Gideon B. Loper, one of the extensive farmers and
substantial citizens of Westem Mound township, Macoupin County, owning a
fine farm of 913 acres in Macoupin County, was born in Western Mound
township, June 3, 1842. He is a son of Adrian W. and Susan (Keller) Loper.
James Loper, the grandfather of Gideon B., was probably born in New
Jersey; he was a sea-faring man, and his two vessels did good service for
his country during the War of 1812, which, however, resulted in his losing
them. He then turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, and with his
wife and two children started for Indiana, crossing the Alleghany Mountains
with his household goods packed in a one-horse wagon. For a time he lived in
the vicinity of Fairfield, Indiana, but in 1829, he removed to Greene
County, Illinois. In 1831 he became one of the first settlers of
Chesterfield township, Macoupin County, Illinois, where he passed his
remaining years.
Adrian W. Loper, father of Gideon B., was the
second member of his parents' family of seven children. He became a large
land-owner and prominent farmer, leaving an estate of 215 acres at the time
of his death. On December 22, 1837, he married Susan Keller, who was born in
Crawford County, Indiana, September 14, 1818, and died June 6, 1896. She was
a daughter, of John Keller who was born in Maryland and accompanied his
parents in youth to Kentucky. There he was reared and married, removing to
Crawford County Indiana, in 1800, being one of the earliest settlers. There
he purchased a tract of wild land and later bought land in Coles County,
Illinois, which he sold in 1836 to remove to Chesterfield township, Macoupin
County, Illinois, where he was also a pioneer. Here he developed a fine
farm.
Gideon B. Loper obtained his education in the schools of his
native township and remained at home, assisting his father on the homestead
farm, 120 acres of which he owns. In addition to this valuable property, Mr.
Loper owns 1,493 acres throughout the States of Illinois and Kansas, and
also numerous town lots in various cities.
In 1867, Mr. Loper was
married to Virginia Carr, who is a daughter of Macabus and Mary (Bates)
Carr, who were born in Tennessee. Mr. Carr came to Macoupin County and at
the time of his death, in 1874, in his 59th year, he was a large farmer of
Western Mound township. Five children were born to this marriage: Ary O.,
Annetta, Mattie V., Orin B., and Horace G. The eldest son is operating the
homestead farm. He married Ella Brannan, who is a daughter of James T. and
Sarah Ann (Hinkle) Brannan, and they have reared two children — Ora and Oma.
Annetta married A. C. Chism, a farmer, of Bird township, who is a son of
Bostick Chism of Western Mound township, and they have four children— Frank,
Floyd, Henry and Evelyn. Mattie V. married William Henry Dams, a merchant at
Chesterfield, and they have one child — Cressa Viola. Orin B. Loper, a
general merchant at Chesterfield, married Mabel Moore, who is a daughter of
Louis P. Moore. Horace G. Loper assists on the homestead farm. He married
Ora Regsbey, daughter of a large stock buyer of Chesterfield township, and
they have two children — Rhea and Corinne.
In politics Mr. Loper is
identified with the Requblican party. Fraternally he is a Mason. In
religious belief he is a Baptist.
Extracted 2018 May 08 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 353-355.
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