James Robertson Sharp

James Robertson Sharp is my great-great-great grandfather. He was born in 1809 in Nashville, Tennessee.  His parents were James Deloss Sharp, born in 1783 and Mary Baldwin, born in 1785.  

James was a Methodist Minister and made his beginnings as such in Madison County, Illinois. He was what was known as a circuit rider. “Circuit Rider” was a term used to describe clergy in the Methodist Episcopal Church (and other similar denominations) who travelled around the surrounding territories to organize and minister to their congregations. The pastor was responsible to visit, on a regular basis; those congregations on his circuit, conduct worship services and attend to the needs of the members. He also had responsibility to possibly establish new churches as he travelled the area. It was common for these preachers to ride on horseback because of the distance between churches. Another name for them was "saddlebag preachers". Many circuits were so large it would take 5-6 weeks to cover them.

He married Martha Arminta Griffith on 5 March 1835 in Madison County, Illinois. 

James and Martha became the parents of 14 children, my great-great grandfather was their fourth child, Joseph Smith Sharp. 

(1) John Martin Sharp, born 1835 in Illinois, died 1916.

(2) Mary Sharp, born 1837 in Illinois, died 1909.

(3) William Sharp, born 1838 in Illinois, died August 1839 in Illinois.

(4) Joseph Smith Sharp, born 1840 in Illinois, died November 1899 in Idaho.
 
(5) Sarah Emma Sharp, born 1842 in Illinois, died in 1899.

(6) James Robertson Sharp, Jr., born 1844 in Illinois, died 1901 in Idaho.

(7) George Washington Sharp, born 1846 in Council Bluffs, Illinois, died March 1900 in Soda Springs, Idaho.

(8) Nancy Jane Sharp, born June 1848 in Illinois, died March 1900 in Thatcher, Idaho.

(9) Brigham Young Sharp, born March 1850 in Illinois, died 4 January 1938 in California.

(10) Armintha Elizabeth Sharp, born January 1852 in Illinois, died March 1888.

(11) Rhoda Rowantha Josephine Sharp, born October 1853 in Illinois, died October 1854.

(12) Jefferson Charles Sharp, born October 1855 in Mills, Iowa, died 14 January 1881.

(13) Orson Pratt Sharp, born November 1857 in Kaysville, Utah, died in 1881.

(14) Heber Chase Kimball Sharp, born May 1862 in Kaysville, Utah, died November 1939 in Riverside, California.

When James was on one of his circuit trips he attended a meeting where the Prophet Joseph Smith spoke. He later heard of another meeting where the Prophet was to address the congregation and told his wife he was going to attend and convert the young prophet to the Methodist Church. Well, the roles were reversed. Instead of Joseph Smith being converted to the Methodist faith, James was converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He wrote in his journal, “Became a saint June 20, 1839.” 

He was a faithful and active member of the Church, preaching the gospel wherever he went, and baptizing many. In his journal he details many of the places he travelled and names some of those he baptized. He continued to follow the pattern from his circuit riding days traveling extensively and organizing branches of the Church in some of the areas he visited. 

James was said to have had a good home and owned a lot of property. He demonstrated his faith in 1852 when he sold everything at a great loss, to begin the journey west with his family. He and his wife had a great desire to immigrate to Utah with the Saints. They began their journey in September of 1852 but James became ill and they had to stop in Harrison County Missouri. There he remained for the winter.

He recounts in his journal that he continued to preach. On November 1, 1853 he started a mission to “preach the gospel to the world”. Some of the places he mentioned are Harrison County, Missouri, Cakall County, Illinois,  St. Louis, Jefferson City, Boonville, Brunswick and Brush Creek. He stated in his journal after recounting visits to the above places, “Started home Sunday 2nd with Charles Mullen, got home on Thursday 15th and found my family well.”

In May of 1860 the James Robertson Sharp family prepared to leave their home for the Salt Lake Valley. James states that all of his family accompanied him except Mary – who went in 1861. Two of his children were deceased before this time. 

The record of the John Taylor Company (1860) – which is the company the Sharp family travelled in – states the following as known members of the company: James Robertson Sharp, age 51, Martha Arminta Griffith Sharp, age 40, Joseph Smith Sharp, age 20, Sarah Emma Sharp, age 18, James Robertson Sharp, Jr., age 16, George Washington Sharp, age 14, Brigham Young Sharp, age 10 and Orson Pratt Sharp, age 2. The other six children are not mentioned in the official record of the company.

A narrative about the John Taylor Company (1860) says:

“Called the Iowa Company, this company started from Iowa City, Iowa, on May 24 with 123 emigrants, 23 wagons, 61 oxen, and 32 cows. They arrived in Salt Lake City on September 17 with 16 wagons. There had been one birth and no deaths.”

James reports that he was sick most of the way and lost his span of five mares on the plains. They left many of their belongings--bedding and other things--piled on the banks of the Missouri River because they did not have room to bring everything. He does not give details, but reports in his journal that he didn’t arrive in the Salt Lake Valley until October 4, 1860, this being 2 weeks later than the company in which he and his family traveled.

James and his family settled in the area around what is now Kaysville and Farmington, Utah. However, James died early in the development of Davis County, Utah Territory. In fact, he lived only 2 ½ years after arriving in the Salt Lake Valley. He died in Kaysville, Utah on 22 May 1863 at the age of 53. It is believed he may have been buried on family property as there is no record of a gravesite for him.

James’ widow, Martha, married a man by the surname of Dwiggins. They moved to Washington. She died in Reardan, Washington on 12 April1905 and is buried in the Spring Creek Cemetery.

Ancestral Line:  Janeal Kindred Smith... Janice Gregory.... Elizabeth Sharp... Joseph Truman Sharp... James Robertson Sharp