BIOGRAPHY - JOHN D. SHOOP
PROF. JOHN D. SHOOP, who has been Principal of the Gibson City schools
since September, 1890, was born in Sabina, Clinton County, Ohio, March 3,
1857, and is a son of Jonathan and Margaret (Snyder) Shoop. His father was
born in Pennsylvania, and his mother in Fleming County, Ky. Our subject was
orphaned in childhood, his mother dying while he was yet an infant, and his
father passing away when he was but seven years of age. His parents were in
limited circumstances, and John D. was left, at the early age of seven, to
fight the battle of life alone and unaided. He was reared to manhood among
strangers, and was apprenticed to a farmer until twenty-one years of age.
His education was obtained at private schools and by self-culture. He began
teaching in 1878, in Fayette County, Ohio, and was Principal of the schools
at Bloomingburg, Ohio, for three years. Subsequently, he taught in the
Institute at Washington Court House, where he remained until 1889.
On the 1st of September, 1887, Prof. Shoop was united in marriage with Miss
Jennie B. Perrill. Mrs. Shoop was born at Washington Court House, and is a
daughter of James and Rebecca Perrill. Her father is a prominent farmer of
her native county, and one of the highly esteemed citizens. In 1889, Prof.
Shoop came to Illinois, settling in Saybrook, McLean County, where he was
employed as Principal of the schools for one year. At the expiration of that
time, he resigned to accept his present position, that of Principal of the
Gibson City Schools. These schools have an enrollment of five hundred
pupils. Ten teachers are employed and the schools are in a prosperous and
thriving condition.
Mr. and Mrs. Shoop hold membership with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and,
in politics, he affiliates with the Republican party, of which he is a
stanch supporter, but has never been an aspirant for public office. He is a
Knight Templar Mason, being a member of Garfield Commandery No. 28, of
Washington Court House, Ohio, and also belongs to Hope Lodge No. 140, K. of
P., of Saybrook, Ill. Prof. Shoop is recognized as an eminently qualified
and skillful educator and during his two years' charge of the Gibson City
schools, has won the confidence and good opinion of those interested in the
cause of education at that place. He is thorough and systematic in the
management of the schools, and is well supported by an able corps of
teachers, and the school is rapidly advancing to a high standard of
perfection.
Extracted 14 Dec 2017 by Norma Hass from Portrait and Biographical Record of Ford County, Illinois, published in 1892, pages 208-211.
