May 19 — Sharpsville — Inside Sharpsville is the old Riverside Cemetery. Although this place is full of dead people, it is a place where history is alive.
On Saturday afternoon, the Sharpsville Historical Society held a tour sharing some of the history found inside the fence and under the emerald lawn.
Established in 1872, this cemetery is home to some of the most influential people in Sharpsville history. From inventors to settlers to mine owners, the families buried here offer a glimpse into Sharpsville’s 150 years.
The tour started with the Pierce family. The patriarch, James Pierce, was the town’s first millionaire and the main reason Sharpsville became a town.
Pierce began his career in coal mining. As the coal seams began to expand, he built his nine iron furnaces and turned Sharpsville into one of his major iron manufacturing capitals.
With the rise of industry, people began to flock to this area. The Pearce family helped shape the town by establishing railroad connections, banks, newspapers, and other important buildings.
The late former first lady Barbara Bush is a descendant of the Pierce family and once visited the district.
The Pierces are buried nearby, and a large granite monument with a life-sized image of James’s face has been erected in the center.
Close to Mr. and Mrs. Pearce is his ally, James Ormsby. Ormsby worked in the livestock industry early in his life, but eventually joined the military and achieved the rank of major. After his service, he took over the management of his three mines in the area and assisted Pierce with the railroad and banking companies.
Ormsby and his sons also built one of the nine furnaces, albeit at a bad time. He would soon become bankrupt and be forced to move. He moved to Indiana, where he was able to find further success in the mining industry. He eventually moved into an old mansion, where he spent his days. In his later years, he also served as a member of the Pennsylvania state legislature.
In the main aisle are father and son John W. Jackson and John A. Jackson. Although John W. worked in the oil industry, he will be remembered as an inventor. He created the Jackson oiler, an oil can with a long spout to prevent railroad workers from losing limbs and a seal to prevent oil from spilling if tipped.
John W. established his own workshop, and after his death it passed to John A. He ran the workshop for many years until his untimely death in 1955 at a cemetery preparing a Memorial Day speech. The speaker’s podium is now dedicated in his honor.
Inventing continues in the family, as Walter Hull, another inventor and grandson of John W. Jackson, is buried not far from the Jackson family.
Hull is known for inventing the dashboard compass. The compass was a major part of most vehicles until the 1980s. It was especially prevalent in cars, airplanes, and boats during World War II. He also invented other versions and a bicycle compass.
Another grave in the cemetery is that of the talented architect Thomas Robinson. Robinson worked in a planer factory, and in Sharpsville he assembled wooden frames used in three churches. Robinson moved away for a while, but when he returned in 1880, he established a business that doubled as both a furniture store and a funeral home, which was common at the time. His family, including his sons, who worked in Sharpsville’s electrical industry for many years, are also buried with him.
There are many Dunham graves in the cemetery. Only a small, worn-out one belongs to Jonathan Dunham, next to his wife Mary’s. Jonathan is believed to be the first settler of Sharpsville. Mary and Jonathan have 13 of her children, many of whom are still in Sharpsville.
With such a rich history in steel, it’s no wonder that there are so many industry pioneers. One such man was David Agnew, who owned several furnaces within the Chenango Valley. He revolutionized iron production using high-yielding ores. He also helped establish the Sharon Steel Company and the Sharon Iron Works.
Another player in the steel industry was James Gemmill, whose factory lasted until 1985. The mill was known as Gemmill & Hawthorne until Gemmill bought out its partners. It then became known as Sharpsville Boilers Works, and its final name was Sharpsville Steel Fabricators. At the time of its closure, it was the oldest business in the Valley. His company manufactured steel boilers and steel buggies, as well as steel tankers used for oil.
The final stop on the tour is the graves of Bebouts and Twitmyers. Although the two families are not related, the unique tombs next to each other make it an interesting site. Bebouts also includes Wesley, who operated one of the first drug stores in Sharpsville. He also left a large endowment after his death to support the establishment of the Methodist Church.
The Zittmeyer family is full of doctors and educators, as all four siblings found their way into these two fields.
The event was open to the public and was one of many tours offered by the historical society. They accepted donations during the event and sold a variety of Sharpsville merchandise, including shirts signed by Santa. Santa is famous for offering to visit every home in Sharpsville before Christmas. They also sold charcuterie boards with the Pierce mansion engraved on them and a new 150th anniversary book. A history of Sharpsville written by Ralph Mailer, who led the tour.
Ty Kohler can be reached at tkohler@alliednews.com.
