Notable Spouses and Descendants

The Sharp family name descends from male to male; however, the family genetics is enriched in each generation by females. Our genealogy is not a tree with only one trunk, but has many trees with branches that cross and roots that intermingle. We are able to find documents for some of these roots, but all their traces exist in our DNA.

Rose Ugenia Lee Geffray

Rose Ugenia Lee Geffray Sharp, standing in a yard.
Rose Ugenia Lee Geffray Sharp.

Rose Ugenia Lee Geffray was told that she was part Chocktaw, but genetic tests of her son showed that she had no native ancestry. In addition to French ancestry from her father, Rose was a quarter African, and a quarter Asian.

Rose was born on 12 March 1913 in Shively, California. Her father was Mériel Marie Gean Baptiste (John) Geffray, born on 12 April 1874 in Rieux, Morbihan, France. John immigrated to Québec, Canada, in his early twenties and married Virginie Agnis Gauthier on 28 January 1901 in Nominingue, Québec.

Virginie was born on 25 July 1885 in Necaster, New York. Her father was Möise Gauthier, born 1 January 1847 in Québec, and her mother was Marie Léocadie Élodie Dubonnet Bonin, born on 27 October 1848 in Québec.

Québec was a province of France from 1663 to 1763. Seven generations before Rose, on both her mother’s and father’s sides of the family, her ancestors were born in Québec: Jean Francois Dubois dit Brisebois (1668-1768) married Cunegonde Vinet (1674-1760), Michel Brunet dit Letang (1668-1750) married Marie Madeleine Moison dit Le Parisien (1675-1713), Andre Roy dit Lapensee (1675-1753) married Jeanne Peladeau (1684-1751), Andre Gauthier (1678-1730) married Catherine Tournois (1691-1765), Francois de Trepagny (1690-1735) married Marguerite Riviere (1693-Unknown), Gean Baptiste Brunet dit Letang (1703-1760) married Marie Louise Dubois Laviolette (1710-1743), and both husband and wife of all of these couples were born in Québec. Most of their mothers and fathers were born in France and died in Québec.

Rose’s maternal grandparents and their parents where all born in Québec; however, it is logical that her husband, born in France, was unlikely to have had African or Asian ancestry. Therefore, it seems that of Virginie’s parents, Moise Gauthier and Marie Bonin, one was African and one was Asian, or both were part African and part Asian.

Discovery of Virginie Gauthier’s ancestry might have contributed to her separation from Gean Baptiste Geffray. However, in 1914, at the start of World War I, Gean Baptiste left several rental houses in the 17th Street area of Eureka to support his wife and children, and he went to Canada or France to enlist. He died in France during the war.

Racial attitudes were not factors, however, in Rose’s separation from Fred Sharp. One story is that Rose ran off with another man; another story is that Fred accused Rose, rightfully or wrongfully, of infidelity, and kicked her out of the house. Rose stayed in Humboldt County for years afterwards, waiting nearby as Virginia attended her first years in school.

Virginia and Freddie Sharp
Virginia and Freddie Sharp.

Rose’s mother lived at 2330 Togo Street, Eureka, California, and Rose took a house across the street. Rose’s son, Freddie, remembers visiting his mother there when he was about 5 or 6. Rose’s daughter, Virginia, also remembers her and her grandmother there, and said that she would sneak over the fence from her mother’s place to see her grandmother. When Rose would call her, she thought she would be spanked, so her grandmother would let her hide.

The last Freddie heard of her was when he was about 12, although, later, Rose sent photos of them as children about 1946 or 1947 from a hotel in Seattle, Washington.

After Eureka, Rose moved to 1833 Derby Street, Klamath Falls, Oregon. There she was listed in the phone book as Rose U. Miller, having married George Miller, who was in the military. Stationed in Alaska with Miller, Rose worked at the Jesse Lee Orphanage in Seward, where Norman, Clarence, Marie, and Frederick Bowen were sent on 15 April 1933 after their mother died.

Rose married Herman Charles Bunch (1901-1974) in 1947 in Philadelphia and she died in Buffalo, New York, on 12 December 1983.

Virginia Sharp

Virginia Ellen Sharp was born on 22 July 1929, Humboldt County, California; her father was Fred Lee Sharp; her mother was Rose Ugenia Geffray. Virginia married Vico John Albiani, who had been born 22 July 1929 in Scotia, California. Virginia and Vico’s children:

According to the 1950 census, Virginia had Vico’s last name, but was separated from him, had taken her two sons, and was living with her father, Fred Lee Sharp, Alberta Jeanne Kinninook, and Alberta’s three daughters. Nevertheless, she returned to Vico; her daughter, Teresa, was born in 1953. She divorced Vico in May 1968, Humboldt County.

She married Herman Baker. Their child is Paul Baker, born 6 July 1970. She died on 7 September 2012.

Sandra Kay Coppini Albiani was murdered on 9 June 1997. She was working as an unarmed security guard at the Pacific Lumber mill in Scotia, unlocked the door to the mill’s fire hall just before 4:30 am, was reported missing about twenty minutes later by co-workers, and was found in a shallow grave at the south edge of the log pond.

Retha Church

Virginia (hiding behind Retha), Retha, Fred (his arms around Retha and Eva), and Retha’s sister Eva May. A gray cat walks in front of Eva.
Virginia, Retha, Fred, and Retha’s sister Eva May, with a gray cat.

Retha Lora Church was the sixth of the nine children of Cinderella Ann Taylor and Oscar Archibald (Archie) Church. Retha was born on 11 July 1915.

Fred had an affair with Retha’s sister Hazel Irene while Hazel was married to Elber Hamilton but their son Edward Theodore (Teddy), born on 24 June 1934, was not acknowledged to be Fred’s son. Fred had divorced Rose and was caring for Virginia and Freddy. Retha married Fred Lee Sharp about 1938. Fred and Retha had three children: Vernon, Philip, and Linda.

After Fred, Retha married William Thompson, 15 October 1948. Retha lastly married Ernest (Ernie) Forester, whom we called Grampa Ernie. Ernie was a retired lumberman, who made an improvement on a tractor engine, but he didn’t get it patented. Retha was a smoker and had a lung removed; however, she continued to smoke; she died on 20 January 1979.

Vernon Sharp

Vernon Robert Sharp was born on 10 June 1939; his father was Fred Lee Sharp; his mother was Retha Lora Church. Vernon married Janet May Wenz. Vernon and Janet’s children:

When Janeice was about two years old, Janet’s grandparents were having severe problems. Vernon and Janet split up and Janet took Michael, putting him up for adoption. Michael’s name became Ron William Drawson. Janet’s sister brought Janeice to live with Mae Sharp and her four children in their three-bedroom trailer in Rohnerville, California; Fred was working at King Salmon, Alaska, where families were not allowed. After Vernon married Ruby Arnella Owens (1944-Living) on 26 July 1958, Janeice went to live with them. Vernon and Ruby’s children:

Vernon and Ruby divorced in August 1967, Humboldt County. Vernon married Teresa L. Hansen (1953-Living) on 15 February 1974; they divorced 11 January 1980. Vernon and Teresa’s children:

Vernon married Sherri D. Mahan (1961-Living) on 16 May 1981. Vernon and Sherri’s children:

Vernon died on 4 July 2022, Portland, Oregon.

Philip Sharp

Philip Dean Sharp was born on 24 December 1940, Humboldt County. He joined the Marines, then transferred to the Army so he could be a helicopter pilot. He married Sharon Arlene Graves (1945-Living) about 1963. Philip and Sharon’s children:

He died as an Army captain and commander of his helicopter squadron on 23 May 1971, Republic of Vietnam, when his helicopter was shot down over the delta southeast of Saigon.

Linda Sharp

Linda Darlene Sharp was born on 25 September 1942. As a young girl, she was run over by a car. She married Richard Williams. Linda and Richard’s children:

Linda died on 21 December 2022, Fortuna, California.

Elizabeth Leffler

Barbara Ellen Leffler’s mother, Sarah Elizabeth Oliver, married three times:

Barbara’s paternal grandparents were Daniel Orestes Leffler (1821-1885) and Elizabeth Townsend (1827-1912). Elizabeth’s great great grandfather, Captain Samuel H. Dickinson (1665-1728), was a Mayflower descendant, born in Long Island City, Queens, New York. Samuel’s daughter Pheobe (1728-1777) married Charles Townsend (1720-1805). Their son Eber (1760-1822) married Elizabeth Drew (1763-1841). Their son Gilbert (1780-1861) and Mary (Polly) Saxon (1787-1872) were Elizabeth Townsend’s parents. Elizabeth’s parents moved, when she was 12 years old, from Clinton County, Ohio, to Hartford City, Indiana, where she grew up.

The Townsends

Colonel Elijah Carver Townsend (1818-1913) wrote about the Townsend family in 1904:

As I am the last one living of the Samuel Townsend family of eight children, I write this history thinking it fairly correct. The family is old, even for an English one, tracing its ancestry from the year 1275. The original name was known as Woodville, who lived in London, England. One branch moved to a distant part of the city, who was known as Woodville of the town’s end. Gradually the Woodville name was dropped and became known as Townsend. The family is closely related to Lord Townsend of Rainham, Norfolk County, England, who was an ancestor of the greater part of the Townsends in America. At that time the old English family’s coat of arms represented a stag and hounds on either side of the shield supporting a crown and stag. The first Townsend who emigrated to America was Richard Townsend, who came in 1620 to Jamestown, Virginia. In 1634 Thomas Townsend came to Lynn, Massachusetts. In 1637 William Townsend came to Boston, Massachusetts. In 1644 Martin Townsend came to Boston, Massachusetts. In 1682 Richard Townsend came to Philadelphia. In 1676 William Henry and Richard Townsend came to visit George Island, New York; afterwards they settled in Dutchess County, New Jersey. They were Quakers.

My grandfather, Eber Townsend, was a son of Henry Townsend and was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, as proved by the records in Washington. He was wounded and taken prisoner when the British captured New York City, and was one of the soldiers the British intended to execute, had not Washington ordered the execution of two British prisoners for every one of the Americans so treated.

Eber Townsend, my grandfather, died in 1826. His wife, my grandmother, whose maiden name was Sarah Drew, was a sister of Daniel Drew of New York City. Their parents came from Scotland and settled in Dutchess County, New Jersey. She was a very large woman weighing 240 lbs. and of dark complexion. Her second husband was Timothy James, a Presbyterian minister. She lived to be 103 years old.

My father, Samuel Townsend, a son of Eber Townsend, was born in Dutchess County, New Jersey, in 1783. He was an American soldier in the war with Great Britain in 1812. He moved from New Jersey to Steuben County, New York, in 1814. My mother’s parents went from Scotland to Coetly, Ireland, to America, settling in Doven County, New Jersey. My mother, Sarah Longwell, was born in 1782 and died in Steuben County, New York, in 1821, leaving five sons and three daughters as follows:

I am now in my 87th year, and when I am called for, will be buried at Shullsburg.

George, Ira, and H. S. Townsend settled near the present village of Stockton, Illinois, in 1836. They were the first settlers and secured farms of several hundred acres each, which are now occupied by their children.

I have carefully gathered this history and trust it will meet the approbation of all interested.

Shullsburg, Wisconsin, September 1, 1904

Polly Saxon’s father, John Lucas Saxon, was born 17 November 1761 in New York State. His father was from Holland. When he was 12 and the British landed on Long Island, he ran away from home, going to Georgia, where he remained until he was 16. Then he volunteered as a soldier, was made a drummer boy, and served throughout the Revolutionary War. He joined the State troops of the State of New York on 1 May 1781 and served under Captain Josuha Hyatt, Captain Richard Sackett, and Captain Williams, and served on the lines between the Americans and the British in Westchester County. On 1 July 1781, he marched with the French army under the command of Count de Rochambeau to Morrisena. Under Colonel Scammuel, they marched past Fort Independence, crossed Williams bridge across the Brussels River where they stopped a few hours to watch the movements of the British, then marched from there and on the same day joined the American Army under the command of General Washington on the post road leading along the Hudson River from the City of New York to Albany. They marched with the French troops to Dobbs Ferry on the Hudson River three miles below Tarrytown. There, he was sent out on a scouting party, which was attacked in Phillips Woods where a sargent and corporal in their party were killed. After the war, John Saxon married Elizabeth Evans (1776-1852) and moved to Dutchess (now Putnam) County, then to Wheeler in Steuben County. For his war service he received a pension at the age of 71. He died in Blackford County, Indiana, in 1862, aged 100 years and 10 months.

Gilbert and Polly Townsend lived in New Jersey and had five children there. In 1815 they moved to Steuben County, New York, where they had six more children. Elizabeth was their tenth child.

In 1839, they moved again to Blackford County, Indiana, and settled in the southwest corner of Washington Township in Blackford County. They drove from Steuben County to Indiana with about fourteen families, nearly all being more or less related, including the families of Gilbert Townsend and James Saxon. They all located in Blackford County. Gilbert built a cabin with his own hands, finishing it in the customary style with a stake and rider roof, puncheon floor, clapboard door, all without purchased material. Here Gilbert and Elizabeth lived until he died at the age of 81 and she died at the age of 84.

The remoteness and wildness of this country is shown by an incident that happened in March 1839. Gilbert lost a cow and went into the woods in search of it, but he became lost and decided to remain all night in the woods, making a bed of moss and leaves. He had scarcely closed his eyes when howls told him of the presence of wolves. He had time to climb a tree and came to be under the impression that there were thousands of wolves below him. He hadn’t brought a coat with him and was about to freeze, so he began to holler, which attracted the attention of John Bush from the nearest cabin, so in a short time he was released from his tree.

Jalapa, a Native village of the Godfrey tribe, was near, and Gilbert was friends with them. When Chief Shab-on-do-sha died, he danced all day with the Native women.

Gilbert’s son, Elizabeth Townsend’s brother, Alvah Townsend (1825-1907) fought in the Civil War. He enlisted on 10 October 1864 and was mustered out on 17 August 1865. He was assigned to the Thirty-first Regiment Indiana Infantry and joined his regiment at Bridgeport, Alabama. He was in a battle in Nashville where his regiment lost heavily. He was also in the Battle of Franklin. He accompanied his regiment as far as Duck River in pursuit of General Hood, at which place he was left sick in a hospital. He returned to Nashville, where he lay sick five weeks, then he joined his regiment at Huntsville, Alabama, which he accompanied to Green Lake, then to San Antonia, where he fell out of line and crawled to a house where he was taken in and doctored by a rebel surgeon for five weeks. He was discharged on 17 August 1865 and managed to get home, picking up work where he could get it along the way, arriving home on 29 March 1866.

Descendants of Gottlieb and Susanna Marie Leffler

The first members of the Leffler family to be born in Germany and to die in the United States were Gottlieb and Susanna Leffler. We think that Gottlieb had married Susanna Maria (Anna) Loeffler in Baden, Germany, in a Lutheran church. Susanna’s maiden name was the same as Gottlieb’s, but it’s unknown whether they were closely related. Löffler, originally German and Ashkenazic Jewish, was an occupational name for a maker or seller of spoons. The family surname was spelled Löffler, Loeffler, and Loffler, and, in Pennsylvania, Gottlieb spelled his name “Gotlieb Leffler.”

Gottlieb was born in 1730 in Gundelsbach, Rems-Murr-Kreis, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Susanna was born 19 June 1731 in Malmsheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. To the north of the state of Baden-Württemberg, Frederick the Great had been King in Prussia since 1740. Gottlieb probably arrived in Philadelphia from Rotterdam either on 24 August 1749 on the ship Elliot, or on 25 September 1751 on the ship Phoenix. Gottlieb and Susanna died in 1791 in Berks County, Pennsylvania. They were Barbara Ellen Leffler’s third great-grandparents.

Children of Gottlieb and Susanna Leffler:

  • George Leonard, born 1749 (possibly in Germany).
  • Johannes Philip, born 28 January 1751, Stouchsburg, Pennsylvania; died 3 February 1816, Madison, Ohio; married Cathetine Riedt on 22 November 1774 in Bethel, Pennsylvania;
  • John Adam, born 2 February 1752, Somerset, Pennsylvania; married Maria Magdalena Kabel (1757-1850) in 1777, Northumberland, Pennsylvania; died 2 February 1845, Brush Creek, Ohio.
  • Elisabeth, born 1754, Berks County, Pennsylvania; married Maximillan Hains (1750-1818) in 1775; lived until at least 1818.
  • Susanna Marie, born 21 December 1757, Somerset, Pennsylvania; married Johannes (John) Jacob Fisher (1746-1826) in 1781; died 6 September 1845, Perry, Ohio.
  • John Heinrich (Henry), born 15 May 1758, Somerset, Pennsylvania; served as a private in Pennsylvania’s Second Battalion of the Rifle Regiment in Capt. Henry Christ’s Company in 1776; married Maria Elizabeth Kirstaetter (1765-1829) about 1782; served as a lieutenant in the Northumberland Militia, and in the Forth Battalion, Eighth Company, under Col. Charles Goben and Capt. Daniel Brosius in 1792; died November 1825, Lower Mahanoy Township, Pennsylvania.
  • Gotlieb Godfrey, Jr., born 1760, Berks County, Pennsylvania; married Mary Magdalene Fisher (1769-1820) in 1788; died 15 October 1803, Lower Mahanoy Township, Pennsylvania.
  • Anna Marie, born 16 September 1762, Berks County, Pennsylvania; married Philip Klinger (1760-1822) on 5 May 1781; died 5 December 1829, Lykens, Pennsylvania.
  • Johannes (John) Philip, born 5 July 1764, Berks County, Pennsylvania; married Eva Jane Anna Gunkel (1773-1857) in 1791; died 16 August 1849, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania.
  • Adam, born 7 February 1778, Northumberland, Pennsylvania; married Anna Christena Daniel (1780-1843) in 1797; died 1 December 1845, Morgan, Ohio.

Cathetine Riedt was born 28 November 1756, Stourchsburg, Pennsylvania. Children of Johannes Philip Leffler and Cathetine Riedt:

  • Benjamin, born 1775; died 1853.
  • Susanna Maria, born 1776; died 1859.
  • John Philip, born 29 September 1782; died 2 February 1842.
  • Elizabeth, born 1785; died 1855.
  • George Washington, born 9 October 1793, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania; married Elizabeth Foy (1798-1866) on 6 December 1821; died 1855, Blackford County, Indiana.
  • Samuel, born 1795; died 1836.
  • Christian, born 1796; died 1836.
  • Solomon Riedt, born 1798; died 1826.

Children of George Washington Leffler and Elizabeth Foy:

  • Daniel Orestes, born 30 May 1821, Perry, Ohio; married Elizabeth Townsend (1827-1912) on 21 April 1850, Hartford, Indiana; died 11 March 1885, Blackford County, Indiana.
  • Mary, born 21 July 1825; died 14 February 1908.
  • Mary E., born February 1827; died 6 September 1873.
  • John A., born 1827; died 11 March 1885.
  • Susannah, born 1831; died 1903.
  • Joseph Michael, born 7 March 1836; died 5 December 1912.
  • George D., born 8 February 1839; died 19 January 1921.
  • James, born 1843.

Children of Daniel Orestes Leffler and Elizabeth Townsend:

  • Alvah Castle (Alvie), born 29 January 1853, Hartford City, Indiana; married Sarah Elizabeth Oliver (1844-1928) on 10 July 1868, Grant County, Indiana; died 31 July 1918, Richland Center, Wisconsin.
  • James M., born 1858; died 1934.
  • George Daniel, born 1862; died 1937.
  • Mary E., born 27 March 1867; married Edward W. Wells (1867-1942) on 28 March 1891; died 14 December 1920.
  • Emily E., born 1874.

Children of Alvah Castle (Alvie) Leffler and Sarah Elizabeth Oliver:

  • Barbara Ellen, born 14 November 1877, Hartford City, Indiana; married William Newton (Bill) Sharp (1874-1964) on 1 January 1900, Hartford City, Indiana; died 25 November 1927, Richland Center, Wisconsin.
  • Daniel Orestes, born 21 August 1880, Hartford City, Indiana; married Mildred Alena Calkins (1903-1991) on 21 October 1929; died 4 May 1945, Richland Center, Wisconsin.
  • Joseph Malton, born 23 August 1882, Hartford City, Indiana; married Dorella Margaret Reno (1898-1931) on 6 November 1915, Bridgeport, Connecticut; died 23 August 1882, Hartford City, Indiana.
  • Arnasa Oren, born Austust 1884; never married; died 2 March 1907.
  • Lydia Mae, born 4 August 1886, Hartford City, Indiana; married Timothy Lee Manning (1878-1937) on 5 January 1904, Richland County, Wisconsin; died 9 July 1959, Richland County, Wisconsin.

Children of Joseph Malton Leffler and Dorella Reno:

  • Jeanette Mary, born 29 February 1916, Richland County, Wisconsin; married Gerald Nelson Wilson (1912-1977) on 28 Dec 1933, Richland County, Wisconsin; died 31 January 2013, Madison, Wisconsin.
  • Joseph Rayne (Buster), born 5 December 1917, Leominster, Massachusetts; married Wilma Belle Sippy (1917-1979) on 26 February 1940, Dubuque, Iowa; died 27 November 1976, Shorewood Hills, Wisconsin.
  • Pauline May, born 1 September 1921; married Stephen A. Gambino (1920-2004) on 17 July 1976; died 18 June 1973, Madison, Wisconsin.
  • Charlotte Marie, born 16 April 1924, Richland Center; married Frank Krevolt (1922-2003) in 1945; died 6 January 1984, El Paso, Texas.
  • Myrtle Irene, born 4 March 1927, Richland Center, Wisconsin; married Lee Earl Keith (1930-2023) on 23 May 1981, Dane County, Wisconsin; died 23 April 2018.
  • Gertrude Lorraine, born 16 August 1929; married Garth Eburne Wheaton (1925-1975) on 9 June 1946, Richland County, Wisconsin; died about 1982.

After their mother, Dorella, died on 10 June 1931, Myrtle and Lorraine were raised by their uncle and aunt Danny and Alma Manning, but were not adopted. Danniel Lee Manning was the son of Lydia Mae Leffler, Joseph’s sister, and Timothy Lee Manning.

Children of Lydia Mae Leffler and Timothy Manning:

  • Daniel Lee (Danny), born 24 November 1905, Eagle, Wisconsin; married Alma Erma Shannon (1906-2006); died 12 May 1973, Richland Center, Wisconsin.
  • Lester Theron, born 24 July 1906, Dayton, Wisconsin; married Gladys Irene Williamson (1908-1987); died 12 June 1964.
  • Idell Marie, born 21 April 1908, Wisconsin; married Thomas (Tom) R. Walsh (1901-1971); died 13 October 1990, Richland County, Wisconsin.
  • Hannora E. (Nora), born about 1911; married Robert F. (Bud) Pennell; died before 1979.
  • Myron Michael, born 21 July 1912, Wisconsin; married Francis Jane Frawley (1923-1998); died 9 November 1979, Spring Green, Wisconsin.
  • Roscoe Edward, born 14 November 1914, Wisconsin; married Dorthea Mae Mecum (1922-2008); died 26 June 1987, Richland County, Wisconsin.
  • Gertrude Katherine, born 19 November 1916, Wisconsin; married Wilson Henry Conroy (1914-2005); died 25 June 2009, Dunedin, Florida.
  • Mary Margaret, born about 1920, Wisconsin; married Charles Nalepinski (1914-2001); died 16 July 2004, Grant County, Wisconsin.
  • Nellie Irene, born 6 April 1921, Dayton Township, Wisconsin; married Archibald (Archie) Robert Pulvermacher (1917-1995); died 8 June 1995 Madison, Wisconsin.
  • Charlotta Ellen, born 19 May 1926, Wisconsin; married William Charles Cork (1920-2001); died 11 February 1993, Wisconsin.