Migration of Sharps from Tn to Illinois and Iowa.
Here is the full version of the letter wrote by Levi Berry and quoted by John Sharp which follows my message.
Levi Berry served with the Union Forces in the Civil War and was a musician in his unit.
The following is a letter written by LEVI BERRY on Jan 19,1912 at Palmyra, IL: to Elbert Sharp, son of Jordan Sharp. Jordan was son of Peter Sharp & Elizabeth Berry. Levi Berry is son of Hezekiah Berry and Agnes Sharp. Elbert Sharp d 21 Jul 1921 Montgomery Co., IL. Levi Berry d 26 Dec 1920 at Palmyra, Macoupin Co., IL.
My Dear Cousin,
I was glad to receive a birthday card from you. It has been so long since I saw you that I had to think a while to know what cousin you were. It came to me that you are a son of Jordan Sharp who lived about one mile north of old Zanesville. I was 80 years old on the 11th of January,
1912.
I still run a sawmill and do good work yet. My Mill is five miles southwest of Waverly on Apple Creek. I make my home in Palmyra with my sister Chloe Sloan. She is the youngest and I the oldest of the family of fourteen children. Her husband works in a printing office here. They have but one child. Her name is Ester Sloan and is fifteen years old and is in the high school here.
Now Elbert, I will try to tell you about the time we came Illinois from Tennessee. The Berrys and the greater part of the Sharps came from Claiborne and Campbell Co., TN in about 1835.Claiborne Co. joins KY on the Southeast. Uncle Peter Sharp, Uncle Isaac Sharp and Uncle Powell Sharp came I think in 1830.
Uncle Isaac and Uncle Powell Sharp were in the Blackhawk War and that was in 1831 and 1832.
Uncle Peter and Uncle Isaac settled about three miles east of Scottsville. His brother, Henry, also settled two miles west of Scottsville. His brother, Martin, settled seven miles northeast of Jacksonville, Morgan County.
The Sharps are of German descent. The Berry are English and
German.
Uncle Peter Sharp was Uncle to my mother and his wife was a sister to my father. Uncle Isaac Sharp and his wife were just the same kin to me as Uncle Peter and his wife. Six of my father's sisters married Sharps. Four of the Sharps were brothers and two were uncles to the four. Uncle Peter
and Uncle Isaac were the uncles of four.
Uncle Levi, Uncle Hart, Uncle John and Uncle George were the four brothers and all nephews of Uncle Peter Sharp.
Uncle Isaac Sharp died on the plains on his way to California in 1849.
The home of the Sharps in TN was along the Powell River, east of the Cumberland Mountains, also the home of the Berrys.
The Berrys came from Maryland, near the Chesapeake Bay to Virginia, then to TN. The Sharps from PA then to NC, to VA and then to TN.
The farm that Cousin Jordan Sharp sold just northeast of Modesto (IL) was sold for $175 an acre this fall.
This is about all I can tell you about our relations except Uncle Isaac Sharp, my mother's brother and nephew of Uncle Peter Sharp, Now lives in Des Moines, Iowa, and he is 90 years old.
Now Elbert if you are ever in this section of the country, be sure and come see us. I hope this will find you all in good health and may the blessings of our God attend your pathway through life.
I am truly your loving cousin,
Levi Berry