Columbus Ora Hopkins

Columbus Ora Hopkins was the fifth child born to James Arton Hopkins and Lucinda Howard.¹1900 U.S. census, Harlan Co., KY, population schedule, Wallins Creek, enumeration district (ED) 54, p. 94A, dwelling 147, family 147, James Hopkins; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7602 : accessed 22 Aug 2009); from NARA microfilm T623, roll 525; shows four older siblings. OH Dept. of Health, death certificate no. 027110 (1981), Lum O. Hopkins; Division of Vital Statistics, Columbus; parents’ names. He was born on 24 May in either 1896 or 1897 in Wallins Creek, Kentucky. Birth certificates were not issued in Kentucky until 1911 and Lum’s birth year varies on other records.

When Lum registered for the World War I draft on 5 June 1917, he gave his birth date as 24 May 1896.²“U.S. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918,” digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6482 : accessed 30 Aug 2007), Lum Hopkins, serial no. 36, Rockcastle Co., KY; from U.S., World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, M1509, NARA, Washington, D.C. But he said the year was 1897 when he registered for the World War II draft on 16 February 1942.³“U.S. World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940–1947,” digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2238 : accessed 20 Feb 2022), Lum Ora Hopkins, serial no. 890; from Records of the Selective Service System, 1926–1975, Record Group 147, NARA, St Louis, Missouri. Lum’s age in census records for 1900, 1920, 1930, and 1950, based on the census date for each year, equals a birth year of 1896.⁴1900 U.S. census, Harlan Co., KY, pop. sch., Wallins Creek, ED 54, p. 94A, dwell. 147, fam. 147, James Hopkins. 1920 U.S. census, Rockcastle Co., KY, population schedule, South Brodhead, enumeration district (ED) 248, sheet 16A, dwelling 299, family 300, James A. Hopkins; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6061 : accessed 22 Aug 2009); from NARA microfilm T625, roll 595. 1930 U.S. census, Warren Co., OH, population schedule, Butlerville Village, enumeration district (ED) 83-12, sheet 1A, dwelling 2, family 2, Lum O. Hopkins; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6224 : accessed 22 Aug 2009); from NARA microfilm T626. 1950 U.S. census, Clinton Co., OH, population schedule, Blanchester, enumeration district (ED) 14-13, sheet 75, dwelling 246, lines 9-13, Lum O. Hopkins; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/62308 : accessed 12 Jul 2022); from NARA, 1950 Census (https://1950Census.archives.gov/search). For 1910, his age calculates to a birth year of 1895 and his age in 1940 calculates to 1897.⁵1910 U.S. census, Rockcastle Co., KY, population schedule, Mag. Dist 3, enumeration district (ED) 102, sheet 7A, dwelling 94, family 99, James A. Hopkins; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7884 : accessed 22 Aug 2009); from NARA microfilm T624, roll 500. 1940 U.S. census, Clinton Co., OH, population schedule, Blanchester, enumeration district (ED) 14-12, sheet 22A, household 551, Lum O. Hopkins; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2442 : accessed 30 Jul 2012); from NARA microfilm 627, roll 3042. If Lum was born in 1897, then his brother Berry was born nine months and four days later, but their ages in 1910 and 1920 censuses are two years apart. Based on that and the fact that the earliest records indicate Lum’s birth year was 1896, it is most likely the correct year.

Lum was about eight years old when the family left Harlan County for Rockcastle County, Kentucky, in 1904.⁶Rockcastle Co., KY, Deed Book 20: 498-499, Joshua & S.Monie Dunn (grantor),  J. A. Hopkins (grantee), 16 Mar 1904; Rockcastle Co. Clerk, Mt. Vernon. He completed the 8^th grade at Red Bud School.⁷1940 U.S. census, Clinton Co., OH, pop. sch., Blanchester, ED 14-12, sheet 22A, hhld 551, Lum O. Hopkins; highest grade completed 8. Elmer Dennis Hopkins, son of James Arton Hopkins and Lucinda Howard; told he and siblings attended Red Bud School.

On 1 Feb 1918, Lum enlisted as a private in the U. S. Marine Corp at Mare Island, California. He was in Company E, stationed at Mare Island for a few months. On 11 May, Lum was assigned to Company C, Replacement Battalion. On 21 June, Lum was transferred to the 5^th Regiment of the 51^st Company, which was part of the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe.⁸“U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1798-1958,” digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1089 : accessed 11 Aug 2022), Lum O. Hopkins, 1918-1919; from “U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1893-1958,” T977, Record Group 127, NARA, Washington, D.C.

Exactly when his unit went to Europe is not known, but from 11 to 16 September he participated in an offensive on the St. Mihiel front in France. By October he was in the 5^th Regiment of Company G, still in France, and from the 1^st to 9^th participated in offensive operations in the Champagne Sector and the battle of Blanc Mont Ridge. From 1 to 14 November, Lum participated in the offensive operations in the Argonne Forest and along the Meuse River in France. The remainder of November and through 13 December, he participated in the march of the Allied Armies towards the Rhine River following the evacuation of the German Army. Between the 14^th and 16^th, they marched to their destination of Segendorf, Germany. Lum remained in Germany through April 1919.⁹“U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1798-1958,” Lum O. Hopkins, 1918-1919.

From 7 May to 3 June 1919, Lum was part of Detatchment D in Le Mans, France. He returned to Segendorf from June 4^th to 17^th. He was on march on the 18^th and 19^th, moving to Strassen, Germany, where he remained from the 20^th to 28^th. On the 29^th, he was again on march and returned to Segendorf on the 30^th.¹⁰“U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1798-1958,” Lum O. Hopkins, 1918-1919.

Lum remained stationed in Segendorf from 1 to 17 July 1919. He was he was enroute to Brest, France from the 18^th to 20^th and was stationed at Camp Pontanesen there on the 21^st to the 24^th. From the 25^th to the 31^st, he was aboard the U.S.S. George Washington, enroute back to the U.S.¹¹“U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1798-1958,” Lum O. Hopkins, 1918-1919.

On 18 August 1919, Lum was discharged from the Marine Corp at Mare Island, where he had joined. He served in the Marine Reserves after he was discharged until 31 January 1922.¹²“U.S. National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 1866-1938,” digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1200 : accessed 11 Aug 2022), Lum O. Hopkins, Central Branch, Dayton, OH, 1929; from “Historical Register of National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 1866-1938;” T977, Record Group 15; NARA, Washington, D.C; discharge date and location. “U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1798-1958,” Lum O. Hopkins, 1920-1922.

Lum returned to Rockcastle County after his discharge and lived with his parents at Gum Sulphur in 1920. He worked as a farm laborer, likely helping his father with their farm.¹³1920 U.S. census, Rockcastle Co., KY, pop. sch., South Brodhead, ED 248, sheet 16A, dwell. 299, fam. 300, James A. Hopkins.

Lum married Nancy Alva Helton on 27 March 1920 in Brodhead, Kentucky.¹⁴FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/film/007735215 : accessed 5 Jun 2022), digital film 007735215, image 389, Rockcastle Co., KY, Marriages, 30: 46, L. O. Hopkins & Nancy Helton, 27 Mar 1920. Nancy was the daughter of John S. Helton and Jerusha Ledford, who lived in the Freedom community in Rockcastle County. She was born on 2 December 1898 in Harlan County.¹⁵“Nancy Helton,” Mt. Vernon (KY) Signal, 28 Jan 1999, p. 4, col. 1; digital image, Rockcastle County Public Library (https://signal.rockcastlelibrary.org : accessed 15 Aug 2022), Mount Vernon Signal Archives; parents names. “Helton-Hopkins,” Mt. Vernon (KY) Signal, Supplement to 26 Mar 1920, col. 3; digital image, Newspapers.com (https://newspapers.com : accessed 15 Aug 2022). Like the Hopkinses, the Helton family left Harlan County for Rockcastle County.¹⁶1900 U.S. census, Harlan Co., KY, population schedule, Lower Martins Fork, enumeration district (ED) 53, p.1B, dwelling 19, family 19, John S. Helton; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7602 : accessed 15 Aug 2022); from NARA microfilm T623, roll 525. 1910 U.S. census, Rockcastle Co., KY, population schedule, west Mt. Vernon, enumeration district (ED) 97, sheet 7B, dwelling 140, family 140, John S. Helton; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7884 : accessed 15 Aug 2022); from NARA microfilm T624, roll 500.

When Lum and Nancy married, he worked for the railroad, and she taught school.¹⁷FamilySearch, digital film 007735215, image 389, Rockcastle Co., KY, Marriages, Hopkins-Helton; Lum’s occupation. “Helton-Hopkins,” Mt. Vernon Signal, Supplement to 26 Mar 1920; Nancy’s occupation. They had one son, Kenneth Helton Hopkins, born on 21 May 1921 in Rockcastle County.¹⁸Dowell & Martin Funeral Home (https://dowellmartin.com : accessed 15 Aug 2022), Kenneth Hopkins, obituary. Lum and Nancy divorced by 1926 when he remarried. In 1930, he lived in Harlan Township in Warren County, Ohio, where his parents had moved in 1922.¹⁹1930 U.S. census, Warren Co., OH, population schedule, Butlerville Village, enumeration district (ED) 83-12, sheet 1A, dwelling 2, family 2, Lum O. Hopkins; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6224 : accessed 22 Aug 2009); from NARA microfilm T626; Ethel’s age at first marriage 17, age in 1930 21, calculates to Lum and Ethel marrying about 1926. Nancy and Kenneth remained in Rockcastle County and lived with her parents on West Main Street in Mt. Vernon.²⁰1930 U.S. census, Rockcastle Co., KY, population schedule, Mag. Dist. 1, enumeration district (ED) 102-2, sheet 3B, dwelling 55, family 57, John S. Helton; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6224 : accessed 15 Aug 2022); from NARA microfilm T626.

Little is known about Lum’s second wife, Ethel, who was born about 1909 in West Virginia.²¹1930 U.S. census, Warren Co., OH, pop. sch., Butlerville Village, ED 83-12, sheet 1A, dwell. 2, fam. 2, Lum O. Hopkins. They had no children and divorced between 1932 and 1940.²²Emma Ewers Taylor Hopkins, “Our Family History” (KY, Loyall, 1969-1977), scanned copy of fill-in-the-blanks family history privately held by Linda F. McCauley, Mt. Vernon, KY: Kenneth was Lum’s only child. Hopkins Family in Front of House, 1932; digital image, scanned 5 Jan 2010 by Linda McCauley from photo collection of Edna Hopkins Chesnut, daughter of Elmer Dennis Hopkins & Emma E. Taylor; Ethel in photo. 1940 U.S. census, Clinton Co., OH, population schedule, Blanchester, enumeration district (ED) 14-12, sheet 22A, household 551, Lum O. Hopkins; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2442 : accessed 30 Jul 2012); from NARA microfilm 627, roll 3042; Lum living with 3^rd wife in 1940.

Lum married for a third time by 1940. Ellen Veidt was born on 3 October 1906 in Warren County to George Veidt and Mattie Simpson.²³Ohio, U.S., Births and Christenings Index, 1774-1973, database, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry/search/collections/2541 : accessed 15 Aug 2022), Ellen Veidt (1906); from “Ohio Births and Christenings, 1821-1962 Index,” FamilySearch, Salt Lake City, UT. She was previously married to Robert C. McConnell and had two children, William and Martha Betty.²⁴Ohio, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1774-1993, database, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry/search/collections/61378 : accessed 15 Aug 2022), William V. McConnell & Mary Alice Botts, Stark Co., OH, (1950); from Marriage Records, Ohio Marriages, Various Ohio County Courthouses; Wm’s parents Robert McConnell and Ellen Veidt. Lum, Ellen, and her children lived at 557 West Fancy Street in Blanchester, Ohio in 1940.²⁵1940 U.S. census, Clinton Co., OH, pop. sch., Blanchester, ED 14-12, sheet 22A, hhld 551, Lum O. Hopkins.

In 1950, Lum and Ellen lived at 304 North Broadway in Blanchester. Martha Betty, her husband, Carl Blocker, and her son lived with them.²⁶1950 U.S. census, Clinton Co., OH, pop. sch., Blanchester, ED 14-13, sheet 75, dwell. 246, lines 9-13, Lum O. Hopkins.

Lum farmed when he first moved to Ohio. By 1940 he drove a dairy truck and in 1950 he was a county highway department truck driver.²⁷1930 U.S. census, Warren Co., OH, pop. sch., Butlerville Village, ED 83-12, sheet 1A, dwell. 2, fam. 2, Lum O. Hopkins. 1940 U.S. census, Clinton Co., OH, pop. sch., Blanchester, ED 14-12, sheet 22A, hhld 551, Lum O. Hopkins. 1950 U.S. census, Clinton Co., OH, pop. sch., Blanchester, ED 14-13, sheet 75, dwell. 246, lines 9-13, Lum O. Hopkins.

Lum died of a pulmonary embolism at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio, on 25 March 1981.²⁸OH Dept. of Health, death certificate no. 027110 (1981), Lum O. Hopkins. His funeral was held on the 27^th, and he was buried in Morrow Cemetery near his parents.²⁹“Lum O. Hopkins,” Cincinnati (OH) Post, 27 Mar 1981, p. 2, col. 5; digital image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 5 Jun 2022).

Ellen died less than two months later on 9 May in Wilmington, Ohio.³⁰“Ohio, U.S., Death Records, 1908-1932, 1938-2018,” database, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/5763 : accessed 16 Aug 2022), Ellen V. Hopkins, 1981, Clinton Co.; from Index to Annual Deaths, 1958-2002, OH Dept of Health, State Vital Statistics Unit, Columbus. She was buried beside Lum in Morrow Cemetery.³¹Morrow Cemetery (Salem Township, Warren Co., OH), Lum O & Ellen V Hopkins marker, photographed by Linda McCauley, 22 Jun 2012.

Nancy Helton (Lum’s 1st Wife)

After Lum and Nancy divorced, she reverted to her maiden name and lived the rest of her life in Rockcastle County. Nancy’s teaching career spanned forty-nine years, thirty-three of them at Mt. Vernon Grade School. She spent fifteen years at other Rockcastle County schools including Hickory Grove, Maretburg, Freedom, Skeggs Creek, Sowders, Rocky Bend, Gauley Branch, and Mullins Station. Nancy also taught one year at Wallins Creek early in her career, possibly her first job.³²“Nancy Helton,” Mt. Vernon Signal, 28 Jan 1999.

Less than two months after reaching her 100^th birthday, Nancy died on 23 January 1999 at Sowder Nursing Home in Brodhead. She was buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Mt. Vernon.³³“Nancy Helton,” Mt. Vernon Signal, 28 Jan 1999.

Kenneth Helton Hopkins

Kenneth married Iona Joyce Laswell, daughter of Tony G. Laswell and Mary Iva Newland.³⁴“Joyce L. Hopkins,” Advocate Messenger (Danville, KY), 8 Sep 1988, p. 2, col 1; digital image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 16 Aug 2022). 1930 U.S. census, Rockcastle Co., KY, population schedule, Brodhead, enumeration district (ED) 102-8, sheet 3A, dwelling 40, family 42, Tony G. Laswell; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6224 : accessed 15 Aug 2022); from NARA microfilm T626; father’s name. “Kentucky, U.S., Birth Index, 1911–1999,” database, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry/search/collections/8788 : accessed 16 Aug 2022), birth certificate no. 63713 (1926), Iona J Laswell; from Kentucky Birth, Marriage, and Death Databases: Births 1911-1999, Dept. for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort; first name & mother’s maiden name. “U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936–2007,” database, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/60901 : accessed 16 Aug 2022), Mary Iva Laswell, SSN 406-82-9209; from Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936–2007; mother’s full name. Joyce was born on 11 August 1926 in Rockcastle County.³⁵“Kentucky, U.S., Birth Index, 1911–1999,” birth certificate no. 63713 (1926), Iona J Laswell. Kenneth and Joyce had one son.³⁶Emma Ewers Taylor Hopkins, “Our Family History” (1969-1977).

Kenneth and Joyce lived in Boyle County, Kentucky, where he worked for South Central Bell Telephone Company. His career spanned forty-two years and he rose to district manager.³⁷Dowell & Martin Funeral Home, Kenneth Hopkins, obituary.

After Kenneth retired, he and Joyce moved back to Rockcastle County to a house on West Main Street in Mt. Vernon.³⁸Linda Faye McCauley, great-granddaughter of James Arton Hopkins and Lucinda Howard; personal knowledge. Joyce died on 7 September 1988 in Fayette County, Kentucky, and was buried in Piney Grove Cemetery in Brodhead.³⁹“Joyce L. Hopkins,” Advocate Messenger, 8 Sep 1988.

Kenneth married twice more. His second wife was Reita Mae Sowder, daughter of William Sowder and Mildred Smith. She was born on 27 May 1925 in Brodhead and died on 18 January 2004 in Arizona. Reita was buried in Valley of the Sun Mortuary and Cemetery in Chandler, Arizona.⁴⁰“Reita Mae Hopkins,” Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ), 21 Jan 2004, p. 21, col. 4; digital image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 15 Aug 2022). Ann Owens, daughter of Robert Owens and Locie Payne, was his third wife. She was born on 26 May 1930 in Frankfort, Kentucky, and died on 14 April 2022 in Stanford, Kentucky. Ann was buried in Piney Grove Cemetery.⁴¹Stith Funeral Home (https://stithcares.com : accessed 15 Aug 2022), Ann Hopkins, obituary.

During World War II, Kenneth served in the U.S. Navy. He was a musician and loved playing with the Rockcastle Bluegrass Group. He was instrumental in getting his Uncle Doc Hopkins inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame as part of the 2015 class. Kenneth performed at that induction ceremony.⁴²Dowell & Martin Funeral Home, Kenneth Hopkins, obituary. Linda Faye McCauley, great-granddaughter of James Arton Hopkins and Lucinda Howard; personal knowledge re: getting Doc Hopkins inducted into KY Music Hall of Fame.

Kenneth died on 19 June 2022 at Rockcastle Regional Hospital in Mt. Vernon at age 101. He was buried in Piney Grove Cemetery.⁴³Dowell & Martin Funeral Home, Kenneth Hopkins, obituary.

Cite this page: Linda F. McCauley, "Columbus Ora Hopkins," Documenting the Details, 15 Oct 2022 (https://documentingthedetails.com/cohopkins : accessed [enter current date]).

Written by: Linda F. McCauley
Copyright © 2022 Linda F. McCauley. All rights reserved.

My Connection: James Arton Hopkins & Lucinda Howard (great-grandparents) > Elmer Dennis Hopkins (maternal grandfather) > Uta Faye Hopkins (mother)