History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

112 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until the close
of the war, being first sergeant when mustered out. For a year
previous to his discharge he had command of General William T.
Clark's body guards, numbering thirty men. He was the yoimg-
est member of his company to serve throughout the period of hostilities.
He participated in many hotly contested engagements
which led up to the final victory that crowned the union arms, and
he never faltered in the face of danger nor hesitated to respond
to the call of duty.
After the close of the war Mr. Roper continued a resident of
Indiana for a number of years and in 1868 was married to Miss
Ella M. Bowling of that state. Unto them were born five sons:
H. D., who is secretary and treasurer of the Roper Furniture
Company ;
C. A., residing at Mishawaka, Indiana, where he is engaged
in the lumber business; H. C, connected with the Dixon
plant; L. E. and J. Gordon, who are I'esidiug in Chicago and are
engaged in the furniture business there.
During the period of his residence of Mishawaka, Indiana, J.
A. Roper established a furniture manufacturing plant, which was
conducted by the family for twenty-two years.
Throughout that period the business grew and prospered and
it was not until 1910 that it was sold and the family removed to
Dixon. Here was established the present plant of the Roper
Furniture Company which today has a floor space of thirty-four
thousand, four hundred aud forty feet. It is a three story fireproof
building with sprinkler equipment, an engine of one hundred
and twenty-five horse powei', witli a steam plant and also
full electrical equipment. They manufacture high-grade dining
room furniture, employ seventy-five people at the factory and
three traveling salesmen npon the road. Tlieir product is widely
Bold and they have salesrooms, warerooms and offices at No. 815
Wabash Avenue, Chicago. The present officers of the company
are J. A. Roper, jjresident ; H. C. Roper, vice president and H. D.
Roper, secretary and treasurer. The business was a valuable ad-
dition to the manufacturing interests of Dixon and the partners
in the enterprise are all progressive business men who have no
patience with underhand methods, but base their siiccess upon de-
termination, perseverance and talent. The simple processes are
those which win results—not the intricate involved plans—and
thus it is that analysis brings to light the fact that the successful
men are those whose rules of business are simple in plan, even
thongh there be a multiplicity of detail. In the conduct of the