Bergen County NJ Archives Biographies.....John HOPPER, 1814 - 1897 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nj/njfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 9, 2008, 11:56 pm Author: Mary Depue Ogden, Editor (1917) HOPPER, John, Lawyer, Jurist, Legislator. In the records of the First Reformed Dutch Church in Hackensack, New Jersey, it is written that William Hoppe was a member of the church there as early as 1686, that Mattys Hoppe and his wife Antjie Forkse were members of the same church in 1687, and that their daughter, Christyna Hoppe, was baptized there on her confession of faith in the year 1686. There is little question that the surname Hoppe herein mentioned is identical with the ancient Holland Dutch name of Hopper, which has been so well and prominently known in the region of New Amsterdam and the New Netherlands for more than two and a half centuries, but the exact kinship of either William or Mattys Hoppe and Garret Hopper is not clearly settled, although the fair presumption is that both of the former were of a single generation anterior to that of Garret Hopper, and that if one of them was not his father they both probably were his uncles, and not of a more remote degree of consanguinity. During the half century of undisputed Dutch dominion in America the family names of Hoppe and Hopper occur frequently in church and borough records and they both are known to stand for and represent a substantial element of the sturdy people that followed Hudson, the navigator and explorer who in 1609 opened the way for Dutch colonization and settlement on Manhattan Island, originally the city of New Amsterdam but now New York, and in the regions adjacent thereto, which during the dominion of Holland on this side of the Atlantic ocean were within the jurisdiction of that sovereign power under the name of New Netherlands; and after the overthrow of the Dutch power in America by superior British might both names were still retained for generations although that of Hopper became finally dominant and is generally accepted as the common family patronymic. (I) Garret Hopper was of Holland origin and ancestry, if not of Holland birth, and it is to him that genealogists and historians have accurately ascribed progenitorship of the particular family considered in these annals. He became possessed by purchase of a considerable tract of land extending from Hackensack river to Slaughter dam, and from which was taken an ample portion of about five hundred acres for the family mansion and estate. There he caused his mansion house to be built and there he dwelt in comfort to the end of his days, cultivating his broad acres and in the enjoyment of the fruits of industry and a life well spent. The name of his wife does not appear, nor the names and dates of birth of all of their children, although the tradition is that theirs was a goodly family in numbers as well as in estate. (II) Jacob, son of Garret Hopper, was born previous to 1730, and died about the year 1815. He had his residence on his father's estate, and his own house stood on the Pollifly road leading out from Paterson turnpike to Carlstadt. He too was an husbandman of industry and thrift, giving chiefest attention to the cultivation of his lands and providing abundantly for those who were to come after him in inheritance and possession. The baptismal name of his wife was Cornelia, and according to records which are regarded as reasonably accurate they had four children, all of whom are believed to have been born on the old homestead: 1. Katrina, married John Earle, who died about the beginning of the War of the Revolution. 2. Henry Garret, who with his brother John occupied the paternal estate and divided it between themselves. 3. John I., born 1775. 4. Elizabeth, married Cornelius Terhune, grandson of John Terhune, the latter the progenitor of a notable family in early New Jersey history. (III) John I., son of Jacob and Cornelia Hopper, was born in 1775; died in 1833, on the family homestead in Hackensack, where his life was chiefly spent; and not spent in vain endeavor, for he is remembered as having been one of the most thrifty and successful farmers in Bergen county in his time, bringing his lands to the highest degree of cultivation and productiveness and tilling them according to methods which in many respects were far in advance of his day. The products of his farm were always of the best quality and he marketed them in New York at good cash prices; his butter often brought a premium award because of its superior quality, and he profited not a little on account of his thrift and enterprise. He was one of the very first farmers to carry his produce to market in a wagon with springs and top, and he also was one of the first farmers of the region who sold produce in New York City. He is said also to have been a man of excellent education, and it is known that he attended the private school in Hackensack of which Dr. Wilson was then the head master; and a famous pedagogue he was, as well as being a man of high educational attainments. During the second war with the mother country Mr. Hopper was drafted for service in the American army, but he furnished a substitute to take his place in the ranks. This was not because he was scrupulous of bearing arms, for none of the Hoppers ever were wanting in either moral or physical courage, nor is it believed that they ever were opposed to war on principle; but at that time he evidently felt that he could best serve his country's cause by furnishing a substitute in his stead and he might be free to care for his family and home and farming interests which otherwise must suffer loss. In 1S18 he built a fine substantial mansion house of brownstone, on a commanding elevation affording a good view of the surrounding country. It stood on what in comparatively recent years became known as Terrace avenue. He was zealous in religious matters and for many years was officially connected with the First Reformed Church as one of its elders and deacons. For a long time he vigorously opposed the movements of the so-called seceders, but finally yielded to their persuasions and joined them. His wife was Maria, daughter of Albert Terhune. She was born about 1781; died January 1, 1856, having borne her husband nine children: 1. Cornelia, married John Terhune, a farmer and miller of New Barbadoes, who died in 1879, aged seventy-nine years. 2. Altia, married Albert A. Brinkerhoff, of Hackensack. 3. Catherine, married Jonathan Hopper, a merchant of Paterson. 4. Albert, died 1833, aged twenty-four years. 5. Jacob I. 6. John. 7. Eliza. 8. Maria, married Henry Demarest, of New York. 9. Jane, married Dr. George Wilson, of New York. (IV) Jacob I., son of John I. and Maria (Terhune) Hopper, was born on the family homestead in Hackensack, December 21, 1810, and spent his whole life there, engaged in agricultural pursuits and to a large extent in market gardening and laising small fruits. So early as 1840 he began growing strawberries on an extensive scale for the New York market, and in this business he was very successful and continued it for many years. So great indeed was the yield of his fields that his daily shipments are said to have averaged more than three thousand baskets. This of course would not be regarded as an extraordinary yield for the present time, but it must be remembered that Mr. Hopper grew market berries nearly three-quarters of a century ago, when even a single trip to the market required a half day's time in going and returning, and when the plough, the harrow and the hoe were the only implements used in preparing the land and cultivating the crops. But notwithstanding all this he was a very successful man in his business life and a man very highly respected for his sturdy integrity and upright life. In 1835 Mr. Hopper married Ann, daughter of Garret Mercelis, whose wife was Lenah de Gray, of Preakness, Passaic county, New Jersey. She was born December 13, 1812, died in June, 1868. They had two children: 1. John, see forward. 2. Ellen M. (IV) Judge John, son of John I. and Maria (Terhune) Hopper, was born on the homestead farm in what now is the township of Lodi, Bergen county, New Jersey, March 2, 1814; died in Paterson, October 15, 1897. He acquired his earlier literary education at Washington and Lafayette academies in Hackensack, and prepared for college under the tutorship of the Rev. John Croes, at whose classical school in Paterson he was a student for some time, and also under the special instruction of Mr. Thomas McGahagan, the once famous master of the old academy in Bergen Town, now Hudson City, Mew Jersey. In 1830 he matriculated at Rutgers College, entering the sophomore class, completed the academic course of that institution and was graduated A. B. in 1833, cum laude, dividing second honors with Robert H. Pruyn, afterward minister plenipotentiary from the United States to Japan. After leaving college Mr. Hopper took up the study of law under the preceptorship of Governor Peter D. Vroom, of Somerville, New Jersey, remaining with him about two years, and afterward continued his studies for another year in the office of Elias B. D. Ogden, of Paterson. At a term of the Supreme Court held at Trenton, September 8, 1836, he was licensed to practice as an attorney-at-law and solicitor in chancery in all of the courts of this State, and on February 27, 1840, he became a counselor-at-law. Having come to the bar Judge Hopper began his professional career in partnership with his former preceptor, Judge Ogden, under the firm style of Ogden & Hopper, which relation was maintained until 1848, when the senior partner was elevated to the bench of the Supreme Court of the State. From that time he practiced alone until 1869, when he took as partner his own son, Robert Imlay Hopper, then recently admitted to the bar; and thereafter this partnership relation was continued so long as Judge Hopper was engaged in active practice, until he assumed judicial office which necessitated the laying aside of private professional employments. During the long period of his professional career as an attorney and counselor at law, Judge Hopper was recognized as one of the ablest lawyers of the Paterson bar; a man of the highest character, a lawyer of distinguished ability, a ripe scholar, and an advocate with whom principles always prevailed over expedients. His practice was largely on the civil side of the courts, and his clientage was such and the character and mind of the man were such, that he was able to accept or decline cases without danger of pecuniary loss to himself; but he would not refuse a case in which he was not sure of ultimate success to his client, although at the same time he would not allow himself to be drawn into an action in behalf of a client whose personal integrity he had reasonable ground to question. His methods always were careful, but they were not laborious, and it was his policy to discourage rather than to promote litigation; a safe and prudent counselor in the office, he nevertheless was a power in the trial courts, and with him it was a cardinal principle never to go half prepared into the trial of an important case; petty actions he preferred to be turned over to the younger members of the profession. In the trial of a case he always was properly deferential to the court, but never more than that, and never obsequious in his manner before any tribunal. In presenting a case to the jury it was noticeable that he approached the subject in hand with dignity and in the light of principle and common sense, addressing himself to the understanding of his hearers and never appealing to their passions. And what may have been true of him as a lawyer, whether in private practice or in the capacity of prosecutor for the people, also was true of him as a magistrate on the bench of the court, for there too he was ever dignified and courteous, always considerate of the rights of attorneys representing litigant parties, and especially considerate and forbearing in his treatment of the younger members of the profession, frequently encouraging them with fatherly assistance and advice. Throughout the period of his professional life Judge Hopper was much of the time an incumbent of office in connection with the operation of the courts and the administration of the law; town counsel of Paterson from 1843 to 1847; surrogate of Passaic county for two terms, 1845 to 1855; counsel to the board of chosen freeholders of Paterson from 1855 to 1864; prosecutor of the pleas from 1863 to 1868 and from 1871 to 1874. From 1868 to 1871 and again from 1874 to 1877 he was Senator from Passaic county in the Legislature of the State. In March, 1877, he was appointed by Governor Bedle judge of the District Court of Paterson, serving in that capacity until January 8, 1887, when he resigned to accept Governor Abbett's appointment as president judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Orphans' Court and Quarter Sessions of the Peace for the unexpired term of Judge Absalom B. Woodruff, deceased. He was reappointed by Governor Green, March 15, 1887, and again on April 1, 1887, for a term of five years; and on April 1, 1892, he was reappointed by Governor Abbett. In 1879 hne was appointed by Chancellor Runyon one of the advisory masters in chancery. In political adherence Judge Hopper was a firm Democrat, and while Vie was looked upon as one of the leading men of the State in the councils of his party his democracy was of the type which was calculated to draw strength to the party and not to engender bitter antagonisms in the opposition party. From 1851 until the time of his death he was a member of the board of trustees of his alma mater, Rutgers College, and also was a member of the New Jersey Historical Society, a director of the Paterson & Ramapo Railroad Company, its first secretary in 1844 and was elected its treasurer in 1851. On June 16, 1840, Judge Hopper married Mary A., daughter of Robert Imlay, at one time a prominent merchant of Philadelphia; and June 16, 1890, Judge Hopper and his wife celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage. They had six children who grew to maturity: 1. John H., silk manufacturer, member of the firm of Hopper & Scott, Paterson. 2. Robert Imlay, lawyer, Paterson. 3. Mary A., wife of Frank W. Potter, late United States consul to Marseilles. 4. James, removed to Texas. 5. Caroline. 6. Margaret Imlay, wife of John T. Boyd, of Brookline, Massachusetts. Additional Comments: Extracted from: MEMORIAL CYCLOPEDIA OF NEW JERSEY UNDER THE EDITORIAL SUPERVISION OF MARY DEPUE OGDEN VOLUME III MEMORIAL HISTORY COMPANY NEWARK, NEW JERSEY 1917 This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/njfiles/ File size: 15.0 Kb This file is located at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nj/bergen/bios/hopper-j.txt