Anderson County Biographies
"Portrait and Biographical Record of Southeastern Kansas"
Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1894
WILLIAM HOPKINS. The agriculturists
Jackson Township, Anderson County,
are as a rule possessed of great energy,
and rank well among the farmers the world over.
Our subject is one of the successful agriculturists
above named, his comfortable estate being located
on section 28. The land is under thorough tillage,
bears a full line of adequate improvements, and
produces a goodly store of the various crops, to
the raising of which it is devoted.
The father of our subject bore the given name of
Shodroch and was a native of Delaware. He was a
son of William Hopkins, who in turn was also a
native of Delaware, which state he represented in
the Legislature at one time. William Hopkins
emigrated from Delaware to Indiana in an early
day and was among the first settlers of Fountain
County, where he lived the remainder of his life.
Shodroch L. went to Fountain County with his parents and there grew to maturity, receiving some
little school education. He was married to Mary
Galloway, and both he and his wife lived and died
in the same county. The mother died when our
subject was nine years old, and being bereft of a
mother's loving and tender care, young William
was sent to live with his grandfather, John Galloway, who reared him to a life of usefulness.
Mr. Hopkins was born in Fountain County,
Ind., March 5, 1838, and was given the advantages
of a very good education in the district schools of
the county. While still enjoying a life of single
blessedness, he came to Anderson County and
bought a tract of land in Jackson Township.
This was in the year of 1859, and the following
December he returned to his native county, where
he remained until the spring of the succeeding
year. It was then time to attend to the planting
of crops, so he came back and spent the necessary
time in cultivating the soil and sowing the seed
which was to bring him a bountiful harvest. In
April, 1861, he again returned to his old home
and did not come back until about one year later,
when he returned and made a permanent settlement.
March 30, 1862, was celebrated the marriage of
our subject and Miss Elizabeth Crane. This lady,
intelligent, cultured, and efficient in womanly duties, was born in Fountain County, February 16,
1841. Her father, Abram Crane, was a native of
Warren County, Ohio, and was the son of Abner
Crane. Abram Crane, who was noted for his wealth,
was an early settler of Fountain County, where he
died. Her mother, who was known in maidenhood
as Ruth Romine. was a native of Virginia and died
in Fountain County. Ever since their marriage
Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins have made this county their
home. Here they have been greatly prospered, and
by habits of industry and economy have acquired a
nice home and two hundred and eighty-five acres
of land, which is in a finely cultivated condition.
Mr. Hopkins and his faithful wife became
the parents of five children: Carleton W.; Frank
A., who died at the age of eleven years; Ina, Myrtle and George R. These children are receiving
the opportunities of a good education and are following the good example set them by their parents,
who are both great workers in the cause of temperance, Mrs. Hopkins being identified with the
Woman's Christian Temperance Union. The home
of our subject and wife is one of the coziest in
this part of the country, and the gracious hospitality of the wife and the genial courtesy of the
host give it an attraction to their many friends.
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Anderson Co. KHHP
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