BIOGRAPHY: John T. ROOP, Mifflin County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by P. S. Barr 

Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://files.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/mifflin/
_______________________________________________ 

The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, Comprising 
the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, Pennsylvania.
Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume I, pages 511-512.

  JOHN T. ROOP, justice of the peace and manufacturer, Newton Hamilton, Mifflin 
county, Pa., was born January 8, 1841, in Armagh township, Mifflin county.  He 
is a son of John L. and Catharine (Reynolds) Roop, of German descent.  His 
grandfather, Henry Roop, was a miller, operating principally in Mexico, Juniata 
county, Pa.  In his old age, he made his home at Lock Mills, Mifflin county, 
with his son, John L. Roop.  One day he set out to visit Mexico, but was never 
afterward heard of.  The mystery of his disappearance was never unravelled.  He 
was the father of seven children, as follows:  Sarah;  Elizabeth;  John L.;  
Joseph;  Thomas, who was county commissioner one term;  George, who was drowned 
in the river at Mexico, Pa.;  and Isaac.  His wife died in Mexico, before his 
removal to Lock Mills.  He was a Democrat.  His son, John L. Roop, father of 
John T., was a good German and English scholar, educated in the subscription 
schools of Mexico, Pa.  He worked with his father, operating a mill in all its 
departments at the age of sixteen;  he also learned the trade of mill-wright.  
From Mexico he removed to Centre county, where for some time he worked at his 
trade, after which, he removed to Armagh township, Mifflin county, and 
successfully conducted the Lock Mills for twenty years.  He afterwards bought a 
farm of 150 acres in Armagh township, where he remained for twenty years.  
Having sold this, he bought a farm in Wayne township, Mifflin county, on which 
he resided until his death in 1871.  He was married in Centre county, Pa., to 
Catharine, daughter of George Reynolds, born in Jefferson county, Pa.  Mr. 
Reynolds was drowned in Centre county while his daughter was quite young.  Mr. 
and Mrs. John L. Roop had six children:  Mary, widow of Philip Fickes, of 
Kishacoquillas valley;  Sarah, deceased;  Rachel (Mrs. Isaac Speicher), of 
Elwood, Ill.;  John T.;  William, who died in youth;  and Margaret C.  Mrs. Roop 
died in Wayne township.  Mr. Roop was a hardy, industrious man, and was highly 
respected.  He was a prominent and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal 
church, a class-leader and Sunday-school superintendent.  Among the office he 
was called on to fill was that of school director.  He was a Democrat.
  John T. Roop attended the public schools at Lock Mills, and at a very early 
age began the routine of farm life with his father.  At fourteen years of age he 
attended the academy at Lock Mills for one term.  Having been very studious 
while in attendance upon the public school, he was able to accomplish a great 
deal in this term at the academy, and obtained a superior education, as the 
reward of close and incessant application.  His work in the academy was followed 
by more than a year of hard study in the Kishacoquillas Seminary, after which he 
was engaged in teaching for nineteen years, with remarkable success, being 
universally loved and respected by patrons and pupils.  Of the time spent in 
teaching, fourteen years was passed Reedsville, where he was for three years 
principal of the high school.  The remaining five years he taught in Armagh 
township, where he had among his pupils many young men who are now occupying 
responsible positions in the county.  Exchanging the school room for the 
factory, Mr. Roop began the manufacture of carpets in Mifflin county.  He 
removed later to Ellwood, Ill., where he carried on the same business for three 
years.  He then returned to Pennsylvania, and, on August 15, 1886, became a 
resident of Newton Hamilton, where he has conducted the business successfully 
ever since.
  Mr. Roop was married, April 22, 1868, at Milroy, to Sarah E. Swabb, born at 
Reedsville.  Their only child, Elmer K., is now a printer at Lewistown, Pa.  
Mrs. Sarah Roop died at Lewistown, in 1881.  Mr. Roop was again married, at 
Belleville, September 8, 1886, to Ida E., daughter of Amos Early, of Belleville.  
They have had one child, Harold C., who is dead.
     Mr. Roop has the universal confidence of his fellow-citizens, who know him 
to be an upright man, of keen insight into affairs and good judgment.  As a 
consequence, he has held the office of justice of the peace for five years in 
Reedsville, and for seven years in Newton Hamilton.  His decisions have always 
been based on equity, have been satisfactory to the community, and upheld by the 
higher courts.  He has also, for six years, filled the position of school 
director, and is clerk of the Newton Hamilton town council.  Mr. Roop is a 
member of the Presbyterian church, being one of its trustees;  at Reedsville, he 
was teacher and superintendent in the Sunday-school.  He is a Democrat.  Mr. 
Roop is physically crippled, through the carelessness of a nurse, who had left 
him, when an infant, in a dark room without the necessary attention.  But there 
does not live in Newton Hamilton, or in Mifflin county a man of brighter mind or 
one more respected and beloved.