The following information is supported by photocopies of documents unless stated otherwise.
Wives
of Francis M. Hopper |
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January
1867 |
Martisha Ayers | ||||||||||||||||||
July
23, 1887 |
Susan Amanda Wilkins | ||||||||||||||||||
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Francis Marion (Frank) Hopper
1845 - 1918
September 3, 1845
Francis Marion Hopper was born in Owen county, KY.
June, 1850
Frank (5) lived with his father John W. and mother Margaret in Owen County, KY (per 1850 Census (90k) )
June 12, 1860
Frank (15) lived in Hendricks County, Pittsborough District, IN with his mother, father, sisters Malinda (16) Susan J (5) and brother John J (1)
September 14, 1861
4th KY Infantry Battle Flag.
Frank enlisted in Company 'D', 4th Kentucky Infantry Regiment near Owenton, KY and mustered in at Camp Burnette, TN. This unit became the 4th Infantry Mounted Regiment in 1863.
He was enlisted by Captain Willis Roberts of Owenton, KY and served under Major Hewitt and Colonel Trabeu. Frank signed up for 3 years or the duration of the war, whichever came first.
One of the battles Frank was in was the Battle of Stones River (Murfreesboro, TN) [ This link is to a narrative of that battle ] Frank fought for the Confederates - his father, John W Hopper fought on behalf of "Union" forces in that same battle. Family lore does not reveal if either knew that they fought on opposite sides in that battle.
December 1862
Sarah (Sallie) was born.
June 1864
Albert F. was born.
May 6, 1865
Frank's regiment surrendered in Washington, GA. Frank was transported to Nashville, TN where he took the oath of allegiance to the United States, then he was released and went home.
January 12-13, 1867
Married Martisha Ayers of Owen County, KY. She was 7 years older than Frank. He listed his occupation as 'farmer'. This was Frank's first marriage and Martisha's second. The 'Marriage Bond' was witnessed by Sarah S. Fortner and W. S. Willhoit(e).
1870
Frank (25 years old), Martitia (Martisha) (30 years old), Sallie, Albert and John C. (3 months old) lived in Owen County across the river from Monterey, KY. [Download an image of this 1870 census. - 70k]
John C (Calbert?) was born.
March 1873
1877
Delia Clara was born
1880
Adelle was born.
1880 Census
Vol. 24, ID 145, Line 27 |
|||
Frank |
40 |
Head |
Farmer |
Martha (Marti) |
35 |
Wife |
Housekeeper |
Sallie |
20 |
Daughter |
|
Albert |
16 |
Son |
|
John |
12 |
Son |
|
Thompson |
9 |
Son |
|
Delia |
5 |
Daughter |
|
Adelle |
2 |
Daughter |
|
August 1885
Sidney Lawrence was born. He died 16 SEP 1926.
Frank abandoned his family in Gest, KY and traveled down the Kentucky River, to the Ohio River then to Paducah, KY.
Martisha lived the rest of her life as a 'widow'. Family lore is that Frank got on a raft he built and just disappeared down the Kentucky River. They apparently thought he was dead since they never heard from him again.
July 23, 1887
Married Susan Amanda (Mandy) Wilkins in Cairo, IL, by Alfred Cummings, Police Magistrate.
1900
Frank's first wife, Martisha, was living in Kentucky with her daughter
Sallie Block (39) and Sallie's 56 year old husband. Martisha is listed
as a widow.
1900 Kentucky Census
[Download this KY 1900 census page [170 k]
1891
Charles D, was born.
Frank and Amanda also has 2 daughters that I don't have more information on yet.
November 13, 1913
Frank Applied for a pension at Paducah, McCracken County, Ky, as a disabled Confederate Soldier. The application states that he served in Company D, 4th Regiment, of the Kentucky Infantry.
1904
Frank and Susan's second daughter was born.
May 23, 1918
Frank died of stomach cancer after suffering for 5 months, 19 days at Pee Wee Valley Confederate Home Infirmary, near Pudacah, Oldham County, KY. Age 72 years, 6 months, 20 days. He was survived by his wife Amanda, a married daughter and a 14 year old daughter.