John Edward Hopley

As printed in 1912

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 History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.