Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 09.djvu/339

 SHARKEY

SHARP

dences were also entered and pillaged, ostensibly in search of Sharp's rifles. Governor Shannon left for St. Louis about the middle of June, 1856, and Secretary Woodson, an extreme pro-slavery man, assumed the executive duties until Gov. John W. Geary arrived in the territory, Septeni- ter 9, Governor Shannon, in the interim, having resigned. After the restoration of peace. Shan- non removed to Lawrence, where he practised law, and where he died, Aug. 31, 1877.

SHARKEY, William Lewis, governor of Mis- sissippi, was born at Mussel Shoals, Tenn., in

1797 ; son of Patrick and (Rhodes) Sharkey;

grandson of Robert Sharkey and of Robert Rhodes. His father and grandfather were natives of Ireland, reared in the vi- cinity of Dublin, and came V to Virginia prior to the Rev- olutionary war. His grand- father, Robert Rhodes, was a native of Cologne, Germany. He was taken to Mississippi Territory by his parents in 1803, joined the volunteer army as a substitute for liis uncle, and was engaged in the battle of New Orleans, Jan. 8, 1815. He was graduated at Greenville college, Tenn., and wa^ admitted to the bar in 1832. He married a Mrs. Highland {nee Glass). He practised at Warrenton, Mississippi Territory, 1823-25, and in 1825 removed to Vicks- burg. He represented Vicksburg in tlie state leg- islature in 1837, was chief justice of the court of errors and appeals in Mississippi, 1832-50, and presided over the Nashville convention of 1850, wliere lie gave his voice and influence toward the preservation of the union of the states. He became provisional governor of Mississippi by appointment from President Johnson, June 13, 1865, and served until October, 1866, when he was elected U.S. senator and went to "Washington, but was not allowed to take his seat. He died cliihlless. in Washington. D.C., April 29, 1873.

SHARON, WilHam, senator, was born in Smitlifield, Ohio, Jan. 9, 1821, of Quaker ances- try. He spent his early life on a farm ; was a student at the University of Ohio, '1842-4-1; studied law under Edwin M. Stanton at Steu- benville, Ohio, and removed to St. Louis, Mo., wiiere he was admitted to the bar. He subse- quently engaged in business as a merchant in CarroUton, 111. ; in 1S49 removed to Sacramento, Cal., and in 1850 to San Francisco, where lie was a dealer in real estate. He removed to Virginia city in 1864, as the manager of the Nevada branch of the Bank of California, in Gold Hill and Virginia city, and made a large fortune out of loans made to mine owners. He was subse- quently made a director of the parent bank. He was a trustee of the Bank of California at the

time of the death of its president, William C. Ral- ston, in 1875, and helped to maintain the institu- tion and prevent its bankruptcy by person- ally advancing $5,000,000. He was one of the founders of the Virginia and Truckee rail- road ; assisted W, C. Ralston in building the Palace hotel in San Francisco, Cal., managed that property, 1878-85, and settled upon the widow of Ralston nearly half a million dollars. He was a Republican U.S. senator from Nevada, 1875-81, and at the close of his term resided in San Francisco, Cal., where he died, Nov. 13,1885.

SHARP, Daniel, clergyman, was born in Hud- dersfield, England, Dec. 25, 1783. He early joined the Congregational church, but later be- came a Baptist. He was sent to New York city as agent of a business firm in Yorkshire, in 1805, united with the Baptist church, of which Rev. John Williams was pastor, and began his studies for the ministry under the Rev. William Staugh- ton, D.D., of Philadelphia. He was pastor of the Baptist church, Newark, N.J., 1809-12, and of the Charles Street church, Boston, Mass., 1812-53. He was an editor of the American Baptist Magazine for several years ; president of the acting board of tlie General Convention of the Baptist denomination in the United States, 1814 ; first president of the American Baptist Mis- sionary Union, 1814 ; helped to organize the Northern Baptist Education society, 1814 ; was a trustee of Brown university, 1820-38 ; one of the incorporators of Newton Theological institution in 1826 ; trustee of the same, 1826-53 ; president of the board of trustees, 1835-53 ; fellow of Brown university, 1828-53, and member of the board of overseers of Harvard university, 1846-53. He received the honorary degrees, A.M., 1811, and D.D., 1828, from Brown, and D.D., 1843, from Harvard. He published many discourses and sermons, including : TJie Recognition of Friends in Heaven (4 editions). He died near Baltimore, Md., April 23, 1853.

SHARP, Jacob, soldier, was boi'n in Kingston, N.Y., in 1835. He was a cadet at the U.S. Military academy, 1850-52, and was graduated from the Chandler School of Science and Arts, Dartmouth college. S.B., 1856. He was commis- sioned 1st lieutenant in the 20th New York militia. May 11, 1861 ; major and lieutenant- colonel, 56th New York volunteers, Sept. 13, 1863 : colonel, 156th New York volunteer infantry, March 28, 1863 ; commanded the 2d brigade, 3d division, 19th armj' corps, 1863-65, and was mustered out of the armj^ and bre vetted brigadier- general, Nov. 6, 1865. He was present at the battles of Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, the Peninsular campaign. Port Hudson, La., the Red River campaign, in the Shenandoah Valley, at Cedar Creek, and at Winchester, where he was severely