| Richard Hoops | |
 | |
| Birth: | 20 December 1770? Pittsboro, North Carolina, USA |
| Death: | 3 September 1913 Osage City, Missouri, USA |
| Age: | 142 years, 257 days? |
| Country: |  USA
|
| Longevity myth | |
Richard Hoops (né Hayden; 20 December 1770? – 3 September 1913) was an African-American longevity myth.
Biography[]
Richard Hoops was allegedly born to a slave woman belonging to the family of John Hayden in Pittsboro, North Carolina, on 20 December 1770. Sometime in the early 19th century, the Hayden family moved with their slaves to Missouri, where Richard was sold to the family of George Hoops in Vienna. When Richard was emancipated, he took the surname Hoops, and after he was emancipated, he moved to Westphalia.
In his later years, Richard Hoops took part in fishing and odd jobs. He lived in a small hut in Osage City, which was located along the Osage River. He had resided there from around 1875 until his death. He died on 3 September 1913, at the alleged age of 142 years, 257 days.
References[]
- Osage City - oldest man in American - Richard Hoops The Concord Times, 31 May 1894
- 123 Year Old Man, Formerly of Vienna, Missouri Snoop Dorky Dork, 14 September 2009 (Archived)
- Osage City resident researches history of his once-thriving home News Tribune, 29 November 2015 (Archived)
- Cole County History: Osage City's 'longest-lived human' News Tribune, 7 August 2021
- Richard Hoops Find A Grave