J Thomas Scharf
When I was little my father would always speak to me about my heritage. Apparently though, unless affluent and forced to defend yourself amongst other affluents than your heritage takes a back seat to things such as...well...backyard football. But anyway - as I got older I started to realize that it was kind of interesting learning about your lineage. So for you people out there that insist on calling me Scharf - because it's my middle name - I'm here to fill you in on my namesake.
Some of his writings.
A short Bio by a local museum in Delaware
A short bio from what I know -: Born in Baltimore in 1843 he worked for his father as an accountant before joining the confederate army. He was wounded at the battle of bull run and retired at the rank of colonel. It was told to me by my father that he had trunks and trunks of confederate money. He received his LLD from Georgetown in 1876. The story gets vague from there as he entered public service and became the local historian. He was issued a manor of 200 acres in what is now Falls Road for his civil service. He had only 1 child with his wife Margaret and that child was my Great Great Grandfather.
His works include:
He has been editor of the Baltimore "Telegram" and "Morning Herald."
"Chronicles of Baltimore" (Baltimore, 1874) ;
"History of Maryland" (3 vols., 1879);
"History of Baltimore City and County" (Philadelphia, 1881);
"History of Western Maryland" (2 vols., 1882);
"History of St. Louis" (2 vols., 1884);
"History of Philadelphia" (3 vols., 1884);
"History of Westchester County, New York" (2 vols., 1886) ;
"History of the Confederate States Navy from the Laying of the First Keel to the Sinking of the Last Vessel" (1887);
"History of the State of Delaware" (1888);
"Life of Jefferson Davis" (1888);
"Biographical Dictionary of Maryland." (1890)
In fact if anyone wants to go the smaller Enoch Pratt right across the street from my house I can show you a whole shelf dedicated to his work. I had no idea it was there until i went looking for an Otis Redding biography a few months ago.
I actually have the original copy of the "History of Baltimore City and County" It is the only Holmes heirloom and it was given to me. It is currently used as a doorstop in my room.
My son, if I ever have one, will carry the name as well, and hopefully as I get older I'll come to more than just a resume'.
