Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1878-10-19
A SHORT SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF
FIDELIO G. SHARP.

Vile, Christian county, kentucky, Oh
August II, ISL, and died III 1t. Louis
on November IS. l-1J, III the age OF
iilty-tour years.
His grandfather. Captain Thomas
Sharp, OF Virginia, was gallant sol
der OF the revolution, and alter the rec |
ognition OF our independence, removed
20 Tennessee, and settled near where |
Nashville now stands. At that time the |
country was filed with hostile Indians.
and the farmers had to cultivate the soil
with gun in hand. While blowing III
his field Captain Sharp was attacked by
4 Cherokee Indian, and very seriously
wounded He aiterward removed to
Kentucky. and located near RusseilvI!le,
aud died there at an advanced age, icaE-
ing large family, including five sons,
two OF whom We're physlcans. and two
eminent lawyers; and the fifth one, Abb
salon NJ. Sharp, the father OF the sub
iect of this sketch. was IN early Ilic a
merchant, but finally became farmer.
The family We're noted throughout
Kentucky for their intelligence, Inilu-
ence and enterprise. FideIo G. Sharp
was only fourteen years OF age at the
time of his father death, and the family
devolved upon him aud his widowed
mother, he being the oldest "i the sons
This fact. no doubt. tended largely to
the development OF that energy and in
dependence of character winch dl>tn-
| guished him through lite. Even At the
| early age OF fourteen. his education, un-
| der the instruction ct one james ID.
Ramsey, 4 teacher Ot rare eXcei!enc"
aud learning. was well advanced, and
though Interrupted tor Il time by the
death of his father, and the necessity
thereby imposed upon INN OF assisting
his mother in the cultivation OF the
farm. was resumed with addiuonal en-
ergy under the SAME teacher, and with
reference to his entering upon the study
OF the law; Tor in hi, earliest Years he
| oppressed Il strong desire u make thc
law his profession. lie commraced thr
study ot the law in the office ut Sharp y
Stiles. at llopkIu>yI..t. aud WIS there
admitted to the U.r II the age Of twenty :
one.
He could not have practiced long in
Kentucky before he determined 70 come
10 Missouri, iur III ISIS he located lli
Lexington. Lafayette county AMI made
a partnership with John l.. Canpoc.i-
the style oi the firm being Sharp \
Campbell The partnership continued
several years, and upon IL dissolution
Mr.. Sharp formed Il business connection
with the Hon. William /. Wood, pres.
ent judge OF the sixth judicial circuit,
and subsequently, with Hon. Samuci !.
Sawyer. late Judge OF the twcnty-tourth
judicial circuit. Their practice. which
became very extensive. embraced the
courts of Lafayette. Gay, Ray. Carroll,
Saline. johnson. Jackson, Bates aud
Cass. Mr.. Sharps bright Intellect. tine
legal atiainments. indumltablc energy,
and spotless integrity caused him to rler
rapidly in his profession. and he soon
took rank among the foremost lawyers
of central Missouri.
In 1897 he removed to st. Louis, and
became associated in the practice with
Mr.. Thomas. and upon the death ot Mr.
Thomas formed u partnership with the
Hon. James @. Broadhead, under the
name and style of Sharp ~ Broadhead
This firm. SO noted throughout the west
for great legal ability, did larger busl'
ness than any other firm III ST. Louis
and were retained in almost every cast
tot much magnitude. 1t was dissolved
by the death of Mr.. Sharp, which took
) place very suddenly at his residence OF
/. the corner OF Chuuteau and ST. Augt
avenues. He died in the prime of man
hood and in the full tide OF profess ona
success.
Our acquaintance with Mr.. Sharp com
mcnced about the time OF his removal tc
st. Louis, and from that period unit
his death we were thrown frequently TO
yether, and we learned to esteem him
not only rs Il warm persona! friend. ou
as n man of great lega! ability. a hIgl
sense of honor, and most incorruptlbl'
integrity. We saw him in his office bn'
few DAYS before he WAS called upon Il
! face the grim messenger OF death, ant
his promise tor 4 long and useful hi,
was equal to that OF any other lawyer o
his age. We lett i sick-bed to attend hi:
funeral. and when we saw his inanimat'
body lying III its caskct, we could no
, escape the reflection,
| What shadows are,
What shadows we pursue -
The St. Louis bar held a meeting anl
adopted series Of resolutions express
i've OF the great loss they had sustained
MIR. Sharp's death was greatly mourn
ed by the procession, particularly by the
Younger members. tor his kindness L
: them was provcrbial. He was evel
ready to aid them with his advice an,
counsel, and many OF them aScrlbc muci
of their success 20 his assistance. III,
was very fortunate in his domestic reli
: iions. He married twice. his first Wit,
r being daughter OF Captain ilenr,
Wallace. of Lexington She died il
1860. and i'll 1864 he married Mis-
; Maude, OF st. Louis, who still survive:
e HIM. Both We're ladies of great worth
e Intelligence and refinement
\ Mr.. Sharp was tall and spare mad
with dark hair and eyes. and his feature!
l. denoted unusual intelligence In hi
e manner he was free, easy and polite, ant
G | in his dress neat and tasteful but there
was an entire absence of studied dig
nity-nothino was ieigned, and nothing
assumed.
: In his political tenets he was demo
5 cratic-rcadv ut all times to aid th,
: cause, and very efficient on the eve of al
election in the organization OF the part,
!" forces; but when called upon TO becom,
C a candidate for congress, and other posi-
IS tons of honor and high trust. he iuvari
q ably refused. Time and again have We
urged him to let his name be used TO
" positions which almost any man woul'
c have been proud of, but he had but ont
|. reply to make: Il would not accept tn,
a best office within the gift of the people.
- His happiness was in his family and HI
profession, and nothing could entic'
:, him from either.
h Mr.. Sharp was often charged witt
!. avarice, but beyond a strong desire t
place himself iu Independent circum
, stances, and his family, in the event o
l. his death, above want. we never saw
n any evidence Of it. 1t is certainly tru
= that many of his charities exhibited i
s strong compassion for the poor, an'
y were never made nuhlic thrnuph his in