Hon. David D. Roper, prominent lawyer and slate operator at Slatington, for many years, was born Oct. 15, 1838, in County Monaghan. Ireland. In boyhood he attended the public schools of his native place, and when seventeen years old, emigrated to the US with his brother, John Roper. After landing at New York City, he proceeded directly to Clinton, New Jersey, and shortly afterward was apprenticed to Hon. Eli Bosenberty, an extensive building contractor, for the purpose of learning the trade of carpenter. While pursuing his apprenticeship he devoted his evenings to study so as to improve his mind and prepare himself for a business career; and a Lyceum having then been conducted at the place with much encouragement, he became a member and took great interest in its proceedings to develop his knowledge and literary accomplishments.

While employed at Clinton, Mr. Roper enlisted in the Civil War, on Sept. 5. 1862, for nine months as a private in Co. E., of the 3ist Regt. N. J. Vol. Inf., and was honorably discharged on June 24, 1863. While in the service he was shot in the leg, and the bullet having become encysted it remained where it had lodged until his death.

In the Fall of 1863, the demand for carpenters and builders at Oil City, Pa., was so great that they were paid $10 a day. Mr. Roper took advantage of this opportunity and he, being an expert mechanic, earned a sufficient sum to pay for his further education; arid in this behalf he attended the Allentown Collegiate Academy from 1864 to 1866. During this time he was connected with a cadet company at Allentown, which was commanded by Major Eckendorf, and served as the fifer.

In 1866, he entered the law offices of Edwin Albright. Esq., of Allentown (afterward President Judge of Lehigh county), and prosecuted a study of law under his instructions for two years, serving also in this time become an active; member of the Lehigh Lyceum and encouraged its literary endeavors; and he was admitted to practice on April 13, 1868. Shortly afterward, he settled at Slatington and established quarters for himself in the offices of Henry Kuntz, a Justice of the Peace, and he continued, in the active practice of his profession at Slatington, and at Allentown, before the several Courts of Lehigh County, until 1902, when he was obliged to relinquish it in order to devote his entire time to his business affairs in connection with operations in the slate industry. In his legal practice he had become a member of the Bar of Northampton County. During the years from 1870 to 1873, in the early stage of his practice, he was identified with the local newspaper, the Slatington News, and he filled the position of editor in an able manner. It was then a most trying time for the people were calling in a loud manner for retrenchment, reconstruction and reform in our National politics, and the acrimonious discussions in the newspapers brought on a great upheaval in the presidential election.

In 1875, Mr. Roper was one of the organizers in establishing the National Bank of Slatington and he served as a director from the beginning until his death, besides acting as solicitor for the Bank. He officiated as a school director of the local schools from 1876 to 1879. He was enlisted in the National Guard of Pennsylvania from 1876 to 1880, having been commissioned as Quartermaster of the 4th Regiment with the rank of 1st Lieutenant. And he represented the county of Lehigh in the Legislature for three terms from 1887 to 1892. In 1892, he became a member of the Scotch-Irish Society of America and retained his membership until he died. In the establishment of the Slatington water works. Mr. Roper took a very active part, and though a great opportunity was afforded to make a large amount of money in this public enterprise by taking the grant of an abundant flow of superior, running water for himself and his associates, he nevertheless secured it for the borough with the express provision as one of the conditions of the sale that it could never be sold, which displayed the integrity and true public spirit of Mr. Roper to such a high degree that the community have ever since commended his unselfish action for the general welfare.

As an experienced builder, Mr. Roper superintended the erection of the Presbyterian Church, with its beautiful elevated spire; and he was one of the leading men in establishing the rolling mill as an additional industry in Slatington.

In 1893, Mr. Roper associated with A. L Rice and Samuel M. Rice (brothers), of Slatington, for the purpose of manufacturing roofing slate and they organized the Hazel-Dell Slate Co., of which he became the superintendent. The property had a superior locality in a low, marshy dale with an abundance of hazel bushes, and this led the partners to form the word "Hazel-Dell" and select it very appropriately as a popular name for their slate. The business experience which Mr. Roper had acquired in the practice of the law until that time, a period of twenty-five years, enabled him, as the superintendent, to direct the management of the company's operations and to present the superior character of its roofing slate in such a manner as to develop a large and profitable trade which reached out to all parts of the United States and even to foreign countries, and for twenty years the "HazelDell" roofing slate has been recognized as the most popular for its durable composition and attractive, glistening dark blue color. Innumerable roofs of dwelling houses and churches in that section of Pennsylvania for many miles are evidence of the excellence and popularity of the "Hazel-Dell" slate. Notwithstanding Mr. Roper's death in 1904, this slate operation is still carried on by the estate for the benefit of his heirs under the 'executors of his last will.

In 1876, Mr. Roper was married to Amy C. Kernahan, daughter of Thomas C. Kernahan, a prominent and successful merchant at Allentown for many years, and they had five children. They were members of the Presbyterian Church. He died June 27. 1904.