William Popp detective ledger book collection

William Popp's parents were born in Germany, Margaretha Kodish Popp on July 14, 1830 in Bavarian Rhenish Palatinate, and John (Johnn) Wolfgang Popp in Bavaria in October 1828. John arrived in the United States through New York City in 1852, while Margaretha's arrival date is unknown. They were married in Rochester, New York on October 14, 1860. Their first son, Jacob, was born in 1862 and a daughter, Marie (Mary) in 1865.

William Frederick Popp was born on March 25, 1877, in Rochester, New York. His mother died on January 11, 1878 (when he was under one year old), after giving birth to his sister Christine ("Stenie"). He lived on Hawkins Street while growing up and attended Henry Lomb No. 20 School on Oakman Street near Clinton Avenue. His father died when he was 13, and his sister Marie took over raising him. Marie was married to Henry Tuhro (1854-1944) of Rochester, and lived until April 7, 1955,

William was hired by the Rochester Police Department in 1900. In that same year, on June 6, he married Mary McAnn at the home of the Rve. G> B. F. Hallock of the Brick Presbyterian Church. They met at the Rochester State Hospital, where Mary was a nurse and William a security guard. Mary grew up on Vallance Road in Mumford, the daughter of David McAnn and Elspeth Grant. She was two years older than William, having been born on March 4, 1875. Together, they had three sons: Kenneth Bertram Popp (1901-1959), William F. Popp Jr. (1904-1965) and Robert David Popp (1918-2003), and lived at 668 Clay Avenue in Rochester.

William worked as a beat patrolman and special officer from 1900 to 1920 as part of the Exchange Street Station. In 1920 he made detective and was promoted to a grade "A" detective 18 months later. He retired from the Rochester Police Department in 1947 after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.

William Popp was a life-long member of the Yonnondio Lodge No. 163 F and AM. He also was a member of the Police Locust Club, the Police Benevolent Association, and a congregant at the North Presbyterian Church. He was a catcher for the three-time state champion police baseball team (photograph of team included in collection). His sone Robert wrote that he "was catcher for the team and very good." William also coached the team and was a police gymnasium instructor.

A year after retiring, Popp became tired of inactivity in retirement and took a job as a security guard at the University of Rochester Atomic Energy Project on Elmwood Avenue. He died on May 13, 1957 of bladder cancer at his home on Clay Avenue. His funeral services were held at the Holla-Leary Funeral Home, 1256 Mt. Hope Avenue, and he was buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery.

These notes were adapted from a biographical sketch provided by Robert Popp.