James HOBKIRK and Rellie CARDINAL

James HOBKIRK was the eldest son of George HOBKIRK and Margaret SPOTSWOOD

From the family bible dating to 1834, in the possession of the HABKIRK branch of the family in Genesee County, Michigan, we know that James HOBKIRK was born 1 April 1829 in Scotland.

From the 1880 census records of the 4th Ward in Ogdensburg, St. Lawrence County, New York, we have the following information:

   (Note: the census records recorded the family name as HOPKIRK)

     James, age 50, born in New York*, parents born in Scotland, and he was a teamster by trade.

     Rellie, age 44, his wife, born in Canada, and both her parents were born in Canada.

     Then the following children were listed:

          George, age 22,  son, born about 1858 in New York

          Jennie, age 20, daughter, born about 1860 in New York

          Willie, age 18, son, born about 1862 in New York

          Robie, age 14, son, born about 1866 in New York

          Fred, age 10, son, born about 1870 in New York

          Bessa, age 7,  daughter, born about 1873 in New York

          James, age 5, son, born about 1875 in New York (This is probably their second son named James. See below for the one who died in 1862)

          Lewis, age 3, son, born about 1877 in New York

*The only discrepancy from the facts in the census is James senior is listed as being born in New York, and he was actually born in Scotland. This is not uncommon. The elder James may have been away, and his wife may have given the information to the census taker. She may not have known he was born in Scotland.

From the 1860 census we have the following information: James Hobkirk was a farmer, living in Lisbon, St. Lawrence County, N.Y
James HOBKIRK is lsited as 31, born in Scotland. Owns real estate valued at $2,000 and personal property valued at $800.
Almira HOBKIRK, age 23, born in Canada. James' wife.
James HOBKIRK, Jr., age 5, born in New York. (James died in 1862, view his tombstone, located in the Red Mills Cemetery, Lisbon, NY)
George HOBKIRK, age 2, born in New York

From an Ogdensburg, New York, City Directory, 1896 we find members of this family living at 845 Ford, Ogdensburg, recoded as "Hopkirk" James Hopkirk, laborer, James Hopkirk, Jr., tally clerk, Miss Bessie Hopkirk, dressmaker, Louis Hopkirk, tally clerk. Living at 354 Ford is William Hopkirk, laborer and at 333 Ford is George Hopkirk, a machinist.

Again in the 1900 census we find this family living at 345 Ford Street, Ogdensburg using the name Hopkirk. James Hopkirk, born April 1829, age 71, in Scotland, and he came to the USA in 1832. His wife Almyra Hopkirk, born in April 1836, age 64 born in Canada as were her parents. She came to the USA in 1838. James Hopkirk, born May 1875 in New York. He is a surveyor in the lumber industry. Louis Hopkirk, born May 1877, a tallier in the lumber industry.


NOTE: 1860 census has Almira as James' wife, with 8 years difference in their ages. The 1880 census has Kelli as his wife with 6 years differnce in their ages. Was Kelli a second wife? Thanks to Patti Stehnach, this mystery has been cleared up. James Hobkirk's cenetery record lists his wife as Aurelia CARDINAL. Aurelia's record has her name as Hermina CARDINAL. So the "Kellie" in the 1880 census records from familysearch.org is probably a transcibing error of the name "Rellie" She is also known as Elmira.

Also, thanks to Patti, we now know that James passed away on 5 January, 1903 and Elmira passed away on 22 January 1910 and they are both buried in the Notre Dame Cemetery in Ogdensburg, New York. Patti also shared the information she received from her mother's cousin, Florence HOBKIRK.

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This page last updated on September 14, 2003