James Franklin Hopkins (1845 - 1913)

Born 30 Dec 1845 in Ripley, Tippah County, Mississippi, USA

Husband of Jennie A (Barclay) Hopkins — married 8 Nov 1870 (to 8 Feb 1905) in Rockbridge County, Virginia, USA

Descendants

Died 15 Dec 1913 at age 67 in Mabelvale, Pulaski County, Arkansas, USA

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Biography

James Frank Hopkins, Alpha number 1, was born in Ripley, Mississippi, December 30th, 1845, to Colonel John W. Hopkins and Elizabeth Craig.

Hopkins' family remained in Mississippi until Colonel Hopkins moved the family to Memphis in 1855 to provide better educational opportunities for his children. At the outbreak of the Civil War, the family again moved to Arkansas Post near Little Rock.

The younger Hopkins, then a boy of fifteen, was denied immediate enlistment in the Confederate Army due to his age. Finally, in 1864 he was accepted as a private in a cavalry troop attached to Anderson's Battalion of Fagan's Division. He was an expert horseman, and his skill was put to use when he was assigned to courier duty in several battles in the final years of the war.

In 1866, after the end of the war, Hopkins entered Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in Lexington at the age of 21. 1866 marks the year the Sigma Nu fraternity had its spiritual beginning, when Frank Hopkins rebelled against the injustice of hazing being practiced at the Institute. Hopkins is the principal founder who conceived the idea of a brotherhood of honor, and he served as Lieutenant Commander (VP) of the original Alpha Chapter. He was the designer of the original badge as well.

After graduating from VMI, Hopkins pursued his career as a civil engineer back in Arkansas. He went on to serve as County Surveyor, Justice of the Peace, and Director of Schools.

His dedication to the principles of Love, Truth and Honor held steadfast throughout his life as he served the Fraternity as its first Vice-Regent and attended Grand Chapters in 1902, 1908 and 1910.

On December 15, 1913, Alpha number 1 was laid to rest in the village cemetery at Mablevale, Arkansas (a township later absorbed into Little Rock proper.)

Sources

• "Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XRH9-8KQ : 5 December 2014), James Franklin Hopkins and Jennie A. Barclay, 08 Nov 1870; citing Rockbridge County, Virginia, reference ; FHL microfilm 33,797.
• "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKVR-CMY : accessed 22 September 2017), James F Hopkins, Fourche, Pulaski, Arkansas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 143, sheet 4A, family 61, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 62; FHL microfilm 1,374,075.
• Find A Grave, database and images (https://new.findagrave.com/memorial/19644466 : accessed 22 September 2017), memorial page for James Frank Hopkins (30 Dec 1845–15 Dec 1913), Find A Grave Memorial no. 19644466, citing Martin Cemetery, Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas, USA