Bio of HOPWOOD, Robert G. (b.1890), Hennepin Co., MN
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EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; 
Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. 
Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); 
volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical

ROBERT G. HOPWOOD - Vol II, pg 390-393
Robert G. Hopwood, senior member of the brokerage firm of Hopwood & Burnett, is
a representative of one of this city's most prominent families. He was born in
Minneapolis, on the 6th of March, 1890, a son of Frank Pershing and Margaret
(Corriston) Hopwood. The progenitors of the Hopwood family in this country came
from England in the seventeenth century and located in Virginia. The paternal
great-grandparents moved to Pennsylvania at an early day, being among the first
white persons to cross the Alleghany mountains as emigrants from a southern
colony. They located on a large tract of land which they received as a
government grant and founded the town of Hopwood. That community, named in their
honor, is now a flourishing village located a few miles from the city of
Uniontown, in Fayette county. The paternal grandfather, R. G. Hopwood, was for
many years a prominent lawyer in Uniontown and one of the most influential men
of his day.
Frank Pershing Hopwood, the father of Robert G., whose name introduces this
review, was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, in 1854. His early education was
obtained in the public schools of his birthplace, but his older brother attended
Madi­son College, in the founding of which institution, prior to the Civil war,
the father had been an instrumental factor. That institution was extensively
patronized by the sons of southern planters but was discontinued during the war
and before Frank Pershing was old enough to enroll as a student. At the age of
fourteen years Mr. Hopwood made his initial step into the business world,
becoming a clerk in a general store in Uniontown, kept by R. H. Newlon. His
working hours were from six o'clock in the morning until nine at night and his
remuneration small. After work­ing for Mr. Newlon for a time Mr. Hopwood secured
a position in the store of Skiles & Hopwood in the same city and he remained in
the employ of that concern until 1876, in which year he came to Minneapolis. Mr.
Skiles had preceded him here and after passing some weeks with Mr. Skiles he
entered the employ of G. W. Hale & Company. Two years later, receiving an offer
of one thousand dollars a year for his services from a dry goods store in Erie,
Pennsylvania, he accepted the offer but in a short time returned to this city
and reentered the employ of Mr. Hale, with whom he was associated until 1881. In
that year Mr. Hopwood took a posi­tion in the wholesale dry goods house of
Coykendall Brothers & Company and he was with that firm until 1885, when Mr.
Coykendall met his death by drowning in Lake Minnetonka and the business was
bought by Messrs. Wyman and Mullen. Mr. Hopwood was associated with the new firm
until 1892, when he assisted in the organization of the dry goods firm of
Harrison, Hopwood & Cross, which started in business at Third street and First
avenue North. During the panic of 1893 the firm met with severe financial loss
and the following year Mr. Hopwood sold his interest in the business to Mr.
Harrison and went back to the employ of Mr. Wyman, the firm then being the
Wyman-Partridge Company, as it is now. For some years he was buyer for that
concern and in 1907 was elected first vice president of the National Wholesale
Buyers of Dress Fabrics, which was organized in that year, serv­ing three years
in all, being twice reelected. In 1914 Mr. Hopwood engaged with his sons, Robert
G. and Warren J., in the investment business, organizing the Hop-wood Investment
Company. He was active in that connection at the time of his demise in November,
1917. Mr. Hopwood was twice married. His first marriage was celebrated in 1880,
when he wedded Miss Mary E. Walton of Saratoga Springs. New York. Her demise
occurred in 1883 and in 1885, he contracted a second mar­riage, taking Miss
Margaret E. Corriston for his wife. She is a native of this city. To their union
three children were born: Florence E., who first gave her hand in marriage to
Charles G. Gates and following the latter's demise became the wife of Harold Lee
Judd of New Britain, Connecticut; Robert G.: and Warren J. Mr. Hop-wood was a
charter member of the Interlachen Club and he held membership in the
Minneapolis, Minikahda, Lafayette, Commercial and Athletic clubs. His religious
faith was that of the Presbyterian church and for many years he was a consistent
member of the First Presbyterian church here.
In the acquirement of his early education Robert G. Hopwood attended the local
schools and was graduated from the high school in due time. Subsequently he
en­rolled in Phillips Academy at Andover, Massachusetts, and then took a year of
law in the University of Minnesota. After putting his textbooks aside he went
west and engaged in ranching in Idaho for about a year and a half. At the
termination of that time he returned to Minneapolis and then removed to Chicago,
where through the following four years he was associated with the brokerage firm
of Harris, Win-throp & Company. Again he returned to Minneapolis and in 1914, in
association with his father and brother, organized the Hopwood Investment
Company. After the death of his father he bought out the business, settled all
affairs and then formed a partnership with Frank L. Burnett for the conduct of
an investment busi­ness. The firm was established on the 1st of September, 1919,
and is now one of the principal brokerage firms in the city. They deal in
stocks, bonds and grain and are members of the New York Stock Exchange, the
Chicago Board of Trade and the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce.
On the 15th of October, 1914, occurred the marriage of Mr. Hopwood and Miss
Dorothy Kellam Fetterolf and to their union three children have been born: Leila
Elizabeth, Margaret Curtin and Robert Gaddis. Mrs. Hopwood is socially prominent
and is gifted with a most charming and magnetic personality.
Since age conferred upon Mr. Hopwood the right of franchise he has been a stanch
supporter of the republican party and the principles for which it stands,
although he has never sought nor desired public preferment. His religious faith
is that of the Presbyterian church, to the support of which he is a generous
con­tributor, and socially he is identified with the Minneapolis Club, the
Minneapolis Athletic Club and the Minikahda Club. During his college days he
became affiliated with Psi Upsilon, a national college fraternity of high
standing. Mr. Hopwood is one of this city's most public-spirited and progressive
business men and he well merits the success he has achieved. Minneapolis is
indeed proud to number him among her native sons.