g-granduncle of Judith Corrigan

g-granduncle of Marilyn Dietz

Ordinary Seaman    US Navy, SS Portsmouth

Dates of Service:  1 Sep 1864 - 9 Sep 1865

Born May 24th, 1842, in Ashtabula Co., Ohio, Francis was the 6th child and 4th son of John and Betsy Sharp. On Dec. 18th, 1861, in Ashtabula Co., Francis married Alice Elinora Shepard, daughter of Lorin and Sarah McCauley Shepard of Ashtabula. Alice was 15 years old and Frank was 17. Their first daughter Alice Vanona was born in Sep. 1863. 

Rather than join the Infantry as had his elder brothers Amos and Milo, at the age of 23, Francis enlisted in the US Navy at New Orleans in 1864 for $60 bounty; description "farmer; fair complexion, gray eyes, brown hair, 5'10", scar on right foot." He was assigned to the USS Portsmouth.

From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Portsmouth_%281843%29

"The second USS Portsmouth was a wooden sloop-of-war in the United States Navy service during the mid-to-late 19th century…designed on the lines of a French-built privateer and built at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, New Hampshire….Portsmouth had an important role during the Mexican–American War, seizing the port of Yerba Buena (today's San Francisco) from Mexico…. Following the onset of the Civil War, Portsmouth…sailed for the Gulf of Mexico and duty with the Gulf Blockading Squadron. By the end of February 1862 she had captured two blockade runners off Texas. In April she participated in operations against Forts Jackson and St. Philip, then from May 1862 to August 1865 operated as station ship at New Orleans…" where Francis Sharp enlisted on Sep. 1st, 1864. [inset - USS Portsmouth under full sail 1896; photo in public domain] 

Following his discharge in Sep. 1865, Frank returned to Ashtabula where his son Ralph E. was born in Jan. 1867; daughter Clarabelle in 1868; son Eber Ira in 1873; and daughter Katie in 1878. No record of Francis, his wife, nor their children can be found in 1880. Stories recounted by descendants of his brothers on several family trees say Frank "disappeared out west" and no one knew where he was. The facts caught up with him in Marengo, Iowa Co., Iowa, where, in Sep. 1886, he fathered a son Edward Ray Sharp. On Aug. 19, 1890, at 46 years old, he married Ed's mother Annie Mackie, who was 23 at that time. He stated it was his 2nd marriage; it was her first.  

Frank's ex-wife Alice and children had moved up to Newaygo, Michigan, by 1890, probably to be near her in-laws. There Alice married George E. Taylor in 1891. She apparently divorced George by 1900 [she reported her status as "widowed" on the 1900 census, although George himself reported as "divorced."] Alice never married again, and died at the home of her daughter Katie in King Co., Washington, in 1925. Her body was transported to Harrison Co., Texas, where her daughter Alice's family was living. She is buried in Forest Park Cemetery, Houston, Harrison Co., Texas, near her daughter.

By June of 1900, Frank's 2nd wife Anna was on her own in Marion, Linn Co., Iowa, 35 years old, "widowed," her occupation "hotel waiter." Her son Edward, 13 years old, was boarding a few streets away with his aunt's family, attending school. Frank was nowhere to be found. In June 1909, Anna married Jacob Schantz; in October 1909, she filed for annulment. Edward married in 1910, and his mother resided with them throughout 1915. She apparently died before 1920.

By 1910, Frank had resurfaced in Bridgton, Newaygo, Michigan, where he owned his own farm. He listed himself as "widowed," and employed a housekeeper/cook, a widowed lady with a 13-year old son. On Feb. 14, 1913, Frank died in Ashland, Newaygo, where his youngest brother James provided the information for his death certificate.

GRAVESITE: Ashland Center Cemetery, Grant, Newaygo, Michigan

Written by Dorotha Piechocki, March 2020