T. J. SHARKEY was born in Floyd county, Iowa, on the 19th of December, 1860. He was reared in his native county and received his early education, learning the business of telegraph operator. In January, 1880, he accepted the position of operator at Valley City Station on the Northern Pacific railroad, but was transferred in December of the same year, to Muskoda, Minnesota, where he remained until taking charge of Rice's Station in Langola, in April, 1881. He is also agent for the Northern Pacific Express Company.

History of the Upper Mississippi Valley (1881) p. 360 [Langola]