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- Charles W. Hopkins, retired hardware merchant of Clay City, Illinois, is well and favorably known at the present time as the owner of one of the "banner" farms, formerly the property of his parents, of Clay County. For fifteen consecutive years Clay City was the scene of his successful endeavors as a hardware merchant. He has not yet reached his fiftieth year, and while he has already "made good" as a citizen and a business man, many years of increased prosperity await him in his farming pursuits.
The subject of our sketch was born in Mason county. West Virginia, on January 12, 1860, and was the son of William and Adriana (Donnelly) Hopkins. Both parents were natives of old Virginia, and came of good stock.
Charles W. Hopkins remained in the parental home up to the time of his marriage which occurred on the I5th of March, 1883, with Mary E. Brissenden in Clay County, Illinois. For a number of years he lived on a farm near Clay City. In the spring o of 1886, he and his wife removed to Furnas County, Nebraska, where he purchased a farm of three hundred and twenty acres. There they remained three years, when Mrs. Hopkins returned to Clay County, Illinois, on a visit. There she died on May 2525, 1887, being buried in the Clay City cemetery. Our subject soon sold his Nebraska property and went back to live in Illinois in the fall of 1888. His marriage resulted in the birth of two girls, Adrianna, now the wife of Clayson Black, of Clalay City, who is engaged in the grocery business, and Sarah A., who lives at the family residence. Shortly after his return to Illinois, Charles W. Hopkins engaged in the hardware business in Clay City, continuing in the same for fifteen years t to a day. December 24, 1889, he married Mary Barnes, of Clay county, where she was born April 1, 1861. She was the daughter of Joseph and Ellen (Gardner) Barnes, natives of Indiana. They married in the Hoosier state and came to Illinois in 18577, settling in Clay County, where they remained until their deaths. Mrs. Barnes died December 1, 1866, aged thirty-three years. Her husband married secondly Lou Chapman, a widow, but their married life was of short duration as she died within twtwo years. Joseph Barnes died April 27, 1891, aged fifty-five years, and was buried in Xenia. His first wife was buried in Oskaloosa. They were the parents of five children, of whom two died in infancy, our subject's wife being the third in order of birth.
Charles W. Hopkins sold his hardware business on February 19, 1904, remained in Clay City until April 29, 1906, and then moved to the old homestead of his parents where he now lives. He owns approximately five hundred and seventeen acres of some of the best land in Clay County. His present married life has also been a happy one, three children having been born to him; two boys and a girl William B., Charles L. and Hazel all of whom live at home with their parents.
Our subject has always been politically a Republican and has served as Supervisor, as member of the County Board in Clay county for two years, as President of the Town Board in Clay City for three terms. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, Jefferson Lodge No. 1437, at Clay City. Mrs. Hopkins is a. member of the Methodist church in Clay City, and has always taken an active part in church affairs.
Excerpt from: Biographical and Reminiscent History of Richland, Clay and Marion Counties Illinois--Pub. 1909
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1860 - 1940 (80 years)
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