Meet the Tropes

Grandpa Trope, Mike, Grandma Trope, Erik, Ethan

Today is the anniversary of when I met my husband, Mike, so I think it would be a good time to introduce his family history.  We have found many similarities in our families’ stories, and many differences.

Like my dad, his dad’s family came over on a boat from “the old country” in the mid 1800s.  Mine from Norway and his from Germany.  Franz Trope was married with children when he came and one was born at sea.

Franz settled in New York City and was a shopkeeper.  Lars Schulstad (my dad’s grandfather) settled in Chicago and was a tailor.  It didn’t take long for the Trope family to move out of the city to Long Island where many still remain.

Like my mom, Mike’s mom was a farm girl with roots going several generations back in the same farming community she grew up in.  Both grandmas left the area, but family still remains there. 

His dad was a cadet at Virginia Tech mine was ROTC at the University of Illinois.

We both have ancestors who fought in the civil war.  Mine was from Illinois and his was from Virginia.

That is a brief introduction.  I have several pictures of this family and some stories for you as well.  I will continue to post about this family and look forward to comments and stories from you.