He was a great reader with an attic full of books and magazines. A.D. wasn't happy watching his grandchildren growing up. The Southern ways filled the house, unlike his life style, and those bare feet! An Episcopalian [a different article], shoes were required for meals in his house, but afterwards the children took them off and hid them away. The war, perhaps, had alienated A.D. in the family. He died in West Virginia, March 25, 1876. He died at 81y from pneumonia.
The Soper house was supposedly the home of a ghost or two -including that of A.D. The ghost was not considered a nuisance. It seems it only came back now and then for a book. The sitting room door would suddenly open. If a visitor looked startled, someone would merely nod toward the bookcase and say, "Just grandfather for a book." Then the glass door of the bookcase would open for a minute, then close again and soon the sitting room door, too, would
close. A.D. had left. No one cared. There was also a strange light that floated around the house sometimes. One night, it came to cousin Ida's room. She reached under the bed for her shoe and threw it. The light was never seen again. The old house burned down some years ago.
Abraham was a lawyer who studied in Poughkeepsie, NY. He was admitted to the Bar in 1812/14; served as postmaster in Milton, NY; Justice of the Peace in 1823, 1828, 1830, 1834; Judge of Ulster Co, 1828; member of New York Legislature 1827; Presiding Justice of Tyler and Adjoining counties (WV) 1876; and President of the Constitutional Convention of West Virginia. He declined becoming the first governor of West Virginia. He met Abraham Lincoln who said to him, "The conjunction of Abrahams should accomplish something."
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From IN CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION in the WHEELING INTELLIGENCER
"A.D. Soper of Tyler is the oldest man in the Convention having arrived at the mature age of sixty-six. He is a small man of about five feet eight or nine inches, his hair is white and thin, his face is wrinkled with age, but florid and radiant. His eyes are bright and intelligent, his countenance is sad and thoughtful. He is exceedingly active and walks like a young man. He takes a leading part in the Convention, speaks very well, and is one of the most useful members both in working and debating. His venerable appearance adds much to the force of this cogent reasoning. His associates call him 'Judge' which position I believe he once held in New York of which state he is a native. He was a Douglas Democrat, and is a lawyer by profession."
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Tyler County, WV, 1873 Marriage Records
Abraham D. Soper, 77w, Orange Co/NY, 2 Jan 1873
[Parents] William & Eleanor
Charlette Totten, 40w, Brook Co/VA
He was a great reader with an attic full of books and magazines. A.D. wasn't happy watching his grandchildren growing up. The Southern ways filled the house, unlike his life style, and those bare feet! An Episcopalian [a different article], shoes were required for meals in his house, but afterwards the children took them off and hid them away. The war, perhaps, had alienated A.D. in the family. He died in West Virginia, March 25, 1876. He died at 81y from pneumonia.
The Soper house was supposedly the home of a ghost or two -including that of A.D. The ghost was not considered a nuisance. It seems it only came back now and then for a book. The sitting room door would suddenly open. If a visitor looked startled, someone would merely nod toward the bookcase and say, "Just grandfather for a book." Then the glass door of the bookcase would open for a minute, then close again and soon the sitting room door, too, would
close. A.D. had left. No one cared. There was also a strange light that floated around the house sometimes. One night, it came to cousin Ida's room. She reached under the bed for her shoe and threw it. The light was never seen again. The old house burned down some years ago.
Abraham was a lawyer who studied in Poughkeepsie, NY. He was admitted to the Bar in 1812/14; served as postmaster in Milton, NY; Justice of the Peace in 1823, 1828, 1830, 1834; Judge of Ulster Co, 1828; member of New York Legislature 1827; Presiding Justice of Tyler and Adjoining counties (WV) 1876; and President of the Constitutional Convention of West Virginia. He declined becoming the first governor of West Virginia. He met Abraham Lincoln who said to him, "The conjunction of Abrahams should accomplish something."
****************************
From IN CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION in the WHEELING INTELLIGENCER
"A.D. Soper of Tyler is the oldest man in the Convention having arrived at the mature age of sixty-six. He is a small man of about five feet eight or nine inches, his hair is white and thin, his face is wrinkled with age, but florid and radiant. His eyes are bright and intelligent, his countenance is sad and thoughtful. He is exceedingly active and walks like a young man. He takes a leading part in the Convention, speaks very well, and is one of the most useful members both in working and debating. His venerable appearance adds much to the force of this cogent reasoning. His associates call him 'Judge' which position I believe he once held in New York of which state he is a native. He was a Douglas Democrat, and is a lawyer by profession."
****************************
Tyler County, WV, 1873 Marriage Records
Abraham D. Soper, 77w, Orange Co/NY, 2 Jan 1873
[Parents] William & Eleanor
Charlette Totten, 40w, Brook Co/VA
Family Members
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