1830 - 1884

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• Birth	1830	Virgil, Cortland Co., New York   [5, 6, 7]
  Gender	Male
  Died	10 Jun 1884	Lugonia, California   [2, 7, 8]
  Buried	Lugonia, California   [7]
  Person ID	I50362	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	1860	Ohio   [9]
  Family ID	F22033	Group Sheet

• Notes

  (NOTE; William Gideon Hopkins, history was written in 1926) WILLIAM GIDEON HOPKINS, sixth child of Gardner and Freelove (Parker) Hopkins, was born at Virgil Courtland County, New York in 1830. In 1836, he accompanied his parents from Virgil to Amboy, Ohio, where he grew to manhood and acquired a good education in the local schools. To William Gideon's education, he added much practical knowledge, including a thorough knowledge of farming, carpentry, bridge building and house building; he built houses, bridges and other structures in northeastern Ohio, A good mechanic, he was honest and trustworthy, A large portion of the structures built by him are still in use; among them, a wooden bridge spanning Conneaut Creek, still in daily use and remarkably solid and well-preserved, though built over 60 years ago. In 1853, William became interested in western land; accompanying the Frederick Nelson family to Wisconsin that year, he bought 80 acres of fine land five miles west of the Village of Gratiot Lafayette County, Wisconsin on what is know as State Highway No. 20. The west line of this 80 acres, at the northwest corner, is marked by the church building known by the name of Kingsley Chapel, which is four rods west across the north-south road and bordered on the north by Highway No. 20. After holding this land for some time, he sold it to William Turtle and concentrated his investments in Ohio property. In Ohio in 1860, William married Mary Matson, born in 1838 near Amboy, Ohio, daughter of Horace and Emma (Collins) Matson. Horace, born February 11, 1806 in Oswego, New York was the son of Ruben Matson, born at Glastonbury , Connecticut October 12, 1783. Horace married Lois when he was 17 and moved with her to Oswego in April, 1801. In 1881, William became interested in California fruit lands: in the spring of 1882, he went to California for the purpose of investigating fruit land prospects. The result was that he bought a 20-acre fruit ranch at Lugonia from Asa Carter. This ranch corners on what is now Lugonia Avenue and Alabama Streets, Redlands, California. While in California in June, 1882, he visited his sister, Susan Amelia Bancroft, and her family at their ranch home, known as Columbia Ranch, near Clipper Gap, Placer County, California. On his way back to Ohio, he visited his brothers, Amos Crandall and Jeptha, and their families in Nebraska; he also visited his sister, Cyrene G, Matson and her family near Gratiot, Wisconsin. Returning to his Ohio home, William disposed of his interests there, and on October 13, 1882, he left Ohio. Accompanying him were his wife, her father; his daughter, Emma: his son, Carlton; and Carlton's bride, Versa. Arriving in Lugonia ten days later, William planned to enjoy his advancing years and old age with his family; but after 18 months of making improvements on his ranch, he was taken sick with typhoid fever and died June 10, 1884. He was buried on his fruit ranch at Lugonia, He had been a life- long member of the Baptist Church. Thus, in the midst of his plans, his fond hopes were rent in twain and his family sorely grieved. All through his life, from childhood up, he Laid one plan that failed not, and that plan was to be ready for the heavenly home when tile call came, In a letter written to his brother, Jeptha, dated December 19, 1879, after announcing the death of their father, which occurred so suddenly, he said. "And by this we are admonished to be also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the son of man cometh." Mary (Matson) Hopkins, after residing in Lugonia for 22 years, made her home with her daughter, Emma (Hopkins) Gregory, in Redlands. She died there January, 1913 and was buried in Hillside Cemetery, the funeral services being held from Cortner Brothers Chapel.

• Sources

  [S541] census 1850 Ohio Hopkins, Gardner Ashtabula Co., Conneaut, 338. age 19, carpenter b. New York [S540] Family Group Sheet, Kent, Lucy Nan, Hopkins, Torgersen, Tom Torgersen, (Oct. 30, 1993). [S563] Hopkins Family by Romayne Kent Clarke, via Lucy Nan Kent. Bancrofts lost tract of. The same for Gideon [S632] probate of estate William Gideon Hopkins, sent by Lucy Nan Kent. [S541] census 1850 Ohio Hopkins, Gardner Ashtabula Co., Conneaut. 19 b New York [S540] Family Group Sheet, Kent, Lucy Nan, Hopkins, Torgersen, Tom Torgersen, (Oct. 30, 1993). 1830, Virgil, New York [S546] Ancestors of Gardner Hopkins, 1932, Olive Bancroft, Alma & Bertine Wightman via Barnes, Bernice via Womack, Dorothy 2001, (About 1932 updates in my copy). [S632] probate of estate William Gideon Hopkins, sent by Lucy Nan Kent, E page 614. Dec. 28, 1885 Probate for sale of land in Ashtabula Co., Ohio [S540] Family Group Sheet, Kent, Lucy Nan, Hopkins, Torgersen, Tom Torgersen, (Oct. 30, 1993). 1860