The Sharrock Family of Crawford County, Ohio

JOSEPH W. SHARROCK. Bucyrus; was born in Guernsey Co., Ohio, Nov. 4, 1814. He is the son of Benjamin and Constantine (Williams) Sharrock, the former a native of New York, and the latter of Maryland. They were married in Guernsey Co., and removed from there to near Iberia. Morrow Co., in 1817. They were the parents of eleven children, six of whom are yet living. The father died Nov. 16, 1879, Joeing at the time over 100 years of age. He had been a soldier of the war of 1812, and was a man of much more than ordinary intelligence. The Sharrock family are descended from one James Sharrock, who came to America in 1775, as a British soldier. After learning the true cause of the revolt against the mother country, he, with others, deserted, and, Irom that time until the close of the war, fought with the American army under Washington and LaFayette. J joseph W. ShaiTOck was raised upon a farm. He received such education as the schools of that early day afforded. His wife, Jliss Mary Woodside, was born in Pennsylvania Oct. 17, 1818. They were married April 18, 1843, and are the parents of si.x children, viz., Garrett, Charles, Oscar, Benjamin F. and James, living. Gardiner was the name of the one deceased. Two years after his marriage, Mr. Sharrock came to

I Crawford Co., which he has since made his ] home. He owns 290 acres of well-improved 1 land, which he has obtained by his own hard work. He is a Democrat, and a man of broad and liberal views regarding man and religion. He is one of the county's early settlers, and a highly respected citizen.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Garrett Sharrock, a farmer of Bucyrus township, is a well-known citizen of Crawford county and is the eldest son of Joseph Sharrock, one of the pioneers of this county, of whom mention is made in the personal sketch of Charles A. Sharrock, elsewhere in this volume.

Mr. Sharrock was born in Morrow county. Ohio. September 17, 1845, and was reared on the farm and educated in the public schools of the county. His choice of a life pursuit resulted in his becoming a farmer and he has always remained on the old homestead in Bucyrus township. This is a very valuable tract of land, consisting of one hundred and twenty acres, and is crossed by the Sandusky river. Just south of his residence is a piece of bottom land, along the bank of the river, comprising several acres, which Mr. Sharrock arranged to overflow with a dam, rendering it an artificial lake in the spring, and here wild ducks and geese gather and the sport of duck and geese shooting is brought almost to his door. This is very agreeable, as it is an amusement of which Mr. Sharrock is very fond, being a good wing shot. Mr. Sharrock is also very fond of other sports, particularly fox-hunting, and owns several valuable dogs for that purpose. His farm is a most hospitable place to visit during the season, and as Mr. Sharrock is genial and entertaining, his home is often filled with guests.

Two years subsequent to his mother's death Mr. Sharrock married, and after that time his father made his home with him as long as he survived. Prior to her marriage Mrs. Sharrock was Aliss Ida May Gahagan, a daughter of John and Catherine ( Fagan ) Gahagan, pioneer settlers in Todd township, but Mrs. Sharrock was born in Benton, Ohio. One son has been born to our subject and wife, Leroy G., a popular young man, who is still at home with his parents.

Although he has never sought any public office Mr. Sharrock has taken a deep interest in political matters, is an uncompromising Democrat and has considerable party influence in his neighborhood.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

CHARLES A. SHARROCK.

At the time when the colonists were engaged in a struggle for independence with the mother country, the Sharrock family was founded in America by the great-grandfather of him whose name introduces this review. He was a native of England and came to America as a British soldier, but becoming convinced of the justice of the cause of the colonists he deserted the English army and joined the American troops, whom he assisted until war was ended and the republic was established. He afterward took up his above in New York, where he spent his remaining days. His son, Benjamin Sharrock, the grandfather of our subject, was born in the Empire state and fought for the American cause in the second war with England. He had become one of the pioneer settlers of Guernsey county, Ohio, and from there entered the service for the war of 1812. After the cessation of hostilities he made the third settlement in Morrow county, Ohio, and there he operated a water-power gristmill for a number of years. He continued a resident of that county until called to his final rest. He met death in a tragic way. Robbers effected an entrance into his house and not only took from him six thousand dollars, but also broke his back and he died soon afterward in great agony, when one hundred and four years of age.

Joseph Woodward Sharrock, the father of our subject, was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, in 1814. when his father was engaged in the military services of his country in the second war with England. Amid the wild frontier scenes and environments the son was reared and after acquiring a good English education he devoted his attention to farming, which he made his life work. In 185 1 he came to Bucyrus township, Crawford county, where he made his home for more than forty years, his death here occurring on the 26th of October, 1893, when he had reached the advanced age of eighty-nine years. He was a successful farmer and business man. ever worthy of trust and confidence. In his habits he was very temperate and though he was not a church member, his life was in conformity to the basic principles of Christianity, for he lived an honorable, upright life, never used profanity and was kind, considerate and just. His wife bore the maiden name of Mary Woodside. She passed away eleven years prior to the death of her husband, being called to the home beyond at the age of sixty-five. They were the parents of six sons, but had no daughters. Of the family Gardner was accidentally shot when twenty-nine years of age, while the others. Garrett. Charles A.. Oscar K., Benjamin F. and James J., are still living.

On the home farm Charles A. Sharrock was reared, and no event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for him. He remained with his parents until twenty-three years of age and then established a home of his own. He wedded Mary A. Stineman in 1870, a daughter of William and Susan Stineman, of Crawford county, and their union has been blessed with two children: Alvertis D., who married Emma Mullenkopf; and Minnie A., the wife of Tira E. Ditty. Both the son and son-in-law are farmers of Bucyrus township.

After his marriage Mr. Sharrock began farming on the old Stineman homestead, where he remained until 1882, when he came to his present farm. Here he owns two hundred and forty acres of land and altogether he has about four hundred acres in Bucyrus township. Upon his place he has a fine barn, one hundred by forty feet, with thirty-foot posts and a basement. This was built in 1892 and in 1897 he built another good barn. In 1900 he erected his present palatial residence, which is built of brick, contains twelve rooms and is supplied with all modern conveniences and is very tastefully furnished. It is one of the most imposing country homes in the county and stands as a monument to the enterprise and industry of the owner. In politics Mr. Sharrock is a Democrat and in 1900 he served as land appraiser. Socially he is connected with the Knights of Honor. In 1876 he visited the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, and in 1893 the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, and at other times he has traveled quite extensively over the country, gaining that knowledge and culture which only travel can bring. He is a citizen of worth, highly esteemed by all who know him, and in this volume he well deserves representation.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

OSCAR K. SHARROCK, a contractor and prosperous citizen of Bucyrus, O., was born in a log hut near Iberia, Morrow county, O., September 6, 1849. His parents were Joseph and Mary (Woodside) Sharrock, and he is a great grandson of James Sharrock, who came to this country as a captain in the English army during the early years of the Revolutionary period, probably about 1776 or 1777. While in charge of a party succoring the wounded on a field of action, after the battle, he assisted a wounded American soldier, whom he recognized as an old schoolmate. Their acquaintance was renewed, they talked about the war and the causes of difference between the colonies and the mother country and Captain Sharrock finally became convinced that the cause of the colonies was a just one. He accordingly took an early opportunity of terminating his relations with the English army and, with some others, joined the Americans, serving under Washington and Lafayette against his former comrades. The principal scene of his military activities, while in the American army, was in New York State and he was engaged chiefly in patrolling the debatable ground between the advanced posts of the two armies, which was overrun and ravaged at frequent intervals by marauders of semi-military character from both sides. While engaged in these duties, he met and married Constance Williams, who was a sister of David Williams, one of the captors of Major Andre. They resided in New York State but later, after the war, settled in New York City, where Capt. Sharrock acquired a quarter section of land in the heart of the city, in the vicinity of Wall Street. Here they both died when well advanced in years. They had a large family consisting of eleven sons and one daughter. Ten of the sons were sea captains, the exception being Benjamin, grandfather of the direct subject of this sketch, who was the second in order of birth.

Benjamin Sharrock, above referred to, was born probably before the close of the Revolutionary War in a log cabin in New York State. He contributed to the military record of the family, serving under Jackson at New Orleans in the War of 1812-15. At its close he returned home to New York State, but soon after, and before his marriage, removed to Ohio, settling in Guernsey county. Here he married a Quakeress by the name of Cotwell, of Quaker City in that county. This act seems to have been displeasing to his parents, as we are told that he was disinherited because of it. His father James had previously forfeited valuable property in England on account of his desertion of the Royal cause, which fact does not seem to have made him act generously towards Jhis son. However, the latter exercised his right to select his own wife, perhaps reflecting philosophically that "true love never does run smooth." Benjamin was a farmer by regular occupation and also a preacher, being known as Rev. Benjamin Sharrock. In 182 1 he came with certain others to Crawford county, where he had a very large tract of land, a part of it being secured from the Government and State for services as a surveyor, he having laid out some of the earliest roads in northern Ohio. His last years were spent quietly near Iberia, Morrow county, where he wa? a prominent citizen, being also widely known throughout this section. He had made a careful study of Indian life and nature, and was respected by the Indians, whom he had always treated justly. He died November 16, 1879, at the remarkable age of 104 years and was buried at Iberia, in Morrow county. Shortly before his death he walked from near Iberia to four miles west of Bucyrus. The stone that marks his grave is a mill stone that he cut in 1820 for the mill he owned at Rockford, this county, and which was a famous old time grist-mill. Benjamin Sharrock was a remarkable man in more than one respect. He never used intoxicating liquors, though their use was almost universal during his earlier years, and though he attained so great an age, he never used classes to aid his sight; moreover at the time of his death he still retained all his teeth, these last two facts, together with his age, indication a wonderful vitality. His wife, who had passed away some years before him, was the daughter of a pioneer settler of this part of Ohio, who also was familiar with Indian life and customs and who was a well known citizen.

Rev. Benjamin Sharrock and wife were the parents of quite a large family, of whom Joseph, father of our subject, was the second born. The latter first 'saw the light in Guernsey county, O., November 4, 1814. When two years old he accompanied his parents to the vicinity of Sandusky, where they remained for a while. He was married in Morrow county to Mary Woodside, who was born in Pennsylvania, October 17, 1818. This marriage took place several years before the Sharrocks located in Crawford county. Joseph and his wife became the owners of a fine farm in Bucyrus township, consisting of nearly 300 acres of good land. Here they spent the rest of their lives, Joseph dying in 1893 and his wife in 1883. They were regular attendants at church, though not members and were quick to support any good work. Joseph Sharrock was a man of musical talent and for a number of years took a leading part in musical entertainments throughout the county. He was a Democrat in politics.

The children of Joseph and Mary Sharrock were six in number, as follows: (i). Gardner accidentally shot himself April 3, 1874, when 32 years old. (2). Garrett is now a farmer in Crawford county. (3). Charles died two years ago at his home in Bucyrus, O. (4). Oscar is the direct subject of this article and will be further referred to herein. (5). Benjamin is a resident of Golden City, Mo. (6). James is a resident of Morrow county, Ohio.

Oscar K. Sharrock, whose birth has been already narrated, had some difficulty in obtaining an adequate education, as his father was opposed to his spending too much time over his books or at school. Without the latter's knowledge, however, and by dint of earnest application, with the friendly assistance of a Miss McCracken, he acquired a fairly thorough knowledge of the ordinary branches of study, so much so that for a time he followed the occupation of teacher. He continued to improve himself educationally, adding to his stores of knowledge and giving particular attention to language and rhetoric, also devoting much thought to public questions. His ability as a speaker and debater became known, and with it there grew up a demand for his services on the lecture platform. In this sphere of intellectual activity he has made a name for himself throughout this section, having lectured on subjects of historic interest, two of his most noted lectures being on the subjects of Benedict Arnold and the Expansion of the United States, on the latter subject he taking the affirmative proposition that "It was right for America to expand." On the platform Mr. Sharrock has an agreeable and sympathetic voice of commanding volume, and an easy delivery that never tires his auditors but holds their attention to the end. As a contractor in the line of his regular business he has been successful and is a thoroughly skilled mechanic and a reliable man of business.

He was married in Liberty township to Miss Cynthia A. McMichael, a daughter of David and Margaret (Anderson) Mc- Michael and a grand-daughter of Daniel and Mary (McDowell) McMichael. Grandfather McMichael was born in Ireland and came to America about 1794, when 16 years of age. His family locating in Westmoreland county, Pa., he there married, his wife, Mary being a native of Scotland. Soon after their marriage they moved to Ohio and settled north of the Sandusky near where Bucyrus is now located. He entered 160 acres of land at a point up the river and built a saw and grist mill — one of the first in the county. Of his eight children, David married Margaret Anderson, daughter of John Anderson, a pioneer in that locality. On his father-in-law's death David McMichael moved to the latter's farm, where he subsequently resided, dying Nov. 3, 1857 and leaving a widow and seven children — Rebecca Daniel L., John A., George W., Maria, Cynthia and David — of whom, George W. and Maria removed to Nebraska. Daniel McMichael, Mrs. Sharrock's grandfather, built the first white man's cabin in Liberty township and was the third settler in the county. Mrs. Sharrock was well educated and was for a number of years a teacher in the public schools.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Sharrock are as follows: (i). Walter Scott, was educated in Crawford county and is a steam engineer by occupation. He resides at home with his parents. (2). J. Wayland, who is a clerk in a hardware store in Bucyrus, married Bessie Souder and has a son. Jack B. (3), Maude Estella, was educated at Ohio Northern University and was employed for some years as a teacher. She is now in Cuba and also travels Southern territory as representative of the Crescent Mfg. Co. of Seattle, Wash. She is unmarried. (4). Mirian Thorne, a cultivated young woman, educated at Ohio Northern University, is residing at home. (5). Ross C, graduated from the Ohio Northern University at Ada, O., in the class of 1909 and is a civil engineer and assistant surveyor residing in Bucyrus. He married Lurlie Snavely and has a son, Harold C. (6). Mabel B. is the wife of Harry Ehrick, of Bucyrus and has a daughter, Thelma Norine. (7). Raloh Beaumont, who resides at home, is attending high school and will graduate in the class of 1913. It will thus he seen that Mr. and Mrs. Sharrock have a promising family who are contributing to the good citizenship of the state and upholding the family reputation, of which fact they may well be proud.

As printed in the source³. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ALVERTIS D. SHARROCK, who owns two of the finest farms in Bucyrus township, Crawford county, O., occupies one of 160 acres and also cultivates his other place, where he has 93 acres and also owns a piece of timber land of seven and one half acres. He was born in Bucyrus township, Aug. 9, 1871, and is a son of Charles A. and Mary Ann (Stineman) Sharrock. His father was a native of Morrow county, O., and followed farming for many years in Bucyrus township and owned a large body of land. His death occurred April 21, 1909, and his burial was at Bucyrus. He was a member of Mt. Zion church, to which his widow, who survives, also belonged. She continues to live on the old homestead in Bucyrus township. They had two children: Alpha, who is the wife of Tiro E. Ditty, and Alvertis D.

After his school days were over, Alvertis D. Sharrock assisted his father in his farm industries and has always lived in his native township. In addition to general farming he raises Percheron horses and Mrs. Sharrock takes much interest in her registered Jersey cattle. In the summer of 191 1 Mr. Sharrock built a very fine modern residence already having other substantial farm buildings.

In 1893 Mr. Sharrock was married to Miss Emma L. Mollenkopf, who was born in Bucyrus township and is a daughter of John G. and Christiana Mollenkopf, who were born in Germany and later came to Crawford county. Mrs. Sharrock has three sisters and one brother, namely: Mary, who is the wife of August Shefifler; Frederica, who is the wife of Charles E. Wisman; Otto F.; Tena, who is the wife of Alvin Brinkman; and Elsie. In August, 1898, Mr. and Mrs. Sharrock's only son, Leo C, was born, who is a school boy. In politics Mr. Sharrock is a Democrat as was his father. He and wife are members of the Lutheran church. They belong to old and highly respected families of this section and are representative people.

As printed in the source³. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.