James G. Hopkins Biography


	This biography appears on page 1397 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	JAMES G. HOPKINS, of Keystone, was born on January 12, 1870, at 
Lexington, McLean county, Illinois, and is the son of Joseph and Louisa 
(Hemline) Hopkins, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of 
Illinois. In the spring of 1877 the father came to the B1ack Hills, 
leaving his family on the farm in Illinois, and arriving at Rockerville 
in March. He remained there until the following spring, then located at 
Rockford where he engaged in mining and prospecting. In June, 1881, his 
family joined him at Rockford, and they all lived at that place until 
the spring of 1885, when he bought a ranch near Custer on which they 
settled. The son had but limited opportunities for schooling, and they 
were found chiefly at Rockford When he reached the age of thirteen he 
went to Deadwood and found employment in the mines. By industry and 
capacity he gradually rose through mine and mill work to the position of 
amalgamator, and in 1889 went to Hill City in the employ of the Harney 
Peak Mining and Milling Company. Before the end of the year the parents 
also moved to Hill City where they have since had their home. Mr. 
Hopkins worked for the Harney Company two years, and at the end of that 
period opened a butchering business in partnership with Mr. Van Allen 
and under the firm name of Van Allen & Hopkins. At the end of the first 
year he sold his interest to his partner and went to Oregon under 
contract with a mining company operating in the eastern part of the 
state. Six months later he left the service of this company and returned 
to Hill City, arriving in November, 1892. He again went to work for the 
Harney Peak Company and the following spring came to Keystone as 
amalgamator in the Keystone mill, a position he held until the fall of 
1894. He then engaged with the Holy Terror Company as amalgamator, being 
the first man employed as such by that company, which was started about 
that time. Later he worked in the mines until he was disabled by an 
accident in the spring of 1897, and after recovering from the effects of 
this he was employed on a hoisting engine until June, 1900, when he 
resigned to take his place as manager of the Hayes & Hopkins Supply 
Company, of Keystone, which he had organized in the preceding October. 
This company conducts an extensive business in general merchandise, and 
carries as complete a stock of goods as can be found in the city. The 
volume of its business is large and its patrons are among the best 
classes of the people. Mr. Hopkins is also interested in the cattle 
industry in company with his brother on a ranch near Custer, and has 
some valuable mining property. He is a Knight of Pythias and a Modern 
Woodman, with membership in the bodies at Keystone. 

	On May 19, 1889, Mr. Hopkins was married at Hill City to Miss May 
E. Wakefield, a native of Illinois, who died on October 20, 1894, at the 
birth of her only child, Ira M. On January 3, 1897, he married a second 
wife at Keystone, Miss Alice A. Hayes, also born in Illinois. They have 
three children, Earl A., Hazel and Joseph.