What is the origin of the phrasal verb “rope into”?

Solution 1:

rope Entymonline

to rope (someone or something) in is from 1848.

To rope in or into is to cause somebody to adopt a certain position, belief, or course of action, like twisting somebody's arm.

And from the OED:

to rope in originally U.S.

• transitive. To ensnare, to lure or decoy (a criminal's victim); to take (a person) into custody. Also intransitive: to ensnare or decoy
  a person.

As in early use:

• 1840 Daily Picayune (New Orleans) 5 Sept. 2 Robert Brown, Pat Carlin, and F. Quin, supposed to have roped in a chicken importer—no
  proof of the fact.