George H. Hopkins
Encyclopedia
George H. Hopkins was a politician from the U. S. state of Michigan
.
. In April 1862 he entered the State Normal School (now Eastern Michigan University
).
In August 1862, Hopkins enlisted in the 17th Michigan Infantry, known as the Stonewall regiment and saw much action in the American Civil War
. One of his brothers, Dan Hopkins who served in the same regiment was mortally wounded in the Battle of South Mountain
on September 14, 1862. He saw action in Maryland
, Virginia
, Kentucky
, Mississippi
, at the Sieges of Vicksburg
and Knoxville
, and again in Virginia during the last year of the war which he served until its end. He returned to his studies at the State Normal School and graduated in 1867. He then entered the University of Michigan
and graduated from the law department in 1871. In 1870, he was Assistant United States Deputy Marshall. He was admitted to the bar
and practiced in Detroit.
During four year of the 1870s, Hopkins served as private secretary to Michigan Governors John J. Bagley
and Charles Croswell
. He served as chairman of the State Republican Committee
briefly in 1878. In 1879 he served in the Michigan House of Representatives and was Chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs and also served on the Committee on Railroads. He served in the State House again from 1881 to 1883, serving as Chaiman of the Committee on the University and a member of the Committee on Railroads and Apportionment in 1881, and Speaker pro tempore in 1883. He also served as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee and member of the Committees on State Library and the State Public Schools. During the political campaigns of 1882 and 1884, he served as Chairman of the Wayne County
Republican Committee. He again served as Chairman of the Michigan Republican Committee from 1888–1890
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Biography
Hopkins was born to Erastus and Climene (Clark) Hopkins in White Lake, Michigan and was educated at Pontiac Union School from 1860–62 and taught a district school in Oakland CountyOakland County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the 2010 Census, there were 1,202,362 people, 471,115 households, and 315,175 families residing in the county. The population density as of the 2000 census was 1,369 people per square mile . There were 492,006 housing units at an average density of 564 per square mile...
. In April 1862 he entered the State Normal School (now Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University is a comprehensive, co-educational public university located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Ypsilanti is west of Detroit and eight miles east of Ann Arbor. The university was founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School...
).
In August 1862, Hopkins enlisted in the 17th Michigan Infantry, known as the Stonewall regiment and saw much action in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. One of his brothers, Dan Hopkins who served in the same regiment was mortally wounded in the Battle of South Mountain
Battle of South Mountain
The Battle of South Mountain was fought September 14, 1862, as part of the Maryland Campaign of the American Civil War. Three pitched battles were fought for possession of three South Mountain passes: Crampton's, Turner's, and Fox's Gaps. Maj. Gen. George B...
on September 14, 1862. He saw action in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, at the Sieges of Vicksburg
Battle of Vicksburg
The Siege of Vicksburg was the final major military action in the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. In a series of maneuvers, Union Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and his Army of the Tennessee crossed the Mississippi River and drove the Confederate army of Lt. Gen. John C...
and Knoxville
Knoxville Campaign
The Knoxville Campaign was a series of American Civil War battles and maneuvers in East Tennessee during the fall of 1863. Union forces under Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside occupied Knoxville, Tennessee, and Confederate forces under Lt. Gen. James Longstreet were detached from Gen...
, and again in Virginia during the last year of the war which he served until its end. He returned to his studies at the State Normal School and graduated in 1867. He then entered the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
and graduated from the law department in 1871. In 1870, he was Assistant United States Deputy Marshall. He was admitted to the bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
and practiced in Detroit.
During four year of the 1870s, Hopkins served as private secretary to Michigan Governors John J. Bagley
John J. Bagley
John Judson Bagley was a politician from the US state of Michigan, as well as its 16th Governor.-Early life in New York and Michigan:...
and Charles Croswell
Charles Croswell
Charles Miller Croswell was the 17th Governor of the US state of Michigan from 1877 to 1881.-Early life in New York:...
. He served as chairman of the State Republican Committee
Michigan Republican Party
The Michigan Republican Party is the state affiliate of the national Republican Party in Michigan. It is sometimes referred to as MIGOP, which simply means Michigan Grand Old Party....
briefly in 1878. In 1879 he served in the Michigan House of Representatives and was Chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs and also served on the Committee on Railroads. He served in the State House again from 1881 to 1883, serving as Chaiman of the Committee on the University and a member of the Committee on Railroads and Apportionment in 1881, and Speaker pro tempore in 1883. He also served as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee and member of the Committees on State Library and the State Public Schools. During the political campaigns of 1882 and 1884, he served as Chairman of the Wayne County
Wayne County, Michigan
-History:Wayne County was one of the first counties formed when the Northwest Territory was organized. It was named for the American general "Mad Anthony" Wayne. It originally encompassed the entire area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, as well as small sections that are now part of northern...
Republican Committee. He again served as Chairman of the Michigan Republican Committee from 1888–1890