My Genealogy Hound

ABRAHAM S. SCHROPP, Secretary of the Bethlehem Iron Company, has longer held an official position with that immense concern than any other connected therewith, for he has efficiently served in his present capacity for over thirty years. Mr. Schropp, who is universally well esteemed, comes of one of the oldest Moravian families of the Lehigh Valley, of the sturdy German stock, whose enterprising and industrious qualities have so largely helped to build up the prosperity of this wealthy region.

In 1743 the second Moravian colony to settle in Northampton County started from Germany and located in Nazareth. Among the number was the great-grandfather of our subject, whose Christian name was Matthew, and who was a native of Kaufbeureft. He was a minister in the little colony, and was Warden of the congregation at Nazareth, where he first settled, and where his son John, grandfather of our subject, was born. Later Matthew Schropp removed to Salem, N. C., where he became Warden of the Moravian Congregation, and where his death occurred in 1767. John Schropp was also a minister in the Moravian Church. He received his education in Bethlehem, where he was Warden of a church, which position he filled until his death in 1805. He was married to Elizabeth Tanneberger, a native of Nazareth, whose father was an organ builder. Our subject’s father, John Schropp, was born in Bethlehem in 1805, and on arriving at man’s estate he engaged in merchandising on Main Street, where he carried on business until his death, in September, 1840. His wife, Maria C. Goundie, a native of this city, was the daughter of John Sebastian Goundie, who was born in the Fatherland, and came to America when a young man of about eighteen years. Settling in Bethlehem, he became one of the officers of the Moravian Church, and in this city occurred his death. Mrs. Schropp died October 6, 1893, when in her eighty-seventh year, leaving two children to mourn her loss. She was the mother of four sons and two daughters; one daughter and three sons lived to maturity, and one of these, John, is with the Bethlehem Iron Company.

The youngest of the family, Abraham, was born in Bethlehem, March 22, 1841, and received a good education in the Moravian parochial school, and in Van Kirk’s private school. At the age of fifteen years he became an employe of the Lehigh Valley Railroad as a clerk in the general ticket office, and was with that company from 1856 to 1863. During this time, however, in 1861, on the first call for defenders of the Stars and Stripes, he enlisted with his brother John in Company A, First Pennsylvania Regiment, being mustered into service in this city. At the end of three months the company was mustered out, and in 1862, on the emergency call, he became a member of the Fifth Pennsylvania Militia. The following year he served as Adjutant in the Thirty-fourth Pennsylvania Infantry, under Colonel Albright.

In the fall of 1863 Mr. Schropp became clerk in the office of the Bethlehem Iron Company, and in October of the following year was elected Secretary of the company, which position he has held ever since, devoting all his time and interest to the well-being of the concern.

In 1864 Mr. Schropp married Miss Caroline Guetter, who was born and reared in Bethlehem. Her father, Henry Guetter, a native of Germany, was formerly engaged in the lumber business in this city, and was a prominent Moravian. Mr. and Mrs. Schropp have had three children: Elizabeth, Mrs. Worrall, who died in Rochester, N. Y.; Mary, Mrs. Leoser, of Elizabeth, N. J.; and Ruth, Mrs. Rev. A. D. Thaeler, of Winston, N. C. The pleasant home of the Schropp family is located on Market Street, and there a cordial hospitality is extended to their many friends.

As a Trustee in the Moravian Congregation in this city, our subject has been active in the work of the church, and is also Trustee of the Young Ladies’ Seminary. Formerly he was officially connected with the Moravian parochial schools, and has always shown himself interested in the cause of education. For four years he was Commander of J. K. Taylor Post, G. A. R., and served for one term as Aide on the staff of the Department Commander of the state. In 1892 he was Aide on the staff of General Palmer, at the National Encampment at Washington. A true patriot and good citizen, Mr. Schropp supports the candidates of the Republican party, the principles of which he is always one of the most ardent advocates.