WI BIO - Dane Co - SHARP, Edward
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol , pp 291-292

Edward SHARP, a plasterer, living at No. 228 Mills Street, Madison [Dane 
County], Wisconsin, came to this city in 1850, and began work as a journeyman 
at his trade, being for some years in the employ of James LEVESEY, leaving 
him in 1853 to go into business for himself. For many years he had a number 
of men working for him, doing a large amount of contract work in plastering, 
among other jobs doing part of the plastering of the State capitol and of the 
insane asylum, and four of the university [of Wisconsin] buildings. These 
were his largest public contracts, but he has done very many private ones in 
the city of Madison. Mr. SHARP retired from active business about five years 
ago [about 1888]. Edward SHARP was born in Hastings, Sussex County, England, 
26 May 1813, of pure English stock, his people being numerous in Hastings, 
where his parents lived and died at an advanced age.

Edward SHARP, father of our subject [also named Edward], was throughout his 
life a sailor on fishing smacks. His father, Edward SHARP, Sr., owner of 
many fishing boats, lived and died in Hastings [Sussex County], England. The 
latter's father likewise lived and died there. The grandfather of our 
subject, Edward SHARP, Sr., was married to a Hastings lady, of good family, 
whose father was a prominent owner of trading vessels, plying between London 
and Hastings. Edward SHARP, Jr., father of our subject, was married to a 
girl of Rye, England, whose maiden name was Elizabeth NASH, and whose 
forefathers were for years in the Government service, being the managers of 
Government cutters that looked after smugglers, etc. She [Elizabeth nee 
NASH] died of consumption, when about forty years of age, being nearly or 
quite the last of a family that was wiped out by that dread disease 
[tuberculosis].

Our subject [note the grandfather, father, and the subject were all named 
Edward SHARP] was brought up to the trade of plasterer, serving about seven 
years under [p 292] a Mr. THORN, of Hastings. When twenty-two years old, 
having completed his term of service, he went to London, where he worked at 
his trade six years as a journeyman, three years as foreman and four on his 
own account, when he [the subject, Edward SHARP] came to the United States, 
taking passage at Liverpool 10 December 1849, and landing at New Orleans 14 
February 1850. From New Orleans he proceeded up the Mississippi [River] to 
St. Louis [St. Louis County, MO], where he worked at his trade, and in the 
following August took his family to Dane County, Wisconsin, locating them on 
a farm in Sun Prairie Township. He then returned to St. Louis and continued 
to work at his trade until the following spring, when he rejoined his family, 
who had lived in a neighbor's granary for some months or until a small house 
could be built on the new farm; but soon after this return Mr. SHARP decided 
to give up farming and return to his trade. Our subject has been successful 
ever since, having laid up a goodly sum for his last years, the reward of 
skilled work and of faithful attention to business.

Mr. [Edward] SHARP, our subject, was married 25 December 1833 at Hastings 
[Sussex County, England] to Miss Ann Eliza WATKINSON, born 06 May 1810, in 
Lincolnshire, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (HALL) WATKINSON, natives of 
Lincolnshire, but who removed to Hastings when Ann Eliza was a child. Mr. 
and Mrs. [Joseph] WATKINSON came with their daughter and their son-in-law, 
Mr. [Edward] SHARP, to the United States in 1849, subsequently living with 
their children until their death, the wife and mother [Elizabeth (HALL) 
WATKINSON] passing away soon after their landing at St. Louis [St. Louis 
County, MO], at the age of about sixty years; but Mr. [Joseph] WATKINSON 
lived until 1881, when he died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. SHARP, in 
Madison [Dane County, WI], aged ninety-four years and five months. Mr. and 
Mrs. [Joseph] WATKINSON were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Edward and Ann Eliza (WATKINSON) SHARP have lived together as man and wife 
for fifty-nine years, in love and affection, the peace and happiness of their 
home being a truth worthy of record as an example for others. They are 
parents of three children [and one adopted son], namely: (1) William W., 
who died when past three years of age; (2) Lydia, wife of Thomas 
WINTERBOTTOM, a plasterer, living at Rockford [Winnebago County], Illinois; 
(3) Emma W., wife of William GRIME, a farmer, living in Burke Township, Dane 
County, Wisconsin; and also an adopted son, John, a plasterer, husband of 
Mary (BRAY) SHARP, residing at the home of the subject. Edward SHARP was 
formerly a Republican, but is now a Prohibitionist. He has been a member of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church since 1829, and his wife has been of the same 
connection from early childhood.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly