Curtis Sharp

Curtis Sharp was born on Knapps Creek, Pocahontas County, WV. Oct 31, 1929. The land on which his parents house stood was a part of the land holdings acquired by pioneer John Sharp in the early years of the 1700’s. It had passed from Pioneer John Sharp through multiple generations and by the early 20th century Mitchell Sharp, Curtis' father, owned the property.

Mitchell married Edyth Morrison, the parents of Curtis. Following the financial crash of 1929, Mitchell and Edyth lost their land, house and all their belongings to pay a debt of $2400 Mitchell owed to a brother, cousin, neighbor, and sister-in-law.

From 1931 through his retirement in 1994, Curtis, nor his parents, returned to Knapps Creek. After retirement, Curtis began accumulating genealogical data and history on the ancestors of his four grandparents, spending weeks in Pocahontas County. A Lightner Family is his 16th family history. His first was John Sharp and Margaret Blain Sharp Family History.

Books written by Curtis :

 Blessings and Burdens, Growing up Rich and Poor

 Conservation Plants, a USDA Success Story

 John Sharp and Margaret Blain Sharp Family History

 An American Family; Vol One. History and Descendants of Michael Arbogast and Mary Elizabeth

Samuels: Their History, Immediate Family and Descendants of Odessus Adam, Their First Child.

 An American Family; History and Descendants of Michael Arbogast and Mary Elizabeth Samuels:

Vol Two. Descendants of children David, Mary Elizabeth, Michael, and Dorothy

 An American Family; History and Descendants of Michael Arbogast and Mary Elizabeth Samuels:

Vol Three. Descendants of children Henry, Peter, John, and George.

 A Kessinger Family History

 William Nottingham and Susannah O’Brian Family Record

 John Bruffey Slaven and Elizabeth Stewart Family Record

 A Gillespie Family

 A Morrison Family

 A Bell Family

 The Wanless Family of Pocahontas County, WV

 The Family Record of Richard Hill and Nancy McNeel

 A Dilley Family History, from Palatinate, Germany to Pocahontas County Virginia

 And the current one A Lightner Family

Curtis was married to Peggy Bell Sharp for 61 years, has 4 children and 11 grandchildren and many great

grandchildren. Blessings and Burdens, his first book, is about his upbringing, his parents downfall and

recovery, and his early life. Being born poor and being the child of Mitchell and Edyth is among his

greatest blessings.

His 40-year professional career with the U. S. Department of Agriculture focused on using vegetation for

solving soil and water conservation problems, from which he received two USDA Superior Service

Awards. His second book, Conservation Plants, A USDA Success Story. was published in 2013