The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-11-24

Senator William Sharon died at 1892
this afternoon.
VIM. S. Sharon was born at Smith
field, Ohio. in 1921. He was therefore
nearly 81 years old. Until he was 81
years old he lived with his parents on
their farm. 1888 he entered the Ohio
university, graduated in 1912 with n
fair standing, and began to study law at
Steubcnville in the office Of Edwin NJ
Stanton, and removed to st. Louis,
where in 1845 he was admitted to the
bar. The outbreak Of the gold fever in
l849 found him settled at Carrollton,
ILL.,, waiting for clients who did not
come. He was one of the first to start
across the plains, and reached Sacra-
mento in 1850. In that place he open
ed store, but luck was against him,
and the next year he removed to Sun
Francisco, on purpose, as he said, Ito
change his luck" In San Francisco
he opened a real estate office, which he
managed, on he whole unsuccessfully,
until 1865. In that year he made the
acquaintance Of VIM. c. Ralston, then
cashier Of the Bank of California in
Sah Francisco. Ralston obtained for
Sharon the appointment of agent for
the bank in Virginia City, Nevada, and
thus laid the foundation of Sharon's
fortune
In Virginia City Sharon remained for
several years, closely connected with
Ralston in mining operations, the two
men being, until Ralston's death in 1876,
practically partners, Sharon was one Of
the first to hear Of the bonanza in the
Crown Point ana Belcher mines, and
invested largely. Ralston followed his
example, and in short time Sharon
and his associates had full control of
the property. The news Of the bonan-
20 aud the discovery of rich veins of
ore in the Raymond and Ely mines ran
the shares Of the Crown Point and Bel
cher mines up almost to fabulous fig
ures. Sharon took advantage of the
rise and sold out a lsrge part of his
holding, clearing several millions of
dollars by the operation.
In 1875 Rsiston and Sharon built the
Palace Hotel in San Francisco. 1t was
intended to surpass any hotel i'm the
world in size, comfort and convenience.
The first object was attained. Warren
Leland managed the hotel for the first
three years, but at the end of that
period, finding it did not pay, he turned
it over to Mr.. Sharon, who has since
managed it. In 1876 Ralston killed
himself. and the next year Mr.. Sharon
purchased from his friends estate the
beautiful house and grounds at Belmont,
about twenty miles from San Francisco.
Ralston had made his house there the
show place of the Pacific coast. Since
his death it has not been so considered,
although Mr.. Sharon kept it up fully Us
we'll as. its preceding owner. At Bel
mont Mr.. Sharon received most Of the
distinguished PEOPLE who visited Cali
fornia, and among others General Grant
on his return fIom his trip around the
word
In 1875 Mr.. Sharon was elected Sena-
tor from Nevada. He was sworn into
office on February %, 1876. In the
Senate Mr.. Sharon was conspicuous
chiefly by his absence. He made few
speeches, principally ON the silver ques-
ton. He was, however, absent when
the Bland bill came before the Senate,
on February 18th 1873, and again on
February 28th when 1t was passed over
Mr.. Hayes veto. Mr.. Sharon's term
in the Senate expired in 1881. He was
spoken of as candidate for reelection,
but was defeated, Jamcs.G. Fair. Dem
ocrat, being chosen in his place.
Mr.. sharon's wife died many years
ago. She was devout Catholic, while
her husband was an agnostic. By her
he had. three children, two daughters
and son. The elder daughter, mar
ried to Mr.. John c. Newlands, a lawyer
of San Francisco, died about five years
since. leaving three children. The Sec
ond daughter, Florence Emily Sharon,
married in 1880 Sir Thomas Hesketh, an
English Baronet. The son, Frederick
Sharon. graduated from Harvard Col
lsge in 1881, and married Miss Tevis,
the divorced wife of Owen Brecken-
ridge, a son of Gen. John G. Brecken-