Ira M. Sharp

One of the worthy native sons of Boone county who has stamped the impress of his strong personality upon the minds of the people of the locality of which this history treats in a manner as to render him one of the conspicuous characters of the county is Ira M. Sharp, an attorney at law of the first rank at the local bar. Faithfulness to duty and a strict adherence to a fixed purpose, which always do more to advance a man's interests than wealth or advantageous circumstances, have been dominating factors in his life, which has been replete with honor and success worthily attained, and he has become an important factor in the affairs of his county and stands in the foremost rank of the professional men of this section of the Hoosier commonwealth. Few citizens of Boone county are better known, none occupy a more conspicuous place in the confidence of the public, and it is a compliment worthily bestowed to class him with the representative men of this generation in the county of his residence, having done much for the general development of the same.

Mr. Sharp was born in a log cabin between Lebanon and Thorntown, January 6, 1868, and he is a splendid example of a self-made man, having by his own efforts fought his way to the front from a discouraging environment. He is a son of Solomon and Mary E. (Miller) Sharp, both natives of Decatur county, Indiana, where they were reared and married, and where they made their homes until 1866, when they removed to Boone county. The father was a blacksmith by trade, also engaged in the sawmill business for many years. His death occurred August 2, 1891, but his widow survives, now making her home in Clarksburg, Decatur county. She was born October 25, 1836, and is therefore now well advanced in years. The date of her husband's birth was February 29, 1832.

Ira M. Sharp was about five years old when the family moved to Thorntown, where he was reared and received his early education, completing the course of studies, except Latin, in the high school. He finished school there at the age of sixteen. He had a disagreement with his teacher and took his books home, and his father, without reproof, put the lad to work in his blacksmith shop and he did all kinds of work, proving a willing helper, continuing until the beginning of the next school year, when his father gave him an opportunity to choose between continuing the trade of blacksmith or going back to school. After several days' deliberation he decided to pursue his studies and thus his whole career was changed. The superintendent of the school permitted him to re-enter his class and also gave him an opportunity to make up the time he lost the previous year. He worked hard and made the two years' work in one, with a grade at the head of his class. In 1881 his father met with an accident, being disabled to such an extent that he could not continue his trade. Our subject, being the eldest of six children, had to assist in the support of the family, so the last two years he was in school he worked nights, mornings and Saturdays in a hardware store to help support the family. After leaving school he clerked in the hardware store in Thorntown, but deciding that teaching school was more to his liking he secured a certificate and taught three years. Although he made a success in this field of endeavor he decided that his true bent was in another direction, so began reading law December 15, 1887, with P. H. Dutch, of Thorntown, and was admitted to practice June 26, 1889.

Mr. Sharp was married August 20, 1891, to Elizabeth E. Cheek, a daughter of Newton and Jane (Wooding) Cheek, both natives of North Carolina; in fact, Mrs. Sharp was born at Saxapahaw, that state. The Cheek family emigrated to Boone county, Indiana, soon after the close of the Civil war. They were Quakers and were a peaceable people, but found it difficult during the great war between the states in keeping out of the conflict. Mr. Cheek is now deceased, but his widow survives.

The union of our subject and wife has been blessed by the birth of one daughter, Jennie Marie Sharp, now a student in DePauw University, where she is making a brilliant record.

Mr. Sharp taught one year after his marriage, and all of his teaching was after he was admitted to the bar. He began the practice of his profession in Greensburg, Decatur county, in April, 1892, and remained there until November, 1893, when he came to Thorntown, Boone countv, where he resided and practiced with ever-increasing success until January 1, 1912, when he moved his office to Lebanon, but still maintains his home in Thorntown. He enjoys a large clientele and ranks with the leading members of the Boone county bar, being known as a cautious, industrious and safe counsellor and a strong pleader. He practices in all the state and federal courts in Boone and adjoining counties.

Politically, Mr. Sharpe is a Republican and he has long been more or less active in public matters and is one of the leaders in his party in this section of the state; however, he has never been an ofiice-seeker, preferring to devote his attention exclusively to his profession. Fraternally, he belongs to the Knights of Pythias, and he and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Source Citation: Boone County Biographies [database online] Boone County INGenWeb. 2008. <http://www.rootsweb.com/~inboone> Original data: Hon. L. M. Crist. "History of Boone County, Indiana : With biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of old families." Indianapolis, Ind.: A. W. Bowen, 1914. pp 616-618.

Transcribed by: T. Stover - October 6, 2008