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| Add Photo — Add Link — Add Commentary — Correct this page — Print | | Westerville in Delaware County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes) |
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Sharp Family Homes
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By William Fischer, Jr., June 7, 2009 | |
| | | 1. Sharp Family Homes Marker (Side A) | | |
Inscription. Marker Front:
The Sharp family homes and their locations on N. State Street and Africa Road mark an important route through Westerville on the Underground Railroad. The family patriarch, Garrit Sharp, was an original settler of Sharp's Settlement, now Westerville, and donated land for and helped organize the first Methodist church. He is also associated with the founding of Blendon Young Men's Seminary, which was acquired by Otterbein College, an institution with enrollment open to African Americans and women from its inception in 1847. He and his sons were all noted abolitionists who, along with Bishop William Hanby and Otterbein president Lewis Davis, assisted southern slaves on their road to freedom. From the Sharp homes, slaves would have proceeded north to the house of Samuel Patterson on Africa Road and along Alum Creek to the Quaker settlement near Marengo in Morrow County.
Marker Reverse:
Garrit Sharp's home at 259 N. State Street, built in 1849, served as a Westerville meeting place. His son Stephen, a teacher and justice of the peace, resided in the stately home at 8025 Africa Road, built in 1857-58. The home's construction is representative of mid-nineteenth century rural architecture in Delaware County and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Another of Garrit's sons, Joseph, | | | | 
By William Fischer, Jr., June 7, 2009 | |
| | | 2. Sharp Family Homes Marker (Side B) | | |
resided at 8216 Africa Road (circa 1843), also known as Yarnell's Farm. Son Garry built a house (circa 1857) on the current property of St. Paul's Catholic Church on N. State Street; however, the house was demolished in 2001.
Erected 2002 by Ohio Bicentennial Commission, The Longaberger Company, Sharp Family Descendents of Union County, and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 3-12.)
Location. 40° 8.611′ N, 82° 56.347′ W. Marker is in Westerville, Ohio, in Delaware County. Marker is on Africa Road ¼ mile south of Polaris Parkway, on the right when traveling north. Click for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8025 Africa Road, Westerville OH 43082, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, as the crow flies. William Hanby, Freedom Crusader (approx. 1.2 miles away); The Home of Benjamin R. Hanby (approx. 1.2 miles away); Otterbein College (approx. 1.2 miles away); In Memory of Benjamin R. Hanby (approx. 1.3 miles away); Heritage Green Park (approx. 1.3 miles away); Westerville (approx. 1.5 miles away); Stoner House (approx. 1.5 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.7 miles away). Click for a list of all markers in Westerville. |
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By William Fischer, Jr., June 7, 2009 | |
| | | 3. Sharp Family Homes Marker at Stephen Sharp Home | | |
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By William Fischer, Jr., June 7, 2009 | |
| | | 4. Stephen Sharp Home | | |
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Credits. This page originally submitted on July 4, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Fort Scott, Kansas. This page has been viewed 1,447 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 4, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Fort Scott, Kansas. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.
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