The Loops family originates from two brothers - Frederick & Charles
Loops (originally LUEPS) - who came to the United States from Roeckwitz,
Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany as very young boys in the mid 1850's. After
their family died on the passage across (ship's sickness), the two young boys
were separated.
The brothers reunited during adulthood, after both brothers advertised in
newspapers for information on each other. Information from Frank Loops offers
that the first generation of children communicated across the country.
Frederick Loops
It is believed that Frederick Christopher, possibly age 8 at the time of arrival in the US, went to a potato farm in Maine where he was used as child labor. After many failed attempts, he finally succeeded in running away & traveled to New York where he lived on the streets. He slowly traveled South to North Carolina, where he is listed in the 1870 Census of Kinston, NC.
In Kinston, Fred acquired enough money to open a Hardware store. He eventually
married to AMANDA, had 4 surviving children, Charles
Ernest, Lelia, Edgar, and Eva Mae, and owned & operated a 350 acre
farm (ref: Frank Loops).
Charles Loops
Excerpt from: History of Milwaukee, 1881
“Charles Loops, photographer was born in 1851 in Prussia. When between
3 - 4 years old sailed for America with his father, who died on board
the vessel during the voyage. Landing in New York without parents, relatives
or friends, he was placed in the Orphan's Home of that city for 5 years.
He was sent by the Children’s Aid Society to live with a farmer in Northern
New Hampshire. Four and 1/2 years later he went to St. Johnsburg, Vermont
where he worked at the painter's trade in the car shops of the Possums
Railroad for 1 year. Then went to Concord, New Hampshire where he followed
carriage painting for 2 1/2 years. Took a trip to Milwaukee in 1873,
he returned to Concord where he studied photography with Benjamin Carr
until the autumn of 1874. Returned to Milwaukee and later went to Sheboygan,
6 months later returned to Milwaukee, built his present studio and residence
at 781 7th Street and has since devoted his time to the art." |