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.
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