History of John Opp and Lydia Ann
Opp
John Opp was born in Germany To George Opp
(mother unknown at this point), 9 September 1843. Sometime around 1843 to
1865, Peter and his family immigrated to the United States. He meet Lydia
Ann (Lidiana) Opp in Berks County, Pennsylvania. The families must of know each other as Peter Opp's family moved to Berks County and lived almost next door to Lydia's family according to the 1860 census. Lydia's father's
name was Henry Opp who was born in Germany. Henry immigrated to the United
States between 1820 and 1845. Lydia was born in Pennsylvania. John Opp and
Lydia were married in Oshkosh Wisconsin, 26 Jan. 1865. Their first known
child was born 18 Nov 1867 (Agnes Julia Opp).
John served in the Civil war. He served in
Company K, fifty-first Wisconsin Infantry.
" The fifty-first Wisconsin Infantry Regiment
was organized at Camp Washburn, Milwaukee, WI, during February, March and
April of 1865. Eight companies left the state in the latter part of April
and proceeded to St. Louis, Missouri. The other four companies were mustered
out shortly thereafter. The eight companies at St. Louis were assigned duty
in western Missouri until August, when the regiment was returned to Madison,
Wisconsin. The unit was mustered out by companies from the 11th to the 30th
of November, 1865, and then disbanded." (Expert from the Wisconsin Veterans
Museum).
John and his family moved to Missouri before
1876. There was born William in 1876, Louise, 1878 and Otto born in 1883.
My guess is that when John served in the
Civil War, He discovered he liked Missouri. There was also a large German
population in Missouri, especially in St. Louis (where he served), and was
able to preserve the German way of life by being involved in a German Community.
In 1888 John and his Family moved to Pueblo
Colorado. There, John and Lydia lived for the rest of their lives. Both died
in 1931.
Louise Lydia Opp married William McClain
Murray 7 December 1898 in Pueblo Colorado. They were married for almost 8
years when William died (appendicitis) two months after Earl was born. Louise
was left to raise 4 boys (Harold, Edward, Herbert, and Earl) on her own.
Family stories relate that there was a 5th
boy who died before Earl was born. The older boys were chopping wood and
the axe head flew off the axe handle and killed the 5th
boy.
Germans from Russia??
I remember a story Grandpa Earl Murray use
to tell about his Grandpa Opp playing marbles with a Count's son.
This Biography written by Roy Roper (great grand son of John and Lydia Opp) tends support this story
Biographical Sketch
John Opp
Born: 27 Sept 1843, Heddesheim (Prussia) Germany
Died: 3 Feb 1931, Pueblo, Colorado
Parents: Peter Opp, b. 1808 Germany and Agnes (Meyer) Opp, b. 1810, Germany
Married: 26 Jan 1865, Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Spouse: Lydia Ann (Opp) Opp, b. Pennsylvania
Children: 10 children were born to John and Lydia.
1. Agnes B. 1866, Oshkosh, WI
2. Albert George 1868, Oshkosh, WI
3. A son, stillborn 1870, Oshkosh, WI
4. Rosa 1871, Warrensburg, MO
5. Emma 1873, Warrensburg, MO
6. Wihelm (William) 1874, Warrensburg, MO
7. Emil 1877, Warrensburg, MO
8. Lenora Lena (Louisa) 1878, Warrensburg, MO
9. Otto Albert 1882, Warrensburg, MO
10. Frederick 1884, Warrensburg, MO
John's Father, Peter Opp was reported from a wealthy family in Germany. The name used to be Count Von Oppen. They owned a Castle. Peter Opp brought his entire family to America, just before the eldest son, John George was old enough to be drafted into the German army. The family came to America in a sailing ship, the Owego, requiring 27 days to cross the Atlantic from Havre to the port of Castle Garden, NY, 27 April 1857. On the passenger manifest John was listed as Johan, age 13.
Little is known of John's early years in America. The family had other Opp relatives in Pennsylvania, either in Bucks County or Berks County. John became acquainted with Lydia Ann, a daughter of the Pennsylvania family and a 2nd or 3rd cousin to John.
Our next record of John is his marriage to Lydia in Oshkosh, WI in January 1865. John had been married only two months when he enlisted in the army for service in the Civil War on 10 Mar. 1865. His occupation was shown as a farmer. He was paid $100 bounty for his enlistment. We believe his brother John George enlisted at the same time.
John must of been taken prisoner almost immediately after going into battle, he was held in a war prisoner camp until after the war was over a few months later. He was discharged at Madison, WI having only served 5 months 11 days. I recall him saying that about the only food they had in prison camp was carrots, and he no longer wanted to eat any carrots.
John returned to Oshkosh and learned the trade of Carpenter, living there until 21 April 1871. The Opp brothers, John George and John must of been close, both having married sisters, Lovina and Lydia. Both families moved next to Warrensburg, MO, Southeast of Kansas City, in 1871. The remaining seven children were all born in Warrensburg where John apparently worked as a carpenter. Five children died in infancy. Fred the youngest was killed, age 19 in an accident at CF&I steel mill at Pueblo, CO, in 1904.
On 27 Sept. 1885, John became a citizen as recorded in Finney County Kansas (Western Kansas). He was age 42. Also in 1885, the family moved to Pueblo, Co where they lived for 18 years until Sept. 1903, when for some reason he and Lydia separated. Now, 60 years of age, John moved by himself to Portland Oregon where he lived for three years. Lydia was left alone at Beulah where she took in washing to support herself, doing it all by hand.
In April 1906 John applied for and was granted a pension as a Civil War Veteran. His application listed four living children; Agnes, 1866; William, 1868 (sp 1874); Otto, 1882, and Louisa, 1884 (sp 1878).
John next lived for a number of year at the Soldiers Home at Sawtelle, CA. He was still at the home in 1926 and afflicted with arthritis and debilitating health.
John moved back to Colorado in about 1927-1928, living at times with his son, Otto in Pueblo. Later on he and Lydia reconciled, probably through son, William, and the two were living in Lydia's small home in Beulah in 1930.
John Opp died in Pueblo in Feb. 1931, age 87. He lies buried in the family plot at Roselawn Cemetery at Pueblo. Lydia died only a few months later in June 1931. John's estate amounted to $257.54.
My personal recollection of John Opp was that of a 5 year old boy talking to an 80 year old man. He visited in our home there at the ranch often in 1929-1930, his son, William bringing him down to visit. He was usually dressed in a dark suit with vest and watch draped across the front. At that time we had a large book about the Civil War, about 3-4" thick. He would often read portions of the book perhaps remembering incidents familiar to him about the war in which he had served as an infantry soldier.
By- Roy Roper, (a Great Grandson of John Opp). Canon City, CO, Nov 1997.
Lydia Opp
A Biographical Sketch
Lydia Ann (Opp) Opp
Born: Nov. 1846
Died: 23 June, 1931, Pueblo, CO
Parents: Henry Opp b.
Lovina b.
Married: 26 Jan. 1865in Oshkosh, WI
Spouse: John Opp, b. Prussia, Germany
Early Years: Information is not yet found as to when Lydia's family left Germany and arrived in Pennsylvania. One source, (Fred and Elsie Opp) says they lived in Pennsylvania for several generations before Lydia's time, and that William Penn had given the family a land grant in either Bucks or Berks county. The tie is not yet certain.
It is known that John and Lydia's families were related. Lydia had a sister named Lovina. The two sisters married two brothers, John Opp and John George Opp, making their children double cousins. Also the Opp-Opp marriages were to either 2nd or 3rd cousins making for even closer family relationships.
It is known that John and Lydia were married in Oshkosh, WI by a Lutheran Preacher in Jan. 1865. It seems likely that George and Lovina were in Oshkosh and married about the same time. Lydia was age 18 when she married John. The Civil war was still on. Within two months John enlisted in the army for service in the war. Lydia probably lived with others of the family during the five months John was away in the service. After John returned from military service the family stayed in Oshkosh until April 1871. John learned the trade of a carpenter And children were added to the family. Ten children were born to Lydia and John. They are shown in the biography for John Opp. Five of the ten children died in infancy.
In 1871 the family moved to Warrensburg, Missouri where they lived until 1885. Seven of the children were born at Warrensburg. Nothing else is known of the years lived at Warrensburg.
The family then moved to Pueblo, CO in 1885. The record is again blank until 1903 when John and Lydia separated, according to John's war pension record. John moved to Portland, Oregon and left Lydia alone except for the youngest son, Fred. We believe Fred lived in Pueblo with Lydia until he was crushed and killed at the CF&I steel mill in July 1904. Fred was age 19 and to have been married the next month. Lydia purchased a family burial plot in Roselawn Cemetery Pueblo and Fred was the first of the family to be buried there,
Some years later ( the date is unknown) Lydia moved to Beulah where she bought a small home a short distance south of the Methodist Church. She was alone except for the assistance of her sons, William and Otto. Lydia has to make her own living and this she did by taking in washing for the community folk. Though her hands were crippled with arthritis, she did all the washing by hand on a scrub board.
In April 1906 her husband, John applied for his Civil War pension. Later in Aug. 1912, Lydia's son, William helped her apply for one-half of John's pension. The application stated that her husband abandoned her and given her no support for ten years. It is believed that the application was approved.
The years went by. Finally John returned to Colorado and in about the spring of 1930 John and Lydia were reconciled, probably through the efforts of son, William Opp. The summer of 1930 found them living together at Lydia's small home in Beulah. Oct. 23, 1930 William Opp moved his parents to Pueblo where they spent the winter with him. They were in frail health.
On Feb. 13, 1931, John Opp died. Then on April 1, 1931 Lydia moved back to the home she loved in Beulah. William stayed with her from time to time. In mid-June Lydia's strength was weakening and she died on June 23rd in Pueblo at the home of her Son Otto. She was 85 years of age. She lies buried beside John in Roselawn Cemetery east of Pueblo. I remember her as a quiet and gentle lady. Her life was filled with much work, hardship and sorrow.
By-- Roy Roper, (a great grandson of Lydia Opp) Canon City Dec. 1999
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