I've always read that my hometown was first named Bloomfield because of the many flowers that grew in the area, but now I am not so sure that is correct.
A few days ago, I was looking at some stuff in my history files and ran across an old news clipping that mentioned a man named Bloomfield living in Sharpsburg.
It's possible the town was actually named after someone with that last name.
Anyway, the history that has been written tells us that Bloomfiled was founded by Moses Sharp and John Penix in the later part of the 17th century.
It was first surveyed in 1814, but it wasn't until 1817 that the town was established.
And so the story goes, Moses and his son in-law John Penix, donated the land at Bloomfield.
When Moses died in the spring of 1817, the towns people voted to rename the town Sharpsburg in honor of Moses.
Moses Sharp was born in Lynchburg Virginia in 1740.
At the age of 19, he entered the military service during the Revolutionary War.
His military record furnished by the War Department, shows that he began as a private in Captain John Morton's Company 4, Virginia Regiment commanded by Colonel Thomas Elliot. The record shows his pay commenced September 29, 1775 and that General Thomas Scott honorably discharged him at Valley Forge.
In later years, he left his Virginia home and came to Kentucky in 1779 where he met and became friends with Daniel Boone.
Moses and Daniel fought together in the Battle of Lower Blue Licks Springs in Nicholas County. Moses also fought in the war of 1812.
Moses later returned to his home state where he met and married Elizabeth Walker.
Sometime in 1780, he came back to Kentucky and settled at Bald Eagle.
It appears Moses did not bring his family back to Kentucky until 1787 when he first shows up on the tax rolls.
He had purchased land on one of his many trips and built a "solid house in a pleasant location".
Moses and Elizabeth were blessed with nine children, three of whom became doctors.
Moses and Elizabeth were blessed with nine children, three of whom became doctors.
His ancestors have since been prominent members of the community, engaged in business, farming and political affairs.
Moses is buried on a private farm just off the Ramey/Ratliff road in Sharpsburg, Kentucky.
The outline of the fort was said to be clearly visible for many years.
Today, if you were to try and visualize that area, you would be in the vicinity of water tower.
One of the early businesses of Sharpsburg was a Carding Factory where the farmers brought their wool and had it carded and made into cloth.
Sharpsburg also had the first tailor’s shop in this section of the state.
Joseph Yeater and James Milroy are said to have built the first two houses in town.
Milroy was also a tavern owner in Sharpsburg.
There was a Mr. Hart who was a cobbler and made boots and shoes.
Coffins were made by Mr. James Caldwell and William Barker for many years and were made of black walnut and were said to be the finest.
One of the early establishments was a three-story flour mill built by Dave Badger.
Today,the home of George Riley is built on the foundation of the mill that was owned by Mr. Knight in the 1920's and located on Montgomery Street.
Andy Boyd and John Carter were the first to open large general stores and at this time there were no banks so the towns people and the farmers deposited their money in these general stores.
Later Sanford Allen founded the Exchange Bank which remained in the Allen family for many years.
Sharpsburg at one time was a big receiving center for tobacco and Waller Sharp was one of the largest independent buyers in the state, handling from one to three million pounds per year.
Other buyers were William Peed, L.S. Rogers and a Mr. Bramlett.
Some of the earliest settlers had the following surnames:
Sharp, Ratliff, Suddidth, Foster, Ashby, Moler, Carter, Berry, Jones, Barnes, Hill, Boyd, Caldwell, Hart, Lear, Beard, Booth, Brown, Smather and Stevens.
