BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO

"History of the Upper Ohio Valley" Vol. II, 1890.

Presented by Linda Fluharty from hard copies provided
by Mary Staley & Phyllis Slater.


Pages 649-650.

BENJAMIN M. LOPER

Benjamin M. Loper, of Richland township, is one of the progressive
farmers of the county, and though having started out at his mar-
riage without any property and in debt $100, he now has a fine farm
of fifty and one-half acres and is surrounded with the comforts of
life. He was born in Harrison county, Ohio, December 18, 1842, the
son of Joseph M. and Sarah (Sommers) Loper. His father was born in
Pennsylvania, the son of Benjamin Loper. The latter removed to Rich-
land township when Joseph was a small boy. He hired a man to haul
his goods from Bridgeport to the farm, where Henry Pickering now
lives, and then had just fifty cents left, which was preserved and
is now in the possession of his grandson Benjamin. The latter was
reared until fifteen years of age in Harrison county. August 15, 1862,
he enlisted in Company E, Ninety-eighth Ohio infantry, under Captain
Cordner, and served gallantly with his regiment in all its engagements
except that of Chickamauga, at which time he was on the sick list.
He marched with Sherman through Georgia, and returning to Ohio at the
close of hostilities was mustered out at Cleveland, June 8, 1865. He
is notable as a farmer and stock-raiser and was among the first to
introduce the noted breed of sheep, National Delain, in Belmont
county. In 1866 Mr. Loper was married to Emma Lott, was born in
Harrison county, October 4, 1846, the only daughter of Henry and
Dorothy (Peterman) Lott, natives of Reading, Penn. By this union he
has four children: Joseph, Edwin M., Charles C. and Minnie May. Mr.
Loper and wife are members of the Disciple church, of which he is
a deacon.