The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-03-15
JOSEPH SHARPLESS.
THE CLOSE OF A LONG AND USE
FUL LIFE.
He Was One Of Bloomsburg's Oldest Resi-
dents-Death Occurred al His Resi-
dence Monday Morning at
Seven O'clock.

Joseph Sharpless, aged ninety one
years, three months and six days,
after comparatively brief illness, has
passed from time into eternity. His
death occurred at his home on West
Main street, between seven and eight
o'clock Monday morning. AS might
be expected for a man of his advanc-
ed age, his health had been greatly
impaired for long time, but only
about week previous to his death
was he compelled to take his bed.
Mr.. Sharpless was the last member of
a family of nine children.
He descended from John Sharpless,
a native of England who immigrated
to America about two months before
the first coming of William Penn, and
settled in Chester, Delaware County,
Penn. The first OF his dsscendents
to come to Columbia County, was his
reat-grandson, Benjamin Sharpless.
The family were originally members
of the society of Friends. Benjamin
was born in 1864 in Chester County.
and died in 1857. When a young
man he crossed the mountains and
settled IN Sunbury, where ne bought
and operated grist-mill, and also
taught school for some time. He sub.
sequently moved to Catawissa, where
he purchased farm and also grlst-
mill adjoining, now the site of the
paper-mill at Catawissa. Here he es-
tablished a paper-mill and paid, for
years nine cents per pound for white
rags, and manufactured paper by
hand. When young he learned the
sad1ler's trade, but never followed 1t
IN this country, except to make his
own harness. He married Hannah
Bonsell, also member of the society
of Friends, and by this union there
were eleven children, two of whom
died young. Those who grew to
maturity were as follows: Mary Ann,
deceased, wife of DR. Wadsworth, oi
Catawissa, this county; Eliza, un-
married, and now eighty-three years
old; Edward, married first to Betsy
Roth, and after her death to Nancy
Pancoast, now resident of Marion,
Ohio; William was three times married
and now resides at Catawlssa; Joseph,
married Mary E. Foster of Catawissai
John, married Sally A. Harder; Har-
riet. married George Reifsnyder
Sarah, married LOUIS Yetter; an
Kersey married Mary Margaret Hard
er. Mr. Sharpless was born Decem
Der Q, 1903, and reared to the paper
mill business with his father, witt
whom he renamed until twenty-siA
years of age. He then began on hi
own account and has been identified
with the business interests of Blooms
burg and the county since, and to
thirty years conducted what was
known as the Sharpless Foundry
Several years ago he sold the foundry
to his son, and retired from active
business. Mr.. Sharpless was republi
can and served his vicinity in sucl
local Offices as member of council
school director, and during the wa
was an earnest supporter of Unior
cause. Mr.. and Mrs. Sharpless hav,
had rine children, seven of whom
grew up: Harriet R., Lloyd T., Ben
Jamin F., Mrs. T. ]. Vanderslice
Clara, Mrs. Wesley Eyer, Aramint
E., wife of the late Jasper Wilson
Mary Ellen and Harry F., of Pueblo
Col.
The funeral services were conducte
at the house yesterday afternoon a
two o'clock by Rev. B. c. Conner