Gleened from the Bland Courier - October 26, 1906

Charles Friedrich Pope was born on the 20th day of November, 1839, in Munster, Westphalia, Germany, of German parents. His father was a master tailor, and was government supervisor of a theater in Lippe Detmold. Both of his parents died when he was very young. The successor of the elder Pope, Friedrich Grüttemeier, adopted the young boy and raised him. He was sent to the town school, and afterwards to the higher schools, were he studied German, Latin, French and English. He came to American in August 1854, and in November of the same year located on a farm that he had occupied until the time that he moved to Bland.

Deceased was married twice. He married his first wife Charlotte A. Watermann on August 4, 1858 in Bland, Gasconade, Missouri. Charolotte preceded him in death on May 21, 1878. To this union 8 children were born: Friedrich Carl, Sophia Amalia, Marie Helene, Marie Clara, Wilhelm Carl, Friederich Christopher, Heinrich Carl and Amanda Melissa.

He married second to Nancy E.(Hill) Barbarick on March 3, 1903 in Hermann, Missouri. This union was blessed with one child Charles Pope who was born in 1904.

Charles F. Pope was a man who was held in the very highest esteem by a large number of acquaintance. He always took a deep interest in local political and industrial affairs, and his reputation for honesty was always above reproach. He was justice of the peace, notary public and public adminstrator.

Last December he suffered a stroke of paralysis, from which he never recovered, his mind never regaining its normal condition. His relatives and friends did all they could for him, but it was quite settled that the end might be tragic on account of the trend of his mind, as often expressed. On October 23, 1906 at 8:45am Charles Pope committed suicide with his revolver.

Funeral services were conducted from the home on Wednesday afternoon, most of the children being present. Rev. F. Eggers conducted the services and interment was in the cemetery 3 miles north of Bland, where his first wife, Charlotte, was buried. His second wife, Nancy, was unable attend as she was with their child, Charley, in Colorado where he was receiving medical attention.