It was a time of rugged individualism in America as westward expansion brought wave after wave of immigrants from the United States out to the frontier – Sandra Jonas’ new book, ‘Susanville, The Roop’s, The Arnold’s, and a Girl Named Susan’ documents the amazing story of town founder Isaac Roop, his family and his rather distinguished descendants.
Jonas follows the accomplishments of the Roops providing a narrative that illustrates their contributions to history, both on a local and national level, tracing relatives through civil war battlefields, ocean voyages and harrowing adventures on the western frontier.
The focal point of the book is Roop’s daughter, Susan Roop Arnold, who sailed to California through the Isthmus of Panama to join her father in 1862.
“It all started when I was doing ‘Susan’ for 3rd grade history days,” said Jonas, who began collecting bits of information about Susan Roop and her life to share with the children.
“I asked Susan Roop’s granddaughter, Zellamae Arnold Miles, to tell me about her grandmother,” Jonas explains. “She knew just a little bit – as told to her by her father Med Arnold – she was interested to know more.”
Jonas began her research in earnest, “The more information I uncovered the more paths it led me down and the more interesting it became.”
“A lot has been written about Isaac Roop and the founding of Susanville,” said Jonas, “but not about Susan, her brothers, her uncles and extended family.”
According to Jonas it took 3 years of research and writing on the book, and an additional five months of editing and layout.
Book Signing at Margie’s Book Nook
You are invited to meet Sandy, along with living descendants of the Roop family, for a book signing this Saturday at Margie’s Book Nook in uptown Susanville. The signing will be held between 1:00 and 3:00p.m.
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