This is the story of my great-great-grandmother, Nancy Tharp, and her short but eventful life. It offers a glimpse into life on a farm during pioneer days in southwest Ohio, in a county that had been settled for only a few decades.
Nancy was likely born in Warren County, Ohio, in late 1825 or early 1826. Warren County was settled by various groups, including the Low Dutch community from Kentucky. She was the first child of John and Julia Ann (Hormel) Tharp, who migrated from Maryland and Pennsylvania, respectively. Nancy grew up on a farm in Turtle Creek Township, Warren County, and had eight younger sisters, along with one sibling who likely died at birth. While no birth record has been located, her parents were married on August 2, 1825, so Nancy was likely born between November 1825 and May 1826 if Julia Ann was pregnant at the time of the wedding, or between May and November 1826 if not.
As the eldest child, Nancy likely helped with child-rearing from a young age, learning the many chores expected of a young woman, such as cooking, cleaning, and farming. Seven of her sisters were born before Nancy married, so her responsibilities would have been significant.
Another early settler family in Warren County was the Cossairt family, who had moved to Ohio from Kentucky after the death of their patriarch, Peter (Pieter) Cossart. The name “Banta” also appears in the county’s census records; the Banta family was part of the Low Dutch (Conewago) Colony that migrated to Kentucky from Pennsylvania in 1781 and were relatives of the Cossairts. Nancy became close to William Peter Cossairt, the son of Henry (Hendrick) Cossairt. William, about 10 years her senior, likely lived on his family’s farm in Turtle Creek Township. The two fell in love and married on November 18, 1843. Because Nancy was underage (likely 16 or 17), her father, John, had to give his permission for the marriage.
The reason for their haste became clear two months later, on January 23, 1844, when their first child, a son named David, was born. Nancy and William went on to have six more children: John (born February 2, 1848), George (born May 6, 1849), Ann M. (born around 1851), Francis (born around 1852), Laura J. (born April 12, 1857), and Jacob (born around 1859). By 1850, the family was farming in Sycamore Township, Hamilton County, Ohio, but later returned to Turtle Creek Township in Warren County by the 1860 census. Their farm was likely close to the Tharp homestead, and William may have taken over the Henry Cossairt farm.
Nancy’s life was tragically short; she passed away on November 14, 1864, at around 38 years old. At the time of her death, her eldest son, David, was serving in the Union Army during the Civil War. In 1867, William remarried Mary Hight, and the couple eventually moved to Carroll County, Missouri.
Nancy’s life was marked by dedication to her family. From caring for her younger sisters as a child to raising seven children of her own, she played a vital role in sustaining her family’s legacy. Her father and husband managed to maintain their farms through the decades, ensuring stability for their loved ones despite the hardships of pioneer life.
Picture: Map of Turtle Creek Top., around 1860. The Tharp farm is near the top center, with the Cossairt farm east of the Tharp farm.
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