David Finla HOPKIRK was the only known son of David HOPKIRK and Harriet (Hattie) WILSIE.
David Finla HOPKIRK was born Janaury 12, 1887 in Montana.
The California death record lists David's birth as January 12, 1887 in Montana, and his death is listed as February 11, 1948 in Shasta County, California. However, his World War II draft registration card filed out by David when he was 55 years old lists his birthdate as 12 February 1887 and his place of birth as Northfield, Colorado. David is living in Borney, California. He is at Camp 5, Big Bend, California. His employer is T. E. Connally, Big Bend, California. But, from his World War I draft registration card completed on 12 September 1918, his name is listed as David Finlia Hopkirk, his birthdate is listed as 12 January 1884 and his age is 34. His hieght is given as medium, his build is medium, his eyes and hair are both brown. No disquishing marks. He is a machinist working for Mr. Thomas, Union Iron Works at 20th and MIchigan in San Francisco. His nearest relative is his mother, Mrs. Hattie Hopkirk at 159 7th Street, San Francisco, CA, the same address he listed for himself on the form. The person signing the form for the draft board was Burt Murray. That is interesting, since he an older half-brother named Bert Murray.
From the 1920 census we find David F. HOPKIRK living in the 24th Assembly District of San Francisco, California. He is listed as born in Colorado, father born in Iowa and mother born in Pennsylvania. He is a machinsit at the U.S. Navy Shipyard. Also in the residence is his mother Hattie HOPKIRK, born Pennsylvania and both her parents were born in Pennsylvania. Hattie is listed as married, so she is probably unaware that her husband had remarried in 1904.
Hopefully we will eventually find some record of David Finlay HOPKIRK in the 1930 census. Currently we have no idea whether David Finla HOPKIRK ever was married or had any children. Given the newspaper article below, dated in 1931, he may have been in the Shasta area for the 1930 census.
From the Wednesday evening addition of the Oakland Tribune, dated October 28, 1931 we have the following article:
Slaying of Joker Held Justifiable Homocide by Coroners Jury
Redding, October 28.- The slaying of a joker practical joker justifiable
homocide.
The coroner's jury so decided last night in an inquest into the death of
Arthur Bostrom, 35, of Pittsburg, who was shot and fatally wounded last Sunday
by David Hopkirk, 57, a fellow employee in a road construction camp in Lassen
Park.
Bostrom died yesterday morning from a charge of birdshot fired into his abdomen
by Hopkirk.
Testimony at the inquest showed that Bostrom has been making the older man
the butt of crude practical jokes which climaxed when he dragged Hopkirk
into Hat Creek and held his head under water until he nearly drowned.
Hopkirk went to his cabin to change his clothes and Bostrom followed him.
The terrified man met the joker at the door with a shotgun, and after warning
him to keep away fired the fatal charge, the jury was told. After the shooting
Hopkirk surrendered to a constable.
Officers said they believed Bostrom was mentally unbalanced. He is survived
by a brother, Albert Bostrom, of Pittsburg.
From the 1940 census we find Dave HOPKIRK living in Burney,
Shasta County, California, age 53 born in Colorado. In 1935 he was
living in rural Choffee County, Colorade. Dave is a gold miner. His
income is $300.00. The highest grade he attended was 8th grade.
View copy of actual newspaper clipping
Home Family Trees Index of Names
This page was last updated on 11 November 2015
