Shoup Family

[Submitted by by Linda Ozinga.]

Did you know the below people were raised in Knox Co, Illinois? Mr. Shoup below was the brother of the Honorable James Shoup and Sen. George Laird Shoup, both of Idaho. Sen. George Laird Shoup is one of only 50 Americans to have his statue installed in Washington D.C. in the Hall of Congress, representing his State's Ideals.

THE HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY IOWA, PAGE 881:

W. J. SHOUP, Principal of the Fourth Ward School, Dubuque, is a native of Kittauning, Armstrong Co., Penn, and was born in 1846. He grew up to manhood in Illinois. He moved with his parents to Galesburg, Knox County, Illinois in 1853, and received his education in that state and graduated at Knox College, Galesburg in 1873. After graduation he came to Dubuque and since then has been connected with the public schools of this city. During the war , at the age of 18, he enlisted and served in Co. H. 48th I.V.I. (being the fourth son his widowed mother had given to the Union Armies.) Mr. Shoup is editor of Iowa Normal Monthly, The school organization publication of the State. He was chosen and served as President of the State Teachers Association.

He was married to Miss Samantha Whipple, of Henry Co, Illinois, June 29, 1871, (a classmate at Knox). He left two daughters and four sons - Grace, George, William, Edwin, Margaret and Arthur. Survived by three brothers, U. S. Senator Geo. L. Shoup of Salmon City, Idaho - J. B. Shoup, of Sioux City, (superintendent of schools for Woodbury Co.) IA. and the Hon. James M. Shoup of Challis Idaho; two sisters, Mrs. Robert McAfee of Allegheny, PA and Mrs. James Glendenning of Salt Lake City, Utah.

DUBUQUE DAILY HERALD, 11/11/1893 "PROF SHOUP DEAD - He passed away at 2 o'clock this morning. He was connected with the Public Schools of the City for Twenty-one Years!"

PROF W. J. Shoup, principal of the Lincoln school, died this morning at 2 o'clock at his residence, 180 Nevada street. He had been an invalid for several years but with the exception of one or two periods had been able to perform his duties until about three weeks ago. Yesterday he showed improvement, but a change which proved to be for the worst developed last night.

PROF W. J. Shoup was a native of Pennsylvania and resided in Dubuque for twenty one years, all of which time he was connected with the public schools. his services were highly prized by the public and the board of education. He was the author of several text-books, among others being "Shoup's Graded Speller," a well known work. He is survived by his wife and six children and by his brothers, Senator George L. Shoup and James Shoup, of Idaho and a Sister Mrs. Glendenning of Salt Lake City.

THE LATE PROFESSOR SHOUP, OBIT from DUBUQUE DAILY HERALD, 11/12/1893:

Biography of the Principal of The Lincoln School. Was a Prominent Educator!

"A Cultured Greatness Whose Life Was Devoted Successfully to Teaching and Literary Pursuits - His Death a Great Loss to the Public Schools!

In Saturday's issue of the Herald brief mention was made of the death of Professor W. J. Shoup, principal of the Lincoln School. William J. Shoup was born in Kittauning, Armstrong Co, Pennsylvania on the 15th of March, 1846. In 1853 he removed with his parents to Galesburg, Ill. His boyhood was spent on a farm not far from that town. In 1864, having reached the age of eighteen, he enlisted as a recruit to the 48th Illinois, being the fourth son his widowed mother had given tot he union armies. In the pursuit of Hood, after the siege of Nashville, he was struck down by sickness during the dreadful forced march through icy rains and freezing rivers. His life was deplored of, but after many months in hospital he recovered, but with a weakened heart destined later to strike him down in the prime of manhood and usefulness.

After his return from the army he entered Knox college at Galesburg, Ill. He was a thorough and faithful student, and in mathematics a brilliant one. After his graduation he entered the profession of teaching. He taught in Batavia, Fairfield, Marysville, Hartford and Indianola in this state, and for one term in Bellevue, Nebraska. From Bellevue he came to Dubuque, Jan 1, 1874, to take charge of the Fourth ward school, a position which he thereafter held with the exception of abut two years absence on account of illness. In 1877 Iowa being without an educational journal, he began the publication of the Iowa Normal Monthly. This journal he and his wife edited for seven years, and it was a moderate success in a financial point of view, and an unqualified one from the standpoint of interest, character and ability. In 1880 he was president of the State Teachers' association. He was the first Superintendent and one of the founders of the Summit Sunday School. This school was at first organized as a union school, and Mr. Shoup was its superintendent until it got a vigorous start, when it was decided to transfer its management to the Congregational church.

In October, 1883, his incipient heart disease became fully developed. After a few months struggle with the increasing disease he was obliged to sell the Normal Monthly and suspend his school work. In August, 1884, he was given up by his physician; yet he rallied again, steadily gained during the year, and died some excellent literary work, writing sketches of travel, stories and poems for the overland Monthly. In 1885 he resumed his position as the head of the London School. By dint of great care and constant nursing his health was fairly maintained for a few years and he wrote a number of educational works: "Shoup's Graded Speller.", "Easy Words for Little Learners", "Shoup's Graded Didactic" in two volumes, and "The History and Science of Education", the latter being a revision of the second volume of the Didactic. All these works were marked by Professor Shoup's strong originality, sound sense, teacher skill and vigorous and attractive literary style.

On Jan 26, 1890, Professor Shoup was stricken by paralysis or strictly speaking, embolism. In time he recovered his speech and could walk though with some difficulty, but his right arm remained powerless. With characteristic energy he taught himself to write with his left hand. The school board, by allowing him to resume his work with the aid of a special assistant, undoubtedly did the best thing possible to prolong his life and make his last years not altogether without pleasure and satisfaction. Still his life since the stroke of paralysis was one of constant suffering, mental and physical. Three weeks before his death he took a turn for the worse. At the close of the first week of his illness he wrote out his resignation as principal, but owing tot he advice of his physician and at the entreaties of his assistants he withheld it in hope of a possible recovery, a hope which he did not himself entertain. At midnight of Friday he seemed for a moment stronger and better; asked to sit in his easy chair and rose and seated himself without assistance. He slept quietly for two hours, then awoke in distress. His watching wife turned to get an opiate to relive him, but hearing a gasping groan sprang to his side and he died almost instantly in her arms. Professor Shoup will be gratefully remembered by thousands of young people of Dubuque who knew respected and loved him as their teacher. Since he came to this city he was a member and for many years an elder of the Second Presbyterian church.

In every relation of life he was a man of unwavering integrity and of unusual ability and force. As long as his health permitted any activity he was the recognized leader of the educational forces of Dubuque. He was married on the 29th of June, 1871 to Miss Samantha Whipple of Henry Co, Illinois, who had been his classmate at Knox. He leaves two daughters, and four sons - Grace, George, William, Edwin, Margaret and Arthur. Professor Shoup is also survived by three brothers, United States Senator George L. Shoup of Salmon City, Idaho; J. S. Shoup, of Sioux City, superintendent of schools of Woodbury county, Honorable James M. Shoup of Challis Idaho, also by two sisters, Mrs. Robert McAfee of Allegheny, PA and Mrs. James Glendenning of Salt Lake City, Utah.

His lectures before the Y.M.C.A. some years ago on scientific subjects are favorably remembered. He was a member of the round Table club, which flourished some years ago and a student of Egyptology and the Oriental religions. He was a member of the Grand Army and delivered a notable Memorial day address at Linwood some years ago. His record as a soldier was excellent and exemplified that "The bravest are the tenderest, The loving are the daring"

He looked out upon the world with a patience, energy and cheerfulness of which it would be difficult to find many examples. As no tongue can tell what he has suffered all these years, so no one can do justice to that boundless heroism with which he has battled for many a long year with the inevitable death that was staring him in the face. His career under such afflictions contains a lesson and a comfort which will be very precious to the sorrowing relatives and friends he has left behind him. Hail, brother, for what though has been in this world thou hast quitted. Hail brother, in that new and better life to which though hast gone.

DUBUQUE DAILY HERALD, 11/13/1893: PROF. Shoup's Funeral: Last Tributes of the Respected Dead Educator.

The funeral of the late PROF. Shoup was held Sunday afternoon. The Grand Army Men and the first platoon of the Governor's Greys commanded by Lt. Jaeggi, marched to the Second Presbyterian church where services were held. The board of education, many of the public school teachers and a large concourse of friends of deceased were present. Eulogies of the deceased were delivered by Rev. H. E. Mott and Rev. Dr. McClelland and a beautiful music service was rendered. The cover of the casket was removed and the congregation took a last look at the face of the deceased. The casket was draped with the flag and covered with floral tributes. At the grace, services were conducted according to the G.A.R. ritual. The pall bearers were Prof Bayless, Capt. Erwin, Prof Boyes, Prof Irish, Capt Tuete and Mr. B. M Harger. The remains were interred in Linwood cemetery, Dubuque, Iowa.

(His wife Samantha Chloe Whipple Shoup was also buried at Linwood Cemetery when she passed away, Nov 28, 1923.)

The below are various articles that appear in the Congressional Biography & on the Idaho Web Pages. Did you know Sen. George Laird Shoup was raised & lived in Knox Co, Illinois before moving to Idaho?

Pioneer, soldier, statesman, delegate to the Colorado Territorial Constitutional Convention 1864; Colonel in the Union Army in the Civil War; Governor of the Idaho Territory, 1889-90; elected first Governor of Idaho, 1890; resigned to become first U.S. Senator from Idaho, 1890-1901.

There is a statue of : George L. Shoup 1836-1904 Idaho Location: The Splendid Hall," an exhibit about the Old House Chamber, is located in National Statuary Hall of the U.S. Capitol. The original exhibition was prepared by The Office for the Bicentennial of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Architect of the Capitol to commemorate the two hundredth anniversary of the U.S. House of Representatives. The original exhibit was designed by Research and Design Associates. Sculptor: Frederick E. Triebel 1909, marble, 7' 7"

Born June 15, 1836, in Kittanning, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Senator George Laird Shoup was a descendant of German ancestors, who settled in Pennsylvania and served in the wars of the Revolution and 1812. He was educated in the public schools of Freeport and Slate Lick, George Laird Shoup moved to Galesburg, Illinois with his father in 1852. He engaged in stock farming in Illinois from 1852-1859. In 1859 he joined the gold rush to Pike's Peak, Colorado, becoming a prospector, miner, and merchant.

When the Civil War broke out he enlisted in an independent company of scouts and was engaged in scouting and detached service against Indians in Colorado, Indian Territory and New Mexico. In December of 1861 he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Colorado Cavalry and was promoted to first lieutenant in February of 1862. In the spring of that year he was in command of artillery at Fort Union, New Mexico and was involved in numerous skirmishes with Indians. In September of 1864 he was commissioned a Colonel in the Third Colorado Cavalry and commanded the regiment at the battle of Sand Creek, Colorado. He was honorably discharged from the military in December of 1864.

Shoup took a short leave of absence from the military in the spring of 1863 when he was elected as a delegate to the Colorado constitutional convention. Colorado was not admitted to the union at that time and the work of the convention was abandoned.

In 1866 he moved to Virginia City, Montana, where he started a store, but then gold was discovered in Leesburg, Idaho, and he moved across the Continental Divide, opening another store in the city of Salmon, where, in addition to merchandising, he also engaged in cattle raising. Soon he became one of the most successful businessmen in the Intermountain West.

On June 15, 1868 he married Lena Darnuster of Iowa. They were the parents of three sons and three daughters.

Continuing his political career, he served as one of the original Lemhi County Commissioners in 1869, and was chosen county superintendent of schools in 1872. He was elected to the lower house of the territorial legislature in 1874 and in 1878 he was elected to the upper house. He was a delegate to the Republican national convention in 1880, and served on the Republican National Committee from 1880 to 1884, and again in 1888.

In 1884, Shoup was appointed commissioner to the World's Cotton Centennial at New Orleans. He contributed $35,000 out of his own pocket to make possible the first display of Idaho Territory's products in the East.

President Benjamin Harrison, because of his previous service on the Senate Committee on Territories, was aware of the defects in territorial administration. For this reason he decided not to appoint outsiders as territorial officials, instead, choices were recommended by party leaders of the territories concerned. As a result of this policy, George L. Shoup was appointed governor of Idaho in 1889. As governor he arranged to have a constitutional convention assembled so that the territory would be ready for admission as a state the following year. After signing the new constitution on August 6, 1889, he went to Washington, D.C. where he took a prominent part in getting the Idaho admissions bill through Congress.

After Idaho became a state on July 1, 1890, Shoup agreed to run for governor, although it was understood that his real interest was to represent the new state in the U.S. Senate. He was elected governor in 1890 and remained in that position until the legislature elected him Senator in December of that year. He remained in the Senate until March of 1901, when he was succeeded by Democrat Fred Dubois. After leaving the Senate he retired from public life.

Pioneer settler, soldier, miner, businessman, and public servant, George Laird Shoup died in Boise, Idaho, December 21, 1904. When the time came to nominate someone to represent Idaho in statuary hall in Congress, Shoup was chosen. His statue was installed in 1910. Senator William Borah's tribute to Shoup sums up his character and explains the respect the people of Idaho had for him: "He stood forth a leader. He had only such education as he could secure in a few months in the common schools, but united with rare judgment, a perception almost intuitive, a keen, quick, unerring knowledge of men, a practical wisdom gathered during his long, active career in the school of life, he was a safe, trusted and able counselor in all matters of private and public concern."

Biographical Directory of the American Congress, 1774-1949 Biographies page 1810

SHOUP, George Laird, a Senator from Idaho; born in Kittanning, Armstrong County, Pa., June 15, 1836; attended the public schools of Freeport and Slate Lick; moved with his father to Illinois in June 1852; engaged in agricultural pursuits and stock raising near Galesburg, Ill., until 1858; moved to Colorado in 1859; engaged in mining and mercantile pursuits until 1861; during the Civil War enlisted in Captain Backus' independent company of scouts in September 1861 and soon thereafter was commissioned a second lieutenant; was ordered to Fort Union, N. Mex., in 1862; continued scouting duty on the Canadian, Pecos, and Red Rivers until 1863; during this time was promoted to first lieutenant; ordered to the Arkansas River; had been assigned in 1862 to the Second Regiment, Colorado Volunteer Infantry, but retained on duty in the Cavalry service; assigned to the First Regiment, Colorado Volunteer Cavalry, in May 1863; member of the convention to prepare a constitution for the proposed State of Colorado in 1864; returned to active duty in the Army; commissioned colonel of the Third Regiment, Colorado Volunteer Cavalry, in September 1864 and mustered out in Denver; engaged in mercantile pursuits in Virginia City, Mont., in 1866 and later in Salmon City, Idaho; county treasurer in 1868; county commissioner in 1868 and 1869; superintendent of schools of Lemhi County in 1871; member of the Territorial house of representative in 1874; a member of the Territorial council in 1878; delegate to the Republican National Convention at Chicago in 1880; member of the Republican National Committee 1880-1884 and 1888-1892; United States commissioner for Idaho at the World's Cotton Centennial Exposition in New Orleans, La., in 1884 and 1885; Governor of Idaho Territory in 1889 and 1890; upon the admission of Idaho as a State into the Union was elected its first Governor, October 1, 1890, but resigned in December of that year, having been elected Senator; elected as a Republican to the United States Senate in 1890; reelected in 1895 and served from December 18, 1890, to March 3, 1901; was the caucus nominee of his party, who were in the minority, for reelection; died in Boise, Idaho, December 21, 1904; interment in the Masonic Cemetery.

Knox County, Illinois Genealogy & History

Knox County, Illinois
Genealogy & History