NJHUNTER-L Archives

From: Lorretta Sinclair <>
Subject: [NJHUNTER] SROPE/CRAMER
Date: Wed, 03 Nov 1999 11:39:24 -0500

Found this sketch in my notes. Have no further info, it was just attached
to some other papers.

Peter B. SROPE is one of the old and honored business men of Hunterdon
County and for nearly half a century he has been engaged in general
merchandising in Pattenburg. He located here when the railroad was being
constructed through here, and has been a witness of the prosperity and
development of this region. He has been the architect of his own fortunes,
having won a competency by yars of untiring energy and well applied industry.

Grandfather Christopher Srope was a native of Germany, as was also his
wife, Thankful. Our subject's parents were John and Eleanor (Smith) Srope,
who lived and died in the vicinity of Norton, NJ. The father was a
blacksmith y trade, and had a large family for which to provide, but he was
an honest, hardworking man, a kind husband and father, and did as well by
his children as he was able. His nine sons were as follows: Lewis and
Christopher, both deceased; Jacob; William, deceased; John; Theodore,
deceased; Peter B., Henry and Robert P. The three daughters were Anna and
Thankful, both deceased, and Mary, wife of Stryker Taylor, of Ogle Conty, Ill.

Peter B. Srope was born January 24, 1821, in Norton, NJ., and remained at
home only until he was eleven years of age, when he went to live with Peter
Bodine, of the same neighborhood. He was a member of that worthy man's
household about three years, after which he resided with his brother
Christopher two years. At the end of that time he commenced serving an
apprenticeship to the tailor's trade, and worked at that calling faithfully
five years. Returning to the place of his birth he bought a little home,
and in September, 1844, he and his newly-made bride commenced housekeeping.
She was Lydia, daughter of George G. Cramer, whose home was near Lebanon,
this county.

During the six years following his marriage our subject carried on a
tailoring establishment in Norton, but the confinement of the owrk at last
told upon his health and he decided to give up the business. Believeing
that out door life would be of benefit to him he bought a farm, and about
the ame time opened a store in Norton. This concern he was coneected with
some three years, and then, selling out, he bought the mill property at the
point now known as Sunnyside, paying $11,000 for the same. At the
expiration of two years he sold it for the same amount, and in its stead
purchased the Hoffman mill, of Round Valley, managing this with ability for
ten years or more. His wife having died, he removed to a farm in Round
Valley, but sold this land a few months later at an advanced price. In
1850 he came to this town, bought a lot andproceeded to establish himself
permanently in business. He has not allowed his time or attention to be
diverted to other enterprises since, and has been very successful. Though
not an office seeker, he has been induced to accept local positions now and
then, and in poitics he is a stanch Democrat.

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• [NJHUNTER] SROPE/CRAMER by Lorretta Sinclair <>