BIO: John T. DOPP, Huntingdon County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, pages 218-219.
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  JOHN T. DOPP, Petersburg, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born in 
Petersburg, February 2, 1835. He is a son of Jacob and Sarah E. 
(Dowlar) Dopp. The birthplace of his grandfather, John Dopp, was near 
the city of Strasburg, in Alsace, then part of Germany. In his boyhood, 
John Dopp emigrated to America, and as he had no money to pay his 
passage, his services were sold for one year, to discharge the debt. He 
had crossed the ocean in a sailing vessel, and landed at Baltimore, 
from which place he was brought to Huntingdon. After his year's service 
to the master who had bought him in Huntingdon was over, he undertook 
driving a team between Pittsburg and Philadelphia, Baltimore and 
Washington, at which he spent several years. He then returned to 
Huntingdon county, and turned his attention to farming, in which 
occupation he spent the remainder of his life. Mr. Dopp was a thrifty 
and hard working man. He belonged to the Democratic party. He married 
Miss Swisher, born at Hedgeville, Va. She was very fond of reading; was 
a Presbyterian, while Mr. Dopp was of the Catholic church. Their 
children were: John, Jacob; Henry; George; Sallie; Rachel; Mary; Nancy; 
and Joseph. John Dopp died in Huntingdon, Pa; Mrs. Dopp died near 
Davenport, Ia., at the age of ninety-four. Two years before her death, 
her sight was renewed. Jacob, second son of Mr. and Mrs. John Dopp, was 
fairly well educated subscription schools. He learned the blacksmith's 
trade in Indiana county, and set up a smithy at Petersburg, which 
became his lifelong home. He was a good and useful citizen taking an 
active part in borough affairs; he was for some time burgess of 
Petersburg, and fulfilled his duties so as to give general 
satisfaction. He was married in 1834; his wife was born near 
Huntingdon. Their children are: John T.; Bella, wife of Capt. Joseph 
Johnson, of Petersburg, both deceased; Henry, deceased; Caroline, 
deceased; and Mary (Mrs. C. Jurgen), deceased. Jacob Dopp was one of 
the constituent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, was a 
faithful and exemplary member, and active in the service of the church, 
of which he was a trustee. He was also a Sunday-school teacher. He was 
first a Democrat, but later in life a Republican. He died at 
Petersburg, October 25, 1887.
  After laying an excellent foundation for his education in the common 
schools of Petersburg, John T. Dopp attended the academy at 
Shirleysburg for one term; he also enjoyed the instructions of Rev. Mr. 
Curren, in Petersburg. Mr. Dopp taught school in Huntingdon county for 
five terms. In 1861, he became clerk for Hunter & Swoope, owners at 
that time of the Juniata Forge and the Petersburg Flouring Mill. In 
1863, he enlisted at Petersburg in Company B, of an "Emergency" 
regiment, and served until the regiment was disbanded. In October, 
1864, he was employed at Petersburg station, P. R. R., as clerk under 
Mr. Hunter, then station agent for the company. On April 1, 1875, Mr. 
Dopp succeeded Mr. Hunter as agent, and in the same year, he received 
the agency for the Adams Express Company; he has ever since continued 
to fulfill the duties of both positions with promptness and efficiency. 
Mr. Dopp is a Republican, and is devoted to the spread of reforms. He 
takes a lively interest in educational matters; has been for some time 
a member of the school board, and is heartily in favor of compulsory 
education. He was a borough councilman for several years, and has been 
for a number of years chief burgess. During his term of office, the 
borough has improved, not merely as to size, population and appearance, 
but in the more important particulars of sobriety and order, Mr. Dopp 
and other patriotic citizens having succeeded in banishing liquor 
saloons; this was done some sixteen years ago. In this movement, Mr. 
Dopp has the credit of being one of the factors. He is a member of the 
school board.
  John T. Dopp was married in Huntingdon in 1863, to Sarah E. Mayer; 
she had been assistant in Mr. Hall's select school, and afterwards 
taught in the common schools of the borough of Huntingdon. Their only 
child is Grace G., wife of George W. Neff, residing at Steelton. Mrs. 
Dopp died in 1867. In 1871, at Thompsontown, Juniata county, Pa., Mr. 
Dopp married Josephine C. Sieber, widow of Joseph Funk. Mr. and Mrs. 
Dopp have two children: Edith; and Bradford B., who was drowned in 
Shaffers creek June 6, 1878. Mr. Dopp is a member and an office bearer 
in the Methodist Episcopal church, being a trustee and a member of the 
building committee. He has long been connected with the Sunday-school, 
and was for many years its superintendent.