The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1915-01-22
Esquire ]. J. Tharp.

In the death of Esq. J. ]. ThaTp
which occurred in Jackson at the home
of bis daughter, Mrs. W. H. Edentor
January l5,, 1915, one of the most
notable characters eyer identified with
Fayette county passed. Esq. Tharr
was born in North Carolina February
20, 1928 and moved with his parents "a
Fayette County Tennessee when he
was nine years Of age. He was happi-
ly married to Miss Sarah Moore Janu-
airy 20. 1851. To this union eight chill
dren were born, OF whom six lived to
maturity and three survive their par
ents, Mrs. W. H. Edenton, of Jackson,
Hon. H. B. Tharp, Of Somerville, and
Mr.. Julian Thsrp, Of Oakland.
Esq. Tharp moved with his family to
the town Of Macon in 1869 where he
lived until 1907 when he moved to Jack
son and spent the remainder of his life.
The funeral services were conducted in
his own beloved church, the First
Baptist church Jackson. Saturday Janu-
airy l6, and all that was mortal of Esq.
Tharp was tenderly laid to rest by the
side of his beloved wife at Macon on
Sunday January II. Altho the weather
was unfavorable and the roads bad, a
large crowd had gathered to pay the
last richly deserved tribute of the high
est respect to the departed. The floral
tribute was one of the most beautiful
and fitting that loving hands could con-
tribute and was a mute emblem of the
life just closed.
For many years Esq. Tharp was one
of the most prominent figures in the
the business, social, political and
religious life of Fayette county.
Fayette county has seldom produced
more capable business man. Careful,
painstaking, he seldom over looked
any thing, while his rigid honesty and
deep interest in his fellow man, enabled
him to look to the other mans interest
as well as his own in every transaction.
His careful attention to the details of
life contributed much to his success in
life and smoothed away much of the
irritating friction of life.
In the social life MIR. Tharp was
fond, thoughtful and true. The filial
respect and almost generation accorded
him by his sons and daughters, men
and women of affairs, was beautiful to
behold and spoke Enthusiastically of the
strength, purity, and beauty of charac-
ter which inspired it.
As friend he was true, tried and
trusted safely. He was wise and pru-
dent in council, frank and open in
judgement, and hopeful and inspiring
in encouragement He was deeply in
terested in human welfare and joined
genuinely in the joys and sorrows of his
neighbors, always alert for an oppor-
tunity to do kindness or smooth out
misunderstanding. He always held to
the position that it was better to suffer
some wrong than to run the risk of
misjudging, or to stir up bitterness.
Esp. Tharp was always Interested in
public affairs and kept himself well in
formed on matters of human interest
and activity all over the world. In
every public question before the people
for settlement his influence was always
thrown on the side Of right and
as God gave him TO see the
right. Being lover Of openess and
fair play he deplored greatly much
that crept into modern politics.
It was in his religious life that the
and beauty Of this noble mans
character reached Its height, For sixty
years Brother Tharp was deacon in
the Baptist church and as such few
men ever took more active and joyful
10 bis work. He was firm in
his convictions. and loved his own7
church devotedly. but the Sspth of his
and love made him liberal in
bic veiws and charitable to all. The |
bruised reed he would not break nor
luinch the smoking FAX as long as be
could find sincerity. His was not a
religion put on as an outer garment to
be seen of men. in order to gain social