The SAR MAGAZINE is the official quarterly publication of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution published quarterly.
Issue link: http://sar.epubxp.com/i/604650
24 SAR MAGAZINE ALABAMA SOCIETY Cahaba-Coosa Chapter Revolutionary War Patriot John Roper was honored on May 16 with a grave-marking service conducted at the Oak Level United Methodist Church Cemetery in Fruithurst, Cleburne County, Alabama. More than 20 descendants of Roper attended, including John and Robert Hollingsworth of the Cahaba-Coosa Chapter, and Lynne Williams and Rowena Pugh of the Josiah Brunson Chapter, DAR. Other family members and friends, special guests from the community and members of numerous patriotic organizations also attended. William (Bill) Clement, past president of the Birmingham Chapter, greeted the group of about 50 attendees on behalf of the SAR. Mary Lewey, regent of the Josiah Brunson Chapter, DAR, extended a warm welcome on behalf of the DAR and recognized the descendants of Roper and special guests. Brief compositions of the personal life and military service history of Roper were shared by two of his fourth-great-grandchildren, Lynne Williams and Mike Roper. John Roper was born on Feb. 24, 1763 in Brunswick County, Virginia. He volunteered for service and served three months in Capt. Samuel Lockhart's Company, Col. Etherington's Regiment, in 1780 at the age of 17. He fought in the Battle of Camden, which began in the middle of the night on Aug. 14, 1780. He received a slight head wound on March 15, 1781 during the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. By the close of the war, Roper, though not quite 21 years old, had served with the military for 26 months over the terrain of at least three states. Roper married Sarah Fincher in Mecklenburg, North Carolina, in 1797 and they had 10 children over the next 16 years. They moved to Alabama to be near some of their children. Roper was 87, blind and living with his youngest son, Samuel, and his wife and children in Oak Level, Alabama, in 1850. He died and was buried at the Methodist Church Cemetery in Oak Level on July 25, 1852. Three fifth-great-grandchildren of John and Sarah Fincher Roper participated in the ceremony: Carley Newman played "Ashokan Farewell" on the violin while Eli Hollingsworth unveiled the markers and Kathryn Petty placed the wreath. Gen. Galvez Chapter Chapter President Edmon McKinley, Vice President John Goss and acting Chaplain Leroy McGaughy led the SAR memorial service in memory of Malcom Babb Sr., a past ALSSAR president and Gen. Galvez Chapter president. Family members Mary Phillips and Cissy Dionne joined us for this ceremony. Compatriot Babb was a World War II veteran and served on a PT boat. He was active in many SAR projects and we miss him. Fort Morgan Historic Site Director Mike Bailey presented "The Modern Era at Fort Morgan, 1898-1924." This period saw the development of the Fort into a modern military base with many of the same features that would be found on a base today. The base became the largest permanent military base in Alabama during this period and was one of the largest towns in Baldwin County. It was also during this period that the main defensive feature of the Fort moved from the masonry fort, with its large number of muzzle loading artillery, to modern reinforced concrete gun emplacements with a minimum of large- caliber, long-range, breech-loading artillery pieces. Most of us had no idea about the size and function of Fort Morgan. Bailey is one of our favorite speakers. His wit and historical knowledge are classic. President McKinley presented Bailey with an SAR Certificate of Appreciation. News stories about state and chapter events appearing here and elsewhere in the magazine are prepared from materials submitted through a variety of means, including press releases and newsletters (which should be directed to the Editor at the address shown on page 2). Please note the deadlines below. Compatriots are encouraged to sub- mit ideas for historical feature articles they would like to write. Each will be given careful consideration. Deadlines: Winter (February) Dec. 15; Spring (May) March 15; Summer (August) June 15; Fall (November) Sept. 15.