He was the son of John Sharp, a leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who was also a director of the Union Pacific Railroad. Sharp came to America in 1848 settling in St. Louis.
John Sharp's son was born into a family with strong ties to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served as a director for the Union Pacific Railroad. In 1848, he journeyed to America and eventually settled in St. Louis.