J.F.S. HOPKINS, a merchant, Long Prairie, was born September 13, 1825, in Hamilton County, IL, son of John Hopkins, a native of Kentucky, who in early life followed the stone mason trade, and afterward became a merchant in McLeansboro, IL, keeping a grocery store till 1833, when he came to Wayne County, near Maulding's Mill, just a little east of where Wayne City now stands. There he sold groceries and dry goods about twelve months and got sick, and with his whole family returned to Hamilton County, where he died about 1834. His family, after his demise, returned to their old residence, where his widow married Samuel Bradford.
Mrs. Susannah (Saltsman) Hopkins was born in Kentucky, and died in Middletown in 1880, aged over eighty years. She was a daughter of Peter Saltsman, of German descent, he was a physician by occupation, lived many years in Kentucky, and died in Missouri, aged over one hundred years. She was the mother of three children, viz.:
In early life, he worked a great deal for other people until 1846, when he married and commenced farming for himself, continuing to farm till the present day, although he sold goods neear Maulding's Mill from 1855 to 1859.
In 1862 he sold his farm and stock and enlisted in the United States Army in the Fortieth Illinois Regiment Infantry Volunteers, Company G, Capt. C.C. Hopkins, a brother of our subject. Mr. Hopkins participated in thirteen battles, among others that of Mission Ridge, and was with Gen. Sherman in his world-famed "march to the sea". While at Savannah, he got sick and stayed in the hospital till he was sent to Washington, where he was discharged, after which he came home and went into the family grocery business, which he followed almost three years and again sold out and then went to farming, which he yet follows, and also keeps a general store, situated on his farm near Middletown.
Our subject has been married twice. His first wife, Nancy M. (Garrison) Hopkins, died leaving one child, named Elizabeth, who is the wife of J.W. Anderson.
His second wife, Mrs. Emeline Green, is a daughter of Rezira Johnson and Rebecca (Kane) Johnson, she is the mother of five children, viz.:
Mr. Hopkins is an A.F. & A.M., and a Rebpulican in principle. Has filled the offices of Constable, Assessor, Justice of the Peace and Notary Public.
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