BIO: John Shopp, Cumberland County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2010.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania.
Containing History of the Counties, Their Townships, Towns, Villages, 
Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and 
Prominent Men; Biographies; History of Pennsylvania; Statistical and 
Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc.  Illustrated.  Chicago: Warner, Beers 
& Co., 1886.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/beers/beers.htm
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                                PART II.

             HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA.

                              CHAPTER XLVII.

                             HAMPDEN TOWNSHIP.

483  HAMPDEN TOWNSHIP.

  JOHN SHOPP, retired farmer, near Shiremanstown, was born July 6, 
1794, on the place where he now resides.  His farm is one of the 
original tracts, called "Manington," for which a warrant was granted 
May 17, 1767, by Thomas and John Penn.  After but two intermediate 
transfers, it was purchased, September 20, 1774, by Ulrich Shopp, 
grandfather of our subject, and has continued in the ownership of the 
family ever since.  Ulrich Shopp left, inter alia, a son John, who 
married a Miss Annie Hershey, and they had eleven children:  Elizabeth, 
Magdalena, Christian, John (our subject), Sarah, Samuel, Jacob, Annie, 
Fannie, Catharine and David.  They were a long-lived family.  Magdalena 
died when a child, David in his seventieth year, and the others at ages 
ranging from eighty to eighty-nine years. John is the sole survivor.  
He was born in the small long schoolhouse which now stands near St. 
John's Church, one-fourth mile from his farm, but which at that time 
was near the site of his present residence.  He followed farming until 
about twenty years ago, when he retired, and has since been engaged in 
no special active business.  He has long been an active member of the 
United Brethren Church, the first edifice belonging to that 
denomination in the neighborhood having been built on land which he 
gave for that purpose, together with sufficient ground for a grave-
yard.  In January, 1841, he married Nancy, daughter of Martin and 
Fannie Nissley, of Dauphin County.  She died July 7, 1841.  March 16, 
1843, he married Louisa, daughter of Rev. John Crider, who was born 
October 11, 1806, near Chambersburg, Penn.  They had two sons, one of 
whom died in infancy; the other is J. H. Shopp, Esq., of Harrisburg, 
who was born January 20, 1850.  He was educated at Dickinson College, 
from which he was graduated in 1872.  Afterward he read law, and was 
admitted to the bar of Dauphin County, February 9, 1878.  In 1881 he 
entered into partnership in the practice of law with Hon. David Mumma, 
one of the prominent citizens of that place.  April 8, 1884, Mr. Shopp 
married Alice M., daughter of George Cunkle (deceased), formerly of 
Harrisburg.  The elder Mr. Shopp has a singularly bright recollection 
of matters pertaining to the early history of this section of 
Cumberland County, covering the greater part of the present century, 
and communicates his recollections in a clear and entertaining manner.  
Throughout his long life he has ever borne the reputation of a man of 
unblemished character, and has had in a large degree the esteem and 
respect of his neighbors, who hope to see him live to the full measure 
of a century.