U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Sharpes, William J. (1836-1917) ------------------------------------------------------------------- The History of Upshur County West Virginia From its Earliest Exploration and Settlement to the Present Time by W. B. Cutright Buckhannon, W. Va., July 1, 1907 Pages 569-571 REV. WILLIAM J. SHARPES was born in Harrison County, Va., now Taylor County, W. Va., January 17, 1836. He was the son of George Sharpes, who married Priscilla Zinn and to this union were born fifteen children, nine sons and six daughters, all of whom grew to be men and women, W. J. being the fourth one of the number. His grandfather married Sarah Neptune, a Welch lady, and to this union were born three sons and one daughter. His great grandfather came from South Wales to this country in 1774, became an earnest advocate of Independence, joined the Army as a soldier, but was detailed as blacksmith, ax-maker and helped to forge two chains to stretch across the Potomac River to keep the English war vessels from coming to Washington. He married a Welch lady soon after the Revolution and settled on Savage River above Western Port, Md., the farm is still known as the Sharpes farm. To this union were born fifteen children. After many years he sold his farm and moved to his son Jesse's, the grandfather of this sketch, where he and his wife died at a good old age. The farm was sold for $4,500, and the subject of this sketch remembers how difficult it was to hide so much money of that kind as there were no banks. W. J. obtained as good an education as his county could then give him and taught several schools, but he preferred farming to any other occupation. But in May 1861, at the call of the Governor of Virginia for troops to resist the troops from Ohio and Indiana he joined the guards at Fetterman, W. Va., and continued with the Confederate Army, was present at the Battle of Philippi. After the surrender of Col. Peagram at Rich Mountain, and the retreat of Gen. Garnett from Laurel Hill, he joined Generals Loving and Lee on Valley Mountain. But his grief because of the war became so great that it overcome his physical strength and he left the army for several months. Then in November, joined the army again at Camp Barto on the Greenbrier River, under Gen. Ed. Johnson and was detailed for work in the commissary and remained in that capacity during Gen. Stonewall Jackson's campaign in the valley and before Richmond, thence to meet Gen. Pope's army at Manassas Junction. But when the heavy drafts were made for men to recruit the Confederate army he joined Robinson's company of the 25th Virginia, and was detailed for special duty on Gen. Ed. Johnson's Staff and remained there until the 12th day of May, 1864, when Johnson was captured by Gen. Hancock at the bloody angle near Spottsylvania Court House. Then for his gallantry in meeting and defeating the victors under Gen. Hancock, Gen. John B. Gordon was appointed to take Johnson's place as commander of the Jackson Corps and he was a courier on Gordon's Staff, and some time after was appointed Sergeant of Couriers and held that place until the surrender at Appomatox Court House and was paroled as such. After the surrender he came with Gen. Gordon to Petersburg, where the General joined his wife and son, who had been born a few days before the retreat. There he parted from the General receiving as a keepsake a very fine razor, which he still has in fine trim and prizes it very highly for the sake of the one that is now no more. He took the boat at City Point and came to Washington, got there the morning after President Lincoln was killed, was detained a prisoner for three weeks, until Gen. Grant came from the field and told the war department his paroles must be honored, so was released and sent home. He was in the following battles: Winchester, Gettysburg, battle of Manassas, Payne's farm, Mine Run, the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Hatchers Run, Petersburg, and in the rear with Gordon, who covered the retreat to Appomatox; there, Gen. Gordon was ordered to the front to charge the enemy and see what forces were in the front, made the charge and found a large body of infantry and cavalry, who fell back at the approach of the Confederates not wishing to be killed so late in the war, when Gen. Gordon found so large a force in front and on his flank he turned and said: "Sharpes you go and tell Gen, Evans," who commanded the charging column, "to stop and move by his left flank back to the Court House." In discharge of this duty he heard the last bullet whistle, which only seemed to miss his nose two or three inches, saw the surrender. Had been five days without anything to eat and Gen. Grant's men gave the Confederates two days' of their rations and did without themselves. In 1866 he married the oldest daughter of Thomas and Sarah Rexroad of Upshur County, W. Va. To this union were born four children. The oldest, a daughter, still lives, the other three are dead, Lillie S., married E. O. Ridenour of Aurora, Preston County, W. Va., to this union were born four children, one of whom died recently, and they moved to Buckhannon, where they expect to live. He was converted at seventeen and joined the Baptist Church, but feeling it his indispensable duty to preach the gospel and being hindered by complications caused by the war, in that church, he joined the M. E. Church, and for thirty eight years served as a minister, but now superannuated and settled down with his faithful and loving wife, to spend the rest of their days. He sometimes boasts that his war record was as strictly honest and religious as any part of his life. ------------------------------------------------------------------- From Death Certificate, Upshur County, WV #4820 FULL-NAME: Wm J. Sharpes BIRTH-DATE: January 17, 1836 BIRTH-PLACE: West Va. (Va. then) DEATH-DATE: April 23, 1917 (at age 81y-3m-5d) DEATH-PLACE: Buckhannon, Upshur County, WV MARITAL-STATUS: Married OCCUPATION: Retired minister FATHER: Geo. W. Sharpes (born in Harrison Co., W.Va., then Va.) MOTHER: Priscilla Zinn (born in Va, now West Va.) CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Neuralgia of heart INFORMANT: R. S. Ridenour ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Upshur County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/upshur/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------