Within several previous threads, I have posted information about a David ROPER (b abt 1791 - SC, d aft 1870) who seems to have settled in Greene County, MO, about 1833. I noted this David ROPER's appearance in early Greene County, MO, tax lists within my post:
"ROPERs in Greene County, Missouri, 1833 Tax Lists" (29 May 2003 9:18PM)
http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.roper/616/mb.ashxI noted this David ROPER's 1840 Census record within my post:
"1840 Census Record of David ROPER, of Greene County, MO" (25 Nov 2012 5:12PM)
http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.roper/1698.3.1.2.1.1.1.3...I discussed this David ROPER as a possible candidate to be the SAME David ROPER previously found within Cumberland County, KY, and pointed to early biographical information about David ROPER, of Green County, within that county's published history within my post:
"David ROPER, of Greene County, MO" (25 Nov 2012 4:54PM)
http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.roper/1698.3.1.2.1.1.1.3...I also identified the Census record of a David ROPER, enumerated in 1830 in Bonhomme, St Louis, MO, as a possible candidate to be the David ROPER later found in Greene County:
"David ROPER of Bonhomme, St Louis, MO" (19 Nov 2012 5:47PM )
http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.roper/1698.3.1.2.1.1.1.3...While my most recent posts concerning this David ROPER concerned speculation that he might be the David ROPER prevously found in Cumberland County, KY, I had previously discussed this David ROPER in a very old thread relating to William F. ROPER (b 10 May 1819 - TN), of Lawence County, MO:
"Biography of William F. ROPER (b 10 May 1819 - TN)" (24 May 2003 6:17PM)
http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.roper/608/mb.ashxThe Lawrence County History seems to expressly confirm that this David ROPER resided in St. Louis from 1830 to 1832 and identifies him as a native of South Carolina. Since the County history was published in 1888, it seems likely that this information was furnished by his immediate family during the lifetime of his son William.
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In 1850, David ROPER is shown to be age 59 and born in South Carolina.
Source: Year: 1850; Census Place: Robinson, Greene, Missouri; Roll: M432_400; Page: 285A; Image: 86.
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In 1865, David ROPER, age 73, is enumerated residing within the household of J. F. and A. E. BARNES in Kentucky Township, Jefferson County, Kansas, at the 04 jun 1865 date of the Kansas State Census. His son William F. ROPER, age 30, is also residing within this household. David ROPER is shown to have been born in South Carolina in this record. William F. ROPER is shown to have been born in Tennessee, suggesting that this David ROPER was probably residing in Tennessee about 1819.
Source: Ancestry.com presentation of the 1865 Kansas State Census data for Kentucky Township, Jefferson County, KS [Image 8 of 15].
Ancestry has misindexed both David ROPER and William F. ROPER as having surname "BARNES" rather than "ROPER".
Also shown on this same Census page is the family of D. S. ROPER, age 30, who seems to be the David S. ROPER previously found in Greene County, MO, in the 1850 Census.
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In 1870, David ROPER, age 79, is shown to be residing within the household of William F. ROPER, age 51, in Vinyard Township, Lawrence County, Missouri. David ROPER is shown within this record as being born in Alabama.
Source: Year: 1870; Census Place: Vineyard, Lawrence, Missouri; Roll: M593_787; Page: 580B; Image: 335; Family History Library Film: 552286.
Since each of the other records seems to consistently show David ROPER's place of birth as South Carolina and this is reflected in the no doubt more deliberate information furnished for the biographical sketch on William F. ROPER appearing in 1888, I am inclined to believe the South Carolina place of birth as most trustworthy. Most of Alabama was still Indian Territory by treaty at the date of this David ROPER's birth.
However, it seems to me that the indication of Alabama as a place of birth for David ROPER might actually reflect some confusion on the part of some other family member furnishing information to the Census enumerator and may therefore reflect some indication that this David ROPER could have been present in Alabama at some point during his lifetime.
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This David ROPER does NOT seem to appear within the 1880 Census, suggesting that he died between the 1870 and 1880 Census enumerations. Lawrence County, Missouri, would seem to be the logical place to look for his grave and for probate information.
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Does anyone have any further insight on this David ROPER? Can anyone shed light on his whereabouts at the date of the 1810 and 1820 Census enumerations or identify his parents?
