Member Biography

William Hopkins 

Member

Crumrine, Boyd, editor  History of Washington County, Pennsylvania with Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men.  Philadelphia: L.H. Everts and Company, 1882.

Sessions Office Position District Party
1864       23 Democrat
1865       26 Democrat
1866       26 Democrat

Biography

09/17/1804 - 03/05/1873


William Hopkins (D23) Greene and Washington Counties 1864 (D26) Beaver and Washington Counties 1865-1866

Early Life:

William Hopkins, born September 17, 1804, West Pike Run Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania; son of Major Thomas and Catharine Hopkins; appointed, justice of the peach, Pike Run Township, 1827-1834; engaged, tannery business, 1832-1838; elected, auditor, Washington County, 1831; appointed, justice of the peace, East Bethlehem Township, 1834; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1834-1840, elected, Speaker, 1838-1840, not a candidate for reelection, 1840; appointed, Commissioner of the Cumberland Road, 1840-1842; Secretary, Pennsylvania State Land Office, 1842-1843; elected, delegate, Democratic State Convention, 1852; elected, canal commissioner, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 1853-1855; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1862-1863, not a candidate for reelection, 1863; elected, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1864-1866; elected, delegate, Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention, 1872-1873; married, Rachael Hopkins, children, James Herron Hopkins, Andrew H. Hopkins, Catherine Hopkins, Kate M. Hopkins; died March 05, 1873 (age 68), Washington Township, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania; interment, Washington Cemetery, Washington, Washington County, Washington.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Appointed, justice of the peach, Pike Run Township, 1827-1834.

Elected, auditor, Washington County, 1831.

Appointed, justice of the peace, East Bethlehem Township, 1834.

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1834-1840, elected, Speaker, 1838-1840, not a candidate for reelection, 1840.

Appointed, Commissioner of the Cumberland Road, 1840-1842.

Secretary, Pennsylvania State Land Office, 1842-1843.

Elected, delegate, Democratic State Convention, 1852.

Elected, canal commissioner, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 1853-1855.

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1862-1863, not a candidate for reelection, 1863.

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 23rd district, Greene and Washington Counties, 1864.

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 26th district, Greene and Washington Counties, 1865-1866.

Elected, delegate, Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention, 1872-1873.

Legacy:

Son, James Herron Hopkins, United States House of Representatives, Congresses, 44th (1875–1877), 48th (1883–1885).

Cited:

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members H"Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

William Hopkins (1804-1873) - Find a Grave Memorial