Elijah L. Hopkins

Elijah L. Hopkins was born on 8 August 1890 in Wallins Creek, Kentucky.¹Emma Ewers Taylor Hopkins, “Our Family History” (1969-1977); pg 10, birthdate. Elmer Dennis Hopkins, son of James Arton Hopkins and Lucinda Howard; he and all siblings born before the move to Rockcastle were born at Wallins Creek. He was the third of James Arton Hopkins and Lucinda Howard’s ten children and was thirteen years old when the family moved from Harlan County to Rockcastle County, Kentucky.²Emma Ewers Taylor Hopkins, “Our Family History” (1969-1977); pg 10, birth order. Rockcastle Co., KY, Deed Book 20: 498-499, Joshua & S.Monie Dunn (grantor),  J. A. Hopkins (grantee), 16 Mar 1904; Rockcastle Co. Clerk, Mt. Vernon. Lige was the only one of Jim and Cindy’s children who remained in Rockcastle County for the rest of his life.

In June 1912, Lige opened a barber shop at Pine Hill, a community in Rockcastle County between Mt. Vernon and Livingston.³“Brodhead,” Mt. Vernon (KY) Signal, 28 Jun 1912, p. 1, col. 6; digital image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 10 Jun 2022); Elijah Hopkins barber. “Brodhead,” Mt. Vernon (KY) Signal, 5 Jul 1912, p. 2, col. 1; digital image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 10 Jun 2022); E. L. Hopkins barber. But he gave his occupation as farmer six months later when he completed an application to get married in Laurel County, Kentucky.⁴FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/film/005560905 : accessed 26 Sep 2022), digital film 005560905, image 392, Laurel Co., KY, Marriages, 28: 143, E. L. Hopkins & Leila Mae Hunt, 30 Dec 1912.

Lige married Leila Mae Hunt on 30 December 1912 in London, Kentucky.⁵FamilySearch, digital film 005560905, image 392, Laurel Co., KY, E. L. Hopkins & Leila Mae Hunt. She was the daughter of Frank Hunt and Nancy Chestnut, born on 22 January 1890 in Rockcastle County.⁶“Mrs. Hopkins Dies After Long Illness,” Mt. Vernon (KY) Signal, 12 Feb 1970, p. 7, col. 8; digital image, Rockcastle County Public Library (https://signal.rockcastlelibrary.org : accessed 7 Oct 2022), Mount Vernon Signal Archives.

Lige and Leila had six children, all born in Rockcastle County—Wade Waddell born on 11 March 1914, Berl Vollie born on 29 October 1915, John T. born on 8 April 1917, Lucinda Gladus born on 5 October 1918, Earl Paris born on 31 October 1920, and Edith Irene born on 29 December 1922.⁷“Wade Hopkins,” Mt. Vernon (KY) Signal, 15 Nov 1990, p. B6, col. 4; digital image, Rockcastle County Public Library (https://signal.rockcastlelibrary.org : accessed 7 Oct 2022), Mount Vernon Signal Archives; Wade’s birth date and place. Judy Hopkins Marsh, daughter of Berl V. Hopkins; confirmed Wade’s middle name. “U.S. World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940–1947,” digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2238 : accessed 7 Oct 2022), Berl Vollie Hopkins, serial no. 393; from Records of the Selective Service System, 1926–1975, Record Group 147, NARA, St Louis, Missouri; Berl’s full name, birth date, and birth place. “U.S. World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940–1947,” digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2238 : accessed 8 Oct 2022), John T. Hopkins, serial no. 1360; from Records of the Selective Service System, 1926–1975, Record Group 147, NARA, St Louis, Missouri; John T.’s birth date and place. “Kentucky, U.S., Death Records, 1852–1965,” digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1222 : accessed 21 Dec 2008), death certificate no. 30830 (1918), Lucinda Gladus Hopkins; from microfilm 7016130–7041803, KY Dept. for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort; Lucinda Gladus’s birth date and place. Kentucky, U.S., Birth Index, 1911–1999, database, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry/search/collections/8788 : accessed 8 Oct 2022), birth certificate no. 53744 (1920), Earl P. Hopkins; from Kentucky Birth, Marriage, and Death Databases: Births 1911-1999, Dept. for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort; Earl’s birth date and place. Emma Ewers Taylor Hopkins, “Our Family History” (1969-1977); pg 10, Earl’s middle name Paris. “Edith Irene Hopkins,” Mt. Vernon (KY) Signal, 25 Dec 2008, p. A5, col. 2; digital image, Rockcastle County Public Library (https://signal.rockcastlelibrary.org : accessed 7 Oct 2022), Mount Vernon Signal Archives; Irene’s full name, birth date, and birth place.

On 26 February 1913, Lige bought twenty-five and a half acres from M. J. and Susie Miller for $50 and other valuable considerations. This property was in the Maretburg community in Rockcastle County on Double Springs Branch.⁸Rockcastle Co., KY, Deed Book 28: 559-560, M. J. & Susie Miller (grantor), E. L. Hopkins (grantee), 26 Feb 1913; Rockcastle Co. Clerk, Mt. Vernon. Lige sold that property to Al Killion on 1 December 1913 for $350.⁹Rockcastle Co., KY, Deed Book 29: 542-543, E. L. & Lelia Hopkins (grantor), Al Killion (grantee), 1 Dec 1913; Rockcastle Co. Clerk, Mt. Vernon.

Lige bought 84 acres in the Copper Creek area of Rockcastle County from John and Mary Boyd on 17 October 1914 for $800.¹⁰Rockcastle Co., KY, Deed Book 31: 10-12, John & Mary Boyd (grantor), Elijah Hopkins (grantee), 17 Oct 1914; Rockcastle Co. Clerk, Mt. Vernon. Where they lived during the ten months between selling their previous property and buying this one is unknown. They lived at Copper Creek for over four years and sold that property to E. L. Brock on 21 January 1919 for $1,750.¹¹Rockcastle Co., KY, Deed Book 38: 30-32, E. L. and Leila May Hopkins (grantor), E. L. Brock (grantee), 21 Jan 1919; Rockcastle Co. Clerk, Mt. Vernon.

From Copper Creek, Lige and Leila Mae moved to a small farm on the waters of Boone’s Fork near Lige’s parents. That property, bought from George and Nora Clontz for $2,000 on 16 August 1919, was about 35 acres.¹²Rockcastle Co., KY, Deed Book 38: 448-450, George & Nora Clontz (grantor), E. L. Hopkins (grantee), 16 Aug 1919; Rockcastle Co. Clerk, Mt. Vernon. Again, there was a gap of several months between selling one property and buying another.

In 1920, they were listed 16 households away from Jim and Cindy on Boone’s Highway in South Brodhead.¹³1920 U.S. census, Rockcastle Co., KY, population schedule, South Brodhead, enumeration district (ED) 248, sheet 17A, dwelling 315, family 316, Elijah Hopkins; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6061 : accessed 22 Aug 2009); from NARA microfilm T625, roll 595. They sold that property on 28 December 1923 for $2,000 to Cleveland and Martha Simpson.¹⁴Rockcastle Co., KY, Deed Book 44: 565-566, E. L. & Lela Mae Hopkins (grantor), Cleveland & Martha Simpson (grantee), 28 Dec 1923; Rockcastle Co. Clerk, Mt. Vernon.

It was more than a year before Lige bought another property on 13 March 1925. They paid $1,500 to Elijah and Maud Helton for 160 acres at Maretburg. While it is unclear exactly where they lived during those fifteen months between selling their previous place and buying this one, they lived at Maretburg at the time of the purchase.¹⁵Rockcastle Co., KY, Deed Book 47: 14, Elijah & Maud Helton (grantor), Elijah & Lela Hopkins (grantee), 13 Mar 1925; Rockcastle Co. Clerk, Mt. Vernon. Lige and Leila May lived on this property for the rest of their lives, although they sold off a few small tracts over the years.¹⁶Linda Faye McCauley, great-granddaughter of James Arton Hopkins and Lucinda Howard; personal knowledge of where they lived. Rockcastle Co., KY, Deed Book 57: 385, E. L. & Lelia May Hopkins (grantor), W. D. & Mary Payne (grantee), 18 Jan 1939; Rockcastle Co. Clerk, Mt. Vernon. Rockcastle Co., KY, Deed Book 58: 630, E. L. & Leila Mae Hopkins (grantor), Wade Hopkins (grantee), 15 Mar 1938; Rockcastle Co. Clerk, Mt. Vernon. Rockcastle Co., KY, Deed Book 63: 452, E. L. & Lela Mae Hopkins (grantor), Lee & Birdie Gregory (grantee), 16 Apr 1945; Rockcastle Co. Clerk, Mt. Vernon.

Lige and Leila Mae both died at the Rockcastle County Baptist Hospital in Mt. Vernon.¹⁷“Mrs. Hopkins Dies After Long Illness,” Mt. Vernon Signal, 12 Feb 1970. KY Cabinet for Health and Family Services, death certificate no. 75-12974 (1975), Elijah L. Hopkins; Office of Vital Statistics, Frankfort. Leila Mae died on 5 February 1970. Her funeral was held on 7 February at Sparks Funeral Home Chapel in Mt. Vernon with Revs. Dennis Falb and Clarence Mounce officiating.¹⁸“Mrs. Hopkins Dies After Long Illness,” Mt. Vernon Signal, 12 Feb 1970. Lige died of cardiac arrest on 14 May 1975.¹⁹KY Cabinet for Health and Family Services, death certificate no. 75-12974 (1975), Elijah L. Hopkins. His funeral was held at Dowell and Martin Funeral Home Chapel (formerly Sparks Funeral Home) on 17 May.²⁰“Elijah L. Hopkins Dies After Long Illness,” Mt. Vernon (KY) Signal, 22 May 1975, p. 4, col. 8; digital image, Rockcastle County Public Library (https://signal.rockcastlelibrary.org : accessed 7 Oct 2022), Mount Vernon Signal Archives. Lige and Leila Mae were both buried in Maretburg Cemetery near their home.²¹Maretburg Cemetery (Rockcastle Co., KY), Elijah L. & Leila Mae Hopkins marker, photographed by Linda McCauley, 13 Jun 2008.

Wade Waddell Hopkins

Wade married Delcie Delora Dash on 3 January 1934 in Mt. Vernon.²²FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/film/004263520 : accessed 8 Oct 2022), digital film 004263520, image 1486, Rockcastle Co., KY, Marriages, 49: 22, Wade Hopkins & Delora Dash, 3 Jan 1934. Dee was born on 16 July 1912 in Harlan County, the daughter of Charles Dash and Sarah Tipton.²³“Delora Hopkins,” Mt. Vernon (KY) Signal, 24 Aug 1978, p. 11, col. 4; digital image, Rockcastle County Public Library (https://signal.rockcastlelibrary.org : accessed 7 Oct 2022), Mount Vernon Signal Archives.

Wade owned and operated Hopkins Machine Shop. Wade and Dee had one son and were members of the West Brodhead Church of God. Dee died on 19 August 1978, and Wade died on 12 November 1990. They both died at Rockcastle Hospital in Mt. Vernon and were buried in Maretburg Cemetery.²⁴“Wade Hopkins,” Mt. Vernon Signal, 15 Nov 1990. “Delora Hopkins,” Mt. Vernon Signal, 24 Aug 1978.

Berl Vollie Hopkins

Berl married Anna Ruth Stanley on 6 September 1944.²⁵Maretburg Cemetery (Rockcastle Co., KY), Berl Vollie and Ruth Stanley Hopkins marker, photographed by Linda McCauley, 13 Jun 2008; marriage date. Dowell & Martin Funeral Home (https://dowellmartin.com : accessed 8 Oct 2022), Anna Ruth Hopkins, obituary; Ruth’s full name Ruth was born on 18 September 1929 in Rockcastle County to C. E.  Stanley and Lula Jane Owens.

Berl worked for Parker Hannifin Corporation as a mould maker and machine designer. He was a World War II U.S. Army veteran. Berl and Ruth lived in Rockcastle County and had two children. They were members of the First Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon. Berl died at home in Mt. Vernon on 28 October 2007. Ruth died on 8 October 2017 at Lexington Country Place in Lexington, Kentucky. They were buried in Maretburg Cemetery.²⁶Dowell & Martin Funeral Home (https://dowellmartin.com : accessed 8 Oct 2022), Anna Ruth Hopkins, obituary. “Berl V. Hopkins,” Mt. Vernon (KY) Signal, 1 Nov 2007, p. A3, col. 1; digital image, Rockcastle County Public Library (https://signal.rockcastlelibrary.org : accessed 7 Oct 2022), Mount Vernon Signal Archives.

John T. Hopkins

John married Flora Bell Blackburn, daughter of Charles Blackburn and Bessie Nicely. Flora was born on 12 October 1920 in Rockcastle County. John retired from the Parker Seal Company and was a veteran of World War II. They had one daughter and were members of the Mt. Vernon Pentecostal Church. John died on 19 May 1990 at Humana Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. Flora died on 27 June 2003 at Rockcastle Hospital in Mt. Vernon. They were buried in Maretburg Cemetery.²⁷“Hopkins,” Mt. Vernon (KY) Signal, 24 May 1990, p. A4, col. 4; digital image, Rockcastle County Public Library (https://signal.rockcastlelibrary.org : accessed 7 Oct 2022), Mount Vernon Signal Archives. “Flora Hopkins,” Mt. Vernon (KY) Signal, 3 Jul 2003, p. A3, col. 2; digital image, Rockcastle County Public Library (https://signal.rockcastlelibrary.org : accessed 7 Oct 2022), Mount Vernon Signal Archives.

Lucinda Gladus Hopkins

Lucinda Gladus died on the day she was born, 5 October 1918 in Rockcastle County. She lived only fourteen hours after her premature birth. She was buried at Copper Creek, where her parents lived at the time, but the name of the cemetery is unknown.²⁸“Kentucky, U.S., Death Records, 1852–1965,” death certificate no. 30830 (1918), Lucinda Gladus Hopkins.

Earl Paris Hopkins

Earl married Geraldine Carmack, daughter of Charles Carmack and Stella Baldwin. Geraldine was born on 22 June 1924 in Rockcastle County. They lived in Lexington, Kentucky, and had five children. Earl was a World War II veteran and part owner of the Hopkins Tool and Die Company in Lexington. Earl died on 15 August 1980 at St. Joseph Hospital in Lexington. Geraldine died on 22 July 1993 at Humana Hospital in Lexington. They were both buried in Maretburg Cemetery.²⁹“Earl P. Hopkins,” Mt. Vernon (KY) Signal, 21 Aug 1980, p. 12, col. 1; digital image, Rockcastle County Public Library (https://signal.rockcastlelibrary.org : accessed 7 Oct 2022), Mount Vernon Signal Archives. “Hopkins,” Mt. Vernon (KY) Signal, 29 Jul 1993, p. B7, col. 1; digital image, Rockcastle County Public Library (https://signal.rockcastlelibrary.org : accessed 7 Oct 2022), Mount Vernon Signal Archives.

Edith Irene Hopkins

Irene lived in Rockcastle County and worked as a seamstress at a factory in Danville, Kentucky. She did not drive but carpooled with a group of other Rockcastle Countians who worked there. Irene never married and did not have children. She died on 20 December 2008 at Rockcastle Health and Rehabilitation Center in Brodhead and was buried in Maretburg Cemetery.³⁰“Edith Irene Hopkins,” Mt. Vernon Signal, 25 Dec 2008. Uta Faye Hopkins McCauley, daughter of Elmer Dennis Hopkins, granddaughter of James Arton Hopkins & Lucinda Howard.

Cite this page: Linda F. McCauley, "Elijah L. Hopkins," Documenting the Details, 10 Oct 2022 (https://documentingthedetails.com/elhopkins : 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)