Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2014 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Portrait and Biographical Album of Huron County, Michigan Pub. Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1884 [343-345] JOHN HOPSON, farmer, section 35, Rubicon Township, was born Aug. 27, 1821, in County Westmeath, Ireland. He has been a resident of Michigan since 1835, the year in which his parents emigrated to the United States, and also the date of their settlement at Detroit. His father was a gunsmith, a blacksmith and a machinist, and had been drilled in his several callings with all the thoroughness which characterizes the training of craftsmen in the old countries. His skill and the needs of the settlers brought him abundant patronage, and his business thrived beyond his most sanguine hopes. The proclivities of MR. HOPSON of this sketch, in his first youth, inclined towards a professional career, and he entered the office of DR. THOMAS B. CLARK, of Detroit, to read for the practice of medicine; but the plan was abandoned, and he went to Genesee County to manage a farm which his father had purchased. He remained there about 18 months. After his return to the City of the Straits, he engaged a short time as a carpenter, after which he became a salesman in his brother's store, in which employment he continued about nine years. Meanwhile he had become interested in the lake service, and was the proprietor of three vessels, — the "Matilda," "Woods," and the "Cadet." He was engaged in traffic with the set- tlers along the lake-side, of whom he bought shingles and shingle "bolts," a branch of business in which he was considerably inter- ested about nine years, when he sold his vessels; but he has always retained an interest in vessel property. He came to Huron County to make a location June 6, 1847. The impelling cause was the impaired condition of his health, his physicians strenuously urging the necessity of his pursuing an active life in the open air. Pursuant to this advice, he left Detroit on the steamer "Charter," and was landed in Huron County where Rock Falls is now located. The steamer brought his equip- ments, which included a wagon and a pair of steers. MR. HOPSON reached land in a yawl-boat; the steers were pushed overboard and swam ashore. There were no roads in Huron County. An Indian trail lay along the lake side, and the woods were traversed in divers directions by the same variety of roads. Mr. Hopson drove his steers and wagon over one of these to Sand Beach, where he established himself in gill-net fishing, in company with WILLIAM UNDERBILL. This was the first expedition with a wagon between the two points named. MR. HOPSON invested $1,900 in the venture, which proved profitable, notwithstanding the fact that fish were very low in price. He pursued the business of fishing three years, at Sand Beach. In 1850 he decided to engage in other avenues of business in Huron County, and he located at Sharp's Bay, below Rock Falls, where he built a steam sawmill, now believed to be the first of that character in Huron County. It was destroyed in 1851 by an incendiary fire. Soon after the erection of the mill, he built a frame house at Allen's Creek, where he fixed his residence. Eight months later he returned to Detroit. In 1852 he came to Rubicon Township, where he has since continued to reside. His homestead contains 400 acres of land, and he owns, besides, scattered tracts at other points in the county. He is the owner of furnaces at Sand Beach, with a small frame house, which is rented. MR. HOPSON is one of the most prominent characters in the his- tory of Huron County. When his feet first trod its soil, primeval nature reigned intact. No step of the progress of the county has been taken without his observation and interest. He has passed through his ordeals of trial, two epochs which have made this por- tion of the Peninsular State historic; and in what he has suffered in the fiery baptisms of 1871 and 1881, his fealty to the home of his early manhood, his life's prime and the advanced period upon which he is entering, has strengthened and been made permanent. His connection with the local government has existed since he came to the county, which at the date of his settlement was attach- ed to Sanilac County. Before the separation and organization of Huron County, business was transacted at Lexington, and during the existence of that state of things he served one term as Supervisor of Sand Beach. He has been Justice of the Peace for 34 years, in- cluding every year since 1849 save one. He served 18 years as School Director and is now School Assessor. On his settlement in the county in 1849, he gave his attention to traffic m real estate, traded in shingles, and, to further his operations in the latter branch of business, he built shingle-mills at various points. He has always possessed decided temperance principles, which were an offence to the prevalent opinions of that period. They were chiefly in favor of free whisky, and the devotees of that stamp wrought their revenge on him by burning his mills. RICHARD HOPSON, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born Aug. 7, 1777, in Ireland. He married Catherine Anderson, a native of Scotland. Seven of their children were living at the time the family emigrated to the United States in 1835. Five are still living. At the family re-union, Aug. 9,1884, all were present save one brother. A remarkable fact concerning the family is that Aug. 7 is the birthday of the father and also of two sons. The former died in Detroit, Dec. 26, 1841. The decease of the mother occurred at the same place, in September, 1842. MR. HOPSON was married July 7, 1851, in the city of New York, to SUSAN JOURNEAUX. Four children have been born of this marriage, as follows: MARY JANE was born May 18, 1852, and died March 12, 1858, at her father's home in Rubicon Township Albert J. was born Oct. 19, 1853, in Detroit; THOMAS EDGAR was born Feb. 3, 1860, and died Aug. 4, 1881; ELLA JANE was born Sept. 29, 1861. The two last named children were born in Rubicon Township. MRS. HOPSON was born Aug. 3, 1827, in the city of New York, and is the daughter of PHILLIP and MARY (LOCKWOOD) JOURNEAUX. Their family included two daughters and a son. The latter is deceased. The sister of MRS. HOPSON is a resident of Jersey City. The experiences of MR. HOPSON und family in the fire of 1881 deserve the distinction of a paragraph. On the fifth day of Septem- ber the hungry fiend pressed close to their home, and nightfall found the entire household stationed at various points on the premises, equipped for active service, as the exigency demanded. The same convulsion of the wind which followed the march of the flames with terrific fierceness, and which filled the people of the burnt districts, already worn out with the long continued nervous strain, with a terror two dreadful for words, came suddenly upon the scene. The midday hour had just passed, when a storm-cloud came from the northwest, unroofed the barn, and in its circular sweep caught MRS. HOPSON, who held in her arms a bundle of clothing she was endeavoring to save, off her feet, whirled her about in the air, and she fell unconscious to the ground. Her side was severely bruised, and she was injured internally, but has since recovered. The family succeeded in protecting their house. The fire of Oct. 9, 1871, destroyed everything but his dwelling, the loss including mills, barns, fences, and valuable timber, also cattle, sheep and hogs. It is a remarkable occurrence that at the same time his brother, who was doing business in Chicago, was burned out in that great fire, losing about $150,000! The first meeting of MR. HOPSON with W. R. STAFFORD, was an event which has been the source of much amusement for years. They encountered each other in one of the unfrequented paths on the shore of the lake, a sharp turn making their meeting abrupt. There was a lawless condition of affairs prevalent, the trails being infested by a set of desperadoes who accosted travelers with demands for money. MR. STAFFORD and MR. HOPSON glared at each other a few minutes, and the former drew an old horse pistol. As MR. HOPSON exhibited no belligerent manifestations, and it being evident that each individual cherished only the intent to preserve himself from injury, without inflicting harm or loss on the other, a conversation followed which resulted in the establishment of a friendship which has since been without shadow, save in difference of opinion on political events, MR. HOPSON being a Republican of a radical kind, while Mr. Stafford is a Democrat. A portrait of MR. HOPSON is given in connection with this sketchy which gives it a completeness not otherwise attainable, and which doubtless will be welcomed by all readers in the collection of this Album. =========================================================================== If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access more of our growing collection of FREE online information by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/ ===========================================================================