William Henry Hopkins

William Henry Hopkins was born Feb 13, 1838 in Springwell, NY. He moved to Jackson Co. Iowa in 1860, occupation farmer. He married Kate Moore (b. 1845 Schenectady, NY) Dec. 28, 1864 in Andrew, Jackson Co., IA.

They had five children: 1. William B. 2. Hattie (Harriet) Louise Haddox Humbert 3. Fanny 4. Delia (Adelia) Sharp Jones 5. Lillie (Lillian) Shea Spears (all born Jackson Co., IA).

After the Civil War William moved the family to Story Co., IA and worked for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad as foreman of the bridge gang. In 1886 he moved to Odebolt, Sac Co., IA where he lived until his death Sep 10, 1911.

He was a member of the Odebolt G.A.R. He was buried in Odebolt Cemetery as is his wife Kate who died Oct. 1924.

Civil War Experiences

The following is a transcript of his army experience.
The original is written on lined notepaper in his own handwriting.

(Page 1)

Army Record of W. H. Hopkins during the War of the Rebelion

I inlisted July 29 - 1861 at Spragueville Jackson Co
Iowa went to Dubuque Iowa, was mustered in to the U.S.
Service Sept 24, 1861 as a Private in Co. A - 9"
Regement Iowa Volunteer Inft. Went from Dubuque to St.
Louis Mo, drew our arms and knapsack and were sent out
in the State to guard R.R. - and other State property
1862 Feb. went to Springfield Mo and began to chase
the Rebble army under Price - caught them at Pea Ridge
Ark, March 7 & 8 had a hard Battle but we won the day.

(page 2)

In April we took a 600 mile tramp through Ark and got
to Helena on the Mississippi River July 29
had a number of Skirmishes on our way through the
State but no big Battles. Staid at Helena the bal. of
1862
1863 were ordered to Vicksburg Mis, about Jan 1" got
there all O.K and loafed around awhile - in Feb. went
up the River to Greenville Mis, destroyed a lot of
cotton and lived high on Pea Cocks and Sweet pertaters
- the Same month were ordered up the River to Arkansas
Post, a Rebble Fort on the Arkansas River - we had
quite a job to take the Fort - but we took it Rebs &
all

(page 3)

From Arkansas Post we went back to Vicksburg and
commened buisiness - crosed the River at Grand Gulf
went to Jackson, destroyed the City got in the Rear of
Vicksburg, May 19 and Staid there till July 21 when we
took the City, Rebs, too, during all of this time we
had fighting nearly Every day, History will tell you
what we don, and the number Lives lost in Sept,
we went to Chattanooga to help Old Rosancraner out of
a tight place - the first thing we done was to take
Lookout Mountain Sept 2(?)
that was a Battle above the Clouds from Lookout we
went over to Mission Ride (Missionary Ridge?) and
helped the boys clean up the rubbish that the Rebs had
left there

(page 4)

after the Battle of Misionary Ridge we did not do much
more that year the main army went into winter
quarters and as I got wounded a little in right arm I
was sent back to a Hospital at Nashville Tenn, where I
got well enough right away to get the Smallpox and
lose the Sight of my left Eye
1864 March - we started South bag and baggage to find
the Rebs, we did not have to hunt very long till we
found them and they were so tickled to see us that
they coaxed us to follow them to Atlanta Geo, but we
played a mean trick on them when they got us into
Atlanta we took the City away from them, and made them
get out o, that

(page 5)

After the fall of Atlanta I done no more Service in
the army was discharged at East Point Geo Sept 24
-1864 Expiration term Service
Note
we belonged to the 15 army Corp W T. Shermans -
History will tell you that Shermans army was on the
left of Missionary Ridge - and Lookout Mountain is on
the Right about 3 miles apart - our Brigade was
detached from the main army to help Hooker at Lookout
Mountain that is how we came to be on the Right wing
where we did not belong

Obituary

THE CHRONICLE. VOL. XXV. NO. 20, SEPTEMBER 14, 1911.

Civil War Veteran Called by Death.

William Henry Hopkins, Civil War Veteran and pioneer resident of Iowa and of Odebolt, passed away at the family home in this city at about six o'clock last Sunday morning. Funeral services were held at three o'clock Tuesday afternoon from the Presbyterian church, conducted by Rev. Robert McInturff and burial made in the local cemetery.

Mr. Hopkins was stricken with what proved to be his fatal illness something over a month ago. His trouble was diagnosed as dropsy and despite the tender ministrations of members of the family and trained attendants he gradually slipped from this life. The members of the family were at the bedside when the end came.

Deceased was born in 1838 at Springwell, Erie county, New York. He came to Iowa in 1860 and located in Jackson county. When the war broke out he promptly enlisted in Co. A, 9th Iowa Volunteer Infantry and served until the close of the war. His army record was an active one and it was his lot to serve with distinction in many of the most noted battles of the war. He was in both battles of Pea Ridge, Missouri; was with General Grant during the siege of Vicksburg, was volunteer nurse in the small pox hospital at Nachez [sic], Mississippi, where he contracted the disease and lost the sight of his left eye; was in the famous battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge and was with General Sherman in his march to the sea. During all of the active period he was wounded but twice. He was mustered out September 21, 1864, at East Point, Georgia. After laying aside his musket he returned to Jackson county and on December 28, 1864, was united in marriage with Miss Kate Moore. The family came to Odebolt twenty-three years ago and this has since been the family home. He was the commander of the local G. A. R. post and highly esteemed by his comrades and friends.

Surviving him besides the widow are four children, as follows: Wm. B. Hopkins of Bedford, Indiana; Mrs. Hattie L. Haddox of Webster City; Mrs. W. H. Sharp of Lead, South Dakota, and Mrs. T. J. Shea of Sioux City.

Mr. Hopkins was an upright man and a good citizen. All of his friends and veteran army associates speak well of him. The sorrowing family has much sympathy in this their time of sorrow.