The Hopley Family of Crawford County, Ohio

In the promotion and conservation of advancement in all the normal lines of human progress and civilization there is no factor which has exercised a more potent influence than the press, which is both the director and the mirror of public opinion. Bucyrus has been signally favored in the character of its newspapers, which have been vital, enthusiastic and progressive, ever aiming to advance the interests of this favored section of the Union, to aid in laying fast and sure the foundations of an enlightened commonwealth, to further the ends of justice and to uphold the banner of Ohio. In a compilation of this nature then it is clearly incumbent that due recognition be accorded the newspaper press of the state.

As printed in the source³. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN HOPLEY, editor and proprietor of Bucyrus Journal, Bucyrus, Ohio. Mr. Hopley, whose portrait appears in this work, came to Bucyrus in the spring of 1856, to fill the position of Superintendent of the Union Schools. He is by birth an Englishman, although he was naturalized many years ago, and has long been thoroughly identified with the interests of his adopted country. His paternal ancestors were substantial farmers in the county of Suffolk, England. His father was a Surgeon in the English navy, and in private life, first a practicing surgeon at Whitstable, a small seacoast village in Kent, and afterward at Lewes, in Sussex, one of the most venerable towns in England. His mother's ancestors were for many generations distinguished dignitaries in the Church of England, and he has the genealogical tables of their descent for hundreds of years back. Mr. Hopley was born at Whitstable May 21, 1821, but his parents removed to Lewes while he was j'et an infant. He finished his education at the lloj'al Naval College, then at Camberwell in the county of Surrey, and a suburb of London, now at New Cross in the same county. It was an institution for the sons of naval officers, and, although not licensed to confer degrees, the course of education was very extensive and thorough, embracing a course as comprehensive and as high as any college course in the country. The institution received 330 pupils, all of whom lived in the college. The Roll system of education was adopted; it comprehends the instruction of pupils in large classes b3' the aid of the best pupils acting as monitors, and it is sometimes known as the Monitorial system. It was, therefore, although not by design, a Normal School, and it afforded to the monitors at the head of their classes a large experience in the art and duties of teaching. Although Mr. Hopley, as a boy, excelled in many of the sports of the play-ground, he was never an idler at his studies. He was a constant contestant for the head of his various classes, frequently standing first and acting as head-monitor for weeks together. He thus early acquired the art of teaching, which afterward contributed to his reputation as a teacher in this country. About the close of his term as a student in the Royal Naval College, he was made a teacher, and continued in the institution for some years in this capacity. In 1842, soon after he became of age, he came to the United States with his mother's brother. John R. Prat, Esq., of Zanesville, Ohio, and went into his store as clerk. He continued clerking until the fall of 1844, when he commenced to teach school with a view to reading law. But he was earnest in whatever he undertook, and the better he became known as a teacher, the larger were the schools he taught and the more time he devoted to them, thus making his progress through the elementary law books very slow. In 1845, he removed to Logan, Hocking Co., where he induced the School Directors to establish graded schools; these were among the first in Ohio, and they were a great success. In 1848, he married, at Logan, Miss Georgiana Rochester, fourth daughter of John Rochester, Esq., and, desiring to study the nature of society under the system of slavery he went to the South to teach. He had schools at Yellow Creek, in Montgomery Co., Tenn., also, near Elkton, Todd CoT, Ky.,"and also at New Providence, near Clarksville, Tenn., from which place, at the close of 1852, he returned to Logan, and taught there for three years. The present system of school supervision had been inaugurated in his absence, and he resumed his duties at Logan as Supervisor of the schools, which, however, were scattered over the village, as closely together as rooms, far from suitable, could be obtained for them. In 1855, he removed to Columbus to take the position of teacher of Mathematics and of Commercial Arithmetic, in what was then known as Granger's Commercial College. After, however, about six months of labor in this new sphere, he found the " college," so-called, a very unstable institution, and he left it to take charge of a fractional term of the Wellsville Union Schools, from which place he removed with his family to Bucyrus, arriving on Saturday, 12th of April, 1856.' The schools were at that time comparatively in their infancy as union schools, and were far from being in a prosperous condition. Mr. Hopley, however, prosecuted his new duties with his usual thoroughness, industry and zeal, and soon made them the wonder and admiration of his fellow-citizens. In 1858, he formed a partnership in the practice of law with A. M. Jackson, Esq., for a year, and was admitted to the bar. At the expiration of the term, he opened an office by himself, and practiced, with encouraging success until the close of July, 1862, when he went to England in company with Mr. Thomas Alsop, on professional business, upon his return in October, he found the law practice almost destroyed for the time being; scarcely any cases were tried. In nearly all, either one of the parties, or some important witness, was in the army. In this emergency, he obtained from Mr. Chase, the Secretary of the Treasury, an appointment to a clerkship in the office of the Second Auditor of the Treasury. Soon after.

by special order of the Secretary, he was transferred to the Secretary's own office. He then had a desk in the library of the Treasury, and commenced a thorough study of finances, employing his pen effectively in sustaining the financial policy of the Secretary, and the establishment of national banks. When the national bank bill became a law, he was transferred to the Banking and Currency Bureau. Hon. Hugh McCulloch was then Comptroller of the Currency, and he placed Mr. Hopley in charge of the statistical division of the bureau. This included the examination of the regular reports required by law of the banks, and of the reports made by the Bank Examiners. In this position, it frequently became his duty to furnish distinguished members of Congress with such data for their speeches on financial questions as made them distinguished. In 1864, he resigned to accept a position in a large bank in New York. In 1866, he returned to Washington, in a private capacity for his employer, and was appointed National Bank Examiner for all the Southern States, except Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. Kansas was afterward added, and he entered upon his duties in the fall of 1866. Having completed the examination of the list of banks, he returned to Bucyrus, and in September, 1867, he purchased the half-interest in the Bucyrus Journal, of the senior editor, J. G. Robinson. Esq.. for $2,000. It was at that time conducted by the brothers Messrs. James and Ralph Robinson. In May, 1868, it was arranged for Mr. Ralph Robinson to sell out to John Markee. Esq., of whom Mr. Hopley the same day purchased the other half-interest for $2,000. Although he entered upon journalism only as a temporary resource, preliminary to returning to the practice of the law, yet he soon became absorbed in his new profession to the exclusion of everything else. In August, 1870, he entered upon the duties of Postmaster, and retained the office until January, 1879. He still continues to edit the Journal. His family is as follows; Charles Rochester, John Edward, Thomas (who died in infancy), Thomas Prat, Mary Catherine, Georgiana Eliza. Harriet Evaline, James Richard, Frank Lewes and Joseph William, ten in all, of whom nine are yet living.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected.

JOHN EDWARD HOPLEY, second son of John Prat and Georgianna Rochester Hopley, was born near Elkton, Todd County, Kentucky, August 25, 1850. His mother, writing to a sister when he was eleven months old said, "John Eddie has eyes as blue as the sky and as bright as the stars; he likes to play with books and is only quiet when looking at the pictures." This early love of books continued through life; he not only owns a large library but with a retentive memory possesses a knowledge of its contents.

His parents returned north, to Logan, Ohio; then to Bucyrus when he was six years old, his father being superintendent of the schools at both places. He attended the Bucyrus schools until the fall of 1867, when, his father having purchased the Bucyrus Journal, he left school and learned the printing business in his father's office. He read law with Hon. Jacob Scroggs, and was admitted to the bar in 1876. He spent several years in New York at the printing business and in 1883 returned to Bucyrus and was associated with his father on the Journal. On October 17, 1887, he started the Evening Telegraph. He was attracted to politics early in life, as his home was a centre of political activity, and before he was of age he was mapping out plans, with his father, by which majorities might be achieved. He was one of the organizers of the League of Republican Clubs in the State, as well as the- Associated Ohio Dailies; was State Central Committeeman for four years. In 1894 he managed the campaign which resulted in the election of Hon. S. R. Harris to Congress, and he was that gentleman's private secretary for two years at Washington; in 1895 he took charge of the campaign which resulted in the nomination of Hon. Frank S. Monnette for Attorney General. In 1897 he took an active hand in the exciting campaign which resulted in the election of Hon. M. A. Hanna to the United States Senate, visiting every close legislative district in the state. In 1898 he was appointed by President McKinley as United States Consul to Southampton, England, and five years later was promoted to the Consulate at Montevideo, South America. His parents both died in 1904, and in 1905 he returned to Bucyrus to succeed his father as president of the Hopley Printing Company, and editor of the Journal and Telegraph. In 19 12 he was nominated by the State Convention as one of the electors at large on the Republican ticket.

His consular service made him an extensive traveler; he has crossed the ocean fifteen times. He possesses many souvenirs of his foreign travels, among them valued testimonials given him in recognition of faithful and popular service, his first consular commission, bearing the signature of William McKinley and its acceptance, signed "Victoria R." He is a over of politics, poetry and romance, Joan of Arc and Napoleon being his favorite characters in history. His amusements are "whist" and puzzles. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity and the Eastern Star; also of the Elks, being the first exalted ruler of the present lodge. He was never married but resides at the home- stead which has been his home for fifty-six years. He values friends above money, and his wealth is in his friendships. In June, 191 1, he was engaged to write the History of Crawford County, and for over a year he has devoted his entire time to the work. The result of his research and labor are presented in this volume.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

THOMAS P. HOPLEY, printer and journalist, Bucyrus; the fourth son, or third living son, of John and Georgianna (Rochester) Hopley; born at Logan, Hocking Co., Ohio, Nov. 13, 1853. He has been a resident of Crawford Co. since April, 1856. He was educated in the public schools of Buctus, from which he graduated in the class of 1872. He is a printer by trade, and a journalist by profession; he has worked in the Bucyrus Journal office for about ten years, since May, 1868. He has been a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Bucyrus since February, 1868. He hasn't done anything worthy a place in the Crawford Co. History except vote the Prohibition ticket since he became of age, including Presidential votes for Green Clay Smith in 1876, and Neal Dow in 1880. He is considered a "fool" hy many who do not like his views on the Temperance question, and thinks their opinion a compliment. His mother is the fourth daughter of Jolm Rochester, who was born near London, England, Jan. 9, 1796. Rochester was married in 1816, to Miss Marian Gladle, a descendant of the Westley family on her mother's side, and the daughter of a renegade Frenchman, who left his native land during the French Revolution, and served as an officer in the English army; Gladle was killed in Spain, while fighting against France. Mr. Rocliester emigrated to America in 1820, and settled at Englishtown, Athens Co.; he removed to Logan, Hocking Co., in 1829, and was, for nearly fifty years, engaged in the mercantile business at that place. He united with the Presbyterian Church in 1832, and was, for forty-four years, a member of that religious society, serving thirty-four 3'ears as an Elder, and twenty-eight years as a Trustee in the church; he was for many years Superintendent of the Sunday school. He died Nov. 29, 1876, in the 81st year of his age; his first wife died in September, 1832. Georgianna Rochester was born Feb. 22, 1826, and was married April 19, 1848, to John Hopley; they are the parents of ten children; nine are still living. Mrs.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JAMES RICHARD HOPLEY was born at Bucyrus, O., Aug. 1, 1863, the son of the late John and Georgianna (Rochester) Hopley. He is strictly a Bucyrus boy having been brought up here and was graduated from the Bucyrus public schools in the class of 1882. In 1884 in company with five other boy friends he organized the Bucyrus Evening Times and was editor and manager of that paper. In 1887 and 1888 he was located at Eort Worth, Texas, engaged in railroad work. On Nov. 15, 1893, he was married at Granville, O., to Miss Elizabeth Sheppard, daughter of Rev. Thomas J. and Margaret (Collins) Sheppard. At that time Mr. Hopley was city editor of the Bucyrus Evening Telegraph. In 1896 he became editor and manager of the Sandusky Evening Telegraph at Sandusky, Ohio, where he remained about a year. In 1897 he went to Columbus where he was associated with Charles W. Harper for a number of years as editor of The Advertising World and Ad-Art, where his natural aptitude for advertising was given full swing. During the latter part of his work at Columbus he was manager of the Harper Illustrating Syndicate, continuing his work as editor of the Harper advertising publications. In 1902 he returned to Bucyrus as manager of the Hopley Printing Company and upon the death of the late John Hopley he became editor as well as manager of the newspapers belonging to the family estate. Mr. Hopley has been a Republican all his life and has taken a considerable part in the local politics. In December of 1910, he was appointed postmaster at Bucyrus, O., by President Taft, taking up the duties of the office Feb. 15, 19TT. Mr. Hopley has been a member of the Presbyterian church since lie was 1 6 years of age and in March, 1912, was elected a ruling elder of the church at Bucyrus.

Mrs. James R. Hopley has taken much prominence in club work, was chosen vice president of the Ohio Federation of Women’s Clubs in 1899 ami in 1900 was elected president of the State Federation. In ik)0 she was the only woman speaker on the program of the Ohio Centennial celebration at Cliil- Iicothe, O.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

FRANK LEWES HOPLEY was born in Bucyrus Oct. 29, 1866, and has always made Bucyrus his home. He is one of the "live wires" of the town. He talks Bucyrus and works for Bucyrus with an ease and efficiency which have made him generally recognized as the leading "booster" of the city. His education was obtained at the Bucyrus public schools. Of a naturally bright mind, and being early introduced into the newspaper work because of association with the papers of his father and brother, he took much interest in, and gave great thought to the matter of effective advertising. His work for the Bucyrus Evening Telegraph was so markedly clever and excellent that Col. W. C. Lemert, head of the old Frey-Sheckler Company, employed him to take charge of the advertising end of that manufacturing business. He continued with the company when it became the American Clay Machinery Company, and he has studied and talked his line so persistently and with such good effect that his friends say he is all wrapped up in clay-working machinery and clay products in general. He believes in brick and originated a campaign of nation-wide scope which stimulated brick for building. He has great ability in other lines, and the productions of his pen have made popular many departments in his newspaper. In addition to his work as advertising manager of the American Clay Machinery Company, he was, in 191 1, elected secretary and manager of the Clay Products Exposition at Chicago, and was one of those responsible for the tremendous success of that educational event. Being the first thing of the kind ever held in this country it naturally required much originality of thought and intelligent direction to accomplish the success of the exposition which was held in March, 1912, and many of its attractive features were due to the efforts of Mr. Hopley. He was elected secretary and manager of the Clay Products movement for their second exposition to be given in February- March, 1913. Mr. Hopley is secretary of the Buc)Tus Industrial Association, a position in which he has done much good for Bucyrus, and in fact in some campaigns for Bucyrus betterment he has mastered important affairs almost entirely alone. In early campaigns for more lawns, more trees, better walks and improved streets he gave direction to public thought to an extent that shows results in the beauty of the city of Bucyrus. It was through his individual initiative, persistent and intelligent effort that the Marion-Bucyrus electric railway was built and his energy and far-sighted enthusiasm bids fair to bring to Bucyrus other traction enterprises and other substantial advancement for the city. Mr. Hopley is unmarried.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.