Feature: Elmer Dennis Hopkins
60 Years Ago: Elmer Dennis Hopkins retired from the Louisville and Nashville Railroad 28 April 1960. Except for a break of less than 10 months for service in the U.S. Army from May 1918 to June 1919, he had worked for L & N since 15 December 1915.1
Elmer was working out of Loyall, Kentucky in Harlan County, hauling coal out of the mountains. On the day he retired, his wife, three daughters, and six grandchildren jumped the train and rode with him on the caboose for part of his last run. Since passengers weren’t allowed on the train, we also had to get off before it arrived in the station at Harlan. At two points in that run, the train normally slowed. On that day, it came to a complete stop long enough for us to climb aboard at the first stop and disembark at the second one plus have time to pose for pictures.2 (*Grandfather, Hopkins)
April 26
142 Years Ago: John R. Petty married Mary Bohannan 26 April 1878 in Whitfield County, Georgia. This was his second marriage and followed the death of his first wife Margaret E. Thomas in 1876 in Hopkins County, Kentucky. John R. was the son of John Petty and his unknown wife. (*2nd Great-grandfather, Hankins)
April 27
19 Years Ago: J W Dukes died 27 April 2001 in New Albany, Floyd County, Indiana. He was buried in Louisville Memorial Gardens – West, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky. J W was the son of William Ferman Dukes and Golden Gladys McCauley. (*1st Cousin, McCauley)
24 Years Ago: David Johnson Knight died 27 April 1996 in Greenville, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. He was buried in Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Greenville. Dave was the husband of Jimmie Nell McCauley. (*Husband of aunt, McCauley)
April 28
183 Years Ago: John Lavender married Nancy Tudor 28 April 1837 in Lincoln County, Kentucky. This was at least his second marriage as his five children were all adults. John’s parents and the mother of his children are unknown. (*4th Great-grandfather, Taylor)
April 30
194 Years Ago: Job Weeks married Mary Reed 30 April 1826 in Pope County, Illinois. Mary was a widow, so Reed was probably not her maiden name. She was not the mother of Job’s children. Job’s earlier wife/wives are unknown. (*5th Great-grandfather, Hankins)
May 1
101 Years Ago: Henry Madison Hopkins married Bessie Hamlin 1 May 1919 in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. Henry was the son of James Arton Hopkins and Lucinda Howard. (*Great-uncle, Hopkins)
111 Years Ago: Joseph Smith Lanier died 1 May 1909 near Birmingham, Alabama. His burial location is unknown. Joseph was the son of William Washington Lanier and Charlotte Jackson and the husband of Nancy Jane Bennett. (*Great-grandfather, McCauley)
167 Years Ago: Spencer Mullins died 1 May 1853 in Rockcastle County, Kentucky. His burial location is unknown. Spencer was the son of Henry Mullins and Mary Terry. (4th Great-grandfather, Taylor)
243 Years Ago: Elizabeth Berry was born 1 May 1777 in Virginia. She was the daughter of John Berry and Elizabeth (maiden name unknown). (*4th Great-grandmother, Hankins)
May 2
7 Years Ago: Dennis Jay Chesnut died 2 May 2013 in Barbourville, Knox County, Kentucky. He was the son of Aubrey Edgar Chesnut and Edna Ewers Hopkins. (*1st Cousin, Hopkins)
*Each person’s relationship to me and the surname of the grandparent through which the relationship falls are in parentheses at the end of each item. Please email me for additional information. Additional sources available upon request.
