Tulare County Biographies

JONATHAN G. ROPES

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 
        Jonathan G. Ropes, editor and proprietor of the Woodlake Echo, Woodlake, 
California, was born in Battle Creek, Nebraska, a son of R. B. and Belle 
(Easton) Ropes. The family removed to Onawa, Iowa, where the father was in the 
grain and coal business for many years, and where he is now living retired.
Jonathan G. Ropes was educated in the public schools and a business college in 
Omaha, Nebraska. In his boyhood he served an apprenticeship at the printers 
trade, which he has followed for the greater part of his active life. The only 
notable exception was the eight years he served as postmaster at Groton, South 
Dakota, under the Roosevelt and Taft administrations. After completing his 
course in the business college Mr. Ropes was employed for a time in Sioux City, 
Iowa. He was then associated for seven years with the Armour (South Dakota) 
Chronicle, during the latter part of which time he was part owner. From Armour 
he went to Groton, South Dakota, where he became editor of the Groton 
Independent. During his residence of eleven years in Groton he was postmaster 
for eight years, as already stated.
        About the time his term as postmaster expired Mr. Ropes saw in a 
printers' magazine an announcement that the Woodlake Echo was for sale. After 
corresponding with the owner, H. E. Sneddeker, he purchased the paper when it 
was only three months old. That was in 1913. Since the Echo came into his 
possession he has improved the plant and increased the circulation to about one 
thousand copies. Since 1920 he has. also been interested in the real estate 
business as a broker. For several years he has been president of the Woodlake 
Valley Chamber of Commerce. He is a Royal Arch Mason and has always been 
interested in educational matters. While at Armour, South Dakota, he served as 
school trustee; was one of the board of the Woodlake School district, and is now 
clerk of the school board.
        In Armour, South Dakota, Mr. Ropes and Miss Charlotte Shuck were united 
in marriage. To this union have been born three children : Gladys is a graduate 
of the Fresno Teachers College and is now employed in the office of the Echo ; 
Richard is a sophomore in Stanford University, where he is taking the 
engineering course ; and Edwin is a student in the high school. Mrs. Ropes is 
president of the Woodlake Parent-Teacher Association.
 
Source:  History of Tulare County and Kings County, California � Kathleen 
Edwards Small & J. Larry Smith, Vol. II, Chicago, The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1926., p. 245