Source: The Biographical Record of Whiteside County, Illinois
Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company  1900

Transcribed by: Denise McLoughlin
Tampico Historical Society
www.tampicohistoricalsociety.citymax.com

Pages 275-276

Aaron Pope, an energetic and progressive farmer, residing on section 15, Tampico Township, owns and operates three good farms in Whiteside county, aggregating four hundred and seventy-five acres of land, and in their improvement and cultivation he is meeting with most excellent results. He is honored and respected by the entire community, who look upon him as one of their most wide=awake farmers and valued citizens.

The early home of our subject was on the other side of the Atlantic, for he was born in Lincolnhshire, England, February 23. 1845, a son of Abraham and Sarah (Crampton) Pope, also natives of Lincolnshire. In 1853 the family emigrated to America and located at once in Lyndon township, Whiteside county, Illinois. Later the father purchased land in Tampico township and engaged in farming there for a number of years, but about 1874 removed to Vancouvers island, where he spent he remainder of his life.

On the home farm in this county Aaron Pope grew to manhood, and he attended the district schools of the neighborhood. On leaving home, at the age of twenty-two, he went to Missouri, where he spent four months, and on his return to Illinois, at the end of that time, he purchased the old homestead, comprising one hundred and sixty acres, to which he has added until it now consists of two hundred and forty acres. He bought another farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Hume township, and resided there until 1893, when he removed to his present place. Here he has seventy-five acres within the corporate limits of Tampico, and in connection with its operation also carries on the other farms, which he still owns. He has made a decided success of life, becoming one of the most prosperous agriculturists of his community, as well as one of its leading citizens.

In this county, February 22, 1874, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Pope and Miss Mary A. Wetsel** who was born in Ohio, but was reared and educated here. Her father, Daniel Wetsel**, now of Rock Falls, was one of the early settlers of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Pope have three children: John Thomas, the oldest, now lives on one of his father's farms. He was married, September 21, 1898, to Miss Minnie Parents, a daughter of William Parents, of Tampico, where she was reared and educated. Sadie, Eliza and Willard A. are still attending the home school.

Politically, Mr. Pope is a stanch Republican, having supported that party since casting his first presidential vote for General U. S. Grant, in 1868. He has filled the office of highway commissioner, was a member of the drainage commission nine years, and has ever given his influence and support to those measures which tend to advance the moral, educational or material welfare of his township and county. Socially, he is a member of the Moder Woodmen of America, and religiously his estimable wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

(Note: ** The surname Wetsel was spelled Wetzell in the 1885 biography - this was not a typo)