Through his wife he inherited his first home on U.S. Highway 13 at Farmington, and began the accumulation of a considerable amount of farmland which he managed for the rest of his life.

[1] When he was elected governor in 1847, the family moved to Milford and lived at the northeast corner of Church and Front Streets.

Throughout the 19th century Delaware politics was characterized by a conservative down state, agrarian and small business majority, in opposition to a Wilmington based industrialist minority.

Having lost three straight elections for governor, the minority Democratic Party found a candidate of their own from down state in Tharp.

Nevertheless, like the unwanted War of 1812, Tharp and Delaware in general responded to the recruiter, and many served honorably from Buena Vista to Vera Cruz.

Tharp is described as "a very successful and progressive farmer...a strong man intellectually, a substantial citizen, prominent in his community and highly respected by all the people.