1833 - 1915

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• Birth	17 Apr 1833	Virgil, Cortland Co., New York   [4, 5]
  Gender	Male
  Died	22 Mar 1915	Neligh, Antelope Co., Nebraska   [6]
  Buried	Laurel Hills Cemetery, Neligh, Antelope Co., Nebraska   [7]
  Person ID	I49349	Brainard (Brainerd) / Foster / Fish
  Last Modified	20 Mar 2005 00:00:00
  Father	Gardner HOPKINS, b. 24 Jul 1796, Foster, Providence Co., Rhode Island
  Mother	Freelove PARKER, b. 12 Aug 1798, Scituate, Providence Co., Rhode Island
  Family ID	F20956	Group Sheet
  Married	17 Sep 1865	Gratiot, Lafayette Co., Wisconsin   [2, 8, 9]
  Family ID	F21818	Group Sheet

• Notes

  Researcher: Nina Mulhair LAND PATENT DETAILS State: Wisconsin-Jeptha Hopkins #15973 November 10, 1855 80 acres Land Office: Mineral Point-N1/2 BE Sec. 14 Twnshp 1N Rge 3E 4th PM-1831 Minnesota/Wisconsin State Wisconsin Counties Lafayette--Jeptha Hopkins, of Ashtabula county, Ohio (on certificate) Compendium of History Reminiscence and Biography of Nebraska-1912 "Jeptha Hopkins, proprietor of one of the most valuable estates in Antelope county, Nebraska, has been a resident of that locality for many years. He is prominently known throughout the state as one of the foremost farmers and stockmen in Nebraska, and, after many years' hard labor in building up his business, is now prepared to enjoy the remaining years of his life in peace and comfort, surrounded by a host of good friends and acquaintances. However, he still looks after his farming interests. A picture of his residence will be found on another page. Mr. Hopkins, a native of Cortland county, New York, was born April 17, 1833. With his parents, he went to Ashtabula county, Ohio, when he was but three years old, living there twenty years. Then he went to Lafayette county, Wisconsin, residing there six years. Mr. Hopkins enlisted in the army during the civil war, enlisting August 12, 1862, joining Company C, Thirty-third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and during his service was down through the south with General Sherman, until "the march to the sea," and then, under General Thomas, fighting Hood through Tennessee. He was mustered out August 23, 1865, with rank of second lieutenant. He took part in the following battles: Coldwater, Mississippi; Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi; Jackson, Mississippi; Pleasant Hill Landing; Clantierville, Louisiana; Cane River, Louisiana; Yellow Bayou, Louisiana; Tupelo, Mississippi; Nashville, Tennessee; Spanish Fort, Alabama; the Mexican Expedition, Marksville, Louisiana, and Bayou Boeuf. Mr. Hopkins came to Antelope county, Nebraska, in November, 1870, driving from Wisconsin to the homestead claim he had taken up, which was located in section four, township twenty-four, range five, and which remains the home of our subject to this day. On this land he first built a log house, which he covered with sod, it being a very comfortable home in those days. Mr. Hopkins experienced the many hardships and disappointments incident to those earliest days, when it required almost incredible courage to brave the western frontier. He suffered losses of all description, three consecutive years, losing his entire crops by the grasshopper raids; also experienced a similar loss in the dry year of 1894, and many times fought prairie fires to save his home and possessions. Mr. Hopkins was united in marriage September 17, 1865, to Miss Emelia True. Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins are the parents of four children, named as follows: Junie, who died February 28, 1890; Robert; Elmer, who is married to Miss Lydia McCormick, has four children, and lives at Harrison, Nebraska; and Mina, wife of John Ives, the parents of five children." ANOTHER PIONEER GONE (Copy of Newspaper Article) Jeptha Hopkins, son of Gardner Hopkins and or Freelove Parker Hopkins, was born in the town of Virgil, Courtland County, New York, April 17, 1833 and died in Tilden, Nebraska March 22, 1915, at the age of 81 years, 11 months and 5 days, he being the youngest son of a family of eleven children. The Hopkins family in the United States, are sprung from three brothers bearing that name, who came to the country in early colonial times. One of these brothers settled in Rhode Island, one in New York and one in Virginia. Jeptha comes of the brother who settled in Rhode Island. Stephen Hopkins, one of the Signers of the Declaration or Independence, was the brother of the ancestor of the subject of this sketch. Jeptha's grandfather was a soldier of the War of the Revolution and his, father served in the War of 1812. His first presidential vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln when Mr. Lincoln ran for president the first time. When Jeptha was three years of age, his father moved to the Western Reserve, Ohio, settling near Conneaut. Here Jeptha grew to manhood, remaining at home with the family and either working on his father's farm or as a hired hand on a farm of one the neighbors. When twenty-one years of age, he left home, going to Gratiot, Lafayette County, Wisconsin. He worked out, usually by the month during most of the year, but in the fall months, generally working with a threshing machine or taking up any employment that came to hand. At the age of twenty-nine, he enlisted as a private in Company C, 33rd Wisconsin Voluntary Infantry, serving for three years, or until the end of the war. He was soon promoted to the position of corporal and thence through the successive grades to that of 2nd Lieutenant, which position he held at the close of the war. During most of the time for the last three months of service, he had command of his company. His regiment took a prominent part at The siege of Vicksburg and was present when Pemberton surrendered to General Grant. After his discharge from the army, he returned to Conneaut, Ohio for one year, going back to Wisconsin in 1867. In the Spring of 1870, he came to Antelope County, Nebraska and settled on 80 acres about four miles northwest of the present town of Tilden. After making final proof on his homestead, he bought, at different times, adjacent land, until he owned 600 acres of the finest Elkhorn bottom lands. In February 1912, on account of approaching old age, he moved to Tilden, where he resided at the time of his death. On September 17, 1865, he was married to Emelia A. True of Wayne, Wisconsin. Four children came of this union, Julia A. who died February 28, 1890; Robert W.; Elmer E.; and Mina, wife of John J. Ives. The children are married and settled near Tilden. At the election held for the organization of Antelope County, June 15, 1871. Mr. Hopkins was elected sheriff of the county and was re-elected for four consecutive terms, holding the office continuously from the time of the organization to January, 1889. In 1878, while sheriff he gathered a party of eighteen men and invaded the territory held by Doc Middleton and his gang of horse and cattle thieves, and on the Keya Peha River, arrested four men of the gang and captured ninety-two head of stolen cattle and horses. This was the first capture made of any of the gang. During the Indian raids on the settlers of the county in the fall of 1870, a military company of fifty men was organized for home defense. Mr. Hopkins was unanimously elected captain of the company. This company was armed by the Government and furnished with ammunition from the command at Fort Omaha. Mr. Hopkins was prominent as a citizen in all the early years the county's history. A man of stern integrity and of firm principles, his place in the community will be greatly missed.

• Sources

  [S541] census 1850 Ohio Hopkins, Gardner Ashtabula Co., Conneaut, page 338. age 17, male, farmer, b New York [S540] Family Group Sheet, Kent, Lucy Nan, Hopkins, Torgersen, Tom Torgersen, (Oct. 30, 1993). [S564] Family group sheet, Curran, Nancy J. 1998, Aug 21 Hopkins. Zeptha/Japtha [S540] Family Group Sheet, Kent, Lucy Nan, Hopkins, Torgersen, Tom Torgersen, (Oct. 30, 1993). b apr 17, 1833 Virgil New York [S595] Nebraska Antelope Co., Cemetery Records, (rootsweb.com). 17 Apr 1833 [S540] Family Group Sheet, Kent, Lucy Nan, Hopkins, Torgersen, Tom Torgersen, (Oct. 30, 1993). Mar 22, 1915 [S595] Nebraska Antelope Co., Cemetery Records, (rootsweb.com). [S612] Charles Mulhair, Sandra Cinnamon, Hopkins, Jeptha line 1999, Oct. 21, Sandy@pldi.net, (Oct. 21, 1999). [S546] Ancestors of Gardner Hopkins, 1932, Olive Bancroft, Alma & Bertine Wightman via Barnes, Bernice via Womack, Dorothy 2001, (About 1932 updates in my copy). Wisconsin