The weekly Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1872-1887, 1885-11-22
Ex-senator VIM. Sharon Dead.


VIM. Sharon, who died at bis home in
SIN Francisco Friday evening nt half
past three o'clock, was born January .,
1920, at Smithheld, Ohio. The family
vas Of quaker origin, and pursued
farming. lie entered Athens College
ut the uge Of % to study lav and re-
NAMED there three years, when he re-
turned home. diyenrifyiu2 hi, labors on
the lurm and in law studies. After six
months of this life he entered the Office
OF Edwin VI. Stanton, afterwards Secrc-
tnry Of War, to qualify himself Tor the
bar. Failing health Induced him to
travel for II time. lie then went to
ST. Lpuis, where he opened n law Office.
In the Spring of 1912, When the gold
fever VAS epidemic, Colonel j. ID. Fry
and Mr. Sharon formed a co-Partncr-
ship and Together they crossed the
J plains, arriving II Sacrament in Az
gust, 1919. Mr.. Sharon left Sacrament
to in the Winter Of 1850, arrived in san
Francisco and entered into the real e..
tntc business. lie continued his real es-
J tat operations, aud in lSGi his wealth
WAS estimated at Si5O,OO Then came
the Com>tock excitement, and within
six moths his fortune Of SljO. 600 had
d!ssipntcd. Without means Mr.. Sharon
had to seek employment and asked and
obtained work from the Bank Of Cali
i%ornin, which sent him to Virginia City,
New, for the purpose Of adjusting some
outstanding claims OF that institution.
lie suggested TO the California Bank
managers to establish an agency ia Var
einia City. and the idea was taken hold
oi aud Mr. Sharon WIS made agent.
Unlimited powers were gIvca him, and
after a service Of many ycnrs lac LETT the
bunk lt his own desire md was sur-
rcedcl h.; A. J.. Kalston. Mr.. Shrruu
then turned bis attention almost cxclu.
siv,ly to the mines of the Comstock
lvdo. from which he gained n large purt
OF his vast fortune. In 1852 Mr.. Sharon
married Miss Maria Mnlloy. u native Of
Cnnadn. and whose fnther was u cap.
tain i'll the merchant marine. By her
lie bad five children. two Of whom now
only survive, Fred ". Sharon aud Lady
lIcsk,th. He was actively engaged in
organizing the Rcpuqiicnn party in Cal
ifornin ia 1856, and supported the I'm
ion cause at tie breaking out Of the re-
IclIion. In 1874 lac was elected United
States Senator from Nevada for n term
OF siX years, from March 4. 1915. The
failure oi the Bank Of Gait rnia in Au-
gust, 1873. interfcrcd greatly with his
Senatorial usefulness. aud he bent all
his energies b. the tusk Of resuscitnting
tho bank. His vast fortune, his
strength. his personal will brought every
creditor md stocEholdcr Of the bank
into harmony with his plans. and Mt r
10 days Of inCessant labor the doors Of
tho bank, which hnd closed apparently
forever, were swung open amid the
cheers Of thousands lie hns ever
since been closely associated with tho
California Bank. lie owns real estate
in San Francisco. valued at 81. 800, COO.
lie also owns the Palace Hotel, and
over 500 dwellings,, most Of which are
small. bnt yielding good rents. 10.
sides these he has 10000 ncrcs in Frcs.
no county, and the Burlinghnme nnd
Belmont ranches in Gan Matco county.
lie wns the principal shareholder in the
Bank Of California, holds the cotirol;.
ing interest in the Carson and Colorado
road. and is the principal owner in the
Spring Valley Water Company. lie
was worth altogether over $l5, 900, 600,
all accumulated within the last twenty
years.