Mississippi College - Tribesman Yearbook (Clinton, MS)

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James Madison Sharp, B. A. Professor of Mathematics AMES MADISON SHARP was born Dec. 28, 1851, near Liberty, Amite County, M.ss.ss.pp.. His early education and preparation for college was in the private schools at Summit, Mississippi, and he was graduated by the University of Mississippi in 1875, with B. A. degree. 7 To see his place of highest usefulness in the world, and then, with unselfish singleness of purpose, to fill that place, is the underlying characteristic of every truly great man Possessing the qualities of the born teacher and realizing the great need of earnest men in this field of endeavor, Prof. Sharp decided soon after his graduation to make this his life work As a student he had distinguished himself as a careful, conscientious, accurate scholar and was honored and respected by all who knew him. As a teacher all these admirable qualities, both of scholarship and of personality, were developed and enlarged, and as he grew in age and experience, so also he grew in usefulness, in the graces of Christian manhood, in broad, sympathetic character, and in capacity for service. In the field of teaching Prof. Sharp has had wide experience. His first work was as principal of Live Oak School, Colorado County, Texas, 1875-76; next, he was first assistant in Peabody School, Summit, Miss., 1876-77; following this, he was principal of McCarthy and Jefferson schools, New Orleans, La., 1877-80; principal of McComb City High School, 1880- 82; principal of preparatory and commercial schools, Mississippi College, 1882-90; principal of Capital Commercial College, 1890-93; head of department of mathematics in Mississippi College since that time. I his wide experience, together with peculiar natural aptitude, has fitted him to fill with eminent success the position he now occupies. He is an indefatigable worker, a born math- ematician, an excellent judge of human and boy nature, and is capable of getting as much good, hard work from his students as any man that ever entered a classroom. His interest m his work never flags, and woe unto the boy who ever lets his do so! “It were better that a millstone— etc. Has only three hobbies: long lessons, whiskers and slanderous mal- treatment of the last letter of the alphabet, from which he gets the endearing appellation “Zed ” Prof. Sharp was married Nov. 20, 1878, to Miss Emma N. Quinn, daughter of the late Hon. Judge James B. Quinn, of Summit, Mississippi. His has been a life of perfect domestic happiness for, as he is a man distinguished among many, no less is his wife a true, noble womanly woman, always helpful always inspiring, beloved of all within the circle of her acquaintance Prof. Sharp is still ,n the prime of his vigorous manhood, with a bright future of many years of usefulness before him H,s plans for ever increasingly greater work are thoroughly m keeping with the growth and enlargement of Mississippi College and as a teacher as a man, as a citizen, and as a force for the development of strong manhood among those thrown m touch with him, his worth is immeasurable to this institution. 2 5