Samuel Duff HOPPER (b. December 04, 1838, d. May 13, 1934)
Samuel Duff HOPPER (son of William W. HOPPER and Phoebe LEWIS)235, 236 was born December 04, 1838 in Somerton, Belmont Co., OH, and died May 13, 1934 in Fresno Co., CA. He married (1) Rachel Lucinda FOSTER on December 22, 1870 in Jerusalem, Monroe Co., OH. He married (2) Rachel D (Emma) FOSTER on January 19, 1871 in Belmont Co, OH.
Notes for Samuel Duff HOPPER: Civil War Veteran, Union Company E, 62nd Regiment, O.V.I. Company E was organized at Somerton and rendezvoused at Camp Goddard. This company was mustered into service October 16, 1861.
Promotions:
1. Henry G. Jackson, Captain Samuel B. Taylor, 2nd Lieutenant Joel M. Maring, 3rd Lieutenant Samuel D. Hopper, 1st Sergeant Francis A. Bishop, Sergeant. 2. Samuel D. Hopper was appointed 2nd Lieutenant, August 11, 1862; Samuel D. Hopper was appointed Captain, September 13, 1863; Samuel D. Hopper was wounded slightly in the Charge on Fort Sumner, NC. Sources: Ohio Civil War Records.
During the Civil War, Samuel's parents moved from Somerton to Malaga, Monroe Co., OH. Samuel and his four brothers were in the Civil War on the Union side. He rose from Private to Major. He enlisted in Co. E of the 62nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Oct 17, 1861 at Camp Goddard, Zanesville, OH, and when the Company was organized he was appointed 1st or Orderly Sergeant and rose to the rank of Captain after the siege and battle of Fort Wagner, SC. He mustered out of the service on Nov 10, 1864. Part of his service was under Benjamin F. Butler in Virginia as Captain. He was wounded in the battle of Fort Wagner and also at Fort Wayne, SC. President Lincoln and Secretary Stanton gave him a recruiting commission as Major under full pay to raise a Regiment for Hancock's Veterans Corp., thus engaged when the war closed. At the battle of Fort Deep Run, VA, a bullet struck the scabbard of his sabre, but did him no harm otherwise.
He taught school in Belmont, Monroe and Noble Counties, Ohio and for a while kept a store in Malaga. He sold out, went west to Hastings, Nebraska, and on to Oregon. He taught school in Oregon and had a half interest in a band of cattle and also sheep. He sold out, returned to Nebraska, and bought out a store at Kearney, NE. After 8 months he sold out and went to CA in October of 1880. He settled in Prairie District near Fresno. He bought 160 acres and taught at the first school in Prairie. He was later on the Board of Trustees and was once president of the Cooperative Packing House. He was a member of Atlanta Post G.A.R. of Fresno, and was a Republican (Reference: History of Fresno Co., CA by Paul Vandor, Published 1919).
Many people told Leona that many people came to Samuel to look over their legal papers and for advice, primarily because he was educated. He was a firm believer in "schooling". In appearance, he was tall and slender and dignified, with excellent manners. He was fond of telling about the war days, especially when he acted as guard in General Lee's house. He noted that General Lee's daughter was very haughty with him because he was a Yankee. He was fond of chess and debating. He was always sorry he had not become a full-fledged minister. He felt it was his "calling". He was ordained in the east to preach and was considered a very gifted speaker. He lived to be 96 years old and in full possession of his faculties. His first marriage was to Rachel Lucinda Foster of Jerusalem, Ohio, and after her death he married her sister Emma Foster Neptune.
Excerpts from an article written by Louise Kimball in the Fresno Republican quotes Major Samuel Duff Hopper's recollections of the Civil War.
"We were not mad, just businesslike. Firing was thick and heavy in the little hollow near Petersburg, with the Confederate troops on one side and the Union forces of the other, when, suddenly the 'Rebs' called, 'Hey, Yanks, a truce!' 'All right,' returned the Yanks, 'show your flags!' Up came the white flags, followed by those of the Union side and a group of the privates crept down into the hollow, where they exchanged tobacco and newspaper luxuries of the day. But suddenly the officers, who had not been included in the exchanged discovered what was going on and ordered the soldiers to remember that they were at war. A moment later bullets were flying in all directions. 'AIM TOO HIGH.' Other descriptions recollect aiming too high at other troops in order to avoid killing anyone, grumbling about army rations and stripping a field of corn and black-eyed peas, and being listed as dead in the battle of Fort Wagner."
More About Samuel Duff HOPPER and Rachel Lucinda FOSTER: Marriage: December 22, 1870, Jerusalem, Monroe Co., OH.
More About Samuel Duff HOPPER and Rachel D (Emma) FOSTER: Marriage: January 19, 1871, Belmont Co, OH.
Children of Samuel Duff HOPPER and Rachel Lucinda FOSTER are:
Samuel Duff HOPPER (b. December 04, 1838, d. May 13, 1934)
Notes for Samuel Duff HOPPER: