THOMAS P. THARP

From the 1887 History of Vernon County, Missouri, p. 840-841:

Thomas P. Tharp

(Farmer, Section 6, Post-office, Nevada).

   The subject of this sketch has had a varied experience, the details of which if fully narrated would extend over much greater space than the limits of the present work would allow.  In the following sketch of his life brief mention is made of a portion of this experience--sufficient to show what his career must have been.  Born in Wayne county, O., October 9, 1833, he was the sixth of seven children in the family of his parents, Thomas and Eliza (Cornell) Tharp, the former of whom was a native of Pennsylvania, and by calling a farmer and miller.  Young Thomas was principally brought up in the Buckeye State to a knowledge of farm life, though for several years he gave his attention also to carpentering.  In 1853 he went to Galena, Ill., with a drove of horses, and in 1854 made another trip to the same place, then crossing the river and making different towns in Iowa, and it was while here that he did some work in the carpenter's line.  In 1856 he went to Kansas, returning thence to Ohio in 1858, where he remained one year, and following this he visited Salt Lake City, and Pike's Peak, Colorado.  Here he was engaged in prospecting and on one occasion was snow drifted on the head waters of the Platte river, a circumstance which necessitated his remaining in that locality until spring.  Subsequently he made flat boats and on these came down the river, finally reaching his old home in Ohio, where he stayed until 1863.  While here Miss Susan Huffman, of Rockingham county, Va., became his wife, she having removed from her native State to Ohio when 16 years old.  In 1870 they became settled in this county, and here their home has continued to be, and here they have reared their family of five children:  Ann E., wife of John L. Tyree; George T., Charles, Sarah E. and Emma J.  Mr. Tharp owns 110 acres of land and is keeping it in good cultivation.

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