John SHARP

                   BIRTH: F.H.L Film #104,150, Clackmannon Branch Records
MARRIAGE: **********
DEATH: F.H.L.Film #6498 pt.3, p.42, #1718 Salt Lake City Death Records.

BAPTIZED: F.H.L. Film #104,150, Clackmannon Branch Records
ENDOWED: F.H.L. Film #183,393 EHOUS, p.62, #1696. 33 Quroum 70's.
SEALED TO PARENTS: F.H.L.Film #1,239,617 SLAKE, p.423, #13107.
SEALED TO SPOUSE: F.H.L. Film # 0,183,393, p.117, #1443.

   Patriarchal Blessing, G. S. L. City, April 10, 1850

#1072	A Blessing by John Smith Patriarch upon the head of John Sharp, Son of John & Russell Cashan (Ceceila) Russell, born Sterling, Scotland Oct 15, 1785.
	Brother John, in the name of Jesus Christ I lay my hands upon thy head and confer upon you a Fathers Blessing even the Blessings of the New and Everlasting covenant. The Lord is well pleased with the integrity of thine heart for you have seen many afflictions, through many sorrows and hast born them patiently, have obeyed the gospel in thine old age with an honest heart. Your name is werittin in the Lambs book of life and shall not be blotted out. The Lord hath given his angels charge over you. They have watched you from your earliest infancy. They  have delivered you from danger and death many time. The Eye of the Lord is upon thee for good. You shall be comforted in your old age and blessed according to the desire of your heart. You shall find friends where your lot is cast, shall never know want. Your Posterity shall become numerous, be mighty in the priesthood & Savior on Mount Zion. You shall be a counselor in Zion & preside over one of her stakes cities. You are of the blood of Ephraim and an heir to the everlasting Priesthood which shall be conferred on you in due time. You shall live until you are satisfied with life, have past in the first Resurrection with you former companion and children with you father house, evan so, amen.
						John L. Smith, Recorder.

In the 20th Ward of this city, of whooping cough, March 29th, Sophia Louise, daughter of John and sophia Sharp, aged 3 years and 4 months. Deseret News 1878-04-03.

Another Little One. - It will be see, by obituary notice, in another column, that another child of Bishop John Sharp departed this life this norning, making two deaths within a week. the bereaved parents have the sympathy of many friends. Deseret News 1878-04--3

May 18      from Wednesday Daily Newspaper (Deseret News).
   --ron company. - The meeting of the Central Board of Trade, yesterday afternoon, resulted in the appintment of the fllowing named gentlemen as a committee with full power and authority to organize and incorporate a company for the promotion and manufacture of iron: Chairman, W m. Jennings; W. H. Hooper, John Sharp and thomas Talor, of this city; A. O. Smoot of Provo; Henry Lunt, of Cedar City; W. B. Preston, of Logan. Afater some discussion on the subjects of silk and sugar, the meeting adjourning till thursday at 10 a.m.

DEATH OF BISHOP JOHN SHARP

	The host of friends of Bishop John Sharp will be pained to learn that he died at his residence in the twentieth ward, this city, at twenty minutes past 4 this morning. the cause of death was intestinal trouble. His demise removes from the community a man of mark, who was possessor of unusual will power and great force of character, traits which were exhibited throughout his long and useful career.
	John Sharp was born in Clackmannanshire, Scotland, November 9th, 1820 and was consequently in his seventy-second year at the time of  his death. On the last anniversary of his birthday  he was in unusually good spirits, and said to members of his family that he had felt splendidly during the last previous six months. He remarked; "The Lord has given me one year over the allotted span, and has started to give me a second. I shall be thankful for as many more as He may be pleased to give, and when He signifies it is enough  I shall be grateful for that also."
	His parents moved in a humble sphere, and at an early age he began to sustain himself by working in the coal mines. In 1845, being then twenty-four years old, he first heard the Gospel, as revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith. He received it gladly, being inducted into the Church by baptism and confirmation, under the administration of Elder William Gibson, who was noted as an earnest and eloquent preacher of the gospel of the latter-day message. Soon after his baptism Brother Sharp was ordained an Elder and was appointed to preside over the branch of Saints then existing in his native town. But he was soon embued with the idea of gathering with the main body of the community with which he had identified himself. While he remained in his native land however, he showed great devotion and zeal for his religion, and was the means of convincing quite a number of people of  its truth.
	Not being able to accumulate sufficient means to enable him and his family to reach Utah at that time they came as far as the States in 1848, and located near St. Louis where he worked in what are known as the Gravoy coal mines. He there continued his labors as an Elder, and presided over a branch of the Church organized in that locality. He was at St. Louis while the cholera plague made fearful ravages in that city. Many of the members of the Church were stricken with the dreadful malady and at that thime Brother Sharp exhibited a religious faith and personal courage that produced remarkable effects. He, with other brethren, went among the cholera patients, administering to therm, and the cases of miraculous healing, by the power of God  that occurred under his personal administration were marvlous. His experence at that time were in after years a frequent subject of conversation with him.
	So soon as Brother Sharp accumulated enough money for the purpose, he and his family came on to this city, where they arrived in September,  1850. Almost immediately after he reached here he was taken hold of by President Brigham Young,-whose confidence he enjoyed to an almost unlimited extendt-by whom he was engaged in the labor off quarrying and haauling rock for the building of the Temple and other public structures. He was in those early times also made superintendent of Church public works, a position he held for many years. In the time of what is designated as the "move," when the population of Northn Utah, on the approach of Buchanan's army proceeded southward, the subject of this sketch had charage of the removal of all the church effects, and when a pacific settlement of the questions existing at that time was reached, brought them back again to the places from which they were conveyed. This was a task of no small proportions at that time, but being a man of not only great vigor and energy, but of wide mental resources of a practical nature, he accomplished it to the satisfaction of all concerned. In 1855 he was ordained a Bishop, and, in that capacity, presided over the Twentienth ward which position he occupied for thirty years.
	He was a natural engineer, and a man whose judgment on any practical subject was of great value. He was sub-contractor under Brigham Young in the construction of the most difficult part of the Union Pacific railway, being that portion of the line that runs through the canyon gorges which form the entrance into Salt Lake Valley. He also did contract work of the same nature on the Central Pacific road at the Promontory. From that time he had been connected with the former company, and nearly the whole of the period until his death a director of it. He was, in an official capacity, associated with the old Utah Central line from the time it was completed, also with the old Utah Southern, and finally was president of the consolidation formed by a combination of the two companies, being in  that position at the time the latter was merged into the U.P. system.
	The deceased was a director of Z.C.M.I. almost from the initial organization of that mammoth establishment, and was active in supporting it in its earlier struggles when financial times were perilous on account of the scarcity of money. He held that position at the time of his death. He was one of the original incorporators of the Deseret national Bank, of which was one of the most useful, far-seeing and sagacious directors. The solidity of that institution is doubtless owing in no small proportionate degree, to his influence, financial standing and sturdy support.
	John Sharp was, in the late fifties and early sixties, chief of police of Salt Lake City, a position he filled with ability and courage. He was for many years Major of the Third Regiment of Infantry, of the Nauvoo Legion and subsequently its Colonel.
   	In 1872, when the question of the advisability of organizing a Mutual Improvement Association in his ward was being agitated by residents in the locality, he gave the movement his hearty support and encouragement. He directed its organization, which was given the title of the Twentieth Ward Institute, early in January of the year named, and he was unanimously elected its honorary president. This association had a great influence upon the inauguration of the system subsequently established throughout the Church.
	Bishop Sharp and his family lived under a species of communism on an small scale. He and his two eldest sons, John, Jun. And James, formed a copartnership, with their families interest, and virtually they had all things in common.  James has been the agent of the association, which has worked with the greatest harmony. As a matter of course the death of the senior member of the firm dissolves it. The union of his family was leading consideration with Brother Sharp. They have lost by his death a kind, loving and indulgent husband and parent, and the community sympathizes with them in their bereavement.
	Brother Sharp was a man of splendid physique, being about six feet in height, compactly built and erect as an arrow. In his younger days he was noted for his great physical strength, while his power of endurance was remarkable. He was noticed everywhere, in his associations with all classes , as a person possessing mental powers of no common character.
	Arrangements as to exact time and place of the funeral have not yet been finally concluded upon. We understand, however, that the burial will not take place till Sunday next, December 27th.
Deseret News, 23 December 1891

BISHOP SHARPS FUNERAL
Held from His Late Residence in the Twentieth Ward Yesterday.
GLOWING TRIBUTES TO HIS MEMORY
Resolutions of Respect Adopted by the Chamber of Commerce and Union Pacific Railway Employees

	Funeral services over the remains of Bishop John Sharp were held at his late residence in the Twentieth Ward yesterday.
	From 9 till 11 oclock a.m. the body lay in state and was viewed by hundreds of people who knew and respected the deceased during his lifetime. The services, which commenced at 11:;30, were largely attended by relatives and friends from all parts of the Territory. Prominent citizens, without retard to their religious or political belief, honored the memory of the deceased by their presence. Every apartment of the spacious residence was filled overflowing and many people were compelled to remain without upon the lawn and sidewalk, during the services. Upon and around the casket in which the body law were natural flowers in profusion. The designs were numerous. Several pieces were exquisitely beautiful.
	Bishop Romney conducted the services. The musical exercises were delightfully rendered by the Cambrian glee club. Prayer was offered by Apostle Heber J. Grant.
	Elder W. C. Dunbar was the first speaker. He said he had been acquainted with the deceased since 1852 and for many years had worked under and according to his counsels, which were always of the best. Some one had said that an honest man is the noblest work of God. That saying could be applied to the deceased with all its import. In addition to being an hones man he had ever been a kind-hearted and generous one. His purse was always open to the poor and his counsels were cheerfully given to those in distress.
	Elder Henry Pusey said that he had been personally acquainted with bishop Sharp for twenty-two years, ten years of which times he had been his counselor in the Twentieth ward bishopric. During that period he had learned to look upon him as a man of sterling qualities and one whose judgment was generally sound. A prominent characteristic of the deceased was his sociability and his defense of those in less fortunate financial circumstances than his own. He always weighed a  man by his character-the true standard of worth. The man who earned his livelihood by the sweat of his brow was as much respected by Bishop Sharp as those who were possessors of wealth.
	Apostle John Henry Smith said, in substance: I cannot remember when I did not know Bishop John Sharp. He is associated with the earliest recollections of my childhood. In my opinion he was a great man-a benefactor to his fellow-men. Words can add nothing to his good deeds, or the esteem in which he was held by those who knew him best. Starting as a boy with limited opportunities, from the lower round in the ladder, he successfully ascended to that plane which he occupied at the time of his demise. He has fought the fight, kept the faith, and gone to his reward. His name is written in the Lambs Book of Life.
	He was richly endowed by nature. Physically he was a man of splendid proportions. His intellect was broad and his judgement good. He was always generous and kind. Were we today to enter the homes of many of those who were once poor in this city and Territory and ask them who, above all others, gave them aid when they were in sore distress, the response would be Bishop John Sharp. He always found work for his brethren whenever he could do so. Were we to enter the homes of many who are in good financial circumstances and inquire who gave them good advice on certain business propositions, the answer would be the same. Not in this city and Territory alone was he looked upon as a man of worth, but throughout all this broad land where ever his name has been heralded. He was ever a friend of man. I remember well when I returned from a foreign mission in poverty, my family being practically without clothing and other necessary comforts of life, how I, in common with others appealed to him for work and how he secured us positions. For this and other noble traits of character I loved him and I trust that he loved me. Oftentimes, with profit, have I lilstened to words of counsel as they fell from his lips. He will receive the reward of a just man. We are about to bear his body hence from the home he has so long occupied, but we will be separated only for a little season. We will meet him again if we are faithful. To his latest breath he wished to have those at his side with whom he had fought the battle of life.
	In the system that has  been revealed to the Latter-day Saints we are taught that free agency has been given us and that we can exercise it for good or evil, as we choose. This system which we have espoused holds out this idea, that the plan of life and salvation is sufficiently broad to guarantee glory, immortality and eternal life to all, whether dead or living. It teaches us that God is our Father and that Jesus Christ is the Redeemer of the world. We should reflect upon the seriousness of life and the possibilities which lie before us. Sometime we will be judged, like our departed brother, by our love of God by our good deeds to His children. Such love has been a prominent characteristic in the life of Bishop Sharp. There are hundreds of men today who would be pleased to assemble in this house and take a last look at the mortal remains of the man who gave them work whereby they could earn bread for themselves and families. May God bless all who emulate his worthy deeds.
	There are hundreds of men today who would be pleased to assemble in this house and take a last look at the mortal remains of the man who gave them work whereby they could earn bread for themselves and familis. May God bless all who emulate his worthy deeds.
	The choir sang He softly sleeps in peaceful slumber, after which the benediction was pronounced by Bishop Preston.
	Although the