McDonough ILGenWeb

SHOOPMAN, Thomas, a venerable and highly respected retired farmer who has lived away from his present home in Colchester Township, McDonough County, Ill., but ten months in eighty-two years, was born in East Tennessee, February 15, 1816, a son of Jacob and Polly (Owens) Shoopman, natives of Virginia.

Mr. Shoopman came to Morgan County, Ill., with his mother in 1830, his father having been killed while on the way to that locality. After spending three years in Morgan County, they came to McDonough County, where Mr. Shoopman settled on the quarter-section of land where he now lives. Since his arrival here in 1833 he has spent but a short time absent from the place, having stayed six months in Plymouth and four months in Colchester. He originally entered 160 acres of land at the United States Land Office, and subsequently bought a quarter-section more. Of this he has since sold all but seventy acres. When Mr. Shoopman first settled in McDonough County, his nearest neighbor was a mile and a half distant. He has killed many a deer in the vicinity of his present home, and wolves were numerous there.

In 1831, Mr. Shoopman was united in marriage with Patience Smedley, a native of East Tennessee. This union resulted in twelve children, their mother dying in 1864. On September 20, 1865, Mr. Shoopman was again married, wedding Ruth Ann Busse, who was born in Schuyler County, Ill. Two children were born to them, namely: Nettie Caroline, who died at the age of thirty years, having become the wife of Donald Hook; and Albert. In politics, Mr. Shoopman adheres to the Democratic party. He has held the office of School Director, School Trustee and Highway Commissioner. The subject of this sketch has lived an honorable and useful life, and is now passing his declining years in quiet leisure, the object of profound respect on the part of all who know him.

Orel Don Hook, grandson of Thomas Shoopman, was born at Plymouth, Ill., July 21, 1885, a son of William and Nettle C. (Shoopman) Hook, both natives of McDonough County. He was married to Clementine Daniels, who was born in Schuyler County, Ill., and they have one child, Everet Floyd. Mr. Hook is a young man of superior qualities, and his early manhood gives promise of a serviceable and dutiful career.

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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of McDonough County, compiled by Dr. Newton Bateman, and Paul Shelby, 1907.