Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Vol. 3.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 163.

GEORGE H. THARP

     Some of the best farms in Marion county lie in the vicinity of Jefferson,
and among these is that owned by George H. Tharp, who is an up-to-date and
progressive agriculturist and has met with substantial success in his
operations. Born at The Dalles, Oregon, on the 25th day of September, 1866, he
is a son of B. N. and Nancy (West) Tharp, the former a native of Ohio and the
latter of Kentucky. His father was reared to farming, which occupation he
followed in his native state until 1866, when he went to Polk county, Oregon,
and bought two hundred and sixty acres of land, located a mile and a half
southeast of Suver. It was mostly prairie land and he cleared off what timber
stood on the place, developing a splendid farm, to which he devoted his
attention until about 1890, when he retired and moved to Independence, Oregon,
where he lived until his death, in 1900. The mother passed away in 1923. Of the
ten children who blessed their union, seven are living, namely: George H.; Mrs.
Daniel Busby, of Cottage Grove, Oregon; Mrs. Carrie Starr, of Bellefontaine,
Oregon; Mrs. Jennie Burnell, of Everett. Washington; Mrs. William Steel, who
lives in California; Charles, of Corvallis, Oregon; and Frank, of Tangent,
Oregon.
     George H. Tharp was given the advantage of a good education, attending the
public schools, Albany College and the State Normal School at Monmouth, spending
a year at the last named. He remained at home, assisting his father in the
operation of the farm and also worked out for several years, since which time he
has been farming on his own account. His chief crops are hay and grain, corn and
clover, and he also keeps about eighty hogs and ten good cows. He has shown
himself a practical man in everything he does and has met with well merited
success. In 1907 Mr. Tharp built a modern home and a substantial barn and his is
a well improved and productive, farmstead.
     On February 28, 1894, Mr. Tharp was united in marriage to Miss Emma
Anderson, who was bom on her father's old donation claim, five miles northwest
of Jefferson, Marion county, and is a daughter of James and Lucy (Savage)
Anderson. Her father was born in Lancaster, Fairfield county, Ohio, September 3,
1812, and her mother in New York state, March 12, 1828. In 1847 Mr. Anderson
crossed the plains, with ox teams and covered wagons, coming to the Willamette
Valley. Soon afterward he took up a donation claim of six hundred and forty
acres of land, five miles northeast of Jefferson, and, after building a small
house, began fanning. He raised big crops of wheat and oats, ran large herds of
cattle, and for many years was regarded as one of the best and most prosperous
farmers in this locality. In 1855 he built a fine twelve-room house, of white
fir lumber, which he whipsawed and planed by hand, and at that time his
residence was considered one of the finest farm homes in the state of Oregon,
the house being now occupied by his grandson, James W. Anderson, whose sketch
appears elsewhere in this work. In 1849 Mr. Anderson joined the gold rush to
California, where he met with very fair success. He was an active member of the
Masonic order and a leading member of the Methodist Episcopal church at
Jefferson. About ten years prior to his death, which occurred December 6, 1898,
he retired from active business. His wife passed away December 26, 1914. They
were the parents of seven children, as follows: E, H., who lives in Salem; Mrs.
Isabel Stewart, and Mrs. Minnie E. Thurman, both deceased; Mrs. Ida Lynes, who
lives in Brownsville, Oregon; Charles, who lives in Idaho; William, deceased;
and Mrs. Emma Tharp. The last named obtained her education in the public schools
of Salem and remained at home until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Tharp have two
children: Mrs. Mabel Whiteman, bom June 5, 1895, and Floyd, who was born June
22, 1896, and is married and has two children, Judith and Hubert. Mr. and Mrs.
Tharp are members of the Grange at Ankeney and take an active interest in the
work of that organization. He is a stanch republican in his political views and
has served for ten years as a member of the school board, having shown an
effective interest in good schools and improved highways. Because of his upright
life and fine personal qualities he is deservedly popular throughout the
community.

     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in April 2011 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.