My Genealogy Hound

J. C. Tharp, merchant, of Gibson, Gibson Co., Tenn., is a son of Hardy W. and Cynthia J. (Broom) Tharp, who were born in North Carolina in 1801 and 1803, respectively. They were married in their native State in 1821, and in 1836 moved to Fayette County, Tenn. To them were born ten children. Both parents were members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and the father was a member and chairman of the county court for many years. He was a Whig before the war and a Democrat after, and was a farmer of considerable note, being the owner of 2,000 acres of land. The mother died in 1880, followed by the father’s death three years later. Our subject is of English descent and was born in Franklin County, N. C., May 24, 1830. He received good educational advantages and after attending the common schools, completed his education at Bethany College, Va. He studied law for about six months with the view of making it a profession, but was induced by his father to give it up. He then engaged in the mercantile business in Summerville, Tenn., where he continued until 1857. From that time until 1861 he was engaged in the same business at Quincy, Tenn. In 1862 he removed to Texas, and the following year joined Capt. Toliver’s company, Seventh Tennessee Confederate Cavalry. After serving a short time his health failed and after being in the hospital for some time was transferred to the commissary department. After the war he resumed business at Quincy and in 1871 went to Texas where he remained three years. In 1875 he transferred his business to Gibson, where he has been reasonably successful. Mattie, daughter of Solomon Shaw, became his wife in 1856 and the mother of one daughter—Anna C. His wife died in 1864, and the following year he married Ella Neal, who bore him five children, four living: Henry N., Emma L., James H. and Mary A. In 1874 this wife died and in 1875 Mrs. Virginia Askew became his wife. The family are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Tharp was a Whig previous to the war, but has since been a stanch Democrat. For about ten years he has been postmaster at Gibson. He used to keep the office at Quincy, when the salary was 25 cents per quarter. Besides his store he has a small stock and fruit farm.