SHARON, James T. - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Note: Born 5 Oct 1825 Kentucky died 27 April 1885 according to findagrave but this certainly does not jive with the obituary – buried Mount Hope at Covington – Susan Hannah Dicken 1824-1873 spouse

Only one child on FindAGrave  Alva A 1856-1856

A gloom like that of midnight was cast over our town Tuesday at the report that James T. Sharon had been killed. “James T. Sharon killed, impossible!”  It was too true; he was dead and by cruel accident.  Mr. Sharon had left his home but a few short hours before full of life and health but was now laid low by the remorseless hand of death. As we gather the facts from eye witnesses Mr. Sharon was at his brother WR’s assisting in raising a barn.  One bent had been placed in position and the second being raised to position when the sad accident occurred. The “gin” was secured on the north, south and east by guy ropes and the heavy strain being on the east rope two stakes were drive in the ground between which a chain was stretched and a heavy timber placed on the chain to make the fastening secure.  Mr. Sharon was standing near and holding this piece of timber to keep it from turning. When the second bent was almost in position Mr. Robb called to the driver to stop until stays could be fastened to the bent and almost simultaneously someone called out to  pull up and the driver again started the horses; this pulled the frame over too far when it fell against the first bent erected felling that against the gin which also fell.  Just at that instant the guy rope on the north side broke, this caused the gin to fall to the southeast. When Mr. Sharon saw the timbers falling he ran to the southeast not knowing the guy had broken and when almost out of dangers way the end of the gin struck him on the head crushing his skull and breaking his right shoulder and arm. Death was instantaneous.  Mr. S. was one of our best known and most highly respected citizens, having filled many places of trust and won the confidence and good will of all who knew him.  For 22 years he has been a member of the school board and labored zealously to advance the cause of education and the result has been gratifying to his friends and will be a monument to his memory.  When about 21 years of age he enlisted in the service of the US and served through the war with Mexico. In 1878 he was elected Treasurer of the Fountain-Warren Fair Association which office he filled with credit to himself until his death.  He was born in Kentucky on the 5th day of October 1825 being at the time of his death 60  years 6 months and 22 days old.  No man ever enjoyed the confidence and respect of his fellow man more fully than he did. Mr. S and this he won by years of toil and strict integrity.  The shock to the afflicted family was greater than any can realize and to them in their hour of sorrowest grief goes out the heart of our people in universal sympathy coupled with the prayer that He who tempers the wind to the shorn lamb will in His mercy make their affliction lighter to bear.

Source: Indianapolis News 28 April 1886 p 1

James T. Sharon an old citizen of Covington was killed yesterday morning by a falling beam at a barn raising at the residence of his brother, three miles east of town.  Mr. Sharon was president of the Covington School Board; treasurer of the Agricultural and Fair Association and a prominent Odd Fellow.