Biographies
For
Muscatine County Iowa
1889



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 543

LINDLEY HOOPES, now residing on section 36, Lake Township, is numbered among the prominent citizens of Muscatine County, Iowa, where he has resided since the spring of 1856. He was born in New Gardon Township, Chester Co., Pa., on the 5th of September, 1815, and is a son of Isaac and Hannah ( Jones ) Hoopes. He traces his family genealogy on his father's side back to Israel Hoopes, who emigrated from England in company with William Penn, and was the founder of the name on this continent. So far as is known all the families of this name are lineal descendants of Israel Hoopes and his large family of sixteen sons. The mother of our subject was born in Chester County, Pa., and was of Welsh origin, t he ancestors having also emigrated to this country in Colonial times. Isaac and Hannah Hoopes were the parents of twelve children, six sons and six daughters, six of whom are now living: Joseph J., who is now living in the city of Muscatine, at the advanced age of eighty-one; Phoebe, wife of William Mitchner, of Mahoming County, Ohio; Lindley, who was the sixth in order of birth; Eliza, widow of William Glass, now residing in Huntingdon County, Pa.; Reese H., who is a resident of Sherman, Kan.; and Mary, widow of Irskin Baldwin, Chester County, Pa. Those of the family now deceased are: Griffith, who died at the age of thirteen; Lydia A., died when eighteen months of age; Chockley H., who died in Miffin County, aged twenty-two; Amy, who was the wife of Abner Eldridge, died in Muscatine County; Ezra Mitchner, died in Miffin County, Pa.; and Rebecca, who became the wife of Henry Orr, and after his death wedded George Thorne, died at Toronto, Clinton Co., Iowa in April, 1888. The father of this family died at the age of seventy-four, and the mother at seventy-six. They were both members of the Society of Friends, sincere Christian people, who were greatly beloved and respected for their many noble traits of character.

Our subject received a very limited education in the schools of his native county, and at the early age of sixteen years left the parental roof to begin the battle of life for himself. He went to Miffin County, Pa., and there secured employment as a farm laborer at a salary of $6 per month for a few months, and the following winter attended a subscription school for three months, after which he engaged as an apprentice to the carpenter trade. In the winter of 1834 he went to Huntingdon County, Pa., where he worked under instruction at the cabinet-maker's trade until the spring of 1836, when he started for the West. In company with two other young men he reached Ottawa, Ill., where he worked at the carpenter's trade for a few months, and then traveled through Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio on his return trip to Huntingdon County., Pa., where he arrived in December, 1836. During that winter he was employed at the cabinet-maker's trade, and the following spring he embarked in the furniture business for himself in Birmingham, Pa.

On the 22nd of November, 1838, at Birmingham, Huntingdon Co., Pa., Mr. Hoopes was united in marriage with Miss Mary Addleman, who was born in Huntingdon County, May 6, 1819, and is a daughter of John and Sarah ( Gano ) Addleman. Nine children have graced their union: William H., of Muscatine, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this book; Sarah A., is the widow of Dr. William Barckley; John A., resides with his parents, and is in partnership with his father in farming, and breeding heavy draft-horses, thorough-bred Short-horn Durham cattle and Poland-China hogs; Joseph E. and Emerson G. are residents of Muscatine, and are members of the firm of Hahn, Hoopes & Co. (see notice of business on another page); and Mary C., is the wife of Addison Wood, a farmer of Sweetland Township. One child died in infancy unnamed; Lindley S. died Aug. 26, 1856, and Rebecca O. became the wife of Martin Bartlett, and died in Muscatine, Feb.25, 1870.

Mr. Hoopes continued in business in Birmingham until the spring of 1839, when he removed his stock to Warrior's Mark, Pa., carrying on the business there until about the year 1845, when he went to Clearfield County, where he engaged in the construction of a saw and grist mill and dam. In 1847 he went to McVeytown, Miffin Co., Pa., where he engaged in building canal-boats until 1850, when once more he returned to Huntingdon County, locating in Mechanicsville, where he became proprietor of a hotel which was conducted on temperance principles. Mr. Hoopes was next employed in suppling provisions to the men who were building the tunnel through the Alleghany Mountains, and after that was completed he determined to try his fortune in the West, and started for Iowa, landing in Muscatine County in the spring of 1856. For two years he followed the trade of carpentering with his brother Joseph, who was a contractor and builder, and then in connection with his brother Reese purchased 440 acres of land, which has since been divided. On a Monday morning in April, in the year 1856, Mr. Hoopes began the erection of a small dwelling, the dimensions of which were 16x26 feet, and into the cabin the family moved on the following Thursday. The first barn owned by our subject consisted of four poles driven into the ground, and the roof formed of hazel-brush. Thus, amid the inconveniences and hardships of pioneer life, he laid the foundation for one of the best homes in Lake Township, a community which is noted for its good society and high morality; there never having been a drop of liquor sold within its borders.

As time rolled on and the farm became improved, their circumstances grew better, and their wants increased with their wealth. They felt the need of better buildings, and the rude barn and pioneers shanty were replaced with a large commodious barn and a costly and comfortable dwelling. When all things were going well with them, and success seemed to reward their every effort, an unexpected misfortune suddenly came upon them. On the 3rd of May, 1868, a destructive cyclone passed through the neighborhood, completely destroying the barn and house of Mr. Hoopes. The family, warned of their danger by the approaching cloud, took refuge in the cellar, and escaped with but slight injury. Thus in a few secondsabout $8,000 worth of property was totally destroyed. With his characteristic energy Mr. Hoopes set about rebuilding, and soon had the demolished buildings replaced with others as good or better, built upon the same sites.

From their earlier years Mr. and Mrs. Hoopes have been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Daily surrounded by Christian influence, the children have followed the teaching of their parents, and have become earnest Christian men and women, respected by all who know them. At the age of sixteen Mr. Hoopes signed a total abstinence pledge, and the promise then has ever been regarded with the most sacred honor. In him the temperance cause has found a most faithful advocate. Many times has his voice been heard publicly pleading with others to forsake the use of intoxicating liquors, and in defense of the prohibitive laws. By his ballot he supports the party who will best further the temperance movement, and his interest is unflagging in the promotion of the cause. But few have done as much and none more than Mr. and Mrs. Hoopes toward the advancement of the social and moral interests of Muscatine County, where for thirty-four years they have resided. Landing in the county when it was wild and unsettled, our subject at once began the development of a farm, and now owns one of the most beautiful farms in Lake Township. Through all the days of trials and hardships he was encouraged and aided by his estimable wife, who has shared his joys and sorrows for upwards of fifty years, and has truly been a helpmate to him. His farm now comprises 170 acres of well cultivated land, which is stocked with a fine grade of horses and cattle. Mr. Hoopes has ever been a leading man in this community; he has been honored by his fellow-citizens with various local offices, and in 1880, was nominated for Congress by the Greenback party, and ran far ahead of his ticket. Mr. Hoopes was one of the first to advocate the organization of the Farmer's Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of Muscatine County; was one of its incorporators, and has most of the time since served on the Board of Directors, and is now President of the company. Having been identified with the history of the county for over thirty-four years, this sketch of himself, and family, together with the portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Hoopes, will be gladly received by the people of the community, and deserves an honorable place in this volume.


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