Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1885-11-19
EX-SENATOR SHARON.
POINTS IN THE CAREER OF A
REMARKABLY MAN.
Early Relations with Ralston, Who AZ
terward Became His Banking Part
ner-How He Became aSilver
King Through Rich
"Strike."

In san FRANCISCO, on rrluay, NoVcm-
ber 13. was native of the State OF
Ohio. He was born in the little Quaker
settlement of Smithfeld, in Eastern Ohio,
near Steubenville. He has relatives of
the same name still living in that part OF
the State, where he was rendered arecep-
ton few years ago by his cousin, DR..
Sharon, practicing physician Of Steu-
benville.
Senator Sharon's father was well-to-
do farmer in Smithfeld, taking his pro-
ducts by wagon to Steubenville to.mark-
ct, where he soon became known as one
of the reliable residents of the county.
VIM. Sharon was born January 0, 1921,
and after some preparatory studies went
to Athens College. He did not develop
any remarkable traits at Athens, but
showed some inclination for study, and
when he was through evinced desire to
study law. The Jefferson county bar at
this time was in the zenith Of its fame.
Benjamin Tappan, who afterwards be-
came u. s. Senator, Roswell Marsh, Gen
eral Samuel Stokely, who introduced
John Sherman into public life as Secre-
tary of the Republican Convention at
Baltimore, were among its members.
George W. McCook and Edwin M. Stan
ton were practicing as partners, and 1t
was in Mr.. Stanton's office that young
Sharon was admitted as student with
John H. Miller, who afterward became a
Judge of the Common Pleas Court. 1t
was curious that while young Sharon was
pouring over his musty law books in the
Steubenville office, VIM. G. Ralston, of
the Farmers Bank of San Francisco, and
his subsequent partner, was living with
his parents on the West Virginia Pan
handle, not dozen miles away, and
Samuel Wilson who became the law
partner of Crittenden, the San Francisco
lawyer, shot by Mrs. Fair, was just be-
ginning practice which has since be-
come one of the most profitable on the
Pacific coast. Sharon and Ralston might
have met dozen times in the little coun-
ty town where both their fathers were
probably frequent visitors, but 1t was not
until Young Sharon had abandoned his
profession and gone to California to seek
his fortune in the gold fields that they
came together. Reaching Sacramento
Sharon opened store. but accumulated
money so slowly that a. year later he
started for San. Frrncisco ITO change his
luck" ~
s Here he opened real estate office
This he ran with fluctuating results fol
fourteen years, when he made the ac
auaintance of the then fortunate VIM. G.
Ralston. Ralston lived at Virginia City
New, was manager Of the Bank OF Sar
Francisco, and was accumulating wealth
hand over hand, by advancing money on
loans on mining stocks Ralston needed
sharp, shrewd man at the mines to send
him confidential information. He found
in Sharon the very man he wanted. This
was the first step towards Sharon's colos
sal fortune
Sharon was among the first to hear Of
the rich find in the Crown Point and be'
lever mines. He succeeded in obtaining
control OF large sum of money belong
ing 10 the Bank of San Francisco, and
when the owners of the mine discovered
their bonanza they took Sharon in thcil
confidence because they hadn't money
enough to open up that bonanza.
John p. Jones, who has made and los
more fortunes than any other man on thu
Pacific Coast was the mines manage
when the bonanza was discovered.
One day, in the beginning Of 1872, th'
widest excitement broke forth in Sar
Francisco when 1t was first publicl,
known that the Crown Point and Believe
had panned out rich. At the same tim
the rich body of ore in the Raymond ant
Ely mines was also discovered. From al
aggregate value of $17 900 in Janu
ary the silver mines listed on the Sal
Francisco market ran up to ISL ,oOO. .OO
in Maya gain Of $64, 900, 900 in fou
months. Sharon was one OF the few VIII
sold out at the top of the market. II
cleared within those five months owe
$4,000, 900 in hard cash, became manag
or Of the branch of "The Bank" as
was called, and at once took rank anon
the San Francisco millionaires, wit
Charles Croker, G. P. Huntington, Mar
Hopkins, Leland Stanford, the railwa
kings OF the Pacific Coast, and with
C. Flood, W. s. O'Brien, John W. Mac
kay. Senator Fair and Lucky Baldwin
In 1875 Mr.. Sharon built the Palace Ht
tel for Mr.. Warren Leland, who is no.
in New York. 1t was constructed
surpass any hotel in the world for coz
fort, completeness and sumptuousnes
Mr.. Leland ran the house for three year
hut finding 1t did not pay, turned It owe
to Mr.. Sharon, who has managed 1t eve
since.
In 1877 Mr.. Sharon purchased his plaC
at Belmont. 1t was here that in Octobe
1879, he entertained General Grant upo
scale surprising anything ever attemp
ed ia this country Mr.. Sharon's acquain
ance with General Grant began in Wasl
ington after Mr.. Sharon's election to Il
Senate as q Representative from Nevat
in 1875. In the Senate Mr.. Sharon W,
principally known for his absences
made about half dozen speeches, mos
ly on the silver question, OF which he W,
an ardent advocate, and tho record OF h
votes is smaller than that of almost NJ
other Senator who has sat In that bod
He was spoken Of as candidate for +
election upon the expiration of his ter
In 1881, but the Republican line of su
cession was broken by the election
James G. Fair, Democrat. Mr.. Sharon
wife died number OF years ago. 81
was dcvout Catholic His daughter.
few years ago. married Sir Thomas He
keith of England. She resides in En-
land. but is now In this country. ~
only son, Mr.. Frederick Sharon, marri
Miss Tevis, daughter Of his fathers Q
friend, Lloyd Tevis, who was one Of 4
pioneers in the express business on IL
slope. Mrs. Sharon Is dashing, beau
full woman and married when quite YOU
MIR. Owen Breckinridge, son Of Ke
tucky's brilliant son, General John
Breckenridge. Tho marriage was not
happy one and divorce followed.
Mention has been made OF Mr. sharon
relations with Sarah Althea HILL sar