HOPKINS

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Hopkins, Amos Crandall

"Crandall Hopkins died Saturday evening last after a week's illness. The deceased was a well known figure in and around Tilden, he having been the first white man to make his home in Antelope County. Coming here as early as 1868, when the only inhabitants of the wide prairies were wild animals and roving bands of Indians, he lived to see his surroundings advance from savagery and non-productiveness to a state of the highest civilization and fruitfulness. By his own efforts he carved a home in the wilderness and lived to the ripe old age to enjoy the competency which he acquired by his labor. He reared a large family, most of whom are still living in the neighborhood, and was a perfect type of the rugged, straightforward, honorable dealing pioneer, by whose energy and fearlessness the former great American desert has been reclaimed from nature and converted into the most profitable and prolific agriculture region on the American continent. He was a descendant of Stephen Hopkins, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and was as sincerely patriotic towards the American government and as jealous of the rights of the people as was his famous ancestor. Although in his 80th year he retained full possession of his strong metal faculties and a large share of his great physical strength until a week before his death. The funeral was held at Neligh on Monday, and was attended by a large numbers of the older settlers in the vicinity."

~Source: Tilden Citizen, Sat., November 12, 1904, page 5, column 2

Obituary - Amos Crandall HOPKINS

"Amos Crandall Hopkins, son of Gardiner & Freelove Parker Hopkins was born Virgil, Cortland County, New York, May 22, 1825. His father was a farmer and in 1833 removed with his family to the Western Reserve in Ohio, settling on a farm near Couneaut, Ashtabula County. Here the father opened up a farm and the subject of our sketch, when not assisting his father "worked out" helping neighboring farmers. About 1840, tiring of the farm, and desiring a more exciting life, being quite strong and rugged for his age, he engaged himself as a sailor on a boat in the lakes. This pursuit he followed for 5 1/2 years holding the position of mate, before he was twenty years of age. November 20th, 1845 he was married at Girard, Erie County, Pennsylvania to Miss Thankful Otisca Ames, a native of Greenville, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. To this union were born thirteen children, who all except five survive. After marriage he engaged in farming. In the fall of 1850 he removed with his family to the vicinity of Gratiot, Lafayette County, Wisconsin. Here he lived there nearly eighteen years, engaging in farming pursuits. About the first of January 1868 he decided to leave Wisconsin, and in February he removed to Illinois, settling near Sterling, Whiteside County. Here he found the country to sickly to suit him, he stopped less than 6 months then started for Nebraska, to seek a location on government land. While crossing the ferry at Omaha he was directed to the Elkhorn Valley. He came west to Fremont then followed up the valley until he found a location to suit his idea of a farm and stock ranch. This proved to be E 1/4 of NE 1/4, Sec. 3, T24, R5W and the S 1/4 of the SE 1/4, Sec. 34, T25, R5W. Upon this he made homestead entry No. 596, on the 22 October 1868, proving up on same March 11, 1874. In the early part of November 1870 a party of eleven Brule Sioux Indians carried off or destroyed everything of value they could find at the house of Robert Horn on Cedar Creek. The settlers armed & pursued the Indians, Mr. Hopkins being of the number. The Indians were overtaken in Holt County and a fight ensued. In this fight Mr Hopkins was shot through the right arm with an arrow, and had a horse wounded. Shortly after his settlement, feeling the need of a blacksmith, he went to Sioux City, Iowa and purchased a blacksmith's outfit of anvils, bellows and tools. Having had a little experience as helper in a shop in early life, he opened up a shop which proved a great convenience to the little settlement. In 1872 he opened up a small stock of merchandise such as the needs of the early settlers required. While running this store a post office called "Ogden" was started in his store building. From his first settlement in Antelope County Mr. Hopkins was extensively engaged in farming and stock raising, his farm and ranch being one of the best in Antelope County. He also set fruit trees and on his farm a very fine orchard of bearing fruit trees. He also had fine a fish pond stocked with choices kinds of fish on his farm. (CONTRIBUTED)

~Source: Tilden Citizen, Sat., November 12, 1904, page 5, column 3-4



Hopkins, Mrs. Amos Crandall, nee' Thankful Otisca Ames

Mother of Antelope County-- Dead

Mrs. Crandall Hopkins, the first woman settler in Antelope County, died last Sunday at her home near Tilden. Funeral services were held Tuesday at the M. E. church in Neligh, conducted by Rev. Chas. P. Lang of Tilden, and burial was made in Laurel Hill cemetery. The following obituary was read by A. J. Leach: Thankful Otisca Ames was born in Greenville, Crawford County, Penn., May 25, 1827, and died at her home near Tilden, Neb., Sept 19, 1915, at the age of 88 years, 8 months and 25 days. Her father Allen Ames, came of good old English stock, and her mother, Nancy Glancey was of Holland Dutch stock--the ancestors on both sides coming from the old country to America in early colonial days. Her early education as such things are now understood, was very limited, but her education in the school of experience, during her long life, was strenuous, thorough and complete. Her early life was spent at home in her father's family, and differed little if any from that of other girls of her age at that date. She was taught to spin and weave, and to make her own garments, and those of other family members of the family, from home products--things that are among the lost arts at the present time. On November 20, 1845, when a little more than 18 years of age, she was married to Amos Crandall Hopkins, at Girard, Erie county, Penn., settling for a time near Conneaut, Ohio, on the Western Reserve. In the fall of 1850 she moved with her family to Wisconsin, settling near Gratiot, Lafayette County. Here the family lived until February 1868, when they moved about a hundred miles south to Whiteside county, Illinois. It was her husband's intention to buy a farm and remain in Illinois but having some sickness in the family, and not being well suited with the outlook, it was decided to come to Nebraska. The start was made for Nebraska on August 3, 1868, and the journey was made by covered wagons in four weeks, the family landing in what is now Antelope County either August 31 or September 1, 1868-the exact date being in doubt. Almost exactly forth-seven years of her life--three years more than half of it--have been lived in Antelope county. Her life, especially since coming to Nebraska, had been eventful, and in some instances remarkable and quite out of the ordinary experiences of other people. She was the first woman to settle in Antelope county, her home for the first five months being in a little one room log house twenty-five miles from the nearest neighbors-- the same distance from the nearest post office--seventy-five miles from the nearest mill, which was at West Point, and a hundred and five miles from the nearest railroad depot by the traveled road. It was her oldest son who took up the first homestead in the county. Her grandchild was the first boy born in the county. The first wedding in the county was celebrated at her home on August 14, 1869, at which time her oldest son and her oldest daughter both chose their partners for life. She was the mother of fourteen children, three of whom were born in Ohio, nine in Wisconsin, and two in Nebraska. Her children are: Allen Hopkins of Neligh; Wm. H of Meadow Grove; Nancy Freelove, wife of Elias W. Ives, deceased; Emma, wife of Eli Herlocker, deceased; Ella, a twin of Emma, wife of John Jarmin, deceased; Lydia, wife of Andrew Minkler of Tilden; Mary, wife of Levi Minkler of Eugene, Oregon; Ned, deceased; Ida, wife of Andrew Young, deceased; Cora, wife of J. F. McGrew, deceased; Andy of Clearwater; Warren, deceased; Millie, wife of Chris Nelson of Tilden; Ernest, probably deceased. But what is more remarkable still, her grandchildren number one hundred and three and her great-grandchildren one hundred and eighteen. Today her remains will be borne to their last resting place in Laurel Hill Cemetery by six of her great-grandchildren; Orville Hopkins, Dewey Hopkins, Lyle Hopkins, Albert Hopkins, Howard Recroft, Clarence Warrick, and six of her grandchildren, David Hopkins, William Hopkins, Henry Hopkins, Ritchey Hopkins, Clyde Hopkins, Fred Minkler, will serve as honorary pall bearers. Several years ago, at one of the annual gatherings of the Pioneers, Mother Hopkins was christened the MOTHER OF ANTELOPE COUNTY, an honorable title, well earned and well deserved. She will always be remembered by that name. Mother Hopkins was a strong woman mentally and physically--she was honest, earnest, energetic, pure and religious. She did her part well. Her physical strength had been visibly failing for some time before death came, But her mental faculties were active and bright to the end. About an hour before her death came she asked her youngest daughter to bow at her bedside in prayer. After the prayer, composing herself to sleep, she quickly passed unto an easy slumber from which she did not awaken, and thus she quietly passed into the great beyond, honored and loved by all who knew her.

~Source: Oakdale Sentinel-Sept 24, 1915 page 1 column 3-4



Hopkins, Amos Louis 1832-1918

Abridged: Amos Louis HOPKINS was born at Ellington, New York, January 22, 1832 and died March 15, 1918 at his home. He had been in poor health for several years. In Pennsylvania on July 14, 1859 he was united in marriage to Minerva A SANDERSON. To them seven children were born, four of whom survive: Stanley S HOPKINS of Sidney, Iowa, Mrs. William EELS of Battle Creek, Iowa, Mrs. Mabel BAGLEY of Wausa, NE and William W. HOPKINS of Oakdale. He was the last of his father's family. Twenty years ago Mr. HOPKINS came to Oakdale and engaged in the restaurant business. Since that time this place has been his home. Mr. HOPKINS had a hobby for the collection of curios and historic relics and fourteen years ago sold to the Nebraska State Historical Society the finest and most extensive collection in the State. A few years ago, he donated a splendid collection of Indian relics to the Oakdale schools. Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon, conducted by Rev. C. F. Steiner and interment was made in the Oakdale Cemetery.

~Source: The Oakdale Sentinel-March 22, 1918

Hopkins, Dewey George 1898-1979

Funeral services for Dewey HOPKINS of Neligh were held Sunday, June 24 at 2:30 p.m. at the Hoepfinger-Beyer Funeral Home in Neligh. Alvin SCHWARTING officiated at the services with burial in the Oakdale Cemetery. Pallbearers were grandsons, Robert ANDELT, Greg HOPKINS, Kirk HOPKINS, Roger SNIDER, Scott SNIDER, and Bruce SCHREINER. Dewey George HOPKINS, son of Richard and Rebecca FIELDS HOPKINS, was born July 7, 1898 at their farm south of Oakdale and died at Keahaven Nursing Home in Neligh on Thursday, June 21, 1979 at the age of 80 years and 11 months. On March 8, 1922, he was married to Gladys Leone DAUGHHETEE of Oakdale and to this union four children were born. The family farmed until l1937 when they moved to Neligh. Mr HOPKINS was employed by Joe BAKER for several years and was maintenance foreman of the State Highway Department until his retirement. He was a member of the First Congregational Church of Neligh. Survivors include two sons, Stanley of Hastings and Kenneth of Norfolk, two daughters, Mrs Warren (Elaine) ANDELT of Lincoln and Mrs Wayne (Lavonne) SNIDER of Barrington, Illinois, one sister, Mrs Wilbur (Alverda) BON of Leavenworth, Washington, 12 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife in 1969, his parents, two brothers and one infant sister.

~Source: Neligh News and Leader-June 28, 1979



Hopkins, Flora Henrietta 1868-1947

Mrs. W. W. Hopkins, 78, former Oakdale resident, died at 11 o’clock Monday night at the home of her granddaughter, Mrs. Enor Thompson, in Tilden. She had been in ill health for some time. Rev. J. C. Jorgensen conducted funeral services at the Oakdale Presbyterian Church Wednesday afternoon. Burial was made in the Oakdale Cemetery. Flora Henrietta West was born May 3, 1868, at Wyoming, Iowa, and died February 17, 1947, at Tilden, Nebraska, at the age of seventy-eight years, nine months and fourteen days. She was married to William W. Hopkins on October 4, 1890. Four children were born to them. She and Mr. Hopkins moved to Oakdale in 1898 where she had resided until the past year, which she spent with her son in Norfolk and granddaughter at Tilden. She and her husband celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary on October 4, 1940. Her husband and two daughters Hazel Hopkins and Cecil Hopkins preceded her in death. Mrs. Hopkins is survived by her son, Bert E. Hopkins of Norfolk; one daughter, Opie F. Berry of Orchard; five grandchildren; three great grandchildren; one sister Carrie Eastman of Anthon, Iowa. Many friends also mourn her death.

~Source: Abridged Obituary - The Oakdale Sentinel, Thursday, February 20, 1947



Hopkins, Gladys Leone Daughhetee 1899-1969

Funeral services for Mrs Dewey HOPKINS of Neligh were held Monday, December 8 at 2 p.m. at the First Congregational Church in Neligh with burial in the Oakdale Cemetery. The Rev. Richard A KLINE officiated at the service and serving as pallbearers were grandsons, Robert ANDELT, Roger SNIDER, Scott SNIDER, Greg HOPKINS, and Kirk HOPKINS, and nephew, Vance DERRY. Gladys Leone DAUGHHETEE, daughter of Daniel B and Claire Ellie FINCH DAUGHHETEE, pioneer settlers in Antelope County, was born March 17, 1899 at their ranch south of Neligh. She died at Antelope Memorial Hospital December 5, 1969 at the age of 70 years and 9 months. At the age of 11 she moved with her parents to Oakdale where she attended school and graduated in 1917. She was an accomplished musician in voice and piano and prior to her marriage taught school in the Oakdale community. On March 8,1922 she was married to Dewey George HOPKINS of Oakdale and to this union four children were born. In 1937 the family moved to Neligh. She is survived by her husband, four children, Mrs Warren (Elaine) ANDELT of Lincoln, Mrs Wayne (Lavonne) SNIDER of Itasca, Illinois, Stanley of Hastings and Kenneth of Norfolk, 12 grandchildren, one sister, Mrs Melvin DERRY of Neligh and two brothers, EARL of Eldrora, Iowa and Frances of Sunnyvale, California. Her parents, one brother, George and one sister, Golda, preceded her in death.

Source: Neligh News and Leader-December 11, 1969



Hopkins, Margaret Joy 1918-1920

Margaret Joy HOPKINS was born on July 25, 1918, at Cedar Creek, five miles south of Oakdale, Nebraska, and took sick Tuesday, November 30, 1920, with scarlet fever and other complications, and died at her home Wednesday, December 9, 1920, at the age of 2 years, 4 months and 14 days. She was of sweet and loving disposition and loved by all who knew her. She leaves to mourn her death a father, mother, three brothers and a sister. Card of Thanks signed by Mr. and Mrs. Richard HOPKINS, Mr. and Mrs. O. E. HOPKINS, Dewey HOPKINS, Howard HOPKINS and Alverda HOPKINS. Death notice published December 10,1920. Margaret, little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard HOPKINS, died after a severe illness of several weeks. Funeral services will be held tomorrow at 1 o’clock p. m. at the family home, southwest of Oakdale, and burial will be made in the Oakdale cemetery. Margaret was born July 24, 1917. She was a bright child and the favorite in the family of grownup brothers and sister. The bereaved ones have the sincere sympathy of the entire community.

Source: The Oakdale Sentinel-December 17, 1920



Hopkins, Minerva Angeline Sanderson 1840-1928

Minerva Angeline SANDERSON was born in Genesee County, NY, December 19, 1840. She was married to Amos L HOPKINS in July 1857. They moved from New York to Pennsylvania in 1857, thence to Iowa in 1865, from Iowa to Oakdale in 1898, where Mr HOPKINS died March 15, 1919. Of this marriage there were born the following: Mrs Effie CARPENTER, deceased, Bert F HOPKINS, deceased, Mrs Cora EELS, Battle Creek, IA, Amos L HOPKINS, dying in infancy, and Mrs Mabel BAGLEY, Oakdale, NE. A stepson, Stanley S HOPKINS of Sidney, Iowa was unable to be present at the funeral because of illness. The are 30 grandchildren and 37 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild. Mrs HOPKINS united with a branch of the Christian Church in Iowa in 1865 and on coming to Oakdale became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and remained such until her death which occurred in Oakdale, September 12, 1928. Before the infirmities of age came on, Mrs HOPKINS regularly attended the Aid Society of the Church and was active therein, even in recent years she was frequently present, having formed the habit. The funeral services were held at the home Saturday afternoon, September 15, and interment was in the Oakdale Cemetery.

Source: The Oakdale Sentinel-September 20, 1928



Hopkins, Orville Emmerson 1895-1931

Abridged: Orville Emmerson HOPKINS was born on a farm southwest of Tilden on July 10, 1895 and departed this life on September 25, 1931 at a Norfolk Hospital. He was the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Richard HOPKINS of Elgin. He received his education in Antelope County rural schools and later attended Meadow Grove high school. He was married to Ruth O WILGOCKI on November 29, 1917. In the spring of 1918 they moved to a farm east of Elgin and have since resided there. He is survived by his wife, his mother and father, one sister, Mrs Alverda CHRISTIANSEN of Elgin, two brothers, Dewey of Oakdale and Howard of Leavenworth, WA. One sister, Margaret Joy, preceded him in death, December 9, 1920. Orville died of pneumonia. Funeral services were held at the Methodist Church Sunday afternoon and interment in the Oakdale Cemetery

Source: The Oakdale Sentinel-October 8, 1931



Hopkins, Richard 1872-1932

Abridged: Richard HOPKINS, son of Mr and Mrs Allen HOPKINS, was born on the first homestead in Antelope County north of Tilden, Nebraska on March 3, 1872 and departed life December 10, 1932 from a chronic illness of many months. He lived his entire life in Antelope County. He lived with his parents until he was twenty-one. On October 13, 1894 he was united in marriage to Rebecca FIELDS. They lived on a farm southwest of Tilden for three years and then moved to the Star neighborhood. After 18 years they moved to a farm on Cedar Creek. To this union five children were born, Orville E, deceased, Dewey G. of Oakdale, Howard L. of Leavenworth, WA, Alverda P CHRISTIANSEN of Elgin, and Margaret Joy, deceased. He was a member of the United Brethren Church. He leaves to mourn him, his wife, two sons, and one daughter, four grandchildren, his father, Allen, two brothers, Henry and Joe of Neligh, five sisters, Estilo PLANT of Palm City, CA, Mary JOHNSON of Neligh, Mae WUEBENHORST of Wentworth, SD, Elizabeth HECKYELL of San Diego, CA and Pearl CROOK of Meadow Grove. Funeral services were held Monday afternoon and interment was in the Oakdale Cemetery.

Source: The Oakdale Sentinel-December 15, 1932



Hopkins, Thelma Gertrude 1905-1973

Mrs. G. A. Hopkins, 67, Funeral Sunday at Neligh

Funeral services for Thelma Gertrude Hopkins, 67, of Neligh were conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday in the First Congregational Church there by the Rev. Charles A. Wolfe.

Burial was made in Laurel Hill Cemetery at Neligh.  Pallbearers were Chester Ryan, Lloyd Good, Bill B. Eby, Donald Hamm, Harold Payne and Leonard Mahlendorf.  Honorary  pallbearers were Ralph Johnston, H. A. Tilton, Harold Kester Sr., Veldon Binkerd, Gene Baker and Stanley Maddox.

Born Dec. 14, 1905, at Gretna, She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William B. LaBorde.  She died Oct. 25, 1973 at Antelope Memorial Hospital where she had been a patient since Oct. 21.

In March, 1908, she moved with her parents to the Willowdale area northeast of Neligh and into Neligh in 1915.  She was a 1924 graduate of Neligh High School.

On July 6, 1924, she married George Allen Hopkins at Council Bluffs, Iowa. They lived in Fremont a short time and then returned to the Neligh area where they farmed northwest of town until 1931 when they moved to Neligh.  They were engaged in several businesses, the latest being Hopkins Produce.

Following the death of her husband in April 1968, she continued to operate a greenhouse each spring at her home.  She had been a member of the First Congregational Church since 1918.  She was a member and current president of the Dorcas Circle of the church; also a member of the Elkhorn Valley Garden Club and American Legion Post 172 Auxiliary.  Mrs. Hopkins was Secretary-Treasurer of the Antelope County Cancer Society and was active in many other civic activities.

Survivors include two daughters:  Mrs. Dean (Barbara) Hughes of Neligh and Mrs. William (Lois) Sprout of Elgin; three sons, William of Creighton, Robert of Laurel and Alvin of Minden; 12 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

She was also preceded in death by her parents, a sister, and four brothers.

~Source: The Elgin Review, Thursday, November 1, 1973



Hopkins, William Walter 1866-1943

After an illness which confined him to his bed for about two weeks W. W. Hopkins died at his home here Saturday night. He had been in poor health several months and had gradually failed, his age rendering medical treatment ineffectual. Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at the Presbyterian Church with Rev. Arthur RONEY officiating. Burial was in the Oakdale cemetery. William Walter HOPKINS, son of Amos HOPKINS and Minerva HOPKINS, was born at Meadville, Penn., on July 10, 1866 and departed this life July 17, 1943, at the age of seventy-seven years and seven days. When a young man in Pennsylvania he united with the Christian church. He moved with his folks from Pennsylvania to Iowa, where he grew to manhood. He was united in marriage to Flora H. WEST at Ida Grove, Iowa, on October 4, 1890. To them four children were born: Cecil HOPKINS dying in infancy and Hazel M. HOPKINS preceding her father in death three months ago, and surviving, Bert E. HOPKINS of Norfolk and Opie F. BERRY of Orchard, NE. He leaves to mourn his departure his wife; the two children, five grandchildren Darlene THOMPSON, Billy HANSEN, Bert HOPKINS and Robert HOPKINS and Joyce BERRY; two sisters: Mrs. A. M. BAGLEY of Oakdale and Mrs. Corrie EELS of Battle Creek, Iowa, and a host of friends and neighbors.

Source: Abridged Obituary - The Oakdale Sentinel, Thursday, July 22, 1943



 

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