Genealogy Data Page 22 (Notes Pages)

For privacy reasons, Date of Birth and Date of Marriage for persons believed to still be living are not shown.

Jones, John (b. , d. ?)

Change: Date: 13 APR 2002

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Schrope, Elizabeth Ellen (b. 06 MAR 1866, d. ?)

Note: They lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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Davis, William (b. , d. ?)

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Schrope, John Henry (b. 09 DEC 1867, d. 27 APR 1954)

Note: A TALE OF HOW THE LOWLY POTATO HELPED SAVE THE UMWA IN 1902 By
George Korson (Journal Correspondent) The name John Henry
Schrope, Sr., a Pennsylvania Dutch farmer of the Hegins,
Valley, near Pottsville, Pennsylvania, will not be found in
histories of the United Mine Workers of America. Yet in the
darkest hour of the famous anthracite strike of 1902, he was
singled out by John Mitchell, then President of the United Mine
Workers of America, as the symbol of sympathy and practical
support that the farmers whose lands lay close to the mine
patches of Schuylkill County. With the passing of summer and no
relief from the cities yet in sight, starvation threatened many
of the families of the striking 140,000 men and boys.
Realizing that the lowly potato was a staple item of the
miners' diet, President Mitchell hoped and prayed for a bumper
crop that fall. With potatoes plentiful and cheap, he knew
that the striking mine workers could hold out indefinitely
until he got the operators around the collective bargaining
table. In September, John Mitchell's prayers were answered when
he heard of the bumper crop of potatoes raised by the farmers
of Hegins Valley, potato-raising center of Schuylkill County.
At the same time he learned that the top man there was John
Henry Schrope, Sr., who had a yield of about 500 bushels to the
acre, exceptional, indeed, for those days. An agricultural
expert has calculated that Mr. Schrope's 500 bushels were the
equivalent of about 30,000 pounds, enough, he said, to sustain
150 large families for a month. Elated, John Mitchell made a
special trip from Wilkes-Barre to see the mound of potatoes in
John H. Schrope, Sr.'s barn, and he had his picture taken
standing at the top of it. Mrs. Charles Bressler, 82, of
Fountain, in the Hegins Valley, a miner's widow, recently
recollected that she and her husband walked to John H.
Schrope's farm to shake hands with the strikers' leader and
listen to him explain why potatoes meant so much to the Union
cause in that strike. Mrs Bressler said hundreds of miners who
worked in the Lincoln, Brookside and other great collieries
that have since been abandoned, walked miles to greet their
leader that day. Mitchell also stopped off at nearby Tremont,
where he got an enthusias-tic reception. William 'Billy'
Harner, 84, charter member of the Tremont Local Union UMWA,
recalled that the miners spread a carpet for Mitchell from his
train to the Philadelphia & Reading R.R. depot as a mark of
respect. Led by the Tremont Cornet Band, whose members were
all mine workers and members of the Union, Mitchell marched in
a parade to the baseball grounds where he made a speech to a
crowd of wildly enthusiastic mine workers. EDITORIALS JOHN
HENRY SCHROPE, MASTER FARMER Schuylkill county lost one of its
outstanding citizens when Master Farmer John Henry Schrope died
at the ripe old age of 86 at his home in Hegins on 27 April,
1954. He had lived a rich full life and he will always be
remembered. The fact that Schuylkill county is one of the
outstanding agricultural counties of the state may be
attributed to the pioneering spirit that he possessed. The
doubting Thomases said it couldn't be done when he started
specializing as a poultry farmer a half century ago. He owned
less than a dozen white Leghorns when he set out to show that
this type of hen could be used for the mass production of eggs.
He proved it by building his flock into one of the most famous
strains in the country and at the same time becoming one of the
biggest producers of eggs. Later he specialized in potatoes and
was one of the first to break the state record for producing
400 bushels to the acre. Now, thanks to others who have
followed where he led, it is not unusual to produce more than
600 bushels to the acre. To fruit and other products of the
farm he next turned his attention. He not only sought the most
modern methods, he developed and pioneered those methods
himself. He was not selfish in his discoveries. The
information gained was passed on to all who wanted to use it.
Those who specialized as he did found success crowning their
efforts. Through him and others like Paul Lengle and George
Tallman and the late Guy Reed, this county rapidly forged to
the front as an outstandingly successful agricultural county
despite its rugged terrain. Mr. Schrope was a living
illustration that there is opportunity in every field as long
as one has the desire to work and to learn and who is not
afraid to try new things. He was truly a master whose mark
will remain indelibly on this county as long as farming is
practiced. This family lived at Hegins, Pennsylvania. These
records were received from John Robert Schrope (born 1927).
POTTSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, REPUBLICAN 03 MAY,1954 CORTEGE IS A
MILE LONG AT SCHROPE FUNERAL John Henry Schrope, Master Farmer
and pioneer in agriculture, was buried Sunday afternoon.
People from all walks of life and from many states, paid
tribute to the Hegins Valley man who had distinguished himself
in farming, education,church and civic duties. His funeral is
believed to have been the largest in the history of Hegins
Valley. The procession of automobiles was at least a mile
long. St. John's Evangelical and Reformed Church, Hegins, of
which Mr. Schrope was a lifetime member, was filled to
overflowing. Additional hundreds viewed his body at the
Buffington Funeral Home. Rev. C. E. Willson, pastor of the St.
John's Church, used the text which Mr. Schrope had specified.
It was from the sixth chapter, the eighth verse of Micah, 'He
hath shewed thee, O Man, what is good; and what doth the Lord
require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to
walk humbly with thy Lord'. It seemed most significant, for
Mr. Schrope appreciated the joys of life and was humble in the
midst of the honor and praise which were frequently bestowed
upon him. Mr. Schrope had desired that only one pastor
officiate at his funeral, the one who would be serving St.
John's at the time of his death. But many county ministers and
clergymen from Topton and Hazleton paid their final respects to
him. Mr. and Mrs. J. Robert Bazley, Pottsville, attended the
service, with Mr. Bazley representing the rural-urban
relationship which Mr. Schrope had initiated. A number of
representatives were present from Penn State University. Mr.
Schrope had done much to establish the link with the University
to serve county farmers. Professors Carl Dossin and Kauffman,
poultry specialists of Penn State University were among the
extension personnel attending. The County Extension Service
was represented by County Agent C. I. Robertson and Nelle
Stasukinas, with George Tallman, Tower City, R. D. President of
the Extension Assn. and general manager of the Pennsylvania
Cooperative Potato Growers. Harry Poorbaugh, Erie County,
former county agent in Schuylkill; judges and other
representatives of the county courts, paid their respects. Dr.
E. L. Nixon, agriculture counselor of the Pennsylvania Chain
Store Council and uncle of President Richard M. Nixon, was
among the visiting dignitaries. People attended from Indiana,
Florida and all parts of the East Coast. There were also
representatives from virtually every agricultural organization
of the county and people from the field of education, since Mr.
Schrope was a former teacher. The pall bearers were Elvin
Huntsinger, Clyde Klouser, Jack Schrope (his grandson) J. M.
Willier and M. G. Stump. Countless floral tributes were given
by numerous individuals and organizations. Interment was made
in St. John's Cemetery. * * * * * *
* This newspaper story did not mention the family of John Henry
Schrope. Buried in St. John's Evangelical And Reformed
Churchyard