William(6) HOPKIRK was born 9 May 1811 in Melrose to William(5) HOPKIRK and Isabella HOME. Starting around 1824, when William was about 13, William(6) and his older brother John(6) worked in the linen mills in Galashiels, a nearby town.
On the 3rd of March, 1834 William(6) married Jane REDPATH, and along with brother John, immediately set out for America. They first went to Rochester, New York, where William worked early on as a quarryman until he could find work in the linen mills as a dyer of cloth. Jane was also known as Jean, as referred to in some letters and Mary as referred to in a family history. Her name was most likely Mary Jane or Mary Jean, since more than a few of her daughters named their daughters Mary Jane. It is Scottish naming tradition to name the first daughter after the the mother's mother.
William and Jane moved on briefly to within a few miles of Mt. Pleasant, Ohio in 1837 and then on the Wellsburg part of Virgina that would become West Virginia during the Civil War. A lot of our early information about William and Jane came from the 1879 "Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa."
In 1838, John(6) and William(6) became the first landowners in the Township of Lockeridge, Jefferson County, along with four others, in what later became the State of Iowa. Linked is the Lockridge Township sales from Sections 34, 35 and 36 starting on 23 November 1838. After William and John made their purchase in 1838, it is likely that John remained to get established as a farmer on his land, while William returned to south eastern Ohio or Wellsburg, (West) Virginia. At this link is an old Map of the Lockridge Township, with Sections 34, 35 and 36 located in the lower right corner.
William's wife Jane didn't want to go to Iowa until there was a house with a floor in it. In an excerpt from a letter written by John on 27 Sep 1840 from Jefferson County, Iowa Territory, he writes to his brother William(6): "Dear Brother, I received your letter two days ago and I now find time to answer your questions. First, you ask what it would take to put up a house and remark that your wife will not come unless there is a house put up for her. Now, with regard to that, I say let her come on, and if there is no house ready, let her camp out, as many have done and do, that are ten times more able to pay for putting up a house than you are. I shall try by some means or other to get a samll set of logs together so that a house can be put up in a day when you do come, and your wife can cook something to eat. This will be the principle cost, except I have to hire the hauling of them, for you will find enough to do with your money, and it is no use putting up a large house till you know where you can get good water."
John(6) continues: "You say consider your family, well it is for you to do that. They are none of my making. You are rolling them out at a great rate. Why man, it will take a corn field to keep them in mush. Now laying all nonsense aside, and looking at the matter soberly, you seem to be in it bad for if you stay where you are, you must have money, and if you come here, you must have money to start with after you are." John(6) then explains what he thinks William(6) needs to do, and what it will cost.
At the end of the letter, it is clear that sister Elizabeth(6) HOPKIRK is with William(6) HOPKIRK and brother Walter(6) HOPKIRK may also be with William(6) HOPKIRK, and that brother David(6) HOPKIRK has just recently left John(6) HOPKIRK in Iowa. Notice on the John writes: "Since David left I have had strong vigorous health. If Elisabeth comes with you I will do a brother's part as far as God shall grant me means to do so. Give my love to Walter and tell him to get religion not by excitement for that will cool. Let him set his vigorous mind to work upon it and determione to gain heaven, the grace of God helping him. I long to see him and you and father and mother and all of them. But I fear. Adieu. God bless and keep you all. J. Hopkirk"
Around the end of the month of May, 1842, William(6) HOPKIRK,
along with his family, finally arrived permanently in Lockridge, and in
1846 the
first Church in the Township was built on his property. What
is now
known as the "Hopkirk Cemetery" was undoubtedly the church cemetery.
The
cemetery was used from 1846 until 1901. There were only about 5 more
burials there after William died on 16 July 1891. The last burial was
Catherine Kelley, whose ancestors still own the land that surround the
landlocked cemetery. Catherine's stone is located in "Lot 5",
just inside the entrance to the cemetery. William and his daughter Jane
are located in "Lot 22, Jane Redpath Hopkirk is in Lot 23,
granddaughter Anne Stephenson is in Lot 24, and grandchildren Ida, Mary
Ann & William Stephenson are located in Lot 25. In Lot 26 is
Elizabeth Nicholson. She is possibly as relation of William's brother
John, as John was married to Jane Nicholson.
William Hopkirk was buried with his daughter Jane(7) HOPKIRK. She died at the age of 21.
William's(6) wife Jane died 12 Feb 1869, and is also buried in the Hopkirk Cemetery. That is her stone to the right of William's stone above, with their great great grandson John K. Hopkirk standing between the two stones.
From the 1856 Iowa State census we find William, age 44, born in
Scotland, a Farmer and a "Naturalized Voter" and his Wife Jane R., age
43, born in Scotland, Isabella, age 19, born in New York, William age
17, born in Ohio, Ann age 16, born in Ohio, Mary U age 1, born in
Virginia, Robert age 12 born in Iowa, Lilly age 9, born in Iowa, James
age 7, born in Iowa, Jane age 5 born in Iowa, Alexander age 2, born in
Iowa and Walter age 0, born in Iowa. The number of total acres owned is
not visible, but William had 4 acres in meadow, produced 4 tons of hay,
had 4 acres of spring wheat & harvested 30 bushells, had 10 acres
of winter wheat and harvested 150 bushells, had 10 acres of oats and
harvested 400 bushells, had 98 acres of corn and harvested 1,100
bushells, had 1/2 acre of potatoes and harvested 100 bushells, sold 21
hogs for $222, sold 2 two cattle for $95, produced 400 pounds of
butter, no cheese, 6 1/2 pounds o9f wool and produced $75 worth of
"domestic manufacturers".
(It is believed the family was living in Wheeling when daughter Mary U was born. At that time Wheeling was part of the state og Virginia. But when the Civil War started in 1861, the 50 northwest counties of Virginia broke away from the rest of Virginia and in 1863 the break away counties were admitted to the Union as the State of West Virginia.)
From the 5 July 1860 census the family is located in Lockport, Jefferson County, Iowa. The Post Office is "Salina and Coal Port" In the residence is William, age 49, Farmer, value of real estate is $5,000 and value of personal estate is $1,000. Jane is age 46, born in Scotland, a domestic, Isabella is 23, a school teacher, William is 21, a farmer, Ann is 20, a school teacher, Mary is 18, a domestic, Robert is 16, a farmer, Lilla is 14, James is 11, Jane is 9, Alexander is 6. The youngest son, Walter has alrerady passed away.(Living just down the road is William Bankhead, age 34, a Coal Miner born in Scotland. This is probably the William Bankhead daughter Isabella would marry on 2 August 1860, less than one month after the 1860 census. William is most likely living with his brother James Bankhead. age 42 and also a Coal Miner.)
From the 1 August 1870 census of Lockridge, Iowa we find William, age 59, a farmer born in Scotland. The value of his real estate is now $11,000 and his personal estate is worth $1,600. His wife has passed away. In the home is James, age 21, a house carpenter born in Iowa, Jane age 19, without occupation, Alexander age 16, a farm laborer, daughter Mary Brown age 28, a domestic servant, and granddaughter Mary Brown, age 1.
From the 1879 History of Jefferson County we find pages 545 and 546
with information about William Hopkirk, his brother John Hopkirk, and
John's son David Hopkirk. As of this date, William owned 360 acres
valued at $25 per acre.
From the 3rd June 1880 census we find William still in Lockridge,
age 69 a widower, a farmer, born in Scotland. His daughter Mary Brown,
a widow, age 38, born in West Virginia, keepinghouse, son Alexander,
age 26, a farmer, and granddaughter Mary J Brown, age 11, educated at
home.
Thanks to extensive research by John D. Hopkirk, we believe the following photo is that of William Hopkirk, his wife (Mary) Jane Redpath and their youngest daughter Jane, probably taken between 1862 and 1864.
William(6) and his wife were Presbyterians. William(6) served 13 years on the school district board, mostly as Secretary and Vice President. He also was elected to 3 terms in the Iowa State Legislature, and is known for the "Hopkirk Bill", gaining him the ill-will of all railroad incorporators. This bill provided that railroad property should not get preferential tax treatment.
William(6) and Jane had the following children:
Elizabeth(7) HOPKIRK, b.10 Jan 1835, Rochester New York. She married Robert Stephenson on 15 May 1856
Isabel(7) HOPKIRK, b. @ 1836, Jefferson County, Ohio. She married William Bankhead on 2 Aug 1860.
William(7) HOPKIRK, b. @1838, Jefferson County, Ohio. He married Laura Ann FERRIS on 9 Nov. 1861. He was killed shortly thereafter in the Civil War.He was wounded at Bryces Crossroads, Mississippi, and died at Memphis, Tennessee. There is a Memorial Plaque at the entrance to the Lockridge cemetery.
Anna(7) HOPKIRK, b @1840, Jefferson County, Ohio. She married Robert STAMM on 9 Nov 1865. Robert served in the Civil War, in the 2nd Infantry, Company E, from 6 May 1861 to 23 Dec 1863.
Mary U.(7) HOPKIRK, b. 25 Feb 1842, Wellsburg, (West) Virginia. She married David L BROWN on 10 Dec 1867.
Robert(7) HOPKIRK, b. @ 1843, Lockridge, Iowa. Robert died in 1864 fighting for the North in the Civil War.
Lillian(7) HOPKIRK, b.30 Jun 1846, Lockridge, Iowa. She married Benjamin Hanson on 16 May 1868.
James(7) HOPKIRK, b @1848, Lockridge, Iowa. He married Harriet Emma Toothaker on 7 Aug 1871.
Jane(7) HOPKIRK, b. 20 Aug 1850, Lockridge, Iowa. Unmarried. She died 19 Jun 1872. Buried in Hopkirk Cemetery. Jane shares the stone above with her father William.
Alexander(7) HOPKIRK, b. 25 Oct 1853, Lockridge, Iowa. He married Addie L. Ripley on 26 Apr 1883.
Walter(7) HOPKIRK, b. 1856 Died at the age of 18 months.
20 years after taking the above tombstone photos were taken, I finally have confirmation that the photo on the right is the gravestone of my great great grandmother (Mary) Jane (Jean) Redpath. I've been told by historian Verda Baird that the cemetery plot map shows that the stone to the right of William Hopkirk's stone is that of his wife. If you look to the left of this photo, you will see the stone of her husband William HOPKIRK and their daughter Jane.
Thanks again to Verda Baird, we have an Oil Lease signed by William Hopkirk and Jane Hopkirk on 20 May 1865.
Read the 1890 biography of William Hopkirk From the "Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Page 427 and Page 428. By 1890, William had reduced his holdings to 190 acres, and his son Alex now ran the farm.
William HOPKIRK passed away on 16 July 1891. Read his obituary from the "Fairfield Ledger" on Wednesday, 22 July 1891, Page3, Columna 2 & 3.
At this link is more information about the abandoned Hopkirk Cemetery,
where William HOPKIRK and his wife Jane REDPATH are buried, with photos
and directions on how you can access the landlocked Hopkirk Cemetery.
Home or Family Trees Index of Names
This page last updated on August 14, 2018
