Biography - G. B. LOPER

G. B. Loper has for many years been closely identified with agricultural and stock-raising interests of Macoupin county and is known as one of its most progressive and useful citizens. His home, in Western Mound township, is a center of hospitality where all are assured of a cordial greeting. He is of Scotch descent on the paternal side and was born in the township where he now lives June 5, 1842, a son of A. W. and Susan (Keller) Loper. The father was born in New Jersey in 1816 and came to Illinois with his parents when he was twelve years of age. The family first located in Greene county but a short time afterward arrived in Macoupin county, where the name of Loper has ever since been well known. The grandfather of our subject, James Loper, was in his earlier years a sea captain. After giving up life on the ocean he devoted his attention to farming and died at Carlinville about 1839.

A. W. Loper grew to manhood in this county and was married in Greene county, at the home of James Reaves, to Miss Susan Keller, the ceremony being performed by Mr. Reaves. The young couple immediately went to housekeeping in a little log house which had been built by Mr. Loper on section 33, Western Mound township, but this simple structure was later superseded by a comfortable frame house. In 1849 Mr. Loper associated with Josiah Whipple in the erection of a sawmill on Macoupin creek, just above Loper’s ford. The site is known as “The Tank” and is on the Chicago, Peoria & St. Louis Railroad. Being an unusually industrious and energetic man, Mr. Loper acquired four hundred acres of land which represented only a portion of his accumulations, as he loaned money extensively-in this region. In 1867 he entered the brokerage business at Minneapolis, Minnesota, with which he was identified for four or five years. He then returned to his farm in Macoupin county and died here in 1890. He was an active supporter of the republican party and owing to his sound judgment and marked success in his chosen calling was very prominent for many years in this section. The mother of our subject was born in Kentucky and was of English descent. She was a daughter of John and Zella (Hedges) Keller, who were among the pioneers of Macoupin county. She died in 1896 and she and her husband are buried in the Keller cemetery on section 33, Western Mound township. They were the parents of eleven children, four of whom died in infancy, the others being: Loduskey, deceased; G. B., of this review; Darlescia P., who is also deceased; C. V., a resident of Harrison, Arkansas ; L. Leota, the widow of William Cresor, of Sedgwick, Kansas; Ophelia, who married H. C. Duckies and is now deceased; and Adriana, the wife of Charles Wright, of Valley Center, Kansas.

Mr. Loper, whose name introduces this sketch, received his preliminary education in a log schoolhouse of the neighborhood, sixteen by eighteen feet in size, with a window and door as the only openings to the house except the chimney. Later he attended school at Chesterfield. The log schoolhouse was replaced by a more pretentious building and Mr. Loper was elected a member of the school board, upon which he was serving when a third schoolhouse of modern design was erected upon the same spot. He continued in office until the building was paid for and then resigned. All of his children were educated at this school. He assisted his father in farm work until 1867 and then rented a place, of which he had charge until 1893. In the year named he located on section 32, Western Mound township, which has since been his home. He has spent his entire life under three roofs and owns his birthplace and nine hundred and ninety-seven acres of land in Western Mound township, upon which he has erected six sets of buildings. He also owns five hundred acres of land in Kansas, and is interested in real estate at Carlinville and Medora, Illinois, and Valley Center and Wichita, Kansas. He has been a breeder of Percheron horses since 1864 and some of the finest stock of this kind in Illinois is to be found on his farm. He has also for many years been a large feeder of various kinds of stock for the market.

In 1867 Mr. Loper was married to Miss Virginia Carr, a daughter of Maccabeus and Mary (Bates) Carr, who were pioneers of Macoupin county. By this union five children have been born: Ary O., who married Ella Brannon, of Western Mound township; Annette, who is the wife of C. Chism, of Bird township; Mattie, who married William H. Dams, of Chesterfield township; O. B., who married Mabel Moore, of Western Mound township; and Horace G., who married Ora Rigsby, and also lives in Western Mound township.

Politically Mr. Loper follows in the footsteps of his father and is an adherent of the republican party. Religiously he is affiliated with the Baptist church. He is a member of the Masonic order and he and his wife are also connected with the Order of the Eastern Star. He has been remarkably successful in his business and ranks as a leader in one of the most flourishing sections of the state. His life has been characterized by fidelity to principle and largely controlled by a desire to enhance the comfort and happiness of others; hence he is a valued member of the community and has greatly assisted in promoting the permanent interests of those with whom he has been associated.

Extracted 18 May 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 46-52.