HOPKINS, William Hurlbut
Commemorative and Biographical Record of Columbia, Sauk and Adams Counties, 
WI. Chicago: Ogle, 1901, p 447-448

William Hurlbut HOPKINS is one of the popular and successful young men of 
Baraboo [Sauk County], WI. The business interests of the city are well 
represented by him, and whether in public or private life, he is always a 
courteous, genial gentleman, well deserving of the high regard in which he is 
held. Mr. HOPKINS was born in Baraboo [Sauk County, WI], 15 Dec 1865, a son 
of Charles Henry and Felicia (HURLBUT) HOPKINS. The first of the family in 
America of whom a record has been preserved was Moses HOPKINS, who was born 
13 Mar 1751, and died in Great Barrington [Berkshire County], MA, 09 Mar 
1838. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Anna WHITING, was born 08 Nov 
1754, and died 22 Jul 1834. Their third child, Mark HOPKINS, was born 29 Jun 
1799, and died in St. Clair [St. Clair County], MI, 27 Nov 1828. He married 
Tracy Lukins KELLOGG, at Great Barrington [Berkshire County], MA, and one of 
their sons was Samuel F. HOPKINS, the grandfather of our subject. He was 
born in Hinsdale [Berkshire County], MA, 15 Sep 1803, and died in St. Clair 
[St. Clair County], MI, 21 Jun 1884. By occupation he was a carpenter. He 
married Miss Mary Ann KENNEY, and among their children was Orrin K., a 
sharpshooter in the Civil war.

Charles H. HOPKINS, another son of that worthy couple and the father of our 
subject, was born in Palmer, now St. Clair [St. Clair County], MI [p 448], 
and about 1861 came to Baraboo [Sauk County], WI, where in company with his 
brother, Mark HOPKINS, he built and operated a saw mill. Subsequently he 
followed the carpenter's trade. He died at Baraboo [Sauk County, WI] on 20 
Aug 1872, at the age of 38 years. He was married at Wyocena [Columbia 
County], WI, 30 Apr 1863, to Miss Felicia HURLBUT, who died in Baraboo [Sauk 
County, WI] on 19 Jul 1884, aged 46 years. She was a native of Clayton 
[Jefferson County], NY, and a daughter of Henry HURLBUT, who located in 
Baraboo [Sauk County, WI] about 1858, and here engaged first in lumbering and 
later in the hardware trade. In the family of Charles H. and Felicia HOPKINS 
were two sons: Harry, born in Feb 1864, and died at the age of 18 months, 
and William H., of this sketch.

Our subject attended the public schools, and later the Wayland Academy at 
Beaver Dam [Dodge County], WI, but owing to his mother's ill health, he was 
obliged to return home before completing the course at that institution. At 
the age of 21 he acquired an interest in the Island Woolen Mills, with which 
he was connected for several years, and in May 1892 bought a controlling 
interest in the Baraboo Gas & Electric Light Company, and assumed the 
management of the same. He is now practically the sole proprietor of the 
establishment, which furnishes illumination for the entire town, lighing 
streets and buildings, and employing five people in the operation of the 
plant. Mr. .HOPKINS is a wide-awake, progressive business man of known 
reliability, and in his undertakings he has met with marked success. Besides 
the property already mentioned, he owns a brick block in the business portion 
of the town, and is interested in real estate in West Superior [Douglas 
County], WI, and Everett [Snohomish County], WA.

On 20 Dec 1886 Mr. HOPKINS was united in marriage with Miss Ellen F. WATSON, 
a native of Abelman [Ableman, Sauk County], WI, and a daughter of Edward C. 
and Laura E. (ABELMAN) WATSON, of Baraboo [Sauk County, WI], who were 
pioneers of Sauk County. The only child born of this union died in infancy.

Contributed by Cathy Kubly