Isaac Roop
Encyclopedia
Isaac Newton Roop was a lifelong member of the Whig party
, United States politician, and pioneer.
. He married his tutor, Nancy Gardner, on December 24, 1840. He was devastated by her loss ten years later when she died of typhoid fever on June 20, 1850 and became widowed with two sons, John and Isaiah, as well as a daughter Susan. Possibly motivated by grief or desperation, he pulled up stakes for California
that same year and tried to rebuild his life.
In 1851 William Nobles started taking settlers over a route through the Sierra Nevada passing through the Honey Lake
valley; included among these settlers were the 29-year-old Isaac Roop and his family. His first three years in California were spent in Shasta County, in farming and trading. During this period he also held the positions of Postmaster and School Commissioner. He had accumulated in that time upwards of fifteen thousand dollars worth of property, but in June 1853, lost it all by fire. It was then that Roop retreated to the Sierra Nevada and to Honey Lake, where he concentrated on his own backcountry holdings and nearly single-handedly erected the burg of Rooptown which he would later name for his daughter Susan.
In September 1859, Roop was elected the first territorial governor
of the proposed Nevada Territory
. At the time, Susanville
was thought to be in Nevada instead of California. The new provisional government first convened on December 15, 1859 in the town of Genoa
. Roop lived in the contested County of Roop
. After the county's dissolution in 1865, Roop returned to Susanville, California. There, he became Lassen County
's district attorney for two terms and stayed in the town that he had built and loved until his death in 1869. His daughter Susan Arnold resided in the town as well until her own death in 1921, and both were buried in the town's cemetery. There is a mural depicting father and daughter in downtown Susanville.
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
, United States politician, and pioneer.
Biography
Roop was born in Carroll County, MarylandCarroll County, Maryland
Carroll County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. In 2010, its population was 167,134. It was named for Charles Carroll of Carrollton , signer of the American Declaration of Independence. Its county seat is Westminster....
. He married his tutor, Nancy Gardner, on December 24, 1840. He was devastated by her loss ten years later when she died of typhoid fever on June 20, 1850 and became widowed with two sons, John and Isaiah, as well as a daughter Susan. Possibly motivated by grief or desperation, he pulled up stakes for California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
that same year and tried to rebuild his life.
In 1851 William Nobles started taking settlers over a route through the Sierra Nevada passing through the Honey Lake
Honey Lake
Honey Lake is an endorheic sink within the Honey Lake Valley located in northeastern California, near the Nevada border. Summer evaporation reduces the lake to a lower level of 12 km² and creates an alkali flat....
valley; included among these settlers were the 29-year-old Isaac Roop and his family. His first three years in California were spent in Shasta County, in farming and trading. During this period he also held the positions of Postmaster and School Commissioner. He had accumulated in that time upwards of fifteen thousand dollars worth of property, but in June 1853, lost it all by fire. It was then that Roop retreated to the Sierra Nevada and to Honey Lake, where he concentrated on his own backcountry holdings and nearly single-handedly erected the burg of Rooptown which he would later name for his daughter Susan.
In September 1859, Roop was elected the first territorial governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of the proposed Nevada Territory
Nevada Territory
The Territory of Nevada was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until October 31, 1864, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Nevada....
. At the time, Susanville
Susanville, California
Susanville is the county seat of Lassen County, California, United States. Susanville is located on the Susan River in the south-central part of the county, at an elevation of 4186 feet . The population was 17,974 at the 2010 census, up from 13,541 at the 2000 census...
was thought to be in Nevada instead of California. The new provisional government first convened on December 15, 1859 in the town of Genoa
Genoa, Nevada
Genoa is an unincorporated town in Douglas County, Nevada, United States. Founded in 1850, it was the first settlement in what became the Nevada Territory. It is situated within Carson River Valley and is about south of Reno....
. Roop lived in the contested County of Roop
Roop County, Nevada
Roop County is a defunct county of Nevada. It was created as Lake County in 1861 as one of the original nine counties of Nevada. The name Lake County was chosen on account of the many lakes in the area, including Honey Lake, Pyramid Lake, and Winnemucca Lake.-History:In 1862 Lake County was...
. After the county's dissolution in 1865, Roop returned to Susanville, California. There, he became Lassen County
Lassen County, California
Lassen County is a county located in the northeastern portion of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 34,895, up from 33,828 at the 2000 census...
's district attorney for two terms and stayed in the town that he had built and loved until his death in 1869. His daughter Susan Arnold resided in the town as well until her own death in 1921, and both were buried in the town's cemetery. There is a mural depicting father and daughter in downtown Susanville.
External links
- Isaac Roop at WesternStarWiki