Legislator Details
Vital Records Information:
Marital Information:
never married
Number of Children: 0
Background
Education:
Pontiac Union School;
attended State Normal School in Ypsilanti, 1861; graduated from the Normal School, 1867; graduated from the law dept. of University of Michigan, 1871
Biographical Sketch:
Of English descent. Son of Erastus & Climene (Clark) Hopkins. Came to Mich., 1834. Taught in Oakland County district schools 1860-62. In 1862, he enlisted in the 17th Mich. Inf., the 'Stonewall' regiment; returned to the Normal School at war's end. He was assistant US Marshall in 1870, taking the US census in Washtenaw and part of Lapeer county. Asst. attorney for the Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad, 8 yrs. Private secretary to Gov. John Bagley & Gov. Croswell. Appointed Collector of Customs by Pres. Harrison, 1890. Held several exec. business positions & state posts including director and treasurer of the John J. Bagley & Co. Tobacco Manufactory, and the Detroit Cyclorama Company; director in the Detroit Safe Company, Standard Life and Accident Insurance Company, Michigan Wire and Iron Works, Lime Island Manufacturers' Company, the Woodmere Cemetery Association, and the Longyear Iron Mining Company, and was one of the incorporators and a director of the American Banking and Savings Association, and of the American Trust Company. He was assistant adjutant genereal of volunteers in 1898, with a rank of Lt. Coloonel. Member of the G.A.R., S.A.R., Detroit Boat club and other Detroit social clubs
Notable Facts:
1879Committees on Mil. Affairs (chair); and railroads
1881 Committees: Universities (chair); on Railroads; Apportionment
1883 committees: Judiciary (cair); State Public Schools; and State Library
Speaker pro tem in 3rd term, 1883.
Introduced the bill that made Belle Isle the 'people's park'.