Robert M. Hopkins

OBERT M. HOPKINS, a prominent and successful farmer of Lexington Township, is pleasantly located on section 32, where )he is following his peaceful calling in a satisfactory and advantageous manner. Mr. Hopkins was born in Owen County, Ind., Feb. 6, 1830, on the farm of his father, Patrick Hopkins. The latter was a native of Sussex County, Del., born June 7, 1799, being the son of Robert Hopkins, Sr., who was of Welsh descent and married Miss Nancy Spence, a lady of Scottish ancestry, and they were among the early settlers of Delaware. The mother of our subject, formerly Miss Mary Bartholomew, of Clark County, Ind., and the daughter of Joseph Bartholemew, was married to Patrick Hopkins in 1820. She departed this life when her son Robert, of our sketch, was but nine years of age. The grandfather of our subject was a General, under Wayne in the Black Hawk War and being well versed in Indian warfare was given a responsible position on the frontier, where most of his life was spent and where he obtained an intimate knowledge of Indian customs, trickery and cunning.

Patrick Hopkins, the father of our subject, removed from his native State to Kentucky with his parents when but seven years of age. When fifteen years old, he went to Indiana, where he remained for three years, and then returned to Kentucky, where he engaged as a brick-mason until 1820. He then returned to Indiana, where he married as before stated and remained in Owen County for ten years following. Then, in 1830, he pushed further westward into Illinois and settled on the Mackinaw River in this county, where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1874. During his residence here he had engaged in farming and working at his trade alternately. His first wife had preceded him to the better land thirty-live years, her death occurring in 1839. Of this marriage there were born five children, two sons and three daughters: Joseph H., who was married three times, died in 1878 in Missouri; Nancy A. married William M. Smith of Lexington; Elizabeth became the wife of Henry Hefner and they live in Seattle, Wash. Ter.; Robert, of our sketch, was the fourth child; Mary E. married F. M. Bowers, and died in February, 1885.

The subject of this history was an infant of six months' old when he was brought by his parents to McLean County. He was reared on his father's farm and attended the pioneer schools, and when twenty-six years of age was united in marriage with Miss Mary L., the daughter of John W. and May (Harper) Smith, a niece of Milton Smith, Esq.

The father and mother of Mrs. Hopkins were natives of Ohio. The father was born in Madison County in 1815 and the mother in Fairfield County, in 1821. They came to McLean County in 1856, locating first in Bloomington, thence to Livingston, where they departed this life, the father dying in 1883 and the mother in February, 1885. The maiden name of the mother was May Smith, daughter of Benjamin and Rachel (Thistlewood) Smith. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. II. settled upon the present homestead of our subject. M.rs. Hopkins died in 1863, leaving two children, one of whom, William G., died in infancy; Charles C. married Miss Effie Lily, and lives in Lexington Township.

Mr. Hopkins was a second time married, to Miss Letetia Lily, in December, 1 865. She is the daughter of John and Mary Lily, with whom she came to McLean County when a maiden of sixteen years. She was born in Madison County, Ohio, in 1847. Of this marriage there have been born five children— Orange J., Mary E., Ann E., Theodocia E. and Bertha. The homestead of Mr. Hopkins and his family is finely located, with good farm buildings which are kept in fine repair. The farm is

' ' 1016 well stocked with the good grades of domestic animals and Mr. H. of late has turned his attention to the breeding, purchase and sale of Norman and Clydesdale horses, keeping an average of about sixteen head.

Mr. and Mrs. H. are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which our subject is a Steward. Politically Mr. H. affiliates with the Republican party, having been formerly an old-Hue Whig. He is a strong temperance man and cases the weight of his influence against the sale and manufacture of spirituous liquors.

Mr. Hopkins is worthy to be classed among the representative men of McLean County, notwithstanding that no district in this State contains a better social and business element than it does, Being a man of such character and reputation, we take pleasure in presenting his portrait in this volume.

As printed in Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, together with portraits and bio (1887). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.