Son of John Sharp and Mary Mitchell.

He came to Ohio with his father, who settled at Marietta, in the beginning of the present century. A few years after, when Sharp had become of age, his father was very anxious that he should study medicine, and for that purpose he bought his son a large number of the medical works which were then authority, and, bringing them home, hoped to please his son, but William, to show his disgust for the science and his love for the woods, immediately shouldered his rifle and started for the Indian country. In the course of several months, in the meantime subsisting on the game he shot in the forest, he found himself near Norton in about the year 1809. He remained here for two or three years, and there joining the army went north to Sandusky.

During the War of 1812, he served as a private in Captain Ichabod Plum's company in May and August of 1813. He also served as a private in Lt Seth Van Metre/Matre's company from Aug 1814 to Jan 1815.

After the war, in about 1814, he married Sarah Ann Boyd, an adopted daughter of John Duncan. He now built a cabin for his wife, but, although attached to her, could not resist the temptation of going into the woods, and often would, after stocking his cabin with provisions, go on a hunt and be gone for one, two and sometimes three weeks. He was reputed to be the greatest "bee-hunter" that was ever in Marlborough Township, and it was said that he knew the Indian language well. He allowed his roving disposition to control him for several years, but at last he bought sixty acres of land from Joseph Cole, and settled down to a life of domestic happiness (as a farmer). About this time, several relatives of his came to this part of the country and brought to him all the old medical books which his father had bought; he suddenly acquired a taste for the same, and began to read medicine. On entering the practice, it is said that he never would take pay for any service he might render.

He and his wife were the parents of at least :

1. Urania (b. 1819)
2. Sarah (b. ~1823), m. 1840 James Winsor
3. Elizabeth (b. 1823)
4. John (b. ~1827)
5. Samuel (b. 1828), m. 1854 Lorinda Main, m. 1874 Siantha Weiser
6. William (b. ~1831), m. 1857 Theda Foust
7. Joseph B (b. 1834)

Sources :

1. Roster of Ohio Soldiers in the War of 1812, published 1916 (page 40 and 227)
2. US Federal Census of 1820 for Troy township, Delaware Co, OH
3. US Federal Census of 1830, 1840, 1850 and 1860 for Marlborough Township, Delaware Co, OH
4. History of Delaware County and Ohio, 1880 (pages 518-519 and 538)
5. His will dated Aug 14, 1861 in Delaware Co, OH and proved Jan 21, 1870 in Putnam Co, OH