KROPP, John

History of Northern Wisconsin. Chicago: Western Historical, 1881, p 167

John KROPP, shoe maker, Fountain City [Cross Township (per 1878 Atlas), 
Buffalo County, Wisconsin], was born 29 June 1836 in Prussia. In 1856 he 
came to the United States, where he traveled about two years, working at his 
trade in different places. In 1858 he located at Fountain City, where he 
started a shoemaker shop, his being the second one in that place. He has 
been a member of the band at Fountain City for twenty-five years.

In Rockford [Winnebago County], Illinois, he [John KROPP] was married to 
Tracy MULTHAULP [MULTHAUP?]. They have had eleven children, three sons and 
three daughters now living. [Among the many KROPP marriages in the Illinois 
Marriage Index is the marriage on 25 October 1857 in Winnebago County of John 
KROPP and "Theressea." This KROPP family is enumerated in the 1880 census of 
Fountain City, Buffalo County, Wisconsin (p 299): John KROPP, age 
forty-three, boot and shoemaker, born in Prussia, by his census age about 
1837, to a father born in Prussia and a mother born in Hanover; his wife, 
Theresia KROPP (Tracy of the biography?), also age forty-three, born in 
Prussia to parents also born there; and the following children, all noted in 
the census to be sons and daughters of John KROPP, and all born in Wisconsin 
to parents who were both born in Prussia: (1) Emilie KROPP, age twenty, 
single, a servant, by her census age born about 1860; (2) Sophia KROPP, age 
seventeen, single, also employed as a servant, by calculation born about 
1863; (3) Katie KROPP, age thirteen, works at home, by her census age born 
about 1867; (4) John F. KROPP, age twelve, thus born about 1868; (5) Henry 
KROPP, age ten, born about 1870; and (6) Paul KROPP, age five, born about 
1875. Thus the 1880 census supports the statement in the 1881 biography that 
three daughters and three sons are living.] 

[The Buffalo County, Wisconsin, biography of Frederick HEPP, who was also a 
resident of Fountain City, notes that in 1857 he married Sophia MULTHAUP. 
The HEPP biography states that Sophia MULTHAUP was born in Hanover, the 1880 
census of Fountain City noting that Sophia was born in Prussia to parents who 
were also born there. Theresia MULTHAUP (Tracy MULTHAULP of the KROPP 
biography?) was also born in Prussia to Prussian-born parents. No religious 
affiliation is given in the biography for Theresia, but she was likely 
Catholic, since a number of MULTHAUP (only a few of whom have the surname 
spelled MULTHAUPT and none spelled MULTHAULP) were christened or married at 
the Katholisch (Catholic) church at Bosseborn, Westfalen, Preussen 
(Westphalia, Prussia). Bracketed material added by submitter (who is not 
researching these surnames) to support and clarify information given in the 
biography and to raise questions.]

Submitted by Cathy Kubly