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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lonoke County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Richard W. Hopper, a substantial citizen of Lonoke County, residing on Section 12, Lonoke Township, is a native of West Tennessee, and was born in Tipton County, September 3, 1848, being the son of Joel and Susan (Winn) Hopper, Virginians by birth. The parents moved to Tennessee, when young, with their parents, who settled in that region when the country was a wilderness, becoming recognized as among the pioneers. They were married in Tennessee, and had a family of fourteen children, of whom Richard W. is the twelfth in the order of birth. Of this number, ten grew to maturity, and three are now living; three brothers having been killed in the war. When Richard was in his fifth year his father died, at the age of fifty-two, and in 1857 he came to Arkansas with his mother, who died September 3, 1862, at the age of fifty-two. The family had located in Woodruff County, and later in Jackson County, where Mrs. Hopper’s death occurred. Our subject then came to Prairie County and resided with his sister, Mrs. James G. Adams, until he became of age. He received a very limited education, the advantages at that time for schooling being far from satisfactory, but his keen observation and constant reading have contributed to make him well-informed on the topics of the day. He began business for himself, in 1871, as a farmer and planter, and in 1877 married Miss Ella Chambers, of North Carolina nativity, who came to Arkansas with her parents when a child of three years. To them have been born three sons and one daughter: Joel W., Floyd J., Richard J. and Dessa. Mr. and Mrs. Hopper are members of the Concord Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and Mr. Hopper is a Master Mason, also Past Noble Grand of the I. O. O. F. and a member of the Knights of Honor, serving as representative to the Grand Lodge in 1883. He purchased his present farm of 160 acres in 1884, and now has forty-five acres under cultivation.

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This family biography is one of 143 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lonoke County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Lonoke County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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