Hopkirk Sampson, Isabelle Celebrates 89th B'day

SAMPSON, HOPKIRK, NICHOSON

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 5/30/2006 at 15:51:39

Lockridge Times; Lockridge, Jefferson, Iowa; January 23, 1936

CELEBRATES BIRTHDAY

Mrs. Isabelle Sampson, perhaps better known as "Aunt Belle," was the honored guest at an open house in honor of her birthday anniversary Tuesday. The visitation was a surprise event, and was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. M. Mickey, where Mrs. Sampson is spending the winter. Ice cream and cake were served.

Guests began arriving in the morning and continued to call all day and extend their best wishes to this woman who has lived so long in this community. She was born on the Hopkirk farm just east of Lockridge on January 21, 1847.

It was just one hundred years ago that her father, John Hopkirk, arrived in New York from England. After living in New York and Ohio he came to Lockridge, where he met Miss Jane Nichoson, and they were married in 1842. Five children came to this home, one of whom was a little girl named Isabelle, whose birthday was honored Tuesday by the community. The other only living child of the group is David Hopkirk of Denver, Colorado.

On October 29, 1870, Miss Isabelle became the bride of Ezekial Sampson, a Methodist preacher, who had been mustered out of the army only a few years before. Together they served a number of congregations in this part of the state, until in 1896, when Rev. Sampson died.

Since that time Mrs. Sampson has made her home in and near Lockridge where her friends have increased with each passing year.