Cheryl Pope Tilton

[Bart]

John Charles Pope was born on June 26, 1909. He was the son of Anna
C. Rang and John C. Pope. Little is known about John C. Pope, he left
his family when John Pope the second and his younger brother, Frank,
were young boys. He was not heard from again. Anna Rang Pope died in
1939, shortly after the birth of her first grandchild, Pat. The Pope
Family lived near St. Mary of Victories Church, Where the boys were
schooled. This is located on Fourth Street near the foot of Chouteau.
John and Frank grew up with the Mizerany boys, the Bemis brothers and
the Slymans. Frank Pope passed away in 1986.
Charles Rang, brother of Anna, was a veteran of the Spanish-American
war. He was a licensed riverboat pilot and as far as we know, worked
at that trade until his retirement. During the mid-40's, Charles
lived with his nephew, John, and his family at 7015 Edison Avenue,
Normandy, MO.
Oscar and Helen (Jane's adopted parents) had three natural children,
Esther Potthoff Hahne, Ruth Potthoff Davis, and Erwin Potthoff.
Jane Lenore Potthoff was born on November 19, 1919. Jane was the
adopted daughter of Oscar Potthoff and Helen Hoeger (or Haeger). Jane
was the natural daughter of Albert Hoeger and his wife, who died of
typhoid shortly after the birth of Jane. Albert was hardpressed to
care for the small infant along with his older daughters, Hope and
Doris. So Albert's sister, Helen was asked to take the infant into
her home, which she gladly did. Later when Albert felt that he was in
a position to resume care of Jane, Helen refused to give her up.
After long arguments and family disputes, Albert agreed to allow
Helen and Oscar to adopt Jane. This was learned from Doris, after the
death of Jane. Unfortunately, Jane always thought that her father and
step-mother did not want her.
Jane grew up believing that her father was her uncle and that her
real sisters were her cousins. The Potthoffs did not tell Jane of the
arrangement until she was in her teens. She was devastated and ran
away from home.
Jane met and quickly married a man whose name is unknown. It was
shortlived, as the Potthoff's had the marriage annulled and brought
Jane back home. Again Jane left home. Soon she met and married John
Pope.
Two children were born of this marriage. Patricia Ann, born June 12,
1939 and John Charles Pope (the third), born Feburary 26, 1941.
Jane Lenore Pope passed away on January 4, 1959. She had just
celebrated her 39th birthday. She had been a victim of multiple
schlerosis for several years. John Charles Pope (the second) passed
away in september, 1968. He suffered from the effects of alcoholism
and liver disease.
John Pope (the third) married Judith Anne Evans about 1960. Three
children

came from that marriage, Cheryl Arleen Pope, John Charles Pope (the
fourth), Barbra

Ann Pope. Judith ran off with the children in about 1966, no one
knows

for sure. John (the third) remarried December 29, 1984 to Billy
Arleen Donnica, they

adopted 2 children, Micheal Thurman Pope, and Eugene Tussaman Pope.
We don't

know about John Pope (the third)'s second marriage.