Memorial Record of Western Kentucky, Volume I and Volume II, Lewis
Publishing Company, 1904, pp. 166-168.  Ballard Co.

JAMES H. THARP

     Judge James Howard Tharp, who served for two terms as county judge of
Ballard county, and is now practicing law in Wickliffe, was born on a farm
in this county on the 17th day of May, 1846.  Hie parents were Frelin and
Nancy (Hawes) Tharp, the former a native of North Carolina, while the
latter was born near Hawesville, Kentucky.  The paternal grandfather of our
subject was Esais Tharp, who with his family left North Carolina and took
up his abode in Ballard county, Kentucky, but only made a temporary
location here.  Soon he continued on his way to Missouri, and died after a
brief residence in that state.
     Frelin Tharp was about sixteen years of age when his father's death
occurred, and was the eldest of several sons, whom the mother bound out to
learn trades.  Not liking the idea of being bound to a master, Frelin
objected, and then ran away from home.  Soon afterward, however, he
returned to Kentucky, and for some time worked on keel boats on the
Tennessee river, while later he was employed on steamboats making trips to
New Orleans.  He ran on the river for some ten or eleven years, and in this
way managed to acquire some capital.  In 1833, having secured a
quarter-section of land in what is now Carlisle county, Kentucky, he
located thereon, but soon traded it for a tract in the northern part of
Ballard county, along the Ohio river.  He was married in Ballard county, in
1835, and took his bride to his farm.  Later he exchanged his second place
for a farm just west of Barlow City, upon which he spent his remaining
days.  This farm is now the property of Judge Tharp.  Frelin Tharp was a
prosperous agriculturist, and in connection with farming also acted as
pilot on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers to a greater or less extent,
making many trips to New Orleans after locating in Ballard county.  He also
raised considerable stock and developed good farming property, which
increased greatly in value, owning to the many improvements he made upon
it.  In his political views he was a stalwart Democrat.  His death occurred
in 1867, when he was sixty-three years of age, and his wife passed away the
previous year, when fifty-one years of age.  They were the parents of seven
children:  Miletus II and Minus A., both deceased; James H.; Oscar T., also
deceased; Sarah E., who resides in Barlow City, Kentucky; and two who died
in infancy.
     James H. Tharp was reared and educated in Ballard county, spending his
boyhood days upon the home farm, where he remained until after the death of
his parents.  When they had passed away he took charge of the old homestead
and continued to make his home thereon until he was elected county judge of
Ballard county, in 1890.  He filled the position acceptably for a term of
four years and was then re-elected, so that he continued in the office for
two terms.  After his retirement from the county bench he served as city
judge of Wickliffe for two years.  In the meantime he had taken up the
study of law, and in 1901 was admitted to the bar.  He then opened an
office in Wickliffe, where he has since engaged in practice and is now
enjoying a good clientage.  He was elected to his different positions on
the Democratic ticket.  In connection with his law practice he still
engaged in farming, owning the old homestead, to the operation of which he
gives his personal supervision.
     In 1868 Mr. Tharp was united in marriage to Miss Joan Waggoner, who
died in 1886, leaving him ten children, of whom nine are now living.  In
1890 he was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Matie (or
Matilda) Tanner, nee Metcalfe, by whom he has three living children.  The
Judge is a Royal Arch Mason and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church,
and throughout the years of his residence in Ballard county he has so lived
as to win the regard of his fellow-men, gaining high reputaton by reason of
his public-spirited citizenship, his fidelity and promptness in office and
his faithfulness in friendship.

Tharp Hawes Waggoner Tanner MetCalfe
=
NC Hancock-KY MO Carlisle-KY

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/ballard/tharp.jh.txt