J. C. SHARP DIES AT HOSPITAL AFTER SECOND OPERATION
Well-Known Eighth Ward Man Was One of Youngest War Veterans in This Section
WAS PROMINENT TINNER
Joseph Cover Sharp, of the Eighth Ward, one of the youngest Civil War veterans in this section, connected with on of the oldest and most representative families of the city-- the Cover family-- died at 12:15 o'clock this morning at Memorial Hospital. Mr. Sharp worked until Saturday, October 14. Last Tuesday he was removed to Memorial Hospital and on the following Thursday underwent his second operation in seven years. He appeared to rally well, but last evening his condition became worse and he sank repidly. His body has been removed by Henderson & Co., to the Sharp residence, 1398 Franklin street, Roxbury. Private burial will be in Grandview. Joseph Cover Sharp was born in Shelocta, Indiana County, April 7, 1848, and was a son of John and Elizabeth Cover Sharp. When a boy a few years old he was brought to Johnstown and spent the remainder of his life here, first as a resident of Morrellville and later as a resident of Roxbury. He lived in Morrellville at the time of the Flood of 1889, but the water there was not so high as in the central part of the city and the Sharp family escaped the loss of life and property. During the fall of the flood year, the Sharp family moved to Roxbury, where Mr. Sharp opened a tinning shop of his own, repairing and manufacturing all kinds of tin and copper ware and doing spouting and roofing. The Sharp tin shop along Franklin street will be remembered by many people. About eight years ago, Mr. Sharp gave up the tinning business for himself and assumed charge of the tin shop of the Penn Traffic Company, a position he held until a few days ago. For a brief period in his life here he was connected with the Street Commissioners; Department of the city. When the Civil War broke out, Joseph C. Sharp ran away to enlist as a drummer boy. He was then only 13 years of age. Company F, 194th Regiment, P. V. I., was recruited in Johnstown by the late Capt. William R. Jones, in July, 1864, but "Joe" Sharp was not permitted to join the company, so he ran away to Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, and enlisted in the company there. In practically every Memorial Day parade since his return from the war, "Joe" had beat the drum for the veterans in the procession. The well-known Roxbury man was the youngest Past Commander of Emory Fisher Post, No. 30, Grand Army of the Republic, of Johnstown, succeeding the late James Wilson, who died in Moxham June 13, 1916. Mr. Sharp was a member of the Live Wire Bible Class of the Derby-street United Evangelical Church and was also a member of that congregation. On December 31, 1871, Joseph C. Sharp was married to Annie Barclay. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Reuben Fink, who was then pastor of the Lutheran Church. Mrs. Sharp and the following children survive: Alderman John R. Sharp, of the Fifteenth Ward; Mrs. Myrtle Bostert, of Vine street; Mrs. George Clinger and Ralph W. Sharp, both of Derby street; Iton, at home; Mrs. Earl Pringle, of 897 Franklin street; Miss Sible Sharp, at home; Mrs. Harry Resley, of Pine street; Mrs. John Dowdell and Ray Sharp, both at home. Walter, a son, died in infancy. The deceased is also survived by 13 grandchildren; one brother, William Sharp, of Thomas avenue, and two sisters, Mrs. L. A. Sible and Miss Lizzie Sharp, both of 436 Franklin street. |
