Was Stephen Wolfenbarger the father of James Arton Hopkins?
Oral family history tells us that James Arton Hopkins and his brother, William Columbus Hopkins were the
sons of Stephen Wolfenbarger and Eliza Hopkins. Eliza was definitely their mother but we have no proof
that Stephen was their father.
It is a fact that Eliza's parents, Stephen Hopkins and Rachel McFarland raised Jim and Lum and that their last
name was always listed as Hopkins - even in census records when they were small children. Both boys were
born in Mulberry Gap, Hancock County, Tennessee (Lum in 1860 and Jim in 1861) and moved to Harlan
County, Kentucky with their mother and grandparents between 1861 and 1865. Eliza married Ephram
Simpson in 1866 and moved to Indiana then later to Missouri but her boys remained with their grandparents.
Stephen Wolfenbarger was the son of Wilkerson Hilton Wolfenbarger and also lived in Hancock County. He
was a Confederate soldier and was killed in battle sometime before May, 1863. The 1860 Census in Hancock
County lists Stephen (22) living in Mulberry Gap with Margaret Wolfenbarger (18). This would seem to
indicate that Stephen was married to a woman named Margaret. Eliza and her oldest son, Lum, were listed
in her father's household in that same census. Hopkins was listed as the last name for both Eliza and Lum.
1870 Census records list a Margaret Wolfenbarger (27) living in Lee County, Virginia (which adjoins Hancock
County) with 2 sons, Peter (9) and Richard (3). It's possible this is the Margaret listed with Stephen in 1860
as the 1870 record states all 3 were born in Hancock County. (It does seem unlikely that Richard could have
been Stephen's son since military records show he was deceased by 1863.)
The Hancock County courthouse burned in 1880 and again in 1930 so there are virtually no records
available from the 1860's.
If you know anything about the Wolfenbarger or Hopkins families, please e-mail me.
Oral family history tells us that James Arton Hopkins and his brother, William Columbus Hopkins were the
sons of Stephen Wolfenbarger and Eliza Hopkins. Eliza was definitely their mother but we have no proof
that Stephen was their father.
It is a fact that Eliza's parents, Stephen Hopkins and Rachel McFarland raised Jim and Lum and that their last
name was always listed as Hopkins - even in census records when they were small children. Both boys were
born in Mulberry Gap, Hancock County, Tennessee (Lum in 1860 and Jim in 1861) and moved to Harlan
County, Kentucky with their mother and grandparents between 1861 and 1865. Eliza married Ephram
Simpson in 1866 and moved to Indiana then later to Missouri but her boys remained with their grandparents.
Stephen Wolfenbarger was the son of Wilkerson Hilton Wolfenbarger and also lived in Hancock County. He
was a Confederate soldier and was killed in battle sometime before May, 1863. The 1860 Census in Hancock
County lists Stephen (22) living in Mulberry Gap with Margaret Wolfenbarger (18). This would seem to
indicate that Stephen was married to a woman named Margaret. Eliza and her oldest son, Lum, were listed
in her father's household in that same census. Hopkins was listed as the last name for both Eliza and Lum.
1870 Census records list a Margaret Wolfenbarger (27) living in Lee County, Virginia (which adjoins Hancock
County) with 2 sons, Peter (9) and Richard (3). It's possible this is the Margaret listed with Stephen in 1860
as the 1870 record states all 3 were born in Hancock County. (It does seem unlikely that Richard could have
been Stephen's son since military records show he was deceased by 1863.)
The Hancock County courthouse burned in 1880 and again in 1930 so there are virtually no records
available from the 1860's.
If you know anything about the Wolfenbarger or Hopkins families, please e-mail me.
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| © 2007 - 2011 Linda McCauley. All rights reserved. |
| Last Updated: 16 Dec 2011 |
| :: Most Wanted - Stephen Wolfenbarger :: |
