John Hopkins (1852-1935)

HOPKINS, MCCOY, MCDONALD, SHORETT

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:11

From Nevada Evening Journal April 22, 1935 (page 3)

John Hopkins, Story County Pioneer, Buried at St. Patrick's Today

St. Patrick's Catholic church in this city was filled at 9:30 this morning with sorrowing relatives and friends, assembled to pay their last tribute of love and respect to John Hopkins, 82, son of one of Story county's pioneer families, who passed away at this home, 1104 10th street on Wednesday morning April 17.

The funeral mass and sermon were in charge of his pastor, the Reverend Fr. D. A. Gorman. In the sanctuary were Rev. Fr. James Duhigg of Boone, son of his boyhood friend, Charles Duhigg of Emmettsburg, Rev. Fr. Murtagh of Eldora and Rev. Fr. J. M. Campbell of Ames, Rev. Fr. Frein of Zearing was at the organ.

The pall bearers were nephews of the deceased, Roger Hopkins, Joe Hopkins, Roy F. O'Donnell of Colo, William Gales of Davenport and Frank Hopkins of Des Moines.

Interment was in the family lot in the St. Patrick's Catholic cemetery.

The death of Mr. Hopkins had come after a brief illness, for while he had not been in his usual good health for the past six months, he was bedfast only two weeks preceeding his death.

A Public Spirited Citizen

In the passing of John Hopkins, Story county has lost on of its influential citizens and the community one of its most prominent and highly respected residents.

Always interested in everything pertaining to the community good, Mr. Hopkins had kept himself informed upon questions of public welfare, both in local, state and national affairs. Despite his advancing years, these interests, with those of his home and church, remained paramount.

He was usually public spirited. He had been one of the residents of the city who actively assisted in getting the Iowa Sanitarium located in Nevada and was always interested and ready to be of assistance in other worthwhile enterprises.

Born in Indiana

He was born in Lafayette, Ind., on June 5, 1852. With his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Hopkins, he came to Story county in 1856. The family located near Ballard's Grove in the south western part of the county where they lived during the real pioneering days amid the usual hardships and economies which built sturdy and strong character.

When but a young man, Mr. Hopkins manifested his faith in Story county land, a faith which remained with him so steadfastly throughout the years, by purchasing a 160 acre farm one mile west and one mile north of Colo. This purchase was made in 1873.

Married in '75

Two years later, on October 3, 1875, he married Mary Jane McCoy, daughter of another pioneer Story county family. This marriage marked the beginning of a long and exceptionally happy married life which was broken but a little over a year ago in the passing of the beloved wife and mother at the family home in Nevada on January 31, 1934.

Interested in County

Mr. Hopkins was in reality a true son of Story county for his affection for it could not alienated. The family made two definite removals, one to Webster City in 1886 and one to Des Moines in 1912. The latter was thought at the time to be permanent removal, yet the call of the county of his adoption became so urgent that it was the happiness in the thought that he again became a resident of Story county.

Built Homes in City

When the family moved to Nevada from Webster City in 1890, Mr. Hopkins built the residence on K avenue, which now belongs to Mrs. James Danskin. It was while living there that all of the seven children, the one son and six daughters, graduated from the Nevada high school.

It was on the return from Des Moines that the fine home on Tenth street was built. This home was formally opened at the time of the celebration of the golden wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins on Oct. 3, 1925.

Had Agricultural Interests

Mr. Hopkins was always interested in the advancement of agriculture as developed through scientific farming. Live stock and livestock feeding was one of his active interest as has been evidenced by his farm holdings in the county.

He was for a number of years actively engaged in the selling of farm lands and was largely responsible for bringing to Story county from Illinois and elsewhere many of its present substantial land owners and tenants.

He believed in Story county land as a safe investment and in agriculture as the most satisfying industry in which to engage. He was outstanding in his sand upon sobriety, industry and economy as the best assets for building up a competence for advancing years.

Was Life Long Democrat

While Mr. Hopkins cared nothing for politics as a means of political preferment, he had always been actively identified with the Democratic party and had served as its county central committee chairman during his more active years.

Interested in Education

An outstanding characteristic in Mr. Hopkins' life was his interest in education and educational institutions. Concrete evidence of this is seen in the graduation form higher institutions of learning of his son and daughters and further manifested by the fact his grandchildren have graduated from universities or colleges in the states of New York and Washington and are holding positions of high trust and confidence.

Mr. Hopkins is survived by the daughters, Anna, Ella and Blanche of Nevada, Mrs. Frances Hopkins McDonald of Seattle, Wash., and by the only son Richard Hopkins of Troy, New York.

Six grandsons and one granddaughter also survive him. They are Richard, Lloyd and Paul Shorett of Seattle, Wash., sons of the deceased daughter Mrs. Sadie Hopkins Shorett and John Shorett of Seattle, only son of deceased daughter, Mrs. Lida Shorett; and John, Richard and Constance Hopkins, sons and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Hopkins of Troy, N. Y.

Among the relatives here from a distance, in addition to the immediate family and the many Story county relatives and friends, were Paul Shorett of Seattle, Wash., Mrs. Richard Hopkins of Troy, N. Y., Mr. and Mrs. A. B. McQurn of Madrid, Frank Hopkins of Des Mones, O. W.. Crowley, Ray Wright, John O'Rourke and James Burrows of Des Moines, Mrs. N. W. Gales and Mrs. and Mrs. Wm. Gales of Davenport, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Duhrigg of Emmetsburg, A. W. Ascheral and family of Duncombe, Dr. and Mrs. Tom McCoy and Mrs. and Mrs. Chas. Knapp of Waterloo, Mr. and Mrs. Gus O'Donnell of Waterloo, Miss Anna Allee of Des Moines, Major T. H. Mahoney of Boone, Mrs. Arthur Sanderson of Boone, Mrs. Mayme Dickey of Marshalltown and possibly others.