Polk County, Missouri Biographies - Wellington S. HOPKINS, M. D.
History Of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade And Barton Counties,
Missouri; 1889, Published By Goodspeed, Pgs. 655, 656
Polk County Biographies Section
   
   Wellington S. Hopkins, M. D.  No science has kept more 
thoroughly apace with the growth of the country, or has made
greater developments within the past fifty years, than has, 
perhaps, the medical science, though it may be often abused by
ignorant practitioners who are to be found in every community;
still a worthy and skillful physician is soon recognized and 
patronized accordingly.  Among the very prominent and successful
young physicians of Polk County, Mo., is Dr. W. W. Hopkins, 
whose name heads this page.  He was born in Polk County April 15,
1862, and is the son of Hiram and Elizabeth Jane (Williams) 
Hopkins.  Dr. Hopkins' grandfather, James Hopkins, Sr., was born
in Orange County, N. C., in 1764 (the youngest son of his parents),
and entered the Revolutionary War at the age of sixteen, serving
through the greater portion of that conflict; he was honorably
discharged for disability received while in the service.  His 
father emigrated to North Carolina from Wales, in a very early day.  
Hiram Hopkins was the youngest son of James Hopkins, Sr., and 
was born in Wilson County, Tenn., March 17, 1817.  With his 
father he emigrated to Illinois the year that State was admitted
to the Union, then returned to Tennessee, then to Missouri in 
1833, and again to Illinois, coming thence to Polk County, Mo., 
in 1835, where he, with others, had several skirmishes with the 
Indians.  He died on the old homestead in Polk County, February 11,
1878.  Hiram Hopkins was married twice, and became the father of
one child by his first wife.  His second marriage was to 
Elizabeth Jane Williams, of Polk County, Mo., where she grew to
womanhood.  She died September 26, 1868.  He was a farmer by 
occupation, and in connection was engaged in merchandising.  
He was a Republican in politics, was in the Home Guards during 
the war, and was one of the prominent men of Polk County, having
filled the office of judge of the county court for a number of years.  
He died on the old homestead in Polk County, February11, 1878, 
and the mother also died in the same county, September 26, 1869.  
To his second marriage were born eight children, seven now living.  
The grandparents on both sides were natives of North Carolina.  
Dr. W. S. Hopkins began the study of medicine under Dr. Drake, 
of Polk County, in 1884, remained thus employed for several 
months, and then entered the Missouri Medical College in October
of the same year.  Later he returned and practiced in Cedar 
County during vacation, under Dr. M. B. Wooldridge, but returned
to the college in October, 1885, where he graduated March 2, 1886,
with the degree of M. D.  He then returned to Cedar County, and
resumed the practice of medicine until November, 1886, when he 
moved to Fair Play and entered upon a successful practice.  He was
married March 17, 1887, to Miss Elsie M. Paynter, of Cedar County,
who was born February 28, 1869, and grew to woman hood in Cedar 
County, Mo.  She attended the common schools, and also three 
terms at a select school at Stockton.  She is the daughter of 
Judge C. W. Paynter, of Cedar County, Mo.  May 24, 1887, Dr. 
Hopkins formed a co-partnership with Dr. M. D. Brewer, and this
continued until October 5, 1888.  He engaged in the drug business
with Dr. Brewer in May, 1887, but the store was burned September 18
of the same year, with no insurance.
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