DESCENDANTS OF 1.2 JOHN HOPPES OF SURRY COUNTY, NC

 

Of the eight Hoppes/Hoppers lines established by the sons of our first two Happes immigrants, the brothers 1.Georg (*~1715) and 2.Michael (*~1722) Happes of Schoenau, Odenwald, by far the most obscure line was founded by 12 John Hoppes of Surry County, NC, the middle son of old Georg Happes, married to Elizabeth Clanton. When Denise and I researched his line, she received some helpful assistance from Christi C. Partee, as I did from Dr. John Hopper, MD, a board-certified physician in Pediatrics and Internal Medicine and Assistant Professor with the Departments of Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, at the Wayne State University in Detroit, MI.  Both are descended from 12 John Hoppes’ oldest son 121 George Hoppers, who followed his wife Mary Dillard’s parents into Madison County, TN.  There 121 George and Mary Hoppers raised their large family of 14 children, eight boys and six girls.  Unfortunately, 121 George Hoppers died in his early 50’s and the family scattered in number of directions.  In September 2002, I wrote the Hoppes Generations essay “Those Tennessee Hoppers” summarizing our knowledge of the 121 George Hoppers’ line and asking for assistance in piecing together a variety of unidentified Hoppers linked to Tennessee. 

 

1.2.1:  During the past year, Denise and I have made considerable progress on reconstructing the 121 George Hoppers’ family, with the welcome assistance of Cheryl Lacy Cudney, who helped Denise with Lacy-Hoppers connections, and Ashlyn Jinnette, who shared her extensive database of Tennessee Hoppers/Hopper families with me.  Our current summary of the family of 121 George Hoppers is shown below:

 

TABLE 1.2.1: FAMILY OF GEORGE HOPPERS (179l – 1842 to 1850)

 

INDIVIDUAL                                                      BORN:                    BIRTH PLACE:           DIED:                     MARRIED:

                                                                                                                 

121 GEORGE HOPPERS                                      6FEB179l                DEEP CREEK, NC        1842 - 1850            

121.S MARY DILLARD                                                                                                              >1860                      28JAN1814

 

121A NANCY J. HOPPERS                                1814                        SURRY CO, NC            1850 – 58

121A.S WILLIAM H. ELLINGTON                   C1814                     VA                                  2FEB1858               C1833

 

121B MARTHA HOPPERS                                1815                        SURRY CO, NC

121B.S SAMUEL ELLINGTON                          C1808                     VA                                                                  C1832

 

1211 JAMES E. HOPPERS                                  1816/17                   SURRY CO, NC            >1853

1211.S CATHARINE TANNER                         C1819                                                                                             30JAN1841

 

1212 JOHN A. HOPPERS                                    C1819                     TN                                  1860 - 1870

1212.S1 ARCINA BRADDY                               C1828                                                             C1851                     1AUG1843

1212.S2? MATILDA WEST                                                                                                                                       6NOV1851

1212.S2/3 NANCY ARMSTRONG                    C1831                     TN                                  >1870                      26JUL1860

 

1213 WILLIAM P. HOPPERS                             17JAN1821            TN                                  27MAR1908

1213.S1 ELIZABETH PERRY                                                                                                                                     4JAN1845

1213.S2 MARIA TODD-DAWES                      C1825                     TN                                  1870 -73                  1860 - 1870

1213.S3 NANCY M. CARR-LAWRENCE        5AUG1830             TN                                  12JAN1914            4DEC1873

 

121C SUSANNAH HOPPERS                            C1824

121C.S WILLIAM PARKER LACY                   DEC 1828                                                       1893                        8APR1845

 

1214 FRANKLIN HOPPERS                               C1828                     MADISON CO, TN      12FEB1863            

1214.S _______________

 

1215 GEORGE W. HOPPERS                              C1830                     MADISON CO, TN      >JUL1863

 

121D REBECCA HOPPERS                                C1831                     MADISON CO, TN

121D.S WILLIAM G. SMITHWICK                 C1812                     NC                                                                  9JAN1850

 

1216 SAMUEL C. HOPPERS                              C1834                     MADISON CO, TN      25JAN1863

1216.S SARAH C. REX                                       IL                            >MAY1889                                                   25JUN1855

 

1217 THOMAS D. HOPPERS                             3OCT1838              MADISON CO, TN      >NOV1892

1217.S MARIAH FRANCES DAWS                C1850                     MADISON CO, TN                                      27AUG1868

 

121E MARY JANE HOPPERS                            4FEB1840               MADISON CO, TN      22JUN1917

121E.S1  SAMUEL S. SMITHWICK                 c1841                      TN                                  <1878                      27JAN1862

121E.S2 THOMAS BROWN                              c1842                      NC                                                                  c1877

 

1218? HENRY HOPPERS                                    C1841                     MADISON CO, TN

 

121F SARAH ELIZABETH HOPPERS             C1842                     MADISON CO, TN      1897

121F.S1 JAMES AMOS LATHAM                                                                                                                          DEC______ 

121F.S2 WILLIAM PARKER LACY                 DEC 1828                                                       1893                       

 

From these data it can be seen that 121 George Hoppers left Surry County, NC prior to the Census of 1820, moving his family westward into Tennessee where eleven of his children were born. His oldest daughter, Nancy Hoppers, was residing in Madison County, TN by May 1829 when George Hoppers’ father-in-law John Dillard made out his last will. Although George Hoppers is missing from the 1830 Census of Madison County, TN, he and his family probably were residing there at this time because probate court records indicate that the estate of Richard Tomlinson listed an 1830 note of George Hoppes for $25.00 as one of assets.  Another court record indicates that George Hopper paid a debt of this amount to the Tomlinson estate in 1833.  When the estate of John Dillard was settled, an inventory dated September 10, 1833 revealed that George Hopper had received property worth $66.99˝ from Isaac Dillard, estate executor.  However, an 1834 accounting of the estate of John Boren claims a debt of $3.30 owed by George Hopper as one of its assets, along with the notation “not very good”.  On a more positive note, a list of school parents dated June 4, 1838 indicates that George Hoppers had four children attending classes in District #9 of Madison County, TN at this time.

 

1.2.1.1:  George Hoppers’ oldest son, 1211 James E. Hoppers, married Catharine Tanner in Madison County, TN, on January 30, 1841. Although he remained nearby for much, if not all, of his life, he and his family are missing in the 1850 Census.  On October 15, 1853, however, he witnessed a deed in which his mother Mary Hoppers sold 72 acres of land in District #9 of Madison County to Sugars McLemore.  Then on March 2, 1854, he witnessed a bill of lading in which the river raft operator, John Lacy, transported 20 bales of cotton down the Forked Deer River to the Mississippi, and then on to New Orleans.  Given that there are no Census data or birth records concerning the family of James E. Hoppers, it is difficult to reconstruct his family with any accuracy.  However, his mother Mary is enumerated in the 1860 Census of Madison County, TN as the head of a household that contained a six-year-old male named George Hoppers.  This boy, born about 1854, very likely was a son of 1211 James E. Hoppers, who may have died before the 1860 Census. 

 

A partial reconstruction of his family, therefore, is shown below:

 

 

TABLE 1.2.1.1: FAMILY OF JAMES E. HOPPERS (1816/17 - >1853)

 

1211 JAMES E. HOPPERS                                  1816/17                   SURRY CO, NC            >1853

1211.S CATHARINE TANNER                         C1819                                                                                             30JAN1841

 

12111 GEORGE HOPPERS?                                C1854                     MADISON CO, TN

 

OTHERS?

 

 

1.2.1.2:  The second oldest boy of George and Mary Dillard Hoppers was John A. Hoppers, born about 1819.  He married Arcina Braddy on August 1, 1843 in Shelby County, TN and moved southwestward into nearby Marshall County, MS.  The Census of 1850 indicates that he had two sons, James T. (age 5) and George C. (age 1), both boys being born in the State of Mississippi.  During the 1850’s, however, his wife Arcina Braddy appears to have died, because he apparently married Matilda West in Shelby County, TN in November 1851 and then Nancy Armstrong on July 26, 1860 in Marshall County, MS.  In the 1860 Census of Marshall County, he is living with his new wife Nancy but his young son George C. Hoppers is missing and another son W. P. Hoppers is enumerated as an eight-year-old.  Perhaps because of the impact of the Civil War, John Hoppers’ family splintered. In the 1870 Census of Marshall County, MS, his wife Nancy Hoppers is now living with a brother, J. P. Armstrong, and 1212 John Hoppers and his sons 12121 James T. Hoppers and 12123 Wiley P. Hoppers are missing.  From the 1880 Census of Madison County, TN, it is apparent that James T. Hoppers had returned to Tennessee by 1870 and was living next to his uncle 1217 Thomas D. Hoppers in 1880.  On December 23, 1872, James T. Hoppers married Sally Lacy nee Lawrence, a 20-year-old widow.  Together they had a large, colorful family who lived in western Tennessee and northeastern Mississippi.  On the other hand, data in the 1900 Census of Tarrant County, TX indicate that 12123 Wiley P. Hoppers and his wife Sally (Glidewell) stayed in Mississippi until the 1880s and had two daughters born there in 1876 and 1880. After that, Wiley and Sally Hoppers moved back to Tennessee and had a son born there in 1889 before the family moved to Tarrant (and then to Van Zandt) County, Texas. 

 

Summary data for the family of 1212 John A. Hoppers are provided below:

 

 

TABLE 1.2.1.2: FAMILY OF JOHN A. HOPPERS (C1819 - >1860)

 

1212 JOHN A. HOPPERS                                    C1819                     SURRY CO, NC            >1860

1212.S1 ARCINA BRADDY                               C1828                                                             C1851                     1AUG1843

1212.S2? MATILDA WEST                                                                                                                                       6NOV1851

1212.S2/3 NANCY C. ARMSTRONG                C1831                     TN                                  >1870                      26JUL1860

 

12121 JAMES T. HOPPERS                                4MAR1845            MARSHALL, MS        2JAN1908

12121.S1 SALLIE M. LAWRENCE  LACY       APR1852                TN                                                                  23DEC1872

12121.S2 L. B. ______________

 

12122 GEORGE C. HOPPERS                              C1849                     MARSHALL, MS        <1860                     

 

12123 WILEY P. HOPPERS                                 APR1851                MARSHALL, MS        1924

12123.S SARAH E. GLIDEWELL                       NOV1857               TN                                  1909                        25SEP1873

 

 

 

TABLE 1.2.1.2.1: FAMILY OF JAMES T. HOPPERS (C1846 - 1908)

 

12121 JAMES T. HOPPERS                                4MAR1845            MARSHALL, MS        2JAN1908

12121.S1 SALLIE M. LAWRENCE LACY        APR1852                TN                                  >1930                      23DEC1872

12121.S2 L. B. ______________

 

12121A SARAH (LACY) HOPPERS                 5NOV1870?           MADISON CO, TN      4FEB1951

 

121211 JOHN  THOMAS  HOPPERS                10NOV1873           MADISON CO, TN      1935

121211.S LULA BELLE CROW                          9AUG1881             MADISON CO, TN      11JUL1929             13NOV1898

 

12121B MIMIE J. HOPPERS                               DEC1874                MADISON CO, TN      >1900

12121B.S __________ MAYO

 

121212 JAMES HENRY HOPPERS                    1878                        MADISON CO, TN      1936

121212.S EFFIE GERTRUDE WELLS                6SEP1887                                                       JUL1978

 

121213 FLETCHER ELMORE HOPPERS          19NOV1884           MADISON CO, TN      16MAY1956

121213F.S LAURA BENTLY                              14JAN1885                                                    DEC1964

 

121214 M. F. (OMER) HOPPERS                       22DEC1886            MADISON CO, TN      9JAN1971

121214.S FLOY G. ______                                  23AUG1892                                                   19FEB1991

 

121215 ROBERT F. HOPPERS                            NOV1889               MADISON CO, TN      1918

 

12121C FRANCES K. HOPPERS                        FEB1891                 MADISON CO, TN      >1900

 

121216 WILLIAM GUS HOPPERS                    12JAN1892            MADISON CO, TN      10OCT1970

121216.S LILLIE REYNOLDS                             23SEP1900                                                     13MAY1974

 

1212D ERA HOPPERS                                         28OCT1904            CROCKETT CO., TN   28SEP1906

 

 

 

TABLE 1.2.1.2.1.1: FAMILY OF JOHN THOMAS HOPPERS (1873 - 1935)

 

121211 JOHN  THOMAS  HOPPERS                10NOV1873           MADISON CO, TN      1935

121211.S LULA BELLE CROW                          9AUG1881             MADISON CO, TN      11JUL1929             13NOV1898

 

1212111 CLARENCE RAYMOND HOPPER    4FEB1900               LAUDERDALE CO, TN  JUN1984

1212111.S1 HESTER GOINS

1212111.S2 NELL MC CARTNEY                      25JUL1923             NEOSHE, MO

 

1212112 PAUL EVERETT HOPPER                   21JUL1902             LAUDERDALE CO,TN  3JUL1968

1212112.S1 CRICKETT CRAWFORD               C1904                     TN                                                                  23JUL1922

1212112.S2 KATHLEEN PICKETT                   

1212112.S3 NADEEN  ________

 

121211A ERA MAE HOPPERS                          28OCT1904            LAUDERDALE CO,TN  28SEP1906

 

1212113 JOSEPH DOUGLAS HOPPER             13JUL1907             LAUDERDALE CO,TN  15MAR1979

 

121211B BEATRICE LUCILLE HOPPERS        13AUG1909           TN                                     18JAN1968

121211B.S  ___________ RIKER

 

1212114 NEIL THOMAS HOPPER                    8OCT1911              LAUDERDALE CO,TN  20DEC1996

1212114.S MARY CATHARINE RHODY        1916                                                                   1995                                                                            

 

 

 

TABLE 1.2.1.2.1.2: FAMILY OF JAMES HENRY HOPPERS (1878 - 1936)

 

 

121212 JAMES HENRY HOPPERS                    1878                        MADISON CO, TN      1936

121212.S EFFIE GERTRUDE WELLS                6SEP1887                                                       JUL1978

 

1212121 JOSHUA HENRY HOPPERS               1903

1212121.S LENA LEWIS                                                                                                                                             1927

 

1212122 JAMES FRANKLIN HOPPERS          1906

1212122.S ANNE KEPHARDE

 

121212A  NELLE BLYTHE HOPPERS               1914

121212A.S ROBERT HULON SCATES            1911

 

TABLE 1.2.1.2.3: FAMILY OF WILEY P. HOPPERS (1851 - 1924)

 

12123 WILEY P. HOPPERS                                 APR1851                MARSHALL, MS        1924

12123.S SARAH E. GLIDEWELL                       NOV1857               TN                                  1909                        25SEP1873

 

12123A LARCENA MAY HOPPERS                OCT1876                MS                                  >1900

12123A.S A. C. JONES                                                                                                                                                15MAY1903

 

12123B MATTIE TOMMIE  HOPPERS            MAR1880              MS                                  >1900

12123B.S W. E. HOLIDAY                                                                                                                                          27SEP1902

 

12123C. MAY IOLA HOPPERS?                       9OCT1881             

12123C.S ________ SWAIN

 

121231 FLOYD D. HOPPERS                              22FEB1889             TN                                  MAR1965

121231.S EULA TAYLOR                                   7NOV1893                                                     JUN1979                13AUG1910

 

 

 1.2.1.3:  Unlike his older brothers, 1213 William P. Hoppers, born January 17, 1821, survived the Civil War period, although many details about his early life are missing.  On January 7, 1845, he married Elizabeth Perry and had a family that included two girls (Armisa, Martha) and three boys (D. M., Joseph, Robert). His wife Elizabeth died in the late 1850s, or shortly thereafter, and he married Maria (Mariah) Dawes, nee Todd, who was listed in the 1860 Madison County, TN Census as a widow (having been previously married to William Dawes.)  By the Census of 1870, William P. and Maria had a household containing a mixture of children by their first marriages, but none of their own.  Maria Todd-Dawes Hoppers died in the early 1870s, and William P. Hoppers married another widow, Nancy M. Carr nee Lawrence, on December 4, 1873.  Meanwhile, on August 27, 1868, the youngest daughter of Maria and William Dawes, Mariah Frances born in the early 1850s, married William P. Hoppers’ younger brother 1217 Thomas D. Hoppers.  When the Census of 1880 was taken, William P. Hoppers and his wife Nancy were sharing their household with a niece, but the comments column of the Census indicated that William was suffering from “malaria fever”.  In spite of his health problems, William Hoppers remained active and engaged in the following land transactions in Crockett County, TN:

 

Date                        Grantor                                   Grantee                                  Acerage                                 Recorded

 

18DEC1872            R. H./S. A. Jenkins               W. P. Hoppers                      20.1A (Dist #1)                     A/175

13MAR1875          W. P.  Hoppers                     W. M. Griffin                         town lot (Dist #4)                 B/553

2DEC1875              W. P. Hoppers                      W. P. Lacy                             20.1A (Dist #1)                     B/548

1879                        W. P. Lacy                             W. P. Hoppers                      20.1A (Dist #1)                     D/696

12SEP1885             W. P./N. M. Hoppers           Sarah Moore                         66 ˝ A (Dist #1)                   G/293

30NOV1885           Ed S. & A. A. Read              W. P. Hoppers                      95A (Dist #5)                        G/ 403

10FEB1886             W. P. Hoppers                      E. Farrow et al                       1A to school comm.             G/510

16AUG1889           W. P. Hoppers                      Whitentow & Moore           95A (Dist #5)                        H/695

 

W. P. Hoppers died on March 27, 1908 and was buried in Belleview Cemetery in Crockett County.  His wife Nancy died on January 12, 1914 and was buried beside him. In addition, W. P. Hoppers’ second oldest son Joseph T. Hoppers and his wife Malvina nee Hight also are buried in Belleview Cemetery.  W. P. Hoppers’ oldest son D. M. Hoppers, on the other hand, moved his family to Bowie County, TX, where all of their children were married.

 

A summary of the family of 1213 William P. Hoppers is furnished below:

 

 

 

TABLE 1.2.1.3: FAMILY OF WILLIAM P. HOPPERS (C1821 - 1908)

 

1213 WILLIAM P. HOPPERS                             17JAN1821            TN                                  27MAR1908

1213.S1 ELIZABETH PERRY                                                                                                                                     4JAN1845

1213.S2 MARIA TODD-DAWES                      C1825                     TN                                  1870 -73                  1860 - 1870

1213.S3 NANCY M. CARR-LAWRENCE        5AUG1830             TN                                  12JAN1914            4DEC1873

 

1213A ARMISA HOPPERS ?                             C1849                     TN                                                                 

1213A.S DAVID E. WAGSTER                                                                                                                                 21DEC1871   

 

1213B MARTHA  A/Z. HOPPERS?                  C1850                     TN

1213B.S WILLIAM M. LAWRENCE                C1850                     TN                                                                  15JAN1872

 

12131 D. M. HOPPERS                                        C1854                     TN                                  10MAY1940

12131.S SARAH ISABELL SMITH                   13MAY1861          TN                                  18MAR1927

 

12132 JOSEPH T. HOPPERS                               JUL1855                 TN                                  20JUN1930

12132.S MALVINA T. HIGHT                           MAR1855              TN                                  1928                        27OCT1875

 

12133 ROBERT L. HOPPERS?                            C1857                     TN                                                                 

12133.S ELVIRA SEARCY                                                                                                                                          23FEB1873

 

 

 

TABLE 1.2.1.3.1 FAMILY OF D. M. HOPPERS (C1854 – 1940)

 

12131 D. M. HOPPERS                                        C1854                     TN                                  10MAY1940

12131.S SARAH ISABELL SMITH                   13MAY1861          TN                                  18MAR1927          C1880

 

121311 WILLIAM H. HOPPERS                        C1882

121311.S  OPHELIA BENTLY                                                                                                                                    1902

 

12131A  P. E. HOPPERS                                      C1884

12131A.S J. M. HAZLEWOOD                                                                                                                                  1901

 

12131B ROSA HOPPERS                                    C1890                                                            

12131B.S L. H. WALKER                                                                                                                                            1913

 

                                                                                 

TABLE 1.2.1.3.2: FAMILY OF JOSEPH T. HOPPERS (1855 - >1900)

 

12132 JOSEPH T. HOPPERS                               JUL1855                 TN                                  26JUN1930

12132.S MALVINA T. HIGHT                           MAR1855              TN                                  1928                        27OCT1875

 

121321 WILLIAM R. HOPPERS                        MAR1877              WEAKLEY CO, TN     >1920

121321.S ADDIE L.  ________                          C1883                     TN                                                                  C1905

 

12132A ROSA LEE HOPPERS                           SEP1878                 WEAKLEY CO, TN     >1926

12132A.S  W. C. MOUNT                                                                                                                                           3JUL1926

 

12132B ANNIE MAE HOPPERS                        24JAN1882            WEAKLEY CO, TN     29NOV1964

12132B.S JOHN D. TIPTON                               1879                                                                1946                        15APR1900

 

121322 OLLIA E. HOPPERS                               AUG1884               WEAKLEY CO, TN     1904

 

 

 

TABLE 1.2.1.3.2.1: FAMILY OF WILLIAM R. HOPPERS (1877 - >1920)

 

121321 WILLIAM R. HOPPERS                        MAR1877              WEAKLEY CO, TN     >1920

121321.S ADDIE L.  ________                          C1883                     TN                                                                  C1905

 

1213211 EASON HOPPERS                                15NOV1905           TN                                  15JUL1993

 

1213212 HESS HOPPERS                                    14JUN1909            TN                                  25NOV2000

 

121321A BONNIE HOPPERS                             C1910                     TN

 

121321B FRANCES HOPPERS                           C1911                     TN

 

1213213 ARIZEL HOPPERS                               C1912                     TN

 

1213214 CARL HOPPERS                                   C1914                     TN

 

121321C LOUISE HOPPERS                               CJUN1915              TN

 

1213215 DARRETT HOPPERS                           CNOV1917             TN

 

1213216 DEWEY HOPPERS                               CMAY1919           TN

 

 

1.2.1.4:  The fourth oldest son of George and Mary (Dillard) Hoppers, 1214 Franklin Hoppers, was last encountered in Madison County, TN in the 1850 Census.  He apparently moved to Missouri.  A Confederate Army muster roll indicates that Franklin Hoppers, age 30, enrolled in Captain James A. Cooper’s Company of Colonel Clark’s Recruits, MO Volunteers on March 12, 1862 in Stoddard County, MO for a term of three years or the War. He brought a horse valued at $125 with him and horse equipment valued at $15. This Company subsequently became Company B, 7th Regiment, Missouri Cavalry.  In October 1862, Colonel Clark was captured and his regiment appears to have been broken up and the companies scattered.  After a prisoner of war exchange, Colonel Clark returned to Missouri and collected eight companies of the regiment, which he organized into a battalion.  A monthly report of the Gratiot Street Prison in St. Louis, MO for February 1863 indicates that Franklin Hoppers was captured in Stoddard County, MO on January 27, 1863, and confined in the Gratiot Street Prison on February 1, 1863.  He died in the Prison Hospital on February 12, 1863 of chronic diarrhea. A document titled Certificate For Government Undertaker, John A. Smithers states that Frank Hoppers was six feet tall and lists his cause of death as “Catarahal Fever”.

 

The 1860 Census of Stoddard County, MO does not include data for Franklin Hoppers, although there is information about a Minerva Ann Hoppers, an eight-year-old girl born in Missouri and living in the household of Robert Niell in Bloomfield, MO.  Without 1860 Census data for the soldier Franklin Hoppers, it is very difficult to reconstruct his family.  However, there is a J. W. (or J. William) Hoppers, who appears to have been born in Missouri about 1855, living in Crockett County, TN by 1875.  He does not appear to be the son of 1211 James E. Hoppers or 1212 John A. Hoppers or 1213 William P. Hoppers.  Assuming that J. W. Hoppers is the son of Franklin Hoppers of Stoddard County, MO, then members of 1214 Franklin Hoppers’ family include: 

 

 

TABLE 1.2.1.4: FAMILY OF FRANKLIN HOPPERS (C1828 - 1863)

 

1214 FRANKLIN HOPPERS                               C1828                     MADISON CO, TN      12FEB1863

1214.S _________

 

1214A MINERVA ANN HOPPES?                    1852                        MO

 

12141 J. WILLIAM HOPPERS?                         C1855                     MO?                               1893/4                    

12141.S1 J. C. JERNIGAN                                                                   CROCKETT CO, TN                                    13OCT1875/6

12141.S2 MARTHA B. GLENN                          C1864                     CROCKETT CO, TN                                    23DEC1880

12141.S3 SALLEY BRADLEY                            5NOV1870             CROCKETT CO, TN    4FEB1951               18JUN1888

 

 

TABLE 1.2.1.4.1 FAMILY OF J. WILLIAM  HOPPERS (C1855 – 1893/4)

 

12141 J. WILLIAM HOPPERS?                         C1855                     MO?                               1893/4                    

12141.S1 C. J. JERNIGAN                                                                   CROCKETT CO, TN                                    13OCT1875/6

12141.S2 MARTHA B. GLENN                          C1864                     CROCKETT CO, TN                                    23DEC1880

12141.S3 SALLEY BRADLEY                            5NOV1870             CROCKETT CO, TN    4FEB1951               18JUN1888

 

121411 HOUSTON ALONZO HOPPERS          6MAR1882            TN                                  3MAR1940

121411.S1 LEE NELSON                                                                                                                                              10MAR1901

121411.S2 EMMA LEE WILKERSON               15JUL1875             TN                                  20JAN1945

 

121412 WILLIE HOPPERS                                  APR1884                TN

121412.S DEE THOMAS                                                                                                                                             2JUL1912

 

121413 JOHN GARLAND HOPPERS                MAY1887              TN                                  1953

121413.S1 ROSIE LORETTA CULLIPHER       8AUG1886                                                     5MAR1917            14MAY1902

121413.S2 SADIE ISABELLE BAILEY              17MAY1898                                                  17JAN1937            26JUL1917

121413.S3 THEO SEABRY                                                                                                                                         

 

12141A GRACIE HOPPERS                                APR1891                TN                                 

12141A.S  LEXIE NOLAN                                                                                                                                          29OCT1921

 

12141B IVY HOPPERS                                         AUG1894               TN

12141B.S ______ DANNER

 

 

TABLE 1.2.1.4.1.1: FAMILY OF HOUSTON ALONZO HOPPERS (1882 – 1940)

 

121411 HOUSTON ALONZO HOPPERS          6MAR1882            TN                                  3MAR1940

121411.S1 LEE NELSON                                                                                                                                              10MAR1901

121411.S2 EMMA LEE WILKERSON               15JUL1875             CROCKETT CO, TN    20JAN1945

 

1214111 WILLIAM WEBB HOPPERS              2SEP1902               CROCKETT CO, TN    14MAR1975

1214111.S _______ SHARP

 

1214112 D. A. HOPPERS

 

121411A FANNIE HOPPERS

 

121411B MOLINE HOPPERS

 

121411C EULA MAY HOPPERS                       C1909                     DYER CO, TN               9OCT1943

121411C.S  FRANK BRITT

 

1214113 ALVIN WALKER HOPPERS              26 OCT 1910          DYER CO, TN               13SEP1979

1214113.S EULA MAE JONES                           10JUN1914            BEECH BLUFF, TN      21APR1989

 

121411D MAURINE HOPPERS                         4DEC1915              DYERSBURG, TN        190CT1990    

121411D.S DANIEL WILLIAMS                       1913                                                                1975                               

 

121411E AILEEN HOPPERS                               10OCT1917            CROCKETT CO, TN    3JUN1988

121411E.S RAYMOND HORTON, SR              19APR1914

 

121411F LORENE HOPPERS                              15SEP1920                                                     18SEP2000

121411F.S ROBERT H. GAGE                            4DEC1895                                                      28SEP1974

 

121411G CHRISTINE HOPPERS                        C1923

 

 

TABLE 1.2.1.4.1.3: FAMILY OF JOHN GARLAND HOPPERS (1887 – 1953)

 

121413 JOHN GARLAND HOPPERS                MAY1887              TN                                  28JUL1953

121413.S1 ROSIE LORETTA CULLIPHER       8AUG1886                                                     5MAR1917            14MAY1902

121413.S2 SADIE I. BAILEY NEE SIMMONS 17MAY1898                                                  17JAN1937            26JUL1917

121413.S3 THEO SEABRY

 

121413A HATTIE HOPPERS                             11MAY1904          TN

121413A.S LINNIE BLURTON                           24APR1901                                                    21AUG1967           13MAR1920

 

1214131 WILLIAM CLAUDE HOPPERS         12MAR1908                                                  12SEP1989

1214131.S BROOKSIE SIMMONS                                                                                                                            4JUN1926

 

1214132 JAMES EARL HOPPERS                     8OCT1910              TN                                  15AUG1971

1214132.S MABLE THOMAS BARHAM        27JUL1915             TN                                                                  2JUN1935

 

121413B MAY HOPPERS                                   C1914                     TN

121413B.S DORCEY MCCLEAN

 

121413C LIDA HOPPERS                                   C1916                     TN

121413C.S BLAKE DORSETT

                                                                               

121413D GERTRUDE HOPPERS                        C1917

 

121413E CLARA BELL HOPPERS                     C1918

 

121413F HAUTY PEARL HOPPERS                 C1919                                                             AUG1920                                                      

121413G MINNIE LEE HOPPERS                      C1921                                                             MAY2003                     

121413G.S HORACE HAYES

 

121413H SADIE MARG. HOPPERS                  C1923

121413H.S  ALBERT A. GREEN                                                                                                1941

 

121413I LILLIE MERLE HOPPERS                    27APR1924                                                    7FEB1997

121413I.S  DAN HAYES

 

121413J MARY FLOSSIE HOPPERS                 8OCT1926

121413J.S  ________ NELSON

 

121413K MARY FRANCES HOPPERS             C1927                                                             <1930

 

1214133 JOHN GARLAND HOPPERS              14APR1928                                                    7JUN1930

 

1214134 HORACE B. HOPPERS                        7FEB1930                                                       12MAR1993

 

1214135 ARTHUR RAY HOPPERS                   C1932

 

1214136 BILLIE GENE HOPPERS                      C1934

 

1214137 GERALD WAYNE HOPPERS             1937

 

 

1.2.1.5:  The fifth oldest son of George and Mary Hoppers, 1215 George born about 1830, was still unmarried and living with his mother when the 1860 Census of District #9, Madison County, TN was taken.  On August 15, 1861, George Hoppers enlisted as a Private in Company C, 27th Regiment of TN Volunteers at Trenton, TN for a 12-month tour of duty.  This Company subsequently became Company G, 27th Regiment TN Infantry.  This Regiment was organized September 10, 1861 and reorganized in May 1862. At the Battle of Shiloh on April 6 and 7, 1862, he was wounded and again furloughed.  A muster roll of Company G, 27th TN Infantry for July and August 1862 indicates that he still was on furlough at this time. A record in the Tennessee State Library and Archives in Nashville, TN provides the additional information that G. W. Hoppers enlisted as a Private in Company D, 14th (Neely’s) Cavalry at Bells Depot, TN on July 1, 1863 for the duration of the War. On July 20, 1863, he was furloughed because of illness and still was absent as of May 11, 1864. 

 

1215 George W. Hoppers may have died of War-related wounds of illnesses because there is no further information about this soldier.

 

1.2.1.6:  Samuel C. Hoppers, the sixth son of George and Mary (Dillard) Hoppers, was born in Madison County, TN about 1834.  The 1850 Census of Madison County shows him as a 16-year-old male living in his mother’s household.  Several years later, he journeyed westward across Arkansas to northeastern Texas where he married Sarah C. Rex on June 28, 1855 in Paris, Lamar County, TX.   The young married couple then returned to Tennessee, where their first three children were born in 1856, 1858, and 1860.  With the likelihood of civil war imminent, Samuel and Sarah Hoppers moved northward to join the Rex family in Williamson County, Illinois. Their fourth child was born there in 1862.

 

Three months later, Samuel C. Hoppers enlisted in an Illinois infantry unit.  A report of the U. S. Adjutant General’s Office dated June 7, 1870 stated: Samuel C. Hoppers was enrolled on the 11th day of August, 1862, at Union Co., Ills in Co. F, 81st Regiment of Ills Volunteers, to serve 3 years, or during the war, and mustered into service as a Private on the 26th day of Aug 1862, at Camp Anna, in Co. F, 81st Regiment of Ills Volunteers, to serve three years, or during the war. On the Muster-out Roll of Co. F of that Regiment dated August 5th, 1865, he is reported “Absent. Left sick at Memphis since February 15, 1863.” A report of the Surgeon General’s Office dated September 9, 1870, provided the additional information that: It appears from the records filed in this Office, that Priv. S. C. Hoppers, Co F, 81st Reg’t Illinois Vols was admitted to No. 2 (Foundry) Genl. Hospital, Memphis, Tenn, January 1st, 1863 for treatment of Phthisis, and died January 25, 1863.  It also appears from the “List of Casualties” accompanying the “Monthly Report of Sick and Wounded” of that Hospital: for January 1863 (Asst Surgeon A. L. Clark, 12th Ills. Vols. in charge) that the soldier above described died January 25th, 1863, of Inflam. of bowels.

 

About three years after Samuel Hoppers died, his widow Sarah C. Hoppers married Thomas Chadowen.  On April 23, 1870, they appeared before the County Clerk of Williamson County, IL to file additional paperwork concerning the minor children of Samuel Hoppers. After being duly sworn, they made:

 

the following declaration in order to obtain the pension provided by act of Congress for the children under sixteen years of age; that they are the only legal guardian of George W. Hoppers, Mary E. Hoppers, Rebecca Hoppers, and Martha J. Hoppers legitimate children of Samuel C. Hoppers who enlisted under the name of Samuel C. Hoppers as a private in Company F in 81st Regiment of Illinois Infantry Vols in the War of 1861 and 1863, and who died at Memphis, Tennessee on or about March 1st 1863 of Dropsy and who bore at the time of his death the rank of private in Co F 81st Regt of Illinois Vols; that the mother of said children again remarried being now the wife of Thomas B. Chadowen and was so remarried on the 28 day of December AD 1865; that the above named children are the only surviving legitimate children of said Samuel C. Hoppers who were under sixteen years of age at the time of his death; that said children were the issue of the said Samuel C. Hoppers and Sarah C. Hoppers his wife as follows to wit: George W. Hoppers was born Nov 10th 1856, Mary E. Hoppers was born June 14, 1858, Rebecca Hoppers was born August 7, 1860, and Martha J. Hoppers was born May 9th 1862.

 

 

That the father was married under the name of Samuel C. Hoppers to Sarah C. Rex on the 28th day of June AD 1855 at Paris, Texas by one Farrer a Justice of the Peace there being no legal barrier to such marriage; that the said children have not aid or abetted the rebellion; that a prior application has been filed in their behalf by these applicants but the papers seem to have been lost and cannot be found.  The former application was filed by our Attorney Jesse Bishop in the summer of 1866, the precise date not now known.  Post office address Marion, Williamson County, Illinois.

 

On February 23, 1871, Sarah C. Chadowen made another sworn statement in support of her application for a pension for the children of Samuel C. Hoppers. She testified that:

 

She is the mother of George W., Mary E., Rebecca T., and Martha J. Hoppers and that they were born in the State of Tennessee with the exception of the youngest Martha J. and that she can not produce the testimony of the attending physician as to the dates of births of said children who were born in the State of Tennessee & can only produce the testimony of her father and brother, George W. and William L. Rex, as to the dates of their Births.

 

The County Clerk before whom the sworn statements of April 23, 1870 and February 23, 1871 were made was named J. W. Samuels. Apparently, he later was appointed the legal guardian of the minor children of Samuel C. Hoppers, perhaps to ensure that any pension monies received would be used for the benefit of the children and not for the direct benefit of Sarah and Thomas Chadowen.  In any case, on March 26, 1889, Sarah A. Chadowen appeared before the County Court of Williamson County and stated that “this declaration is made for the purpose of obtaining the pension due under a recent Act of Congress from date of deceased soldier’s death to the date of remarriage.” In her declaration, Sarah A. Chadowen frequently referenced data already on file with the pension bureau. She stated in part:

 

That he died in the Military Hospital at Memphis Tennessee on or about the year 1864, reference is hereby had to the evidence on file in the case of JWSamuels Guardian of the minor heirs of deceased soldier where the precise date of his death is established, the numbering of said application is not now known, that her name before her marriage to the deceased soldier was Rex; that neither of them had been married previously; that they were married in Lamar County, State of Texas, that reference is hereby had again to the evidence on file in the above mentioned claim of Samuels as Guardian of deceased soldier’s minors to establish the fact and date of their marriage . . . That she relies upon the evidence on file in the claim of the Guardian herein before referred, to establish this claim; That JWSamuels of Marion Ills. is hereby appointed her Attorney to prosecute this claim.

 

 

A summary of the family of Samuel C. and Sarah C. (Rex) Hoppers is provided in tabular form below:

 

 

TABLE 1.2.1.6: FAMILY OF SAMUEL HOPPERS (C1834 – 1863)

 

1216 SAMUEL C. HOPPERS                              C1834                     MADISON CO, TN      25JAN1863

1216.S SARAH C. REX                                                                       IL                                    >MAR1889            28JUN1855

 

12161 GEORGE W. HOPPERS                            10NOV1856           TN                                  >1900

12161.S MARY M. _______                              C1858                     IL                                    <1900

 

1216A MARY E. HOPPERS                                14JUN1858            TN

 

1216B REBECCA T. HOPPERS                          7AUG1860             TN

 

1216C MARTHA J. HOPPERS                           9MAY1862            WILLIAMSON CO, IL

1216C.S ELIAS SHADOWEN                            C1856                     IL                                                                    10NOV1878

 

 

TABLE 1.2.1.6.1: FAMILY OF GEORGE W. HOPPERS (1856 - >1900)

 

12161 GEORGE W. HOPPERS                            10NOV1856           TN                                  >1930

12161.S1 MARY M. _______                            C1858                     IL                                    <1900

12161.S2 ALICE _________                              C1873                     IL                                    >1930

 

121611 MILO HOPPER                                        JUN1886                JACKSON, IL               >1930

121611.S MARTHA M. ________                   1885                        IL                                    >1930

 

121612 MELVIN HOPPER                                   APR1890                JACKSON, IL               >1900

 

121613 EZRA HOPPER                                       23JAN1892            JACKSON, IL               JUN1972

121613.S ELIZABETH _____________          28MAY1893          IL                                    JUN1983

 

 

1.2.1.7:  The seventh son of George and Mary Hoppers was Thomas D. Hoppers born in Madison County, TN on October 3, 1838.  When the Census of 1850 was taken, he was enumerated as a 12-year-old living with his mother Mary, and was still living in her household as an unmarried male in the Census of 1860.  His whereabouts during the Civil War are unknown, but on August 27, 1868 he married Mariah Frances Dawes, the daughter of his brother 1213 William P. Hoppers’ second wife Maria Dawes (nee Todd) and Maria’s first husband William Dawes.  In the 1870 Census of Madison County, TN, Thomas D. Hoppers was enumerated in District #9, close to the household of his older brother William P. Hoppers.  In the 1880 Census of District #9, Madison County, TN, Thomas and Mariah Hoppers are enumerated with three children residing in a household next to his nephew 12121 James T. Hoppers, the oldest son of 1212 John A. Hoppers.  Madison County land records indicate that on March 6, 1874, Thomas D. Hoppers and his wife Maria F. Hoppers had sold 12121 James T. Hoppers 41.64 acres of their land.   (In a subsequent land transaction, Thomas Hoppers bought land from B. T. Patterson in Crockett County, TN on November 10, 1892.)

 

The oldest son of Thomas and Mariah Hoppers, 12171 Robert Lee Hoppers born in Madison County on February 5, 1870, apparently died in infancy or as a youth because he is missing form the 1880 Census and thereafter.  Their next child, 12172 James Perry Hoppers born April 14, 1873, married Laura A. Horn about 1895.  In the 1900 Census, they were residing in Alcorn County, MS.

 

A summary of the descendants of 1217 Thomas D. Hoppers to 1900 is furnished below:

 

TABLE 1.2.1.7: FAMILY OF THOMAS D. HOPPERS (1838 - >1892)

 

1217 THOMAS D. HOPPERS                             3OCT1838              MADISON CO, TN      >NOV1892

1217.S MARIAH FRANCES DAWES              C1850                     MADISON CO, TN                                      27AUG1868

 

12171 ROBERT LEE HOPPERS                          5FEB1870               MADISON CO, TN      <1880

 

12172 JAMES PERRY HOPPERS                       14APR1873            MADISON CO, TN      27AUG1954

12172.S LAURA A. HORN                                 JAN1876                TN                                  >1900                      C1895

 

12173 WILLIAM REUBIN HOPPERS               7NOV1876             MADISON CO, TN

12173.S ADDIE LOU PATTERSON                  C1883                                                             NOV1985               25JAN1905

 

1217A GERTRUDE HOPPERS                           27APR1879/80      MADISON CO, TN      21APR1967

1217A.S THOMAS HARTWELL PITTS          28MAR1874          MS                                  11JUL1939             18MAR1900

 

1217B NOONIE HOPPERS                                  31MAR1882          MADISON CO, TN      2AUG1964

1217B.S ARTHUR ELIJAH SMITH                  18MAY1873          PRENTISS CO, MS                                      23SEP1899

 

  

TABLE 1.2.1.7.2: FAMILY OF JAMES P. HOPPERS (1873 - 1954)

 

12172 JAMES PERRY HOPPERS                       14APR1873            MADISON CO, TN      27AUG1954

12172.S LAURA A. HORN                                 JAN1876                TN                                  >1910                      C1896

 

12172A ASSERY F. HOPPERS                           OCT1897                ALCORN CO, MS        >1910

 

121721 DEWIE J. HOPPERS                               DEC1899                ALCORN CO, MS        >1910

 

121722 ALVY R. HOPPERS                                C1901                     MS                                  >1910

 

121723 OTTO J. HOPPERS                                 C1904                     TN                                  >1910

 

12172B ODELL  HOPPERS                                 C1908/9                  TN                                  >1910

 

121724 EZRA ALFRED HOPPER                      C1912                                                             4SEP1930                      

                                                                               

 

1.2.1.8?:  The 1850 Census of Madison County, TN indicates that the Mary Hoppers household had a nine-year-old male named Henry Hoppers as the concluding entry after listing William Smithwick and Rebecca (Hoppers) Smithwick.  Because Henry Hoppers was born about 1841 and Mary Hoppers’ husband George did not die until 1842–1850, there is a high probability that Henry Hoppers was the youngest son of George and Mary Hoppers.  However, because their oldest son 1211 James A. Hoppers, who married Catharine Tanner on January 30, 1841, is missing from the 1850 Census, it also is possible that the Henry Hoppers in the 1850 Census was the oldest son of James A. Hoppers.  In any event, Henry Hoppers disappears after the 1850 Census and will be considered as the youngest son of George and Mary Hoppers until evidence to the contrary is found.

 

In summary, only two of the eight sons of George and Mary Hoppers, namely 1213 William P. Hoppers and 1217 Thomas D. Hoppers, appear to have survived until the Civil War ended in 1865.  All the other sons apparently died before reaching 50 years of age.  At least two of their sons, 1214 Franklin Hoppers and 1215 George W. Hoppers, fought and/or died for the Confederate cause and their younger brother, 1216 Samuel C. Hoppers, perished within months of joining a Union infantry company.  Of the many grandchildren of 121 George and Mary Hoppers, two in particular had large families and numerous descendants, namely 12121 James T. Hoppers, who was born in Mississippi and then returned to Tennessee and eventually resided next to his uncle 1217 Thomas D. Hoppers, and 12141 J. William Hoppers, who was born in Missouri but returned to Crockett County, TN by 1875 and married three times before dying there in the early 1890s.

 

1.2.2:  The second son of 12 John Hoppes married to Elizabeth Clanton was 122 Benjamin Hoppes, born along Deep Creek, NC on March 11, 1794 and baptized there on May 4, 1794 according to Moravian Church records.  Benjamin apparently died at an early date because there are no further records concerning him.

 

1.2.3:   John and Elizabeth Hoppes’ third and last son was 123 Edward Hoppers, born on Deep Creek, NC on October 12, 1795 and baptized there on April 3, 1796.  A Surry County, NC marriage bond was issued on March 30, 1819 for his marriage to Sally Gibbons.  In the Census of 1820, they were enumerated in Captain Atwood’s District of Surry County and had one daughter and one son under ten years of age.  The 1830 Census indicated that:

 

#              Individual                              State       County                   Township               Vol.         Page       Census Date

 

123          Edward Hoppers  NC          Surry                                                                      99           

 

MALES:                 <5            5-<10      10-<15        15-<20        20-<30        30-<40        40-<50        50 or >

 

                                    2                  0              1                  0                  0                  1                  0                  0

                                               

FEMALES:            <5            5-<10      10-<15        15-<20        20-<30        30-<40        40-<50        50 or >

 

                                    0                  1              0                  0                  0                  1                  0                  0

 

By 1840, Edward and Sally Hoppers had moved to Habersham County, GA as the following Census data indicate:

 

123         Edward Hopus                       GA          Habersham           Tocesah                 154                        

                               

MALES:                 <5            5-<10      10-<15        15-<20        20-<30        30-<40        40-<50        50 or >

 

                                    0                  0              2                  2                  0                  0                  1                  0

                                               

FEMALES:            <5            5-<10      10-<15        15-<20        20-<30        30-<40        40-<50        50 or >

 

                                    2                  1              0                  1                  0                  0                  1                  0

 

Edward and Sally Hoppers are missing from the 1850 Census of Habersham County, GA but the following household was enumerated there:

 

#              State       County                   Township              Vol.         Page       House    Family Census Date

1231.S?   GA          Habersham            5th District                              258B       90            90            9 October 1850

 

Matilda Hoppers                                  30            F              widow                                    NC

D. H. Hoppers                                       12            M                                                            NC

               

Although Edward Hoppers and his family are missing form the Habersham County in the 1850 Census, they are present in neighboring Lumpkin County, GA:

 

123          GA          Lumpkin Dahlonega                                             98            27            27            24SEP1850

 

Edward Hoppers                  55            M            Miner                                                     NC

Sally Hoppers                       50            F                                                                              NC                         

Charles Hoppers                  23            M            Farmer                                                    NC

Pinkney Hoppers                 21            M            Farmer                                                    NC

Sarah Hoppers                      18            F                                                                              NC

Nancy Hoppers                    15            F                                                                              NC

Babe Hoppers                       12            F                                                                              GA

Nancy Hoppers                    10            F                                                                              GA

 

From these data it is apparent that Edward Hoppers and his family moved to Georgia from North Carolina between the time Nancy Hoppers and Babe Hoppers were born, that is, between 1835 and 1838. The Census data also indicate that two young men are missing in the 1850 Census compared to the 1840 Census.  Five years after the 1850 Census, a tax digest of Lumpkin County revealed that Edward Hoppers acted as the agent of John Hoppers, most likely his son.  Based on these data, it appears to me that the four sons of 123 Edward Hoppers and his wife Sally were: (1) the unidentified husband of Matilda Hoppers, (2) John Hoppers, (3) Charles Hoppers, and (4) Pinkney Hoppers.

 

 

1.2.3.1:  No additional information has been found about the husband of 1231.S Matilda Hoppers, the 30-year-old widow enumerated in the 1850 Census of Habersham County, GA, or her 12-year-old son D. H. Hoppers.  Because the 1820 Census of Surry County, NC indicated that Edward and Sally Hoppes had a son born in 1819 or 1820, who died before the 1850 Census, the name of Matilda Hoppers’ husband cannot be determined from Census records and currently is unknown to us.  (In the 1850 Census of Habersham County, GA, Matilda was living next to two other young women who were household heads: Abagail Hamby age 29 living in household #89 with five children and Polly Hodge age 34 living in household #91 with an infant daughter.) 

 

A summary of known information about the eldest son of Edward and Sally Hoppers is provided below:

                                                                               

TABLE 1.2.3.1: FAMILY OF _______ HOPPERS (C1820 -  <1850)

 

 

1231 _______  HOPPERS                                   C1820                     SURRY CO., NC           <1850

1231.S MATILDA __________                       C1820                     NC                                  >1850

 

12311 D. H. HOPPERS                                         C1838                     NC                                  >1850

 

 

1.2.3.2:  The second oldest son of Edward and Sally Hoppers, 1232 John Hoppers, grew up in Lumpkin County, GA.  Considerably more information is available about his family than that of his older brother.  For example, RootsWeb at http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com has the following data submitted by [email protected] as of Saturday August 25, 2001.

 

 

·  ID: I242

·  Name: Benjamin HOPPERS

·  Sex: M

·  Birth: 13 May 1867 in , Lumpkin, GA

·  Death: 3 Jun 1947

·  _STAT: Dead

·  Change Date: 14 Jan 1999 at 12:39

Father: John HOPPERS
Mother: Mary

Marriage 1 Mary Jane PARKER b: 7 Mar 1865

  • Change Date: 14 Jan 1999

Children

  1. Has ChildrenIda Mae HOPPERS

 

               

This summer I had the opportunity to visit Dahlonega, GA during a trip my wife Riki and I made to the Atlanta, GA area, where we spent the better part of a week with our youngest son Daniel and his family.  At the Lumpkin County Court House in Dahlonega, GA, we found the following marriage record:  Benj. Hoppas and Mary Jane Parker on 2nd October 1887.  With the assistance of the staff of the Gold Mine Museum in Dahlonega, Riki and I discovered a local-area history titled: “Heritage of Lumpkin County, Georgia: 1832 – 1996”, published by the Lumpkin County Heritage Book Committee and Don Mills, Inc. (LC #96-61131) and by the Walsworth Publishing Company.  It contains a wealth of interesting data about the family of Benjamin Hoppers and Mary Jane Parker, although it incorrectly identifies Benjamin Hoppers’ father as Edward Hoppers, whereas Edward actually was his grandfather and John Hoppers was his father:

 

                391 BENJAMIN AND MARY JANE HOPPERS

 

Benjamin Hoppers, born May 13, 1867, was the son of Edward Hoppers, who is buried in old Cavender’s Creek Cemetery.  Edward died on November 20, 1887.

 

Benjamin married Mary Jane Parker, who was born on March 5, 1865.  They were the parents of two sons and five daughters as follows: John Henry (July 19, 1888 – September 18, 1965); J. Rollie (December 27, 1898 – October 21, 1918); Martha Elmer (April 15, 1893 – August 13, 1959) married William Edwards: Lena Mae married Columbus Couch; Ida (May 15, 1905) married Lloyd Bailey; Molly (July 14, 1892); Carrie married Charles McDonald.

 

Benjamin made clocks and furniture, and worked at one of the gold mines.  Some of his furniture is still in use.  Although little more is known of him, he had two sisters; Neats Seary from Tate, and Sally Grindle.

 

 

392 HENRY AND LEE HOPPERS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

John Henry Hoppers was born on July 19,1888 and died September 18, 1965. He was the son of Benjamin Hoppers and Mary Jane Parker Hoppers. He married Lee Davis on February 14, 1915. She was the daughter of John Francis Davis and Abigail Davis. She was born August 27, 1891 and died July 17, 1978. They are both buried in cemetery.

 

They had two children. Alvin Guy Hoppers was born on June 3, 1917, in Georgia. He married Jannette Martin on July 23, 1938 in Dahlonega. He died July 23, 1990.

 

Jannette was born on July 22, 1915. She still lives in Sistersville, West Virginia. They had one son, John William (Johnny), born on November 23, 1939. He married Kay Spritzherbach. They had one daughter, Caroline, born January 9, 1970.   

 

Henry and Lee's daughter, Lola Faye Hoppers, was born on September 27, 1924 in Beach Bottom, West Virginia. She married William Arthur Staley on March 4,1946. She died on December 30, 1981. Art died on May 8, 1987. Their children were: Richard Michael Staley born November 28, 1946; William Joseph (Bill) Staley born June 28, 1948, died June 7, 1990; Sandra Lee Staley born November 8, 1951; Kathryn Ann Staley born March 5, 1956; Arthur Kevin (Skip) Staley; Lisa Margaret Staley born March 28, 1966, died September 26, 1968. Henry and Lee moved to Power Plant, West Virginia before Faye was born.  He worked at the power plant there until he retired and moved back to Lumpkin County and built a house at the intersection of Highway 152 and 115 across from Ralph Pierce's store. They lived there until they passed away. . . . .

 

306 ARTHUR AND ELMER EDWARDS

 

William Arthur Edwards and Martha Elmer Hoppers were married on Sunday, May 1, 1909 at Zion Church.  Rev. Bill Spencer performed the ceremony.

 

Arthur was born on August 12, 1891, son of Reeves Edwards.  Arthur passed away on March 30, 1966.

 

Elmer was born on April 15, 1893 and passed away on August 13, 1959.  She was the daughter of Benjamin Hoppers and Mary Jane Parker Hoppers.

 

They were the parents of 8 sons and 3 daughters. They all lived to get grown and married except one daughter, Bessie Mae, who died at the age of 6 years. . . . .          

 

Based on this information and Census records available to me on-line, I began searching the Georgia Censuses for 123 Edward Hoppers and his sons/grandsons.  I still have not found any data in the 1860 Census, but the 1870 Census produced the following interesting results:

 

State       County                   Township               Page       Census Date         Series    Roll

GA          Lumpkin                 Dahlonega             433B       21JUN1870            M593      163

 

123          183          190          Netty Harpeth       26 F         keeping house                      GA

                                                Edward                   80 M       no occupation                      NC

                                                Sarah                      58 F         no occupation                      NC

                                                Betsy                      30F          no occupation                      GA

                                                Sarah                      12 F         at home                                  GA

 

1233        184          191          Charles Harpeth   40 M       farm labor                              NC

                                                Sarah                      19 F         keeping house                      GA

                                                Pinckney                3/12 M    March                                   GA         

 

GA          Lumpkin                 Dahlonega             445B       2JUL1870               M593      163

 

1232        369          377          John Harpeth        47 M       farm laborer                           NC

                                                Frances                  33 F         keeping house                      SC

                                                John                       12 M       at home                                  GA

                                                Sarah                        8 F                                                         GA

                                                Charles                     3 F                                                         GA

                                Netty                      11/12       July                                         GA


This was the first time I ever encountered the name “Harpeth” for families that appeared to have Hoppes/Hoppers origins.  Previously, an “r” had been inserted in certain locales between the “p” and the “s” in “Hoppes” to form “Hoppers”, but now the “r” had moved ahead of the “p”!  Were the families I found really those related to 123 Edward and Sally (Gibbons) Hoppes/Hoppers, as the 1870 Census strongly indicated?  The 1880 Census proved even more illuminating:

 

State       County                   Township               Page       Census Date         Series    Roll

GA          Lumpkin                 Crumby’s Dist.349A            5JUN1880              Page 9 ED 146

 

1232.S 64                69            F. Harpus               42 F         widow Keeps House           SC           SC           SC

                                                Benj                        13 M       works on farm       GA          NC          SC

                                                Nita                         11 F         at home                  GA          NC          SC

                                                Edward                     9 M                                       GA          NC          SC

                                                Mary                        7 F                                         GA          NC          SC

                                                William                     4 M                                       GA          NC          SC

 

GA          Lumpkin                 Dahlonega             352A       10JUN1880            page 17 ED 146

 

-------       120          129          James Blackwell    37 M       works in mine        GA          GA          SC

1233.S                                     Sarah                      27 F         wife Keeps HouseGA          ?              ?

                                                                ß

ß

                                                John H. Harpus      6 M       stepson                  GA          GA          GA

 

GA          Lumpkin                 Dahlonega             351B       9JUN1880              page 16 ED 146

 

-------       116          124          John Wood           26 M       farmer                     GA          GA          GA

                                                ß

ß

                                                Nita Harpus           28 F         boarder                  GA          GA          GA

 

The F. Harpus, a 42-year-old widow born in South Carolina according to the 1880 Census, clearly is the Frances Harpeth, age 33 born in South Carolina in the 1870 Census.  This indicates that her husband 1232 John had died by 1880.  It also indicates that their 3-year-old son Charles in the 1870 Census is identical to the 13-year-old Benjamin in the 1880 Census.  Similarly, the 11-month-old Netty in the 1870 Census is the 11-year-old Nita of the 1880 Census.  Although the family name was spelled “Harpeth” in the 1870 Census, ten years later it was recorded as “Harpus”.

 

The 1880 Census also contains the revelation that, not too far from the family of F. Harpus, there is a John H. Harpus, a 6-year-old who is the step-son of the Dahlonega miner James Blackwell.  The boy’s mother is enumerated as the 27-year old Sarah, who appears to have been the 19-year-old wife of Charles Harpeth in the 1870 Census.  Apparently, Charles died about the time his son John H. was born.

 

The Censuses of 1900 and 1910 confirm that the son of John and Frances Hoppers who was enumerated in the 1870 and 1880 Censuses as being born about 1867 was, indeed, the Benjamin Hoppers of the history titled: “Heritage of Lumpkin County, Georgia: 1832 – 1996”:

 

State       County                   Township               Page       Census Date                         Series    Roll

 

GA          White                     Shoal Creek           39            19JUN1900                            T623       228

 

12321      142         144          Benj Harpes          35 M       Head       M 13          GA       GA          GA

                                                Mary                      36 F         wife         M 13 6/6 SC           SC           SC

                                                John H.                  10 M       son         JUL1889 GA          GA          SC          

                                                Lillie T.                     9 F         dau         MAR1891 GA       GA          SC

                                                Mary E.                    7 F         dau         JUL1892  GA         GA          SC

                                                Martha E. Harpes   6 F         dau         MAR1894 GA       GA          SC

                                                Lithia                        3 F         dau         MAR1897 GA       GA          SC

                                                Joseph R.                 1 M       dau         Mar1899   GA        GA          SC

 

State       County                   Township               Page       Census Date                         Series    Roll

 

GA          Lumpkin                 Shoal Creek           244B       20/21APR1910      T624       199

 

123___ 55              55            Benj Happers        35 M       Head       M 23       GA          GA          GA

                                                Mary J.                   44 F         wife         M23 9/8 GA           GA          GA

                                                John H.                  21 M       son         single     GA          GA          GA

                                                Lilly T.                    18 F         dau         single     GA          GA          GA

                                                Mary E.                  17 F         dau         single     GA          GA          GA

                                                Mattie E.                16 F         dau         single     GA          GA          GA

                                                Elinor                      14 F         dau         single     GA          GA          GA

                                                Joseph R.               12 M       son         single     GA          GA          GA

                                                Carrie B.                 9 F          dau         single     GA          GA          GA

                                                Aida M.                   4 F         dau         single     GA          GA          GA

 

Based on the data presented above, the following summary tables can be constructed:

 

 

TABLE 1.2.3.2: FAMILY OF JOHN HOPPERS (C1822 – 1876 to 1880)

 

1232 JOHN HOPPERS                                         C1822                     SURRY CO., NC           1876 - 1880

1232.S MARY FRANCES _________             C1837                     SC                                   >1880

 

12321 JOHN HOPPERS                                       C1858                     GA

 

1232A SARAH HOPPERS                                  C1862                     GA

1232A.S ________ GRINDLE

 

12322 BENJAMIN CHARLES HOPPERS         13MAY1867          LUMPKIN CO., GA     3JUN1947

12322.S MARY JANE PARKER                        5MAR1865            GA                                  11OCT1929            2OCT1887

 

12321B   NETTY (NITA/NEATS) HOPPERS   MAR1870              LUMPKIN CO., GA                                    

12321B.S  _______ SEARY

 

12323 EDWARD HOPPERS                               C1871                     LUMPKIN CO., GA

 

1232C MARY HOPPERS                                     C1873                     LUMPKIN CO., GA

 

12324 WILLIAM HOPPERS                               C1876                     LUMPKIN CO., GA


           

                               

TABLE 1.2.3.2.2: FAMILY OF BENJAMIN HOPPERS (1867 - 1947)

 

12322 BENJAMIN HOPPERS                             13MAY1867          LUMPKIN CO., GA     3JUN1947

12322.S MARY JANE PARKER                        5MAR1865                                                    11OCT1929            2OCT1887

 

123221 JOHN HENRY HOPPERS                       19JUL1888             LUMPKIN CO., GA     18SEP1965

123221.S MARY LEE DAVIS                             27AUG1891           GA                                  17JUL1978             14FEB1915

 

12322A MOLLY HOPPERS                                14JUL1892

 

12322B MARTHA ELMER HOPPERS              15APR1893            LUMPKIM CO., GA    13AAUG1959

12322B.S WILLIAM ARTHUR EDWARDS    12AUG1891           GA                                  30MAR1966          1MAY1909

 

12322C? LENA MAE HOPPERS                                                        LUMPKIN CO., GA

12322C.S COLUMBUS COUCH

 

123222 J. ROLLIE HOPPERS                              27DEC1898            LUMPKIN CO., GA     21OCT1918

 

12322D? CARRIE HOPPERS

12322D.S CHARLES MCDONALD

 

12322E? IDA MAE HOPPERS                           15MAY1905          LUMPKIN CO., GA     5FEB2000

12322E.S LLOYD ASBERRY BAILEY                                                                                                                       31JAN1925   

 

TABLE 1.2.3.2.2.1: FAMILY OF JOHN HENRY HOPPERS (1888 - 1965)

               

123221 JOHN HENRY HOPPERS                       19JUL1888             LUMPKIN CO., GA     18SEP1965

123221.S MARY LEE DAVIS                             27AUG1891           GA                                  17JUL1978             14FEB1915

 

1232211 ALVIN GUY HOPPERS                        3JUN1917              GA                                  23JUL1990

1232211.S JANNETTE MARTIN                       22JUL1915                                                     15OCT1996            23JUL1938

 

123221A LOLA FAYE HOPPERS                      27SEP1924             WV                                 30DEC1981           

123221A.S WILLIAM ARTHUR STALEY                                                                              8MAY1987            4MAR1946   

 

 

1.2.3.3:  The third son of Edward and Sally Hoppers was 1233 Charles Hoppers, born about 1827 according to the 1850 Census of Lumpkin County, GA. Charles Hoppers was enrolled in Lumpkin County, GA as a Private in Company A commanded by Captain John Dickerson of the 11th Infantry Battalion (GA State Guards) on July 4, 1863 by Major James T. Grindle for a period of six months.  No additional information is available about his Confederate States of America service.                                                                                                                  

 

 According to the 1870 Census, 1233 Charles Hoppers was living in Dahlonega District, Lumpkin County, GA with a 19-year-old wife Sarah and a 3-month-old son Pinckney.  In 1880, however, it appears that his wife was remarried to a miner named James Blackwell and that her 6-year-old son John H. Hoppers was living with her and her new husband.  Charles Hoppers probably died about 1874 because Sarah had two other children with James Blackwell prior to the 1880 Census: a daughter Ella born about 1876 and a son Henry born about 1879.

 

Based on these data, a summary of Charles Hoppers’ family is presented below:


TABLE 1.2.3.3: FAMILY OF CHARLES HOPPERS (C1822 - 1887)

 

1233 CHARLES HOPPERS                                 C1827                     SURRY CO., NC           C1874

1233.S SARAH  _________                              C1851                     GA                                  >1880

 

12331 PINCKNEY HOPPERS                              MAR1869              LUMPKIN CO., GA    

 

12332 JOHN H. HOPPERS                                  C1874                     LUMPKIN CO., GA

 

 

1.2.3.4: The youngest son of Edward and Sally Hoppers was 1234 Pinkney Hoppers born about 1829 according to the 1850 Census of Lumpkin County.  Pinkney Hoppers was enrolled as a Private in the 12th Battalion of GA Light Artillery.  His date and place of enrollment, as well as his company and tour of duty were not stated.  On May 8, 1865, he was captured at Athens, GA by U. S. forces commanded by Brigadier General W. J. Palmer and paroled.

 

When Riki and I visited Dahlonega, GA in July 2003, we found a book in the town library there titled Cemeteries of Dawson County, GA.  It contained the following tombstone data for Bethel Baptist (also known as Shoal Creek) Cemetery, located 2.7 miles from Dawsonville near the intersection of Shoal Creek Road and State Road 136:

 

Page 33, #61          Hoppers, Benjamine            31July 1826 – 15February1889           “Our father”

                                Hoppers, Nancy M.             26August1838 – 25Novenber1898

                                Hoppers, Benjamine F.        7July1876 – 23August1879                 “Age 3 yr., 18 Days”

 

When we visited the new Court House at Dawsonville, GA, we found the following four deeds involving Benjamin Hoppers:

 

Book B   p493        March 25, 1874                     Henry Howsa to Benjamin Hoppers

Book B   p529        September 2, 1874                Benjamin Hoppers to Robert Bennet

Book D   p617        Jan 28, 1883                           Benjamin and Nancy N. Hoppers to Joseph McKee

Book E   p36          Dec 25, 1884                          Aaron Cain to Benjamin Hoppers

 

The first of these deeds is especially interesting because it states in part:

 

This indenture made the 24th day of March in the year of our Lord 1874, Henry Howsa of the County and State aforesaid of the one part and Benjamin Hoppers of the State of California Bute County of the other part, witnesseth that the said Henry Howsa for and in consideration of the Sum of $800 in gold to him in hand paid by the said Benjamin Hoppers at and before the signing, sealing and delivery of these presents hath granted, bargained, sold and conveyed . . . . . 

 

This deed indicates that 1234 Benjamin Hoppers had been gold mining in California before returning to Georgia to settle down.  By 1870 transcontinental railroads had reached California, making it much easier to travel to the gold fields there and later return expeditiously.  In fact, the golden spike linking the Central and Union Pacific Railroads was laid at Promontory Summit, Utah on May 10, 1869.

 

 

Although it is not certain that Benjamin Hoppers reached California by the end of 1869, the Census of 1870 taken in June 1870 contains the following enumeration:

 

State       County                   Township               Page       Census Date         Series    Roll

 

CA          Butte                      Ophir                      106A       17JUN1870            M593      70

 

1234        348          331          Benj Hooper          37 M       miner                      NC         

                                                Nancy                    36 F         keep house            GA

                                                Nettie                     9/12 F                                     CA

 

 

By March 25, 1874, Benjamin Hoppers and his family had returned to Georgia and purchased land there in Dawson County, next to Lumpkin County.  The 1880 Census of Dawson County states that:

 

 

State       County                   Township               Page       Census Date         Series    Roll

 

GA          Dawson                 Shoal Creek           103A       3JUN1880              Page 5    ED 45

 

1234        46            46            Benj Harpes          53 M       farmer                     NC          NC          NC

                                                Nancy                    48 F         wife Keeps HouseGA          SC           SC

                                                Nettie E.                 11 F         daughter                CA          NC          GA

                                                Mary M.                10 F         daughter                CA          NC          GA

                                                Sarah A.                   9 F         daughter                CA          NC          GA

 

By this time, young Benjamin Hoppers had been born in Dawson County on July 7, 1876 and had died on August 23, 1879 according to his tombstone in Shoal Creek Cemetery, which indicates his age as 3 years and 18 days.

 

Because the other sons of 123 Edward and Sally Hoppers are accounted for, Benjamin Hoppers must have been the 1234 Pinkney Hoppers of the 1850 Census.  Apparently after the Civil War (or at least upon his return to Georgia), he used his other given name Benjamin.  His family consisted of:

 

 

TABLE 1.2.3.3: FAMILY OF CHARLES (BENJAMIN) HOPPERS (1826 -  >1855)

 

  

1233 BENJAMIN (PINKNEY) HOPPERS         31JUL1826             SURRY CO., NC           15FEB1889

1233.S NANCY M. ___________                    26AUG1838           GA                                  25NOV1898

 

1233A NETTIE HOPPERS                                  C SEP1869             BUTTE CO., CA

 

1233B MARY M. HOPPERS                               C1870                     CA

 

1233C SARAH A. HOPPERS                             C1871                     CA

 

12331 BENJAMIN F. HOPPERS                        7JUL1876               DAWSON CO., GA     23AUG1879

 

 

Combining the above data for the sons of 123 Edward and Sally Hoppers produces the following summary:

 

               

TABLE 1.2.3: FAMILY OF EDWARD HOPPERS (1795 -  >1870)

 

 

123 EDWARD HOPPERS                                   12OCT1795            DEEP CREEK, NC        >1870

123.S SALLY GIBBONS                                      C1799                                                             >1870                      30MAR1819 

 

123A GIRL HOPPERS                                          C1820                     NC                                  EARLY?                

 

1231 _______  HOPPERS                                   C1820                     SURRY CO., NC           <1850

1231.S MATILDA __________                       C1820                     NC                                  >1850

 

1232 JOHN HOPPERS                                         C1822                     SURRY CO., NC           1876 - 1880

1232.S MARY FRANCES _________             C1837                     SC                                   >1880

 

123B GIRL                                                             C1824                     SURRY CO., NC

 

1233 CHARLES HOPPERS                                 C1827                     SURRY CO., NC           C1874

1233.S SARAH  _________                              C1851                     GA                                  >1880

 

1234 BENJAMIN (PINKNEY) HOPPERS         C1829                     SURRY CO., NC           15FEB1889

1233.S NANCY M. ___________                    26AUG1838           GA                                  25NOV1898

 

123C SARAH HOPPERS                                     C1832                     SURRY CO., NC

 

123D NANCY HOPPERS                                    C1835                     SURRY CO., NC

 

123E BABE HOPPERS                                         C1838                     HABERSHAM CO., GA

 

123F ELIZABETH (NANCY) HOPPERS           C1840                     HABERSHAM CO., GA

 

 

 

 

By Harry Hoppes                                                 September 2003

 

Revised:                                                                 November 2003

 

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