Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Oakland County, Michigan - 1891

Shoup, William C

William C. Shoup, a successful farmer of Oakland Township, was born in Warren County, N. J., March 26, 1832. His father, Conrad F., a Pennsylvania man, was born April 1, 1794, at Carterstown. The grandfather, John, was born August 30, 1770. The family is of Welsh extraction. Conrad F. emigrated from Pennsylvania to New Jersey and was there married to Ruth Taylor. He clerked in a store at Harmony, Warren County, N. J., for twelve years. In 1831 he came to Oakland County, with a view to settling here. He finally located a tract of land on section 10, Oakland Township, and in 1834 removed his family to the new home, where they occupied a log house just across the road from his farm until he could provide a home of his own. He purchased a team of oxen and a cow in Detroit while on his journey. The country was new and sparsely settled. Indians camped within two miles of the home of our subject, and frequent visits were exchanged. The trip to Detroit, which was the nearest market place, consumed a week in those days. He died in 1846 at the age of fifty-two years. He bad served as an enlisted soldier for a short time in the War of 1812 until peace was declared. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was Township Treasurer and Supervisor. He lost his right hand in New Jersey while firing a cannon during a Fourth of July celebration. His wife died in 1879 at the age of seventy-three years. The subject of this sketch was one of eight children, five of whom are now living. He was two years old when his parents removed to Michigan. As soon as old enough to work he was obliged by the necessities of pioneer life to leave school. He remained at home until of age, and for several years worked by the month for liis mother. In 1863 he bought an adjoining farm of eighty acres and after three years disposed of it and purchased the old Shoup homestead, on which he has since continued to reside. In 1861 our subject married Rebecca Hixson, who was born and reared just across the road from the Shoup place; the year of her birth was 1844. She was the daughter of Jonah and Mary A. (Jones) Hixson, who came from New Jersey to Michigan in 1837. Mr. Hixson is now living in Pontiac but his good wife ended her earthly career in 1860. To Mr. and Mrs. Shoup have been granted four children, namely: Eliza, Frank, Jesse and Wade H. Their father is a staunch Democrat and has been a delegate frequently to county conventions. He has two hundred and forty acres of fine land, which he has brought to an excellent state of cultivation. He began life with limited means and has been quite successful.