JOHN S. BOOP, one of the independent farmers of Jefferson Township, owns 273 acres of first-class land located on section 2. The homestead and its appurtenances are creditable to their proprietor and as comfortable as those of any farmer in Stephenson County.

The subject of this biography is the son of George and Mary (Hassenplug) Boop, who were natives of Union County, Pa. In the general hegira [to remove, to desert] from Pennsylvania to the West in 1858, came the parents of Mr. Boop and settled in Kent Township, where they resided for two years. They then removed to Loran Township, and were located at Yellow Creek two years, then returned to Kent Township. After a residence of twenty years in Stephenson County the father died on the last of March, 1879. The mother passed away Aug. 26, 1887. Their children were William H., who married Maria Michler and resides in Kent Township; Sarah E., the wife of Gaius Blanch, and a resident of Iowa, and John S. of our sketch.

The subject of this history was the eldest child of his parents. He was born in Union County, Pa., on the 29th of December, 1842. He came to Stephenson County with his father in 1858. He remained at home with his parents until the spring of 1865, when he responded to the urgent demand for men for the army and enlisted in Co. E, 7th Ill. Vol. Cav., and served with that command until November, 1865, when he was discharged and mustered out of the service and returned to Kent Township. He has always been engaged in agricultural pursuits and has been a resident of Stephenson County ever since 1858. In 1871 he settled in Jefferson Township, where he has since resided.

Mr. Boop was married in this county on the 18th of January, 1866, to Miss Sarah C. Bottorf, who was born in Jefferson Township Jan. 18, 1847. They have had six children – Laura M., Mary E., William B., Franklin S., Lawrence A. and Chester A. William B. died when fifteen months old. Mr. Boop has held the offices of Assessor and Highway Commissioner three years. Socially he is a comrade of W. R. Goddard Post, No. 258, Grand Army of the Republic, and in politics he is an ardent Republican. His thirty years’ residence in Stephenson County is without a sullied spot, and he enjoys the esteem and respect of his neighbors, as an honest man and an upright citizen.

Contributed by Carol Parrish from Portraits & Biographical 1888 Stephenson Co IL Pg 251