Christian Kopp

CHRISTIAN KOPP. - A man of unquestioned business ability and judgment and one of the leading men of his conmunity, Christian Kopp is intimately associated with the advancement of the manufacturing and mercantile interests of Kansas City, Kansas, where he has been actively and successfully engaged in the bakery business for a score of years. A son of George Kopp, he was born October 14, 18661 in Jeffersonville, Indiana, of German parentage.

Born, bred and educated in Baden, Germany, George Kopp immigrated to the United States at the age of eighteen years, locating in Louisville, Kentucky. After his marriage he was engaged in agricultural pursuits in Kentucky until 1866, when he bought land in Clark county, Indiana, where he has since been numbered among the active and prosperous farmers of that locality. He married, in 1863, in Louisville, Kentucky, Catherine Bliss, who went with an aunt to that city when she was a girl of thirteen years and was there educated. Ten children were born into their household, as follows: Christian, the special subject of this sketch; P. F., of San Rafael, California; Mrs. Harry Crandall, a widow living at the corner of Pacific and Harrison avenues, Kansas City, Kansas; John, engaged in the grain business at New Albany, Indiana; Mary, wife of Michael Kuntz, of Clark county, Indiana; Amelia, wife of William Brethbile, of Louisville, Kentucky, an agent for the Singer Sewing Machine Company; William, conducting the home farm in Clark county, Indiana; Elizabeth, wife of Warren Bushfield, of Louisville, Kentucky, a hydraulic engineer; Charles A., a retail baker in Louisville, Kentucky; and Herman J., of Jeffersonville, Indiana.

Receiving a practical education in the district schools, Christian Kopp served an apprenticeship at the baker's trade in Louisville, Kentucky, and at the age of eighteen years began working as a journeyman baker at Kansas City, Missouri. In August, 1891, he opened a bakery at his present location, in Kansas City, Kansas, beginning business on a modest scale, and from year to year has since steadily increased his operations, the output of his present plant averaging twenty-five thousand loaves of bread each week. In 1899 Mr. Kopp erected a two-story, brick bakery and bake-shop, and has now one of the most modernly equipped and up-to-date bakeries in the state of Kansas. On March 10, 1908, the business was incorporated as a stock company, with B. Howard Smith, president; Edward Orear, secretary; and Mr. Kopp, general manager, of what is known as the Kopp Bakery. An immense business is here carried on, and in addition to the main store five branches have been established, as follows: The Smith Bakery, at the corner of Eighteenth and Cherry streets; the Warneke Bakery, at Seventeenth and Magee streets; the Matthaei Bakery, at Seventeenth and Madison streets; the Suydam Bakery, at 2462 Vine street; and the Crowe Bakery. The Warneke Bakery and the Crowe Bakery are together, and for their use is being erected a plant at Fourteenth and Chesnut streets, which is to be one of the best in the county. Mr. Kopp is also a stockholder, and a director, in the Riverview State Bank.

On April 4, 1888, Mr. Kopp was united in marriage with Nancy Ann Clark, who was born in Platte county, Missouri, which was also the birthplace of her parents, Madison and Elizabeth (Kirkendall) Clark. Mr. and Mrs. Kopp have one child, a daughter, Pearl Kopp, who has completed the high school course.

Politically Mr. Kopp uniformly supports the principles of the Democratic party, and for three terms served as a member of the City Council, being president of that body one term. Fraternally he is a member of Lodge No. 440, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of Kansas City, Kansas; of the Modern Woodmen of America; of the Ancient Order of United Workmen; and of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. True to the religious faith of his ancestors, he is a member of the Lutheran church.