Tharp-Overly Timeline

Date Place Event
1802 Ross Co., Ohio Elizabeth Overly is born to Frederick and Mary Ann Hines Overly.
5 Apr 1803 Ohio John S. Tharp is born. His parents and siblings are unknown.
23 Aug 1827 Ross Co., Ohio John Tharp, 25, and Elizabeth Overly, 26, are married.
1828 Ross Co., Ohio John and Elizabeth's daughter, Mary Ann, is born.
1828-1830 Ross Co., Ohio John and Elizabeth have a son who dies before 1840.
Jul 1830 Ross Co., Ohio Census of Green Township

John and Elizabeth between ages 20-30
1 male under 5 (child who dies before 1840)
1 female under 5 (Mary Ann)
1 female 10-15 (Mystery Girl)
2 Sep 1834 Ross Co., Ohio John and Elizabeth's son, Joseph William Tharp, is born.
1835-1840 Ross Co., Ohio John and Elizabeth have two daughters who die sometime before about 1849.
6 Mar 1838 Ross Co., Ohio John and Elizabeth's son, Newton Tharp, is born.
Jun 1840 Ross Co., Ohio Census of Green Township Elizabeth is missing from this census.

2 males under 5 (Joseph and Newton)
1 female 10-15 (Mary Ann)
2 females under 5 (children who died before the 1849 guardianship papers)
16 Aug 1840 Ross Co., Ohio John and Elizabeth's son, John Overly Tharp, is born.
2 Aug 1843 Ross Co., Ohio Elizabeth, 41, dies in childbirth with son, George W. She is buried in the cemetery at Overly Chapel. Next to her grave are two smaller stones with no inscriptions - likely the markers for two of the children.
7 Apr 1844 Ross Co., Ohio John marries Alice Elliot.They have one child who dies in infancy.
25 Mar 1845 Ross Co., Ohio John Tharp, Thomas Orr, and Aaron Elliot serve as appraisers in the estate of John Satin of Springfield Twp. Aaron must be related to Alice as he later witnesses her signature or mark on a receipt.
3 Jan 1847 Ross Co., Ohio John S. Tharp and James Little witness the will of John Arrowsmith.
3 May 1848 Ross Co., Ohio Elizabeth's father, Frederick Overly, dies. His will, written before Elizabeth's death, left her 160 acres in Green township (158a SE 1/4 Section 33 T9 R21). Three days after Elizabeth's death Frederick added a codicil to his will stating that no tracts were to be sold until the youngest surviving heir of any of his heirs reached the age of 21. This meant that Elizabeth and John's children couldn't sell their shares of the above quarter section until George turned 21. An inventory of Frederick's property includes $75 he is owed by James Little for the rent of land. James Little continued to rent the land from the children and eventually bought it from them all. He had lived next door to the Tharps since as early as 1830.
6 APR 1849 Ross Co., Ohio John files guardianship papers in probate court for his sons, Joseph 13, Newton 11, John 8, and George 5. Daughter Mary is of age, and the two other girls mentioned in the 1840 census have died. The purpose of the papers is to insure the proper administration of the assets (land) the children inherited from their grandfather Overly.
Bet 1849 and 1852 Marshall Co., IN John, Alice and the four boys - Joseph, Newton, John, and George move to a farm in Bourbon Twp, Marshall Co., Indiana. Mary remains in Ross County. They likely settle on the land described in later court documents as the "NW fourth of the NW fourth of section 31" that "was acquired by John S. Thorp during his first marriage." Another document describes it as land "of which he died seized as of an Estate of Inheritance in fee simple," leading to the conclusion that he may have inherited, rather than purchased, the land. Simon Hanes later claims that John bought the land for $335 from Otho Means on September 17, 1852 at the same time he purchased the land in section 30. Simon's lawyer may have made an error, confusing this with the land in section 30. A thorough search of the deed records would clear this up. What is clear is that this 40 acres had a nice creek running through the south end of it, so the family's house, barn, and outbuildings were likely located here.
Jun 1850 Ross Co., Ohio 1850 Census Mary Ann is living with her uncle George W. Overly's family. The rest of the family does not appear in either Ross Co., Ohio or Marshall Co., Indiana census records, but are likely already in Indiana. Their place in Ross County appears to be occupied by the following relatives, perhaps John's younger brothers?

  Age Occupation Birth Place
Tharp, Andrew 28 Farmer Ohio
Sarah Jane 19   Virginia
Allen 1   Ohio
William 19 Laborer Ohio

Andrew and and Sarah Jane Albert were married in Ross County in 2 Dec 1847, so had been in Ross Co. at least a few years.
24 Oct 1850 Ross Co., Ohio Mary Ann marries Herman Richard (also know as Harman Richart and Richards).They remain in Ross County and raise a family of seven children: Edgar Newton, Sarah, Joseph, Francis "Frank", Mary, Ella, and Laura.
17 Sep 1852 Marshall Co., IN John buys land in Bourbon Twp. from Otho Means and his wife. The land is described as W/2-SW/4, Sec. 30 Twp.34N, Range 4E. An 1872 map shows that the north half of this land is owned by J. Johnston and M.E. Tharp. An 1881 map shows that most of this section is owned by M.E. Tharp, who must be George's wife Mary Ester.
31 Jan 1853 Marshall Co., IN Just four months after John bought land in Bourbon Twp., an Alexander Tharp bought the land bordering along the east side of John's land in Section 31. Alexander must have been a relative, but it seems odd that he makes no appearance in John's probate records. Wouldn't he, rather than a distant neighbor, have been most obvious person to administer John's estate? Maybe Alexander bought the land in Marshall with the intention of moving there, but John died before he could do so. Alexander sells out in April 9, 1857, just a couple of months before Alice brings a suit to have John's estate partitioned.
16 Jul 1854 Marshall Co., IN John dies intestate at the age of 51 and is buried in St. Paul's Cemetery. He may have been ill or injured since the spring based on a $3.00 doctor bill submitted to his estate for medicine and two visits in April. It appears Alice and at least two of the boys remained in Marshall for the next 16 months while the estate is being settled.
25 Sep 1854 Marshall Co., IN An inventory of John's estate is taken and the items sold on October 12th. Alice keeps the animals and crops and only a handful of household items - a churn, iron pot, spider (for cooking over a fire), and cupboard ware. If they are planning on returning to Ross County right away, it seems they would sell everything. But they remain in Indiana for another year. How are they living without a cook stove, beds, linens and other household items? Are they staying with a relative or neighbor?
3 Dec 1855 Marshall Co., IN        
Ross Co., Ohio		 Alice charges John's estate $43.51 for the expense of "taking two boys from Marshall Co., Indiana to Ross County, Ohio." It seems likely that the two would be the younger boys, John and George who are 15 and 12. Joseph and Newton who are 20 and 17, have probably already gone back to Ross County on their own. Alice likely remains in Ross County based on later court documents in which J.B.N. Klinger, the coadministrator of the estate, charged her with moving to Ross County and leaving him the burden of settling the estate. On this same date Joseph and Mary Ann sell to James Little their shares of the farm they inherited from their grandfather Overly. This is technically in violation of the codicil to their grandfather's will which said they may not sell the land until their youngest sibling, George, reached the age of 21. The courts may have allowed it so that Joseph and Mary would have the funds to help support their younger siblings since they were no longer in Alice's care.
9 Jan 1856 Ross Co., Ohio George (12), John (15), and Newton (17) choose Jacob H. Cryder (husband of their cousin Elizabeth Overly) as the guardian of their property. The legal papers are signed by Jacob Cryder, George W. Cryder, and John Overly.
15 Dec 1856 Ross Co., Ohio Jacob Cryder pays $1.50 for the taxes due for the year on property belonging to George, John, and Newton. Herman Richard pays $13.73 for "heirs of Elizabeth Tharp," on 1/5 of 158 acres. This must be taxes for his wife, Mary Ann Tharp Richard's share. Why is it so much higher than the 3/5 share paid by Jacob?
Spring 1857 Marshall Co., IN Alice brings a suit against Mary, Joseph, Newton, John, and George in the Court of Common Pleas asking for a partition of John's land in Indiana. She is asking for one-third of the land to be set off in her name. A widow was typically given one-third of the family's land when her husband died without a will.
Summer 1857 Marshall Co., IN C.H. Reeve responds to the suit on behalf of the children. As either their guardian or lawyer? he stated "that they knew of no reason why the prayer of the widow's petition should not be granted and . . . that by reason of their [the children's] tender years, the court should protect their interests."
20 Jul 1857 Marshall Co., IN Alice's lawyer subpoenas J.B.N. Klinger, the co-administrator of John's estate, to appear and testify in court on her behalf.
1 Sep 1857 Marshall Co. IN The Common Pleas Court orders "that one third part in value" of John's land be set off to Alice "in severalty" which is the condition of being held or owned by separate and individual right. The court appoints Jacob Johnston, Anthony Haines, and Isaac P. Shively commissioners to make the partition.
20 Oct 1857 Marshall Co., IN The Commissioners partition to Alice the land in section 31. According to later court documents, this 40 acres was either inherited or purchased by John during his marriage to Elizabeth. It was likely where John, Alice, and the boys were living after they moved to Marshall County.
8 Dec 1857 Marshall Co., IN The Common Pleas Court summons J.B.N. Klinger, Co-administrator of John's estate, to appear and explain why the estate has not been settled. He responds in January that the estate cannot be settled until all of the sale notes are collected.
21 Jul 1858 Marshall Co., IN Jacob Klinger finalizes the settlement of John's estate saying that over $75 of the sales notes proved worthless, and he had to pay for them himself. He also says that Alice left the state leaving him to deal with the problems that arose in the finalizing of the estate.
20 Oct 1858 Marshall Co., IN A notice appears in the Marshall County Democrat stating that after the settlement of John's estate in the Court of Common Pleas, that $36 was found remaining, and that the heirs were notified to appear on the first day of the next term of the Court to prove their heirship and receive their distribution.
22 Dec 1858 Ross Co., Ohio Joseph (23) informs the court of the assets of his brothers John O. (18) and George W. (15) who are entitled to 1/5th shares of their deceased father's land in Ross and Marshall Counties. The land in Marshall Co., Indiana has a lien upon it and is also described as "unimproved," so is only worth about $100 to each of the boys. The land in Ross is much more valuable. The two boys share of yearly rent from this piece of land is $40, and if sold the boys would receive $800 apiece. Joseph also notes that the boys are owed about $194.00 from their Guardian and others.
27 Dec 1858 Ross Co., Ohio After being under the guardianship of Jacob Cryder for the last three years, George (15) and John (18) go to the Court and ask that their brother Joseph (23) to become the guardian of their property. Newton who is just a couple of months from turning 21, is not mentioned, so he must have remained under the guardianship of Jacob Cryder.The legal documents are signed by Joseph, Albert Dunlap, and Herman Richart.
Jan 1859 Marshall Co., IN Joseph travels to Marshall County to "attend to lands and settle the administration" of his father's estate. Likely he went, in part, to get his siblings share of the $36 remaining after the estate was settled.
15 Feb 1859 Ross Co., Ohio Joseph again informs the Court of John and George's assets. (These documents appear to be in Joseph's handwriting.) The rent on the "farm at the head waters of the Kinikinnick" in Ross County has gone up, bringing each boy $30 a year. The land is still valued at $800 apiece for the five heirs. The land in Marshall is not being rented and is still valued at $100 apiece. Joseph adds that each boy is also entitled to $158.27 "due after settlement with Jacob H. Cryder . . . now in the hands of James Little, George W. Cryder, and R.M. Biggart."
8 Mar 1860 Ross Co., Ohio Joseph, 24, marries 17-year-old Amanda Carmean, the youngest child of Jesse and Mary Ann DeHaven Carmean. Mary Ann has been a widow for ten years at the time Joseph and Amanda are married.
Jun 1860 Ross Co., Ohio 1860 Census of Green Township George (17) and Newton (22) are living with Joseph and Amanda on the farm they inherited from their grandfather Overly. John (19) is living with his cousin Fred Overly's family. Two years later, Joseph and Amanda are said to be living on her mother's farm. Joseph has real estate valued at $1,800 and personal property valued at $550. We know that Joseph sold his 1/5 share of the farm in 1855 for $800. So the $550 is probably what he had left from the sale. The $1,800 in real estate must be Newton and George's 1/5 shares of the farm, each equal to $900.
17 Oct 1860 Marshall CO, IN Joseph and Amanda sell Alice their share of the farm in Indiana.
1 Jan 1861 Ross Co., Ohio Joseph and Amanda's first child, Arthur, is born.
18 Sep 1861 Portsmouth, Ohio John, 21, joins the Union forces as a private in Co. H, 33rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Many years later, in a deposition to help John obtain a disability pension, William Polen states, "He [John] lived in our neighborhood, east of Chillicothe in Harrison Twp. . . before he enlisted. He lived about 2 1/2 miles from where I did. He worked out a good deal but made his home with old Samuel Whelan and Harmon Richard."
7 Dec 1861 Ross Co., Ohio Newton, 23, joins the Union forces as a private in Co. G. of the 18th Regiment of the U.S. Infantry. He is described as being 5 ft 10 1/2 with a fair complexion, blue eyes, and brown hair.
15 Feb 1862 Ross Co., Ohio After three years under the guardianship of their older brother Joseph, George (18), and John (20) choose Robert Oliver as the guardian of their property. Robert Oliver is the brother of Eliza Jane Oliver who is married to the boy's uncle Fred Overly. Those signing the legal documents are Robert Oliver, Henry Oliver, and William Ashworth. Why the boys changed guardianship again is not known. It may be because Joseph and Amanda, expecting their second child, now have too many other responsibilities.
15 Mar 1862 Ross Co., Ohio Robert Oliver states to the court that John Tharp is "entitled to personal property to the value of about $127.76" and 1/5th of 160 acres in Ross County and 125 acres in Marshall County at the same values stated in previous documents. In another inventory done perhaps a year later, he lists only the value of the property, so the boys must have received the money that was owed them by their first guardian.
29 Mar 1862 Ross Co., Ohio Joseph makes his final report on the accounts of his brothers John and George.
1 Sep 1862 Coffee Co., TN Muster rolls list Newton as absent from service because of illness since August 25 at Dechard, Tennessee.
8 Oct 1862 Perryville, Kentucky John is wounded in the Battle of Perryville. In a deposition to obtain a disability pension he states "The night before the battle we lay 10 min. west [of Perryville]. I was tenting with John Stelz and a man named Rickaban.The battle begun about 7:00 in the morning and about 1 1/2 hours after, I was wounded. We were standing firing off of a ridge when a ball struck the calf of my left leg . . . and came out on the other side. John Sikes and Thomas Mowry were standing by me. I dropped and John Thornburg helped me back. I went back and the next day was picked up by an ambulance. Was taken . . . to Perrysville where I was put in hospital. I was there about 7 weeks. I wrote to my brother, Joseph Tharp, to come down and see me. He came down to see me and brought me . . . to his place 3 miles east of Chillicothe, Ohio. I was granted a release by the Hospital Steward. There was no surgeon. I regarded the release as the same thing as a furlough. I expected to return to service whenever I got able. I was treated by Dr. Meissie all the winter of 1862-3 and I was around amongst my relations there till pretty near the close of the war. William Polen, in his deposition states that after John's return, "There was a little store near Whelan's and I scarcely ever went there but what I'd see John, especially on Saturday and Sunday. He was complaining of being sick, and I saw him several times when he was walking on crutches." Andrew Hinton, in his deposition states, "I got acquainted with John while he was living about 3 miles east of Chillicothe, Ohio during the war. I saw him with some of his relatives at the United Brethren Church." George, in his deposition, states, "John O. Tharp is my brother. Our parents died before the war. We worked about by the month in Ross Co., Ohio when the war broke out. John came back from the army in Oct or Nov. 1862. Joe went after him. Joe was married and living on the Jesse Carmean farm two miles east of Chillicothe. Joe went and asked the doctors for a furlough for John. They refused. He then asked to take John over to the hotel and they gave him permission. Joe then got a livery team to come up to the hospital and run them to the depot. That's the way he got out. John stayed with our sister Mrs. Richards. I saw John in about 4 days after he got back. I saw him twice that winter. He got so he could walk without using crutches the next March (1863) and went to California. April I believe. I think he intended to go back, but he was young and the older ones persuaded him off to California. My sister Mrs. Richards, was the one that kept him back. She just said he shouldn't go back and kept him from it as much as she could. He was not really able to do duty at the time he left for California. I suppose it was his intention to keep out of the army on account of the advice he had. " Having lost Newton to the war, just one month earlier, it's understandable why Mary was reluctant to have other little brother return to the fray.
15 Feb 1863 Murfreesboro, Tennessee Newton, age 24, dies in a military hospital from wounds received in the Battle of Stones River six weeks earlier.
April 1863 Charlestown, IL and Chico, CA In a later deposition, John admits, "I left Ross County, Ohio for California in April 1863. That was before my time of enlistment was up. I went from Ohio to Charleston, Illinios where I stayed with Benjamin Henry, a farmer, for about 2 months. I went from there to Chico, Cal. and was around there 3 years. I drove a team and stage. After that I went to the mines. I worked for Fred Striker and John Detro in Butte County." John didn't return to Ross County until 1870 or 1871.
Bet Jul 1862
and May 1863		 Ross Co., Ohio Joseph and Amanda have their second child, Wallace.
10 Nov 1863 Marshall Co., IN Alice receives $300 for the land in Section 31, that was partitioned to her in 1857. The land passes through several hands and is eventually conveyed to Simon Hanes on October 16, 1875.
Bet Jun 1863 and April 1865 Henry Co. Iowa Joseph, Amanda, and their two sons move to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. Their move may be prompted by the death of Amanda's mother on July 21, 1863. Perhaps the family farm was sold, or maybe she left it to one of her boys who came back to take it over.
19 Feb 1864 Ross Co., Ohio George enlists in the Union forces (Co. M, of the 1st Ohio Cavalry) George's granddaughter Martha later recalls, "George W., was a veteran of the Civil War serving in the First Regiment, Ohio Cavalry under Captain Joseph Reynolds, and later with General Sherman on their historic 'march to the sea'."
Bet July 1864 and May 1865 Henry Co., Iowa Joseph and Amanda have their third son, Earl.
13 Sep 1865 Hilton Head, SC
 George is mustered out of the Army and returns to Ross County.
23 Oct 1865 Ross Co., Ohio George sells the 1/5 share of the land his grandfather Overly left him to James Little for $1,000.
1866 Marshall Co., IN George returns to Marshall County and buys back some of his father's land. This is likely the land in section 30 as later maps show it belonging to ME Tharp or his wife, Mary Ester. This land was often described in court records as unimproved and his obituary confirms this saying that "he and his companion labored hard and patiently to clear the land which was almost completely covered with timber."
6 Jun 1867 Marshall Co., IN George, 24, marries Mary Ester Hover. They remained in Marshall County and had a family of five children: Ida, Edgar Newton, Alma "Jennie", Laura "Dean", and Marvin.
28 Jul 1867 Henry Co., Iowa Joseph and Amanda have their fourth son, Newton.
26 Apr 1869 Henry Co., Iowa Joseph and Amanda have their fifth child Mattie.
29 Jul 1869 -
6 Nov 1869		 Alameda Co.,California
 John, who is living near San Francisco, gives his power of attorney to his old guardian, Robert Oliver, to handle the sale of the property he inherited from his grandfather Overly in Ross County. It is sold to James Little for $1,100.
25 Jul 1871 Ross Co., Ohio John, now 31, returns from California (1870 or 71) to marry his second cousin, Margelene "Merge" Gatwood. They have at least three children: Lena, Newton Edward, and Albert. They lived in Ohio and, later, Indiana.
9 Aug 1872 Henry Co., Iowa Joseph and Amanda have their sixth child, Charles.
Bet Aug 1872 and Aug 1874 Sonoma Co., California Joseph and Amanda move the family to Petaluma, California. This is near San Francisco.
28 Dec 1873 Ross Co., Ohio Joseph's sister Mary Ann dies at the age of 46. Her death is attributed to "neuralgia."
8 Sep 1874 Sonoma Co., California Joseph and Amanda have their seventh child, Alice, who was probably named for Joseph's stepmother.
1875 Ross Co., Ohio The entire Tharp farm on Ross County is now owned by James Little, but there is no record of Newton ever having sold his share.
1879 Sonoma Co., California Joseph is listed as a stone mason in the California Voters Register.
Jun 1880 Ross Co., Ohio 1880 Census John and Margelene and their three kids are living with Sam Polen when the census was taken. Sam was later married to Mary Elizabeth Richard on Nov. 11, 1880. (Mary being the daughter of Mary Ann and Herman Richard.)
17 May 1882 Illinois Alice, who never remarried, dies intestate.
14 Apr 1883 Sonoma Co., CA Joseph and Amanda have their last child, Virgil.
28 Apr 1884 Marshall Co. IN Joseph, John, George, and the children of Mary Ann file suit in the Court of Common Pleas against Simon Hanes who now owns the land in Section 31 in Marshall County that had belonged to their father. The land was partitioned to their stepmother Alice in 1857 and she sold it in 1863. It changed hands several times before being bought by Hanes. The children are contesting the legality of the sale saying the land should have gone to them after their stepmother's death. The court finds in Hanes' favor. Why would the Tharp children have waited over twenty years to challenge the legality of Alice selling this land? A letter written by Mary Ann's husband, Herman Richard, says that it was George who "agitated the matter first." This is interesting in light of a passage from George's obituary that says, "In 1881 he (George) and Grandpa Hanes, with the help of a few Christian people, organized and built the Fairview church." Could there have been some falling out between the Tharps and Hanes over the organization of this church, and this is what led to the law suit a few years later?
8 May 1884 Marshall Co., IN This item appears in a Marshall County newspaper: John Tharp, of California, was in the vicinity last week visiting his brother George Tharp. They had not met before for 21 years." Likely this is a typo and should read "Joseph" rather than "John." Joseph had left Ross County in 1863, exactly 21 years earlier, whereas John had been in Ohio, not California, for over 10 years. Joseph was probably in Indiana at this time to join with George in filling out the paperwork related to the family's suit against Simon Hanes.
26 Jan 1885 Marshall Co. IN The Tharps appeal the decision of the Court of Common Pleas to the County Circuit Court. The court hears their argument and also throws out their suit. Three days later they file an appeal for a new trial to the Indiana Supreme Court.
23 Mar 1885 Marshall Co. IN The Tharps file a bill of exceptions for their suit to be heard in the Indiana Supreme Court.
11 May 1886 Indiana The Tharps appeal for a new trial is heard by the Indiana Supreme Court. The court finds in their favor. They are granted a new trial and are successful in regaining the 40 acres in Section 31 in Bourbon Township. It is probably after receiving their share of the money from the land that John and Merge decide to move from Ohio to Indiana. This is based on George's deposition in which he states that John moved to Indiana in about 1886, and that this was the first time the brothers had seen each other since 1863. This money also may have allowed Joseph and Amanda to send Newton to art school to become an architect.
Bef 24 Jan 1887 Indiana Mary's widower Herman Richard writes in a letter to his son Francis: "Murge Tharp was in here from Indiana on a visit, that 45 acre farm in Indiana belongs to the Tharp heirs now, it has be desited (sic) so by the Court of Marshall Co. I think it is worth about $1200 wich (sic) will be about $50 to your share."
1888 Santa Clara, California Joseph is listed as a carpenter in the California Voters Register.
2 Jan 1891 Fulton Co., IN John and Merge are living in Kewanna, Union Twp., Fulton County, Indiana. According to their postmaster, they live about three miles west of town. John, age 49, files for Civil War disability pension for problems related to the gunshot wound to his left leg. His doctor, E.P. Washburn, states that "he is not able to follow his plow and perform other farm labor that requires much walking." Joseph Taylor states that he has worked on the same farm with John for four years, and that he frequently complains about his leg and has to stop often to rest it. This statement suggests that John does not own his own farm, but is working as a laborer. John files for disability under the name "Thorp" as this is how he appeared on the enlistment rolls.
29 Nov 1891 Logansport, IN John is examined by a government doctor to rate his disability. He is described as 6 ft. 2in. and 176 lbs with a fairly vigorous appearance. The doctor says he is about 1/2 disabled because the wound in his calf has affected the leg muscles causing his knee to be painful and give out when he walks.
23 Feb 1892 Washington, D.C. John's claim is rejected because his Civil War records list him as a deserter. He learns that he must first file for the removal of the charge of desertion before he can apply for benefits. This must be done by proving he was under the continual care of his doctor in Ross County until the end of the war.
1892 Alameda Co., California The California Voters Register lists Joseph as a 6 foot tall carpenter, with a crippled left wrist, dark complexion, hazel eyes, and gray hair. His address is 1169 E. 16th Oakland.
25 May 1893 Washington, D.C. John's neighbor, William Polen, completes an affidavit stating that John was under the care of his doctor until the end of the war, but the War Department again rejects the claim stating that the "testimony is not sufficient" and that "it does not appear that this soldier was under medical treatment during the entire period in question."
22 Jun 1893 Sonoma Co., California Joseph and Amanda's daughter Mattie marries William Sales.
22 Jul 1893 Fulton Co., IN John writes to George and asks him to complete an affidavit to help him secure a disability pension. He says it is "the last wag of the hammer for me" and asks him to "state that you knew Dr. Meissie to treat my wound all the balance of the time until my time expired." He also says that he is sending up an affidavit for George Hatfield to sign, if he will. George Hatfield must have been a neighbor to the Tharps in Ross County before moving to Marshall County.
24 Oct 1893 Fulton Co., IN and Marshall Co., IN Andrew Hinton and William Polen (residents of Kewanna who had also been neighbors to John in Ross County) fill out an affidavits for John to have the charge of desertion removed from his Civil War records. His brother George also completes an affidavit on his behalf, but does not state (as John requested) that he remained in Ross County for treatment for his leg until the close of the war.
18 Nov 1893 Washington, D.C. The Commissioner of Pensions is asked to further investigate John's claim because "of reason of vagueness and contradictions." They are also concerned about five lines that have been added to the end of each affidavit stating that John remained in Ross County till the end of the war. They believe the lines are forged as they do not match the handwriting in the rest of the affidavits.
4 Jun 1894 thru
6 Jun 1894
 Fulton and Marshall Cos. Indiana John, George, William Polen, and Andrew Hinton are deposed about John's service record, and also about the forged lines that have been added to their previous affidavits. All state that the lines were not in their original affidavits. George tells the truth about John having left Ross County for California in the spring of '63 and, after a second interview, John admits as much. In his report to the Commisioner of pensions, the examiner states, "The claimant is an unlettered man of considerable shrewdness." But has more positive remarks for his brother, "George W. Tharp is a pensioner and a pretty bright man. I think his testimony is trustworthy as he has evidently told what he believes to be true although anxious to assist the claimant." John's claim is rejected and his lawyer is later charged with having forged the lines in the affidavit, but the charges against him are eventually dropped.
1896 Alameda Co., California The California Voters Register lists Joseph's address as 1129 E. 15th
1897 San Francisco, California A San Francisco city directory lists Joseph as a clerk at C.A. Hooper Company.
May 1897 Fulton Co. IN John makes another attempt to secure his military disability pension.
30 Jul 1897 Washington, DC The War Department again rejects John's claim on the grounds that he was a deserter.
1898 San Francisco, California The California Voter's Register lists Joseph as a carpenter at 225 Louisburg. A San Francisco city directory lists him as foreman at C. A. Hooper and Company.
1900 San Francisco, California The 1900 Census which shows Joseph and Amanda and their youngest son Virgil (17) living on Louisburg Street. Joseph is listed as a "dealer in wood."
1901 San Francisco, California A San Francisco city directory again lists Joseph as a foreman at C. A. Hooper and Company.
15 Jun 1902 San Francisco, California Perhaps knowing that he is dying, Joseph gifts to Amanda a lot on NW line of Louisburg Street, 178 feet N.W. of Mount Vernon Ave., NE 44x NW 103:6 between lot 14 of San Miguel Homestead Association.
28 Dec 1902 San Francisco, California Joseph dies at the age of 68. The funeral is held at the Mission Masonic Temple, and he is buried in Cypress Lawn Cemetery in Colma.
22 Jul 1922 Marshall Co., IN George dies at age 78 and is buried in Sandridge Cemetery. George's death echoes that of his father, as he also dies intestate owning the same land his father had owned at the time of his death. This land is described in the Letters of Administration as the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 31 equal to 30.15 acres, and the south 70 acres of the west half of the southwest quarter of section 30. The property totals 100.15 acres and is valued at $12,000.
11 Jan 1927 Fulton Co., IN John dies at the age of 86 and is buried in Richland Cemetery. He is survived by his wife Merge and two sons, Albert and Newton who both live in the county.
10 Mar 1927 Fulton Co., IN Merge, age 79, applies for a widow's pension based on John's military service. She is living in Rochester with one of her sons, probably Albert. Her claim is rejected because John was a deserter. Over the next year she writes four letters to the Widow's Division in an attempt to obtain benefits, but each time is told that she does not qualify.
1 Jan 1931 Marshall Co., IN George's wife, Mary Hover Tharp, dies at the age of 79. The last line of her obituary reads, "Her passing also severs the long and intimate relation that has existed between her and a sister-in-law. Mrs. John Tharp, who assisted so affectionately in her last sickness."
21 Dec 1932 Lake Co., CA Joseph's wife, Amanda Carmean Tharp, dies at age 90 at the home of her daughter Mattie.
25 Feb 1940 Fulton Co., IN John's wife, Mary M. "Merge" Tharp, dies at the age of 90 at the home of her son Albert.

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