City Directories and History: George Schoppert settled in Newberry in ’09. He went there as a mechanic, in the employment of his brother-in- law, Thomas W. Waters, who was engaged in building the jail, the courthouse, and out of the refused timber for these public buildings, his “L” house herein before spoken of. Mr. Schoppert was an industrious house carpenter; he soon made out to buy the western quarter acre of the lot now belonging to Dr. Harrington. Here he lived from ”99 to 1826, when he died. Here he raised his children, Precious, Philip, Joseph and Elizabeth; all of whom, except Philip, are no more. Mr. Schoppert built most of the houses in the Village and its vicinity from ’99 to his death. He was the ensign of the Newberry Artillery Company, and
served the tour of duty at Camp Alston in 1814. He came to this State from Maryland, but I think he was a native of Pennsylvania. He was a soldier in the army embodied to put down the Whiskey Insurrection, and when in his cups, used to take great delight in singing an old soldier’s song, beginning “We are the boys who fear no noise.” The Dutch dance, “Hoop so saw” was another of his favorites, when he had a taste too much of the “overjoyful.” He was of German descent, and was as hard working, honest, industrious a man as ever the sun shone upon. From great poverty, he struggled on to rather more than competence, not withstanding an expensive family. His widow Catherine survived him. She was an universal favorite in the mirth- loving village of Newberry. Caty Chopper, as she was usually called, and her snuff-box were synonymous with fun, until 1819, when she became a member of the Methodist Church. Her husband soon followed and died 1825. She died about 1829. Their child, Joseph, died before either of them, I think in 1817 or 1818. Precious married Dr. Thomas Shell, whom she survived; Elizabeth married Joel Stevenson, who survived her; Philip is now an inhabitant of Eutaw, Alabama. Like his father, he was a house carpenter; he partook much of his mother’s temperament; he loved mischief and fun, and was rarely surpassed at either. No man has spent a more laborious life, and no one has more signally failed in securing even competence. He, like his parents, is a Methodist, and is, I believe, a Christian. If my good wishes could change the adverse current against which he has been rowing, he would have them now as he has ever had, with now and then a little more substantial than good wishes.
(Information from: The Annals of Newberry Co., SC – O’Neall and Chapman, Aull and Houseal Publishers – 1892)
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