Estel Hopper

1894 - 1940

Estel Hopper was born Oct 10, 1894.; died Dec. 21, 1941. Drowned in the Kentucky River in winter of 1942.

We are told that Estel Hopper only weighed one pound or less when born. He was delivered by a Dr. Long.

Estel married Mrs. Maggie Wilson

Estel Hopper Junior (Way) was born in Muncie, IN

1918

Estel and Magie divorced after he fathered an illegitimate son in Muncie, IN.

Estel married Lula (Foster) Hopper in Muncie, IN in 1919.. Former wife of Estel's brother Clarence (Divorced in 1919). Lula and Clarence state in the divorce papers that there were no children from their marriage.

Lula had a daughter, Loretta (Foster), 1-1/2 years old from a previous marriage when they married.

December 21, 1940

Estel had purchased 2 pints of liqueur and was going to take one to a friend. He drank 1 pint prior to falling into the water. Brother Alvey discovered Estel missing and later helped retrieve his body from the river a few days after he fell in. Estel was apparently walking along the river edge by a town called Monterey, slipped off, there were claw-like marks where he tried to get out but fell into icy water. He was a good swimmer They said he did not drown since there was no water in his lungs.