The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 13, July 1909 - April, 1910 Page: 44

44

Texas Historical Association Quarterly.

J. C. CLOPPER'S JOURNAL AND BOOK OF MEMORANDA
FOR 1828.1
PROVINCE OF TEXAS.
Novr. 10th 1827-Departed Cincinnati on this evening on board
the Steam boat Franklin for Louisville-Company for the same
destination Messrs. N. Cloipper, A. M. Clopper, E. N. Clopper
Captn. Lyndsay-for this night's darksome series of conflicting
emotions; why the spirit slumbered not, and the heart was ill at
ease, vide: the records of Memory.
Nov. 11th. Sunday morning arrived at Louisville; Met Dr.
G M Patrick and Mr. Gregg of Ky: who connected themselves
with us under the firm of the Texas trading Association Re-
mained here three days awaiting the departure of a steam boat-
pleased with the Town's commercial appearance the picturesque
wildness and grandeur of the falls and spirit of enterprize dis-
coverable in the progress of the canal around them-wrote four
letters-three to Cincinnati-two of which remain not at Wood-
lawn of the Mound.
Nov. 14 This morning departed for N. Orleans on board the
splendid Boat Amazon-our Compy. seven in all-Had a delight-
ful passage down as far as St Helena on the Mississippi where the
'The original of this journal is in the possession of Edward N. Clopper,
Cincinnati, a grandson of J. C. Clopper, who has kindly furnished the
printer's copy, at the same time lending the original for editorial purposes
and sending also the following sketch of its writer:
"Joseph Chambers Clopper was born in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania,
January 11, 1802, and died in Cincinnati, on January 7, 1861. His parents,
Nicholas Clopper of New Jersey, and Rebecca Chambers of Chambersburg,
were married in 1790 and had eight children, all of whom, except Joseph,
died single. In 1829 he married Mary Este of Morristown, New Jersey,
whose sister Hannah was the wife of David G. Burnet. Three children were
born to them, two of whom died in infancy; their son, Edward N. Clopper,
was superintendent of schools in Houston, Texas, at the time of his death
in 1880. In 1818 Nicholas Clopper took his wife and children to Cin-
cinnati, where he purchased land and built a house which is still the family
homestead. A few years later he acquired land in Texas for speculation and
ranching purposes, and spent considerable time in the province looking
after his property. In 1827 he took his sons, Joseph, Andrew and Edward,
with him to Texas, the following diary, kept by Joseph, being an account
of their experiences during that visit.-E. N. C."