Whiteside County IL Archives Biographies.....Hopkins, Jason 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 January 31, 2008, 1:52 am

Author: Portrait/Bio Album, Whiteside County IL 1885

Jason Hopkins, for whom Hopkins Township was named, was a native of Nashville, 
Tenn., and was born Jan. 27, 1789. He remained at Nashville till about the 
middle age of life, when he came to Illinois on account of his anti-slavery 
principles, and settled at Belleville. From there he went to Peoria. When the 
Black Hawk War broke out, he volunteered in a cavalry regiment, was appointed 
Quartermaster, and served in that capacity during the war. In the autumn of 
1832, as the troops were returning to their homes, Mr. Hopkins, with a party, 
came to Rock River, and in coasting along its banks came to the site of the 
present village of Como. Being impressed with the beauty of the place, he made 
a claim covering the whole tract known in pioneer parlance as a "jack-knife 
claim," by cutting his name in the bark of trees. Mr. Hopkins often spoke of 
this location as being as beautiful as the Garden of Eden. He was married at 
Peoria, Ill., to Eleanor Johnson, who was born Dec. 29, 1801, near Bowling 
Green, Ky., and with her Mr. H. returned in 1835 and surveyed the claim, 
establishing the boundaries by marking trees in the timber and running furrows 
through the prairie with an ox team and a prairie plow. He afterwards 
purchased the claim, comprising sections 25, 26, 35 and 36, and as much 
adjoining as made 3,200 acres. He built the first log cabin in the township 
that bears his name. He died Aug. 19, 1853. He possessed many traits of 
character peculiar to the citizens of ancient Rome in its republican days,—
firmness, unswerving integrity and patriotism. He was in intimate acquaintance 
with, and a great admirer of General Jackson. He was altogether a remarkable 
man and admirably fitted for a pioneer. Mrs. H., his wife, died May 13, 1858. 
Their children were four in number and were named William T., Helen, Frances 
and James P. (A sketch of the latter is given in this work.) The first 
mentioned, William T. Hopkins, was the first white male child born in 
Whiteside County. He died about 1862.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Whiteside County, Illinois, Containing Full-
page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens of the County. Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1885.

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