James Roper, Jr

Hobart Gazette April 7, 1916

JAMES ROPER DIES SUDDENLY

 The rather sudden death of James Roper, Jr., one of Hobart oldest citizens, on Friday morning at nine o'clock, April 7, 1916, was a great surprise to the community as he was sick only a few days and had been about on Tuesday prior.  Death was due to acute kidney trouble.  His age was 63 years, one month and 11 days.

 Mr. Roper was born February 26, 1853, at Whitmore Lake near Ann Arbor, Michigan, and was one of five sons and three daughters born to James and Charlotte E. (Baker) Roper, both natives of England.  When he was about three years old his parents moved to Hobart and his father engaged in the butcher's business.  It was in his father's shop that James learned the meat business and later on he and his brother Jarvis succeeded their father in business.  Mr. Roper practically spent all his life either in the meat business or buying and selling livestock, which business gave him a broad acquaintance perhaps more so years ago than any other Hobart citizen.  In October, 1902, he sold his market to E. H. Guyer but in a few years he again opened a market which he operated until he sold out to A. Carstensen in 1903.  Since that time he has lived a rather retired life.

 During the early 1880's he was Superintendent of Roads in Hobart Township and in the spring of 1884 he was elected Township Trustee which office he held for two terms or until the spring of 1888.  It was during his second term that the schools of Hobart were first systematically graded and classified and a course of study inaugurated, which fact was a proud event in his public service.

 On May 16, 1877, he was married to Amanda Randham, a native of Lake County.  To this union were born eight children, Frank A. having died in infancy.  He is survived by his wife, four sons, John, Evan, Lee and Lewis and three daughters, Mrs. Bliss Newman, Mrs. Emily Stoechert and Miss Grace, all residents of Hobart except John who lives near Plymouth.  He is also survived by two brothers, Phillip and Thomas and one sister, Mrs. Kezia Paris of Plymouth.

 Mr. Roper was a member of the old Hobart Court of Foresters and a Maccabee, having insurance in both orders, payably equally to his four sons.  He was also a member of the Masonic Fraternity and the Odd Fellows years ago.

 The funeral was held last Sunday afternoon at the M.E. Church and was one of the largest ever held in Hobart, scarcely half of the friends being able to enter the church.  It was held under the auspices of the North American Union (Old Court Hobart). Rev. Ayling officiated at the services.  The burial was made at the Hobart Cemetery.

 Mr. Roper was a continous resident of Hobart for 60 years and few other citizens possessed more old friends than did he.

James Roper

PIONEER BUSINESS MAN OF HOBART DIES YESTERDAY (From Saturday's Daily)

James Roper, pioneer stock buyer and meat dealer of Hobart, died there yesterday after a long period of declining health. In the early days he bought livestock all over this county, as well as Lake, and his meat delivery wagons ran through Portage and Union townships. Mr. Roper leaves a large family of grown children, who are now part of Hobart's active business life. The funeral will be held Monday.

Newspaper: The Porter County Vidette Date of Publication: April 12, 1916 Volume Number: Issue Number: Page: 3 Column(s): 7

Counties of Porter & Lake, Goodspeed, 1882, p. 681 JAMES ROPER, senior member of the firm of J. Roper, Jr. & Brother, live stock and produce exchange and meat market, was born in 1853, at Whitmore Lake, Mich. He is one of seven childen living born to James and Charlotte E. (Baker) Roper, both natives of England. Our subject was the first of his family born in America. When Mr. Roper was about three years old, the family came to Hobart, where he resided with his father up to his twentiety year. He had learned the meat market business, and now, in connection with his brother, took his father's establishment. For two years, they gave their whole attention to shipping to the Chicago market. The brothers have given a considerable impetus to their trade since it has been in their hands. Formerly our subject was also in partnership with Horace Marble, of Crown Point, for about four years, in buying and shipping hogs. Mr. Roper is a member of the I.O.O.F. fraternity. He is at present Superintendent of Roads for Hobart Township. His political opinions have always been Democratic, but he is liberal in local affairs. He was married, in 1877, to Amanda Randhan, a native of Lake County, Ind. The have one child living - Bliss H. Jarvis H. Roper, junior member of the firm, was born in 1858 in Hobart Township. (the younger brother)

• Updated from Find A Grave Memorial via Amanda Roper (born Randhan) by SmartCopy: Jun 29 2015, 21:57:34 UTC
• Residence: 1860 - Hobert Township, Lake, Indiana, United States
• Residence: 1900 - ED 30 Hobart Township Hobart town, Lake, Indiana, United States
• Residence: 1910 - Hobart, , Indiana
  • Reference: FamilySearch Family Tree - SmartCopy: Oct 7 2022, 5:37:58 UTC