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History of Sharpsburg All of the "Ghost Towns" are not in the Old West. Many of the original settlements of Marion County exist only in history or the scattered cemeteries in the county. One of these is Sharpsburg, located 3 miles northwest of Monroe City in Marion County. This was once a busy crossroads with 2 stores, blacksmith shop, wagonmaker and church. With the advent of the railroad and establishment of Monroe City, it gradually wasted away and now the church is the only reminder of those early days. Although it was never incorporated as a village, a post office was established there in 1836 under the presidency of Martin Van Buren. The new post office was needed for the new settlers whose nearest post office was either Paris or Palmyra. The first post office was in the home of Richard Sharp and he served as post master until his death in 1850. The earliest permanent settler in the area was probably Washington See who came from Indiana in 1820 and settled northwest of Sharpsburg on the stream still identified as See's Creek. Most of the families came from Kentucky and many of them were kin or former neighbors. John and William Burditt and Daniel Rhodes came in 1828; Tompkins Burditt and Orson Sharp in 1832, and John Rubison, 1835 and Thomas Sharp, 1838. All of these families were from Kentucky. Ellis and Benjamin Green came in 1836 from New Jersey, and William Hickman from North Carolina in 1830. There was plenty of timber in the area to build log homes and to heat them in the winter. A good source of water was the spring at this location which flowed into North River. Bear, deer turkeys, squirrels and quail were plentiful. Many of the settlers "put down" venison hams and wild turkeys in the fall and hauled them to Palmyra for the Christmas market. Venison hams were $.30 to $.40 per pair and turkeys were $.30 to $.40 each. There was no public school but subscription schools were organized in the neighborhood. Each scholar paid $2.50 per 3 month term. The Sharpsburg Methodist Episcopal Church served as a center for the new Community. Rev. Richard Sharp, who had been ordained in Virginia in 1831 moved to the community in the 1830's. He organized a church which met in his home until there was need for a larger building. In 1839, bids were issued for construction of a log structure 18' x 20'. James A. Burditt and Henry were the successful bidders and were paid $50.00 for their labor to erect the building. Rev. Richard Sharp agreed to furnish the timber, and Burditt and Musgrove were to hew the logs and furnish any other material necessary for its' completion. Because of the low cost, the congregation was able to occupy their new church with no outstanding debt. The present brick church building was built in 1860, and the bricks were molded and burned on the site. It was part of a church circuit with Rev. Sharp preaching at Sharpsburg the 1st Sunday of the month, Deer Creek, 2nd, Black Creek 3rd, and James Sharp's home, 4th. Like many country churches, the membership has dwindled but Sunday services are still conducted. John Burditt and Harold Hills, current members, are gggggrandsons of Tompkins Burditt. On the hill east of the Church is the old Sharpsburg cemetery. It has been vandalized, invaded by livestock, and overgrown with sprouts as Mother Nature seeks to reclaim the land. Tradition has it that an Indian was the first to be buried the the cemetery but cause of death is unknown. The settlers had a good relationship with the few Indians in the area so possibly he died from natural causes. Many of the names that are in the old cemetery are no longer a part of the community. There were few doctors and epidemics of consumption (TB), diptheria, cholera, and influenza sometimes ravaged the community. Known burials are listed below and there are probably many others whose graves were poorly marked or had markers made of limestone or wood which have disappeared. Sharpsburg Cemetery BURDITT: Mary Jane 23 Feb 1823-10 Jul 1901 nee Burditt
BURDITT: Sarah E. d/o JA & MJ Burditt, 1 Feb 1859-20 Apr 1869
BURDITT: Lucy Ann 15 Jan 1830-1 Nov 1907 nee Musgrove
BURDITT: William T. 22 Jan 1886-23 Sep 1887
BURDITT: Lucy w/o Tompkins 22 Jan 1802-20 Feb 1385 nee Burditt
BURDITT: Eivira 1848-1878
BURDITT: Thomas 1813-10 Sep 1884
BURDITT: Infant dau LC & LA 27 Jul 1855
BURDITT: Doctor Morrison 28 Jan 1799-1381
BURDITT: David Buchanan JACKSON: Fannie M
JACKSON: Edwin A. 17 Mar.1861-22 Nov 1932
JACKSON: Emily E consort of Wm. P 2 May 1849 Age 23-7-14
JACKSON: James W. 24 Nov 1824-28 Feb 1881
VANCE: J.D. s/o JH & EL 14 Jul 1902-4 Sep 1908 TULLY: William 1851-
BOWER: Mary A. w/o Jacob Jr. 6 Dec 1872 Age 38-4-11 BUCHANAN: H.M. 24 May 1833-17 Aug 1866 D. J. M. 19 Jul 1865 Age 55-2-26 STAGE: Talitha C. w/o David 20 Feb 1872 Age 29 BOULWARE: Benjamin W. s/o Wm & A. 22 Mar 1851 Age 17 mo 29 da
DAVIS: Edward Stephen s/o S & LM 29 Oct 1863-12 Mar 1865 Thomas 2OApr 1357 Age 56
FREEMAN: Jane 14 Feb 1366 Age 65
WARNER: Samuel 13 Jan 1879 Age 70-2-25 MESNER: Amanda B. w/o Rev. J. F. 17 Apr 1873 Age 22-7-15 COUCH: Sarah A 24 Nov 1877-28 Sep 1880 Children of PH & MR
SEE: Henry H. 10 May 1818-30 Jul 1831 WILLIAMS: Elizabeth R. (Sharpe) w/o Spotswood S. Born Albemarle Co VA 9 Aug 1812 married OldhamCo KY 2 Oct 1831 Died I Aug 1873 WILLIAMS: Spotswood S. Born VA 12 Mar 1805. To Marion Co 1840 Millwright by trade. Died 22 Jan 1886 RANDOL: Ida F. d/o JB & MA 26 Mar Oct 1879 WILLIAMS: Eveline d/o SS & ER -14 Apr 1851 Age 1-6-10 Infant s/o SS & ER 18 Nov 1857-28 Nov 1357 MEFFORD: Ella M. d/o H & AE 19 Mar 1851-8 Oct 1851 BROWN: Earl 1875-1923 BUSH: Ray Gene 1923-1923 BUSH: Neppie L 26 Dec 1882-31 Aug 1935 d/o John W & Sarah
KELLY: Eliza J 12 Jan 1865 Age 2-9-26) d/o J & C
SPARKS: Orson 9 Jul 1792-15 May 1370
WILLIAMS: Arabella d 30 Jul 1837 Age 35 Burditt s/o AG & WW JACKSON: ch/o Ed & Ida M 2 Dec 1890 ch/o Ed & Ida M 4 Jul 1901 6 da SHARP: John R.B. 19 May 1892 Age 32-1-8 Lucy J. 10 Jul 1881 23-4-2 SHARP: James R. s/o JR & SE 6 Feb 1857 Age 1-4-14
SHARP: Rev. Thomas P. 6-Jan 1871 Age 71
SHARP- Robert E. SHARP: Rev. Richard b Albemarle Co VA 11 May 1787-4 Feb 1850
MUSGROVE: Lewis W. s/o Wm & SE 4 Jul 1890-23 Aug 1911 MUSGROVE: William-1859-1919
RUCKER: Elizabeth Ellen d/o AG & TM 4 Aug 1848 10 mo 14 da
RUCKER: Andrew M. s/o WA & SE 10 Aug 1871-24 Dec 1871 RUBISON: Easther E. d/o John & Jane I Feb 1838-7 Apr 1841
RUBISON: George W. 1844-1876
HAYDEN: James P. died Feb 1909 Age 55 g/son Richard Sharp SPARKS: Jane A 6 Jan 1883 w/o J.W. age 54 HAYDEN: Susan 1903 TULLY: M.J. Morrow 29 May 1915 d/o Wm. |