Source: Pennsylvania, A History, George P. Donehoo, (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1926), p. 4
Surnames: Klopp, Keyser, Conrad, Sheetz, Loose, Fisher Groh, Smith, Rink, Fuller, Stump, Groff
As a specialist in mental diseases, Dr. Klopp has become a recognized and valued leader. In Allentown, Pennsylvania, he is a familiar and welcome figure. For a period of over ten years he as been the recognized head or superintendent of the State Homeopathic Hospital for the Insane, and here his work has been greatly appreciated. His remarkable intellect and genius is in part due, no doubt to his inherited German ancestry, of which he is a worthy representative. The very early members of the family settled in Berks County, and were active in its development and progress.
John Adam Klopp, an early ancestor, was a native of Berks County, having been born in 1779. He followed the pursuits of a farmer, and became an influential and prominent member of the community. His wife, Sarah (Keyser) Klopp, who was born in 1783, and died in 1843, was the mother of his nine children. They were: Samuel, Benneville, Adam C., of further mention; Eli, Jonathan, Benjamin, John, Sarah, who married John Conrad; and Eliza, who married John Sheetz. Mr. Klopp's death occurred in 1844.
Adam C. Klopp, son of Adam and Sarah (Keyser) Klopp, was born in Berks County, January 27, 1820, and died in February 1901. His early life was devoted to farming, but later he became a lumber and coal dealer at Stouchsberg, Berks County and at Sheridan in Lebanon County. He was a man greatly respected throughout the community and very successful in his business undertakings. Religion played a vital part in his life, his membership being recorded with the Reformed Church, of which he was an elder, deacon and trustee. In politics he was a staunch Republican. He married, in 1842 Sarah Loose, daughter of John and Magdalena (Fisher) Loose, of Lebanon County, and to them were born five children, three of whom grew to maturity, namely: Jerome, of whom further; Adam C., who became a member of the firm of A. C. Klopp's Sons; and Rebecca P.
Jerome Klopp, son of Adam C. and Sarah (Loose) Klopp, was born December 20, 1843, and died July 4, 1909. He grew to manhood on his father's farm in Jackson Township, and received his early education in the public schools of the neighborhood of his home, later attending the academies in Stouchsburg and Myerstown. After completing his studies he served for three years as a school teacher, then settled down to the life of a farmer for a period of eight years, after which he entered a partnership with his father and in the firm known as A. C. Klopp & Sons. This firm was located at Stouchsburg, and handled an extensive business in grain, coal, and lumber, in fact one of the leading firms in Lebanon County. Upon the death of the father in 1901, the firms name was changed to A. C. Klopp's Sons, which continued to carry on business with honest, straightforward dealings, bringing in return an increased amount of business and prosperity. Mr. Klopp was an active member of the Reformed Church, in which he served as deacon and secretary. In politics he was a Republican, giving to this party his hearty support, and in fraternal matters he was a member of the Knights of Pythias, of Myerstown; and of the Golden Rule Lodge of Good Fellows of Stouchsburg.
Mr. Klopp married December 25, 1866, Eliza Catherine Groh, daughter of Josiah and Mary (Loose) Groh, prominent residents of Berks County. To this marriage were born the following children: Henry I., of whom further; Charles G., who married Mary A. Smith; Minnie O., a graduate of Albright College, class of 1899; and Anna M., deceased.
Dr. Henry I. Klopp, son of Jerome and Eliza C. (Groh) Klopp, was born January 1, 1870 on his father's homestead in Jackson Township, Lebanon County. His education was received in the public schools of Stouchsburg, supplemented by a course of study at Palatinate College, now Albright College, Myerstown, Pennsylvania. After this he became interested in telegraphy and began the study of this science, when competent, accepting a position with the Cornwall Railroad. In the spring of 1886 he accepted a position with the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad, at Sherican as night operator, and three months later he was appointed day operator and assistant agent, which position he held until 1891, when he entered a medical college. While he was thus employed, he devoted his evenings to the stufy of medicine in the office of a relative, Dr. Calvin L. Klopp, in his home village, then giving up his employment in 1901 he entered the Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital in Philadelphia to further extend his medical training. From this college he graduated in May 1894, ranking second in his class for high marks. After graduation, he substituted furing the summer for Dr. Rink of Burlington, New Jersey, and in the latter part of the same year he entered the Homeopathic Hospital at Reading as a resident physician. Here he remained until 1895, when he accepted the position of junior assistant physician with the Westboro State Hospital, at Westboro, Massachusetts; in 1898 he became first assistant physician and in 1903 he received the appointment of assistant superintendent. On February 17, 1912 he was appointed superintendent of the Homeopathic State Hospital for the Insane at Allentown, assuming charge on March 25, of that year. Throughout the years he has unceasingly devoted his time and knowledge to his work and his many patients, and is now regarded as an expert in his line. His patients both admire and love him for his tender and sympathetic way of easing their mental and physical ills. Besides the Allentown Hospital, Dr. Klopp is director of mental clinics in the Sacred Heart Hospital of Allentown; the Easton Hospital, of Easton; St. Luke's Hospital at Bethlehem; and he is the neuro-psychiatric consultant of Allentown and Sacred Heart Hospitals. Dr. Klopp is also an author of medical works, having contributed for publication the following: Report of five years' work in the Homeopathic Division of the Westboro State Hospital with special references to treatment--in the "Journal of American Institute of Homeopathy", 1910; further observations on Alzheimer's diseases, with Solomon C. Fuller, M.D. -- "American Journal of Insanity," Juy, 1912; The Psychopathic Division Westboro State Hospital--in the "Westboro State Hospital Papers," Series l, 1912; The Relation of Alcoholism to Insanity--the "Hahnemann Monthly," September, 1914; Mental Hygiene and its Relation to Public Medicine--"Hahnemann Monthly," December 9, 1914; Is an Occupational Teacher Desirable?--"Proceedings American MedicoPhyschological Association," May, 1915; How a State Hospital Co-operated with a University to meet a Community Need--"American Journay Psychiatry," October 1921; Neurosis in General Practice--in "Hahnemann Monthly," February, 1922; The Relation of the Hospital to the Community--in "Dental Cosmos," November, 1917; Early Recognition of Mental Abnormality by the General Practitioner, in March, 1918.
Dr. Klopp served as special neuro-psychiatric examiner in the United States Public Health service from October, 1919, to April 1921. He is a member of the Pennsylvania State Homeopathic Medical Society; Lehigh County Medical Society; the Philadelphia Psychiatric Society; and the American Psychiatric Association; also the American College of Physicians. His club affiliations include: The Lions Club; the City Club of Philadelphia; and the Lehigh Valley Motor Club. He is also a prominent Mason, belonging to Jordan Lodge No673, Free and Accepted Masons; Marlboro Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Trinity Commandery, Knights Templar; Philadelphia Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottich Rite; and is a member of Lu Lu Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Dr. Klopp is also a member of the Tall Cedars of Lebanon, and is a member of the German Reformed Church at Tulphocken, Berks County.
Dr. Henry I. Klopp married, December 28, 1898 Bessie L. Stump, Daughter of Henry W. and Emma C. (Groff) Stump, of Stochsburg, Berks County, Pennsylvania, and her death occurred on June 9, 1919. Of this marriage were born two children: Russell I., born April 3, 1900, and died September 2, 1923; Dorothy E., born February 27, 1903 and is a senior at Wellesley College.
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