Mr. Tharp Dead

News reached Blair last Friday of the death of James R. Tharp, a former resident of Blair and uncle to Henry Hill of this city. Mr. Tharp has had a varied experience in life. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1839, made his first trip to Nebraska in 1855 and remained here until the spring of 1858 when he left, by overland route, for Denver and California. From there he became a seaman- crossing the Pacific to China and thence around Cape of Good Hope, landing in Boston after a two years journey. He was soon married to Miss Anna VanLiew and came to Nebraska a second time in the spring of 1867, and settled in Cuming City, where he remained about two years, after which he removed to his farm near Orum. In the spring of ’93 Mr. Tharp bought a farm in Franklin County where he went to make preparations for his family who came on the following autumn, where they have since lived.

Ten children were born to them, all of which are living. The two oldest girls are married, being now Mrs. Hurd and Mrs. Miner. Mr. Tharp was a Union soldier in the late war, entering the service from New York, where he did duty with a battery for one year. While his last illness has had a firm grip on him for some time and has gradually drawn him down and while the immediate friends and relatives have feared the worst for some time, yet, to his many friends, the news of his death comes with suddenness. The family has always been very highly respected here and sympathy goes out for the bereaved family who have lost a kind husband and father.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

Find a Grave Memorial #235559790