The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1882-06-03
Andrew jackson Sbarn.


through the tenderest chords of tic symp;.
thetic hearts of his many friends here an,
elsewhere. To many it would seen, that III,
editorial tribute bestowed upon his me,nnr,
IN the last issue OF the CHIEF, in such fait,,
full and befitting eolDrs, would suffice to MAKE
known the profound regret entertained ir
thls parish over the loss experienced in the
person OF one OF its truest and noblest cifi
zens; but the temptation of one who has
known and loved Jack Sharp for more than
| q quarter OF century, to cast an humble
Hover upon his tomb, is too strong to he re
sisted. 1t is therefore proposed to draw
| aside the curtain in which grief Of family
and friends should he More properly yelled
| in the silence ana privacy of home IN order
| simply to elaborate the beautiful editorial
notice of last week, that the writer wishes
to record a few of the many pleasing mem
cries of the deceased
The subject Of this sketch was horn in
| Clinton county, Il'ineis, on the 2lst ,lay of
July, 1916, and emf grated to this State in
1854. at the early age OF IS years. He first
embarked in business on BAYOU Sale. ST.
| Mary's parish, and during the same wear
1851, returned to his native State whittier
| he went to gather fair flower in the nerson
of Miss Mary |. Nichols, to TRANSPLANT n
the warm gardens OF the sunny South. In
ls43 he removed to Assumption to take
charge OF the princcly Davenport planta-
tion, on which he remained for two years,
subsequently managing the Glenwood and
Angustin Pngh plantations with marked
ability and success. Here recall q remarE
OF the Hon. A. Franklin Pugh, ST.. of As
sumption. who in speaking of Mr.. Sharp.
said that he was one of tho most successful
oserseers he ever knew. Sharp" said Mr..
rugh, always maze an over abundance OF
ty,o In
land than any man ever saw, and experi-
ence has taught me he was right: for the
whole success OF planting is based anon
plenty of home grown corn and fat, healthy
mules"
In 1852 Mr.. Sharp removed to Hyues Hav.
Refugon county, Texas, where he invested
in stock rancho, hut for recreation or
business reasons, in March, 1859. 1eavina
his family at the Texas home, he returned
to Louisiana the same year, and was in
duced npOh his arrival here to take charge
of the Belle ferre place, then belonoino to |
Foley & Wilson. AS soon as the Federal
troops invaded the Lafourche he accomua-
MED the retreatiDg Confederate fo1 ces to |
Texas, returning at the conclusion Of hos |
tilities between the States to Bayou La |
fourche, where he again engaged in aericuI- |
ture on large scale. His success, while he
handled the Xavier Dugas and Harry Dali
gle plantations as lessee, was marvellous.
" hen his lease expired, he withdrew with
SouooU cash, owing no man a dollar and
with city credit admitted. Unfortunately.
in vestments, coupled with bad
seasons, political misgovernment and tinan-
cial depressions, eliminated in destruction of
his hard earnings, leaving the old veteran
with an empty pocket, but an undaupted
will and energy. Nevertheless. our friend
was advanced III Years. overwOrked and 10th
10 enter upon those huge agricultural enter
,rises that require all ex extraordinary amount
physical and mental vigor, courage and
persistence; consequently, he retired from
IRE unequal contest and sought quiet and
solitude III the bosom of his family in a cot
age homo on the lovely banks of BAYOU
1atourche, where the griln-vsaged monster
uthlessly snatched him from his family on
he oath day Of May, 1892
Mr. Sharp, although born in the West
plunged at the early age of Is years into the
Uncertain pillows of southern planting oper-
'tions, surrounded with slavery and ali its
'atriarchial, arbitrary and aristocratic fea-
ures. He seemed at once to have Owed
nto his natural element, and soon accom-
,lished the task of controlling and swayinp
lave labor with the hand of a connoisseur.
With kindness, patience and fortitule he
lever failed to govern them to their own
atlsfaction and to their owners benefit. I
After their freedom had been attained as I
me of the results of the war, aud the priv
lese of the elective franchise had been con
eded to them, Mr.. Sharp who was then
engaged in planting and work
ng freedmen. was one of the first to call the
ttention Of his neigh boring planters TO the
act that by virtue of the military bill |
he coiDred people had been invested with |
he right of suffrage, and it was the hounde1,
ntg OF the planters to take steps to explain
he obligations incident to such an inlpor-
ant concession and to solicit the good Will
nd cooperation of the eoIored voters in
ehalt OF wholesome local self government. |
With this idea i'll view, he called a meeting
his neighbors, prominent among whom
'ere Ed Scanned, Esq. now Of st. James,
II. John Pugh, now Of St. Mary and others, L
repaired a bounteous barbecue for the ben I
tit of all the colored laborers on the sur
onndiag plantations. and invited the most
speakers attamable to address T
ie newly born suHraganS upon the novel :
uties they were called upon to assume by
lie reconstructionists. The meeting was
uly organized by appointing Dr.. John Pugh
resident. BIZ. Sharp in brief speech re-
lete with excellent. sound, practical sense,
ddressed the vast multitude, advising har- 6
'eny and peace among all classes, and the
tmost caution in the selection of true and
led men for elevation to positions of pre-
'rment and trust. Other speakers, follow
e the programme marked out by Mr..
harp, delivered impressive addresses, and
o meeting OF "a similar nature ever held in
sumption parish was more fruitful of ben
fetal results to both capital and labor.
might proceed ad inJtfnituns to recount
terestirg "reminiscences OF my friend, but
the risk OF trespassing upon space given J
II the present communication. The living i.
sue of the marriage of Mr.. Sharp with his
ercaved surviving widow consists Of eight P
l!arca, Josephine n. wife of T. O. Dali 9
res. Esq. Fannie F., wife of our we'll :
nown merchant, G. Kline. Willie 3. Sharp,
sa., Emma NJ, wife of Victor Maurin, ESQ, q
lille B., wife of VIM. Hamilton, Esq, Elida t.
harp, who died in infancy, Frank P. Sharp, !
manly, handsome fellow, who married the
vey daughter of Robt. Maurin, Esq,
alvina, who died in 1877, and Alice, who
so died i'll infancy. a
During the illness of Mr. Sharp, Josephine, p
s eldest daughter, was ever by his side.
ike Il guardian angel, she watched with a
eviction and ceaseless care worthy only of s
lch u fathers daughter. When she saw A
e dread hour OF her fathers earthly >
I'd approach, in soft tones she asked the y
ear object Of her long soieitude, Father, t
C you going to rest !" An affirmative nod a
Id the sad tale and the good, true man, ),
'e honorable, beloved father, the pure citi- .
N, passed to the home of his fathers b
In person Mr. Sharp was u tall man, six 4
ct and one inch, not stout, always erect in !,
andng, walking OF speaking, had we'll :"
aped head and splendid profile, withal a
spla!lng WeH-1Of1neu inquire anu lmpOS- |,
& aspect. He eonversed with ease, pleas
lily and intelIigently upon almost every s.
Inject agitated by his fellow citizens. a
SO long and assiduonsly en- h
lsed in agriculture, he was net unmindful .
the current events of the world, and gen u
ally managed during leisure moments to n
ep posted in all matters of moment re- r
firing the attention of the enlightened
.izen. Need say more of you, my friend I a
lille death has demanded it's victim aud
'uisiana CONTAINS your ashes, rest assured
at old and faithful friends, those who
lew you longest and loved you best, will