Hopkins Family, pg 2

John J. Hopkins Hopkins home 404 Telfair, Augusta, GA Thomas Hopkins home in Orlando Isaac Stiles Hopkins Rebecca Hopkins Jackson Thomas Newton Hopkins home, Augusta Hopkins, Magnolia Cemetery

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HOPKINS FAMILY, continued (page 2)

Further information about the children of Thomas & Rebecca Lambeth Hopkins:

Thomas Newton Hopkins (17 Jun 1839-3 Jun 1893) was born and died in Augusta, GA.   In 1862 the "Georgia Fire Company", organized themselves into a military corps under the name of the "Georgia Light Guard", which was mustered into the Confederate army and fought gallantly on some of the hardest contested battle fields of the war. In a printed list of the "Georgia Light Guard, May 3, 1862, Thomas N. Hopkins was listed as Commissary.   Russell Brown, author and historian, says that “Thomas N. Hopkins is shown as a private in the 48th Georgia but it looks like he was previously a private in the Clinch Rifles (A Company, 5th Georgia).” He didn’t stay long, he was discharged for disability, 10 July 1862.

Thomas married Virginia DeLaigle, daughter of Charles & Martha Watkins DeLaigle.   Virginia inherited some property from her father, and it is assumed this is the home they lived in.   After the war, Thomas became a justice of the peace, and taught school at the Houghton Institute.   Virginia, as with most ladies of that time, spent her time on raising her family and charitable works. She was member of the Ladies Volunteer Association, and served as Directress various months.   Thomas died at the age of 56.   Virginia lived to age 79.    A picture of their home is below.

Virginia DeLaigle Hopkins’ obituary, April 3, 1917:     "MRS. VIRGINIA HOPKINS. When all that was mortal of Mrs. Virginia Hopkins was tenderly laid to rest yesterday afternoon, there passed from this earth one of the most beautiful characters and most radiant personalities that has ever graced a home and made life beautiful for all around her. The news of her death was a great shock to her friends, as well as a heartbreaking grief to her family, for she had been leading her usual active life up to two days previous. She was taken suddenly ill and after two days, in spite of all that science and love could accomplish, she was called from earth to the heaven she deserved after long and useful pilgrimage of earth. Mrs. Hopkins was in her eightieth year, though she was so full of life and energy the thought of age was never one to be associated with her. She was, before marriage to Mr. John Hopkins (note: was Thomas Hopkins), the beautiful Virginia D'Laigle of this city, and was noted as a belle, a beauty, a brilliant woman and a wonderful musician. Her husband died many years ago, and she has lived with her daughters and made a home, not only for them, but for a number of young men who loved and revered her and always called her "mother." Through her long life she was the mistress of the home and the center of everything for her loved ones. The truest sympathy will go out to her three daughters and two sons, who have lost such a mother, and to all who realize that life will be poorer for her leaving it."

The children of Thomas and Virginia Hopkins follow. Only one married, Rebecca “Pet” Hopkins who married Thomas Davis Jackson. Pet and T.D. were my great-grandparents, and I visit their graves in Elmwood Cemetery, Birmingham, AL.

1) Martha de l'Aigle HOPKINS (b.1862-Augusta,Ga d.26 Mar 1937-Augusta,Ga) - Mattie worked as a post office clerk and a federal court clerk in Augusta. Never married. Her obituary read:   "Miss Hopkins was a woman of cultured mind and keen intelligence, an omnivorous reader and one who kept herself well informed along all lines. Her wit and humor, her kind and sympathetic nature, her genuine interest in others made her a delightful companion. All who knew her admired her fine courage in facing the vicissitudes life had brought her, her uncomplaining spirit and her ability to see the cheerful side of things, and to encourage the same spirit in all who were associated with her. She will be deeply mourned by the many who loved her and cherished her loyalty as a friend, and by the community in which she was so highly thought of by all who knew her. She was a woman of sincere religious convictions and faithful member of St. James church.

2) Rebecca HOPKINS (b. 6 Oct 1865-Augusta,GA; d. 14 Sep 1927-Birmingham,AL) (“Pet” is pictured above)
| sp: Thomas Davis JACKSON (b.Mar 1863-Ninety Six,S.C. m.21 Sep 1898 d.1948-Birmingham,AL)
| +- (only child:) Helen Virginia JACKSON (b.20 Jun 1899-Georgia d.25 May 1974-Birmingham,AL) my grandmother (VSM)
|    sp: Robert P. MCCLURE (b.29 Oct 1894-Lewisburg,TN d.15 Jun 1955-Birmingham,AL)

3) Charles H. D. HOPKINS (b.1866-Augusta,Ga d.Unknown) I have no further records about Charles.

4)   Ella A. HOPKINS (b.1868-Augusta,Ga d.24 Dec 1928-Augusta,Ga) Ella was a nurse at City Hospital. She never married.   Her obituary read:   “Miss Ella Hopkins, of 420 Broad Street, well known and beloved Augustan, died yesterday about 6 pm at a local infirmary (Margaret Wright Hospital). Miss Hopkins' death will shock a wide circle of friends throughout the community, for although she has been in poor health for a number of years, her last illness was a brief one and until pneumonia developed yesterday it was believed that she would recover. Miss Hopkins was the daughter of the late Virginia DeLaigle and Thomas Hopkins of this city; her family having long been prominently identified with the social and civic history of Augusta. She has lived here all of her life, and had countless friends both among the old and the young.   She was a sincere Christian both in faith and in her daily life and active in the work of St. James Church as long as her health permitted.   Although Miss Hopkins has been an invalid for years, she was always bright and cheerful, devoted to her friends, and interested in all that concerned them. She was a woman of exquisite refinement and one who exemplified many of the most beautiful traits of womanhood. The sympathy of the community will be extended to her sister with whom she has lived so long and between whom existed the most intense devotion."

5) Edward S. HOPKINS (b.Aug 1872-Augusta,Ga d.19 Mar 1933-New Orleans,LA. He was buried in Jasper, Alabama). We have learned that Edward seems to have been married. I found the following death notice for Edward: March 20, 1933, Times-Picayune: HOPKINS – On Sunday morning, March 19, 1933, at 9:10 o’clock, EDWARD S. HOPKINS, in his 60th year, of 2631 Magazine Street, husband of GLEN HURLEY. Remains were forwarded from the P.J. McMahon & Sons Funeral Home, 3800 Canal Street, near cemeteries, to Jasper, Ala., via Southern Railway, Sunday evening, March 19, 1933, at 8:40 o’clock, for interment. He seems to have served in the military: April 22, 1933 (also in the Times-Picayune): 85 ATTEND GATHERING OF LAST MAN'S CLUB: Eighty-Five out of the membership of 124 attended the second annual banquet of the Last Man's Club, United Spanish War Veterans, Friday night at the Deutsches Haus, Galvez Street and Cleveland Avenue. Taps were sounded in honor of four members who died during the past year: F.L. Veau, John A. Reid, John Hilborn, and E.S. HOPKINS. William J. Leppert was toastmaster.

6) William Doughty HOPKINS (b.23 Aug 1874-Augusta,Ga d.25 Nov 1918-Augusta,Ga). William’s obituary read: Passed away Monday morning at residence. Death of Mother Shadowed His Life. In the announcement of the death of Mr. William Doughty Hopkins, which occurred at 9 o'clock yesterday morning, will shock and distress a wide circle of friends throughout the community. Mr. Hopkins died at his residence, 220 Monument Street, after an illness of two weeks. He is survived by three sisters, Misses Mattie and Ella Hopkins of this city, and Mrs. T.B. Johnson (note: should be T.D. Jackson) of Birmingham, and one brother, Edward Hopkins of Birmingham, who will arrive here today. "Mr. Hopkins has been for many years a most valued employee of Smith Brothers, wholesale grocers, and was in the shipping department. Up to the last eighteen months he was in most vigorous health, but since the death of his mother, eighteen months ago, to whom he was particularly devoted, his health has been gradually failing, until he went to bed two weeks ago and grew gradually worse till the end came. "The loss to his loved ones was irreparable. He was a most devoted brother and had tried to take the place of father and mother to his sisters. Mr. Hopkins was a man of rarely beautiful and noble character. He was a man of the highest ideals and of irreproachable life. His French ancestry showed in his exquisite polished courtesy to young and old and he was trusted and loved by all who knew him. The sincerest sympathy will be extended to his heartbroken sisters.”

7) Louis D. HOPKINS (b.1875-Augusta,Ga d.28 Jun 1908-Leesville or New Orleans,LA). Louis is the most mysterious of all of the children. He was a railroad agent, and was shot and killed in New Orleans. I haven’t been able to determine any more than that. His brief obituary said: “Owing to a delay in New Orleans, the body of Mr. Louis Hopkins did not reach Augusta until 10 o'clock last night over the Georgia road from Atlanta. The funeral of the young man was expected to occur yesterday afternoon, and every preparation had been made for it, but the body did not arrive. This morning the funeral will be held from the residence at 220 Monument Street, and the exercises will be conducted by Rev. Richard Wilkinson, pastor of St. James Methodist Church.” A large number of relatives and friends of Mr. Louis Hopkins attended his funeral yesterday from the residence. A great many floral wreaths, gifts of the friends of the unfortunate young man and his family, covered his grave.

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Children of Thomas & Rebecca Lambeth Hopkins, (continued)

Martha Hopkins - I only know that she was born ca. 1840.

Isaac Stiles Hopkins (1841-1914) is the most well known of the children. He was one of the founders and first president of Georgia Tech. A bio about him states that he graduated from Emory College, went on to the Medical College of Georgia and earned his medical degree in two years. But he never practiced medicine. Instead, he heard the call to ministry and served pastoral appointments in north Georgia for eight years, before joining the faculty at Emory in 1869. A man for all disciplines, Hopkins began his career at Emory in the chair of natural science, later taught Latin, switched to teaching English literature in 1882, added the Department of Toolcraft and Design to his portfolio in 1884, and, as president, taught the usual presidential courses in mental and moral science. From his hobby of woodworking and mechanics grew, and the first technology department in the state—housed at first in his home, where he worked with students who bought their own simple tools, then later moved to the building on the Oxford campus now known as Hopkins Hall, housing Oxford College's Eady Admissions Center. Optimistic about the prospects for the technological department, the Board of Trustees authorized construction of a building to house the program, and Hopkins Hall was completed in 1885. The workshop had caught the attention and the fancy of the state. When Georgia founded the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1888, Hopkins became Georgia Tech's first president.” Isaac married twice, 1st) Emily Hight Gibson (2 Jul 1841-11 Jan 1873 Oxford, Newton Co., GA) on 1 Jul 1861 in Augusta, GA.

Isaac and Emily’s children were:

1) Annie Harriet HOPKINS (b.5 May 1862-GA)
| sp: Walter W. DAVIS

2)   Thomas HOPKINS (b.18 Apr 1867-Augusta,Ga d.16 Nov 1941-Birmingham,AL)   Thomas Hopkins was a favorite of my mother, Jeanne McClure, when she was young. She called him “Uncle Tom,” and she and her brother Bobby would visit Tom and his wife in Orlando, FL, where Thomas was cashier of Orlando Bank and Trust, at that time.   A picture of the house is above.   It had a sleeping porch on one side of the house, where they slept on hot summer nights.   Thomas’s first wife, Laura Dunbar, died with the pregnancy of their 2nd child. Her obituary read: “ In the death of Mrs. Hopkins Augusta sustains the loss of one of her fairest and most lovable young matrons, a woman of many Christian attributes, and a fond and devoted wife and mother.” She is buried at Magnolia Cemetery, Augusta.   After Laura’s death, he moved to Birmingham, with their young son, where he was in a prominent position at the First National Bank   His second wife was from a very well-to-do family here in Birmingham.   Margaret Woodward Evins Hopkins' sister was Bertha Woodward (1870-1948) who married Oscar Wilder Underwood, Alabama Senator.    Their father was Joseph Woodward, founder of Woodward Iron, in Birmingham.   Thomas & Margaret are buried at Elmwood Cemetery, Bham, AL, under a huge and beautiful marble cross.   I cannot find what happened to his son, Thomas!

Thomas married first: Laura May DUNBAR (b.27 Jun 1868-Augusta,Ga d.14 Jan 1906-Augusta,Ga). Laura died of phlegmasia alba dolens, also known as “white leg.”    They had one son: Thomas Hopkins, Jr.   (b. 1897 in Augusta).   (Any information about Thomas Hopkins, Jr. would be greatly appreciated, as I don’t know what became of him!)

Thomas married second: Mary Margaret WOODWARD-EVINS (b.4 Jul 1872 m.10 Dec 1907 d.17 Mar 1930-Orlando,FL).   She had two daughters by a previous marriage:    Margaret and Josephine Evins.   Josephine m. James A. Simpson, but died young, 9 May 1921, not long after the birth of a child.

3)   Jessie J. HOPKINS (b.9 Oct 1869-GA d.6 Sep 1947-Oxford,Newton,GA)

4)   Paul HOPKINS (died a baby) (b.1871-Oxford,Newton,GA d.25 Dec 1872-Oxford,Newton,GA)

5) Emily Plympton (may be Plymston) HOPKINS (b.26 Dec 1863-Augusta,Ga d.18 Aug 1865-Alta Vista (died age 20 mos))

Isaac 2nd. married Mary Rogers Hinton (1851-14 Jun 1896), on 2 Jul 1874. His children by Mary were:

6)   Hinton John HOPKINS (b.19 May 1875-GA d.8 Dec 1944-Fulton County,GA)
| sp: Mary Florence ORMOND (b.Circa 1878-GA m.31 Oct 1900)

They had 2 children:
                   A) John Root Hopkins (27 Feb 1904-1967 Atlanta, GA) and
                   B) Milton Hopkins (born ca 1912)
I have been in touch with some of the descendants of this first John Root Hopkins.   One is another John Root Hopkins - and he is an artist.   You can read a little about his work at http://www.flickr.com/photos/green_tea/35728184/

7)   Rebecca HOPKINS - died a child (b.31 Jul 1877-Oxford,Newton,GA d.1 Apr 1878-Oxford,Newton,GA)

8)   Louise HOPKINS (b.Sep 1879-GA)
| sp: Dr. Nathan Edwin SANDERS (b.Abt 1890-Iowa)
They had one daughter, Ruth Hopkins Sanders (27 Feb 1914-Dec 1999) Ruth married Donald Marshall Hatfield, and there are descendants.

9)    Isaac Stiles HOPKINS (Jr.) (b.Jun 1883-GA)
  | sp: Eleanor Francina HUNNICUTT (b.Athens,GA)
They had one son, Henry Alfred Hopkins.

10) Mary Hinton HOPKINS (died a baby) (b.16 Feb 1884-Oxford,Newton,GA d.Sep 1886-Oxford,Newton,GA)

11) Ruth HOPKINS (b.2 Mar 1888-Oxford,Newton,GA d.1 Aug 1972-Oxford,Newton,GA) - Ruth was a school principal in LaGrange, GA. She never married.    Ruth Hopkins is in Louise “Biddy” Hammett’s book, released in May 2007.

Rebecca “Pet” Hopkins Jackson with her granddaughter, my mother, Jeanne McClure. (That bonnet!)

Thomas Hopkins, called “Uncle Tom” by my mother, Jeanne McClure. His first wife was Laura Dunbar, a cousin. Second wife was Margaret Woodward Evins.

Below is the huge cross that marks the graves of Thomas & Margaret Woodward Hopkins, Elmwood Cemetery, Birmingham, AL

Helen Virginia Jackson, my grandmother (born 1899- d 1974) daughter of Rebecca Hopkins & Thomas D. Jackson.

Thomas & Virginia DeLaigle Hopkins home in Augusta, GA