"Jacob Bupp, who has made more hangmen's ropes than any other man in the United States, died last week at the home of his daughter in Homewood, Beaver county, Pa.".
*This blog post is one in a series of blogs on my famous ancestor, Jacob Bupp, the Hangman's Ropemaker- click the page tab above labeled "The Hangman's Ropemaker" for more information and the blog series*~"Bupp's Ropes Famous," The Iola Daily Record (Iola, Kansas), 10 June 1899, page 4
After retiring from rope-making finally in 1892 after the hanging of Patrick Fitzpatrick, Jacob spent at least a part of his remaining years at the home of his daughter, Emma Bupp McClurg, just outside Homewood, a borough in Beaver County, Pennsylvania.
Theories abound as to why he made the move:
- He may have relocated to Homewood after the embarrassment of the trial he sustained due to his illegal actions as an alderman. This is just a theory, but due to the timing of his move, it is possible.
- Also, there was also the controversy surrounding the breakage of the rope used to hang William West and the stretching of the cord used to hang David Nicely. That embarrassment may also have caused him to want to move
- There is evidence in his pension papers to support the theory that this was around the time that his mind began to slip as well. Perhaps his wife Caroline was no longer able to care for him in the capacity that he needed, while Emma may have been able to.
A little history on Emma first......
Emma Sarah Bupp was the eldest surviving daughter of Jacob and Caroline. She was born 27 December 1855, as stated in a previous blog, likely in the home the family lived in on Spring Garden Road in Reserve Township. She is listed with Jacob and the rest of the family in the 1860 and 1870 census enumerations, living in Ross Township in 1860 and McClure Township in 1870. Sometime in 1874 or 1875, she married William Wallace McClurg, the son of Irish immigrants James McClurg and Catherine Hunter. As he was born in Allegheny County and listed in the 1876 city directory as living with his father at 174 Washington Avenue in Allegheny City, the couple very likely married there as well, though a date of marriage AND location both have not been located as of yet. By 1880, the couple was living on a farm in Big Beaver Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, just outside Homewood, and continued to live there until both of their deaths. William died in 1915 and Emma died in 1944.
Emma and William had seven children that survived to adulthood, though there is evidence that nine children were born to the couple and that the other two had passed away at young ages (although their deaths were not registered in the "Beaver County Registration of deaths, 1893-1907" digitized on FamilySearch, which likely means they died in the period before such record keeping). The seven children were John Edward, Mary J, Katherine, Elizabeth Salina, James Harrison, George B and Emma Sarah.
Jacob Bupp lived with the couple during the period just after grandson George had been born, but before Emma had completed the family.
Jacob filed for an increase in pension that was dated 29 October 1892 and listed his post office address as Homewood, Pennsylvania. William McClurg, his son-in-law, was listed as one of the two witnesses to the affidavit (the other was A. M. Gray, who is believed to be Alice M. Gray, though no connection is known between her and Jacob as of yet). That same affidavit stated "It would be convenient for claimant to go to New Castle to be examined, it being only 10 miles distant." This clue leads to the belief that while the post office address of the McClurgs was indeed Homewood, they lived just outside the borough in Big Beaver Township, as the census enumerations suggest. Since William McClurg was a farmer, it is very likely that while their post office address was Homewood, they had to travel quite a way to pick up their mail.
An examination was done in New Castle, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and was filed on 29 March 1893 by Dr. D. M. Kinney, Dr. Silas Stevenson and Dr. W. L. Smith, who were the heads of the board of examining surgeons for Lawrence County . Jacob Bupp's claim of disability was listed as follows:
The doctors that examined Jacob at New Castle did find some evidence of both an injury to his leg and rheumatism, but concluded that most of his disabilities came from plain old age and the wears and tears that came from that. (Note here: He was also likely arthritic from the physical toils of the labor he did as a ropemaker.) He was granted a pension increase as a result of $2 per month, bringing his pension to $12 each month. This pension increase was reported in a newspaper account from Philadelphia in February of 1894.
There is conflicting information in regards to how long Jacob Bupp lived with Emma and William McClurg in Beaver County. A newspaper account that ran in syndication across several newspapers that told of his death stated that he died at his daughter's home near Homewood in 1899 (which will be disproved in another blog). It is possible that the evidence points to the fact that he remained with Emma until he moved to the Soldier's Home in Dayton, Ohio in July of 1898. Another of Jacob's numerous newspaper obituaries even goes so far as to state that "On Tuesday his relatives in this city had received a letter from Mrs. McClurg that her father was enjoying good health and late Wednesday evening came a message announcing his death." ("Jacob Bupp," obituary, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 24 February 1899, page 4). There is still mystery surrounding why exactly some of his obituaries stated he died in Homewood.
However, other evidence points to him returning to Allegheny City sometime after the pension increased in February of 1894. The 1896 to 1898 city directories for Pittsburgh and Allegheny City list him as living at 325 Shady Lane in Allegheny City with no occupation. This home was the home of son William Bupp, and Caroline and Jacob likely lived with him for a time. A small blurb in a York paper in 1896 stated that Jacob Bupp "of Pittsburg" was visiting the city (More on this visit in a future blog, I promise). While not solid evidence, these do suggest he only remained in Big Beaver Township for a few short years, which adds to the theory that he moved to get away from the embarrassment he may have caused his family.
Because the paper trail for this part of his life is sparse, there is a great deal of conjecture and assumptions that can be made. It may never be known for certain why and how Jacob came to be living in Beaver County or for how long. But these are questions that will continue to keep the research going.
Sources Used and Referenced
"1900 United States Federal Census," database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 29 August 2019), Entry for William Mcclurg and family, Year: 1900, Census Place: Big Beaver Beaver, Pennsylvania, Page: 10, Enumeration District: 0018, and FHL microfilm: 1241374; citing United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls.
"1910 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 29 August 2019), Entry for William McClurg and family, Year: 1910, Census Place: Big Beaver Beaver, Pennsylvania, Roll: T624_1310, Page: 14B, Enumeration District: 0016, and FHL microfilm: 1375323; citing Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "1880 United States Federal Census," database online with images, Ancestry.com Operation, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 29 August 2019), Entry for William McCleary and household, Year: 1880, Census Place: Big Beaver Beaver, Pennsylvania, Roll: 1097, Page: 79D, and Enumeration District: 177; citing Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. (NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
"Bupp's Ropes Famous," The Iola Daily Record (Iola, Kansas), 10 June 1899, page 4; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 5 September 2019).
Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1876-1877 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: G.H. Thurston, 1876), 486, "McClurg, Wm Wallace, lab, 174 Washington av, A(llegheny)" Also living at this same residence was a James McClurg, laborer. Assumption made that James was William's father; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 31 August 2019).
"Jacob Bupp," obituary, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 24 February 1899, page 4; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 16 August 2016).
J.F. Diffenbacher's directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1896/1897 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Diffenbacher and Thurston, 1896), 207, "Bupp Jacob, 325 Shady av, A(llegheny)"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 17 August 2016).
J.F. Diffenbacher's directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1897/1898 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Diffenbacher and Thurston, 1897), 208, "Bupp Jacob, 325 Shady av, A(llegheny)"; digital image, Unversity of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 17 August 2016).
Original Invalid Pension Claim for Jacob Bupp, Private, Company G, 6th Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery; Photocopy provided by NARA in the pension file for Jacob Bupp; citing Pension application files based upon service in the Civil War and Spanish-American War ("Civil War and Later"); Records Relating to Pension and Bounty-Land Claims 1773-1942, Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, RG 15; 2,807 rolls, National Archives, Washington, D.C.
"Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1963," database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 16 August 2016), Entry for Emma Sarah McClurg; died 15 January 1944; Certificate number: 991; citing Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates, 1906–1963. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
"Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1963," database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 30 August 2019), Entry for William W. McClurg, died 7 Jan 1915, cn 3988; citing Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates, 1906–1963. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
"Pennsylvania, Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993," database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 30 August 2019), Entry for William McClurg; probate date 22 Sept 1914; Will Books, Vol R-U, 1911-1917; Probate Records, 1803-1917; Index to Register's Office, 1803-1965; Author: Beaver County (Pennsylvania). Register of Wills; Probate Place: Beaver, Pennsylvania; citing Pennsylvania County District and Probate Courts.
"Pension Certificates Issued," The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 3 March 1894, page 2; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 5 September 2019).
"Random Comment," syndicated news column, Cleveland Leader (Cleveland, Ohio), 4 April 1899, page 4; online images, Genealogy Bank (www.genealogybank.com : accessed 21 September 2017), Newspaper Archive.
Register's docket for probate of William W. McClurg (1915), Probate records, 1803-1917; index to register's office, 1803-1965: volume 11, page 288; Beaver County Court, Beaver, Pennsylvania.
Surgeon's Certificate in the case of Jacob Bupp, Co. G, 6th Reg't, Pa HA, Applicant for Increase, Certificate number 752533, examined March 29, 1893; Photocopy provided by NARA in the pension file for Jacob Bupp; citing Pension application files based upon service in the Civil War and Spanish-American War ("Civil War and Later"); Records Relating to Pension and Bounty-Land Claims 1773-1942, Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, RG 15; 2,807 rolls, National Archives, Washington, D.C.
"Untitled," syndicated news column, The McCook Tribune (McCook, Nebraska), 5 May 1899, page 7; online images, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 21 September 2017), Historic American Newspapers; citing the University of Nebraska-Lincon Libraries, Lincoln, Nebraska.
Emma Sarah Bupp was the eldest surviving daughter of Jacob and Caroline. She was born 27 December 1855, as stated in a previous blog, likely in the home the family lived in on Spring Garden Road in Reserve Township. She is listed with Jacob and the rest of the family in the 1860 and 1870 census enumerations, living in Ross Township in 1860 and McClure Township in 1870. Sometime in 1874 or 1875, she married William Wallace McClurg, the son of Irish immigrants James McClurg and Catherine Hunter. As he was born in Allegheny County and listed in the 1876 city directory as living with his father at 174 Washington Avenue in Allegheny City, the couple very likely married there as well, though a date of marriage AND location both have not been located as of yet. By 1880, the couple was living on a farm in Big Beaver Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, just outside Homewood, and continued to live there until both of their deaths. William died in 1915 and Emma died in 1944.
Emma and William had seven children that survived to adulthood, though there is evidence that nine children were born to the couple and that the other two had passed away at young ages (although their deaths were not registered in the "Beaver County Registration of deaths, 1893-1907" digitized on FamilySearch, which likely means they died in the period before such record keeping). The seven children were John Edward, Mary J, Katherine, Elizabeth Salina, James Harrison, George B and Emma Sarah.
Jacob Bupp lived with the couple during the period just after grandson George had been born, but before Emma had completed the family.
Jacob filed for an increase in pension that was dated 29 October 1892 and listed his post office address as Homewood, Pennsylvania. William McClurg, his son-in-law, was listed as one of the two witnesses to the affidavit (the other was A. M. Gray, who is believed to be Alice M. Gray, though no connection is known between her and Jacob as of yet). That same affidavit stated "It would be convenient for claimant to go to New Castle to be examined, it being only 10 miles distant." This clue leads to the belief that while the post office address of the McClurgs was indeed Homewood, they lived just outside the borough in Big Beaver Township, as the census enumerations suggest. Since William McClurg was a farmer, it is very likely that while their post office address was Homewood, they had to travel quite a way to pick up their mail.
An examination was done in New Castle, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and was filed on 29 March 1893 by Dr. D. M. Kinney, Dr. Silas Stevenson and Dr. W. L. Smith, who were the heads of the board of examining surgeons for Lawrence County . Jacob Bupp's claim of disability was listed as follows:
 |
| Surgeon's Certificate in the case of Jacob Bupp, Co. G, 6th Reg't, PA HA, Applicant for Increase, Certificate number 752533, examined March 29, 1893; Photocopy provided by NARA in the pension file for Jacob Bupp |
There is conflicting information in regards to how long Jacob Bupp lived with Emma and William McClurg in Beaver County. A newspaper account that ran in syndication across several newspapers that told of his death stated that he died at his daughter's home near Homewood in 1899 (which will be disproved in another blog). It is possible that the evidence points to the fact that he remained with Emma until he moved to the Soldier's Home in Dayton, Ohio in July of 1898. Another of Jacob's numerous newspaper obituaries even goes so far as to state that "On Tuesday his relatives in this city had received a letter from Mrs. McClurg that her father was enjoying good health and late Wednesday evening came a message announcing his death." ("Jacob Bupp," obituary, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 24 February 1899, page 4). There is still mystery surrounding why exactly some of his obituaries stated he died in Homewood.
However, other evidence points to him returning to Allegheny City sometime after the pension increased in February of 1894. The 1896 to 1898 city directories for Pittsburgh and Allegheny City list him as living at 325 Shady Lane in Allegheny City with no occupation. This home was the home of son William Bupp, and Caroline and Jacob likely lived with him for a time. A small blurb in a York paper in 1896 stated that Jacob Bupp "of Pittsburg" was visiting the city (More on this visit in a future blog, I promise). While not solid evidence, these do suggest he only remained in Big Beaver Township for a few short years, which adds to the theory that he moved to get away from the embarrassment he may have caused his family.
Because the paper trail for this part of his life is sparse, there is a great deal of conjecture and assumptions that can be made. It may never be known for certain why and how Jacob came to be living in Beaver County or for how long. But these are questions that will continue to keep the research going.
Sources Used and Referenced
"1900 United States Federal Census," database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 29 August 2019), Entry for William Mcclurg and family, Year: 1900, Census Place: Big Beaver Beaver, Pennsylvania, Page: 10, Enumeration District: 0018, and FHL microfilm: 1241374; citing United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls.
"1910 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 29 August 2019), Entry for William McClurg and family, Year: 1910, Census Place: Big Beaver Beaver, Pennsylvania, Roll: T624_1310, Page: 14B, Enumeration District: 0016, and FHL microfilm: 1375323; citing Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "1880 United States Federal Census," database online with images, Ancestry.com Operation, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 29 August 2019), Entry for William McCleary and household, Year: 1880, Census Place: Big Beaver Beaver, Pennsylvania, Roll: 1097, Page: 79D, and Enumeration District: 177; citing Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. (NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
"Bupp's Ropes Famous," The Iola Daily Record (Iola, Kansas), 10 June 1899, page 4; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 5 September 2019).
Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1876-1877 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: G.H. Thurston, 1876), 486, "McClurg, Wm Wallace, lab, 174 Washington av, A(llegheny)" Also living at this same residence was a James McClurg, laborer. Assumption made that James was William's father; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 31 August 2019).
"Jacob Bupp," obituary, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 24 February 1899, page 4; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 16 August 2016).
J.F. Diffenbacher's directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1896/1897 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Diffenbacher and Thurston, 1896), 207, "Bupp Jacob, 325 Shady av, A(llegheny)"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 17 August 2016).
J.F. Diffenbacher's directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1897/1898 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Diffenbacher and Thurston, 1897), 208, "Bupp Jacob, 325 Shady av, A(llegheny)"; digital image, Unversity of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 17 August 2016).
Original Invalid Pension Claim for Jacob Bupp, Private, Company G, 6th Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery; Photocopy provided by NARA in the pension file for Jacob Bupp; citing Pension application files based upon service in the Civil War and Spanish-American War ("Civil War and Later"); Records Relating to Pension and Bounty-Land Claims 1773-1942, Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, RG 15; 2,807 rolls, National Archives, Washington, D.C.
"Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1963," database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 16 August 2016), Entry for Emma Sarah McClurg; died 15 January 1944; Certificate number: 991; citing Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates, 1906–1963. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
"Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1963," database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 30 August 2019), Entry for William W. McClurg, died 7 Jan 1915, cn 3988; citing Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates, 1906–1963. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
"Pennsylvania, Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993," database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 30 August 2019), Entry for William McClurg; probate date 22 Sept 1914; Will Books, Vol R-U, 1911-1917; Probate Records, 1803-1917; Index to Register's Office, 1803-1965; Author: Beaver County (Pennsylvania). Register of Wills; Probate Place: Beaver, Pennsylvania; citing Pennsylvania County District and Probate Courts.
"Pension Certificates Issued," The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 3 March 1894, page 2; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 5 September 2019).
"Random Comment," syndicated news column, Cleveland Leader (Cleveland, Ohio), 4 April 1899, page 4; online images, Genealogy Bank (www.genealogybank.com : accessed 21 September 2017), Newspaper Archive.
Register's docket for probate of William W. McClurg (1915), Probate records, 1803-1917; index to register's office, 1803-1965: volume 11, page 288; Beaver County Court, Beaver, Pennsylvania.
Surgeon's Certificate in the case of Jacob Bupp, Co. G, 6th Reg't, Pa HA, Applicant for Increase, Certificate number 752533, examined March 29, 1893; Photocopy provided by NARA in the pension file for Jacob Bupp; citing Pension application files based upon service in the Civil War and Spanish-American War ("Civil War and Later"); Records Relating to Pension and Bounty-Land Claims 1773-1942, Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, RG 15; 2,807 rolls, National Archives, Washington, D.C.
"Untitled," syndicated news column, The McCook Tribune (McCook, Nebraska), 5 May 1899, page 7; online images, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 21 September 2017), Historic American Newspapers; citing the University of Nebraska-Lincon Libraries, Lincoln, Nebraska.
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