CFH First Draft: Charles E Sharp

 This post is part of an ongoing series, sharing the first draft of my Revised Callin Family History. 

Charles E Sharp is the 102nd person in a descendant report beginning with the earliest known ancestor of our Callin family, (1.) James Callin. This descendant report uses the Register Style of the New England Historic and Genealogical Society. 

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Fifth Generation

102. Charles E Sharp (Rebecca Scott-4, Sarah Callin-3, John-2, James "1st"-1) was born on 5 June 1872 and grew up in Burritt, Winnebago County, Illinois. Charles married Minnie Maud Champion in 1895.

Minnie was born on 12 Mar 1876 in Winnebago County, Illinois, the daughter of Abraham Champion (1846–1915) and Ida F Dobson (1856–1927), and she grew up in Harrison, Winnebago County. Her mother does not appear to be related to the other Dobson families documented in this history.

Charles and Minnie farmed and raised their three children in Shirland, Winnebago County, Illinois. Charles died on 21 Jan 1929 at the age of 56 in Shirland, and was buried on 24 Jan 1929 in Shirland Cemetery. His obituary appeared in the Rockford Morning Star on Tuesday, 22 Jan 1929.

“Charles E. Sharp of Shirland Dead

“SHIRLAND, Jan. 21--Charles E. Sharp, 60 years old, long a resident of this vicinity, died this evening at 10 o'clock at his home, three miles northwest of Shirland, after an illness of two years from a malignant ailment. He is survived by a widow, a daughter, Mrs. Walter Cole, Rockford, and a son, Everett Sharp, who conducts the farm adjacent to the family tract. Funeral arrangements will be announced Tuesday.”

After Charles died, his surviving son, Everett, remained working the family farm, and Minnie eventually moved into a nursing home in South Beloit. She died there on 7 Mar 1976 at the age of 99, and was buried in Shirland Cemetery with her husband. Her obituary appeared in the Morning Star in Rockford, Illinois, on Wednesday, 10 Mar 1976 (Page: 8).

“SHIRLAND - Services for Mrs. Minnie Sharp, 99, Shirland, who died Sunday in Fair Oaks Nursing Home, South Beloit, will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Rosman Uehling Kinzer Blackhawk Chapel. Burial will be in Shirland Cemetery. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. today in the chapel.

“Mrs. Sharp was born March 12, 1876, in Harrison. She was a charter member of the Harrison Congregational Church and later transferred to the Shirland Methodist Church. She was one of the oldest members of the National Grange and was a 39 year member of the Sugar River Grange. Survivors include a sister, Rena Aman, Rockford, and a daughter, Mrs. Walter Cole, Shirland.”

Charles E Sharp and Minnie Maud Champion had the following children:

i. Leigh Abram Sharp was born in Feb 1896 and died on 1 July 1916 at the age of 20. He was buried in Shirland Cemetery, Winnebago County, Illinois, and his obituary appeared in the Morning Star in Rockford on 2 Jul 1916.

“SHIRLAND, July 1 - Leigh Abram Sharp, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Sharp, died this afternoon at the home of his parents north of here. He was attacked by a bull two years ago and severely injured, the effects of which he never fully recovered from, causing a nervous trouble that caused his death.

“He was twenty years of age, born at Owen and moving to Shirland with his parents when two years old. He went to Rockford high school for two years. He is survived by his parents, one brother and sister. The funeral will be held Wednesday afternoon at the home and burial will be in the Harrison cemetery.”

321 ii. Everett Edward Sharp, born 10 Aug 1898, Winnebago County, Illinois; married Margaret Muryl Forbes, 20 Aug 1919, Winnebago County; died May 1974, Shirland, Winnebago County.

322 iii. Frances Edna Sharp, born 8 Jun 1906, Winnebago County, Illinois; married Walter M Cole, abt 1924; died 15 May 2002, Beloit, Rock County, Wisconsin.