FRANCES SHARP

LIZZIE FRANCES SHARP

Lizzie Frances Sharp was born on September 5, 1912 in Hickory County, Missouri to George W. and Alvena E. (Maxey) Sharp.  She married Herman Kasper Mathlin on May 12, 1963 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California.  They married late in life (50 and 49 years old) and had no children together, although Herman had 4 children from a previous marriage.   Lizzie died on March 7, 1981 in Yucipa, San Bernardino County, California.  Lizzie is buried at Green Hills Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes, Los Angeles County, California.  

Herman K. Mathlin was a native of San Pedro, CA and was a longshoreman for the Pacific Maritime Association for 30 years.  His body was found in a car parked in a remote area and an autopsy found he had died of heat stroke.  Herman was born October 21, 1913 and died July 15, 1989 in Thermal, Riverside County, California.  He was married to Pauline Stephenson from 1934-1961 and to Agnes K. Leppala in July, 1981.

CENSUS

1920 - Jackson, Grundy County, MO - Lizzie was living with her parents and 7 siblings.  She was attending school.
1930 - Chillicothe, Livingston County, MO - Lizzie was living with her parents and her brother, LD.
She was not attending school but can read and write.
1940 - Trenton, Grundy County, MO - Lizzie is living with her parents and doing housework in a private home.  She worked 20 weeks in 1939 and made $120 for the year.  The highest grade she completed in school was 8th grade.

1950 - Trenton, Grundy County, MO - Lizzie is living with her mother at 514 Monroe.  She is listed as homemaker, not working.

PHOTOGRAPHS AND DOCUMENTS