Notes for Robert Washington HOPPER: Robert attended school for a few years in a primitive log schoolhouse. He assisted his father until 1856, when he left the Ohio home and went to Christian Co, IL. At the outbreak of the Civil War, in response to the President's call for volunteers, he enlisted at Taylorsville, IL in July of 1861. The following August he was mustered into the U.S. Military Service at Decatur, IL as a member of Co. G, 41st Regiment of IL, Volunteer Infantry. He was wounded in the battle of Fort Donelson. He later took part in the battles of Big Hatchie and Cold Water and was in the siege of Vicksburg, MS. He followed General Sherman as far as Marietta, GA, where he was stationed when his term expired. He received a second wound in the battle of Jackson, MS.
After the war, Robert returned to IL, where he remained for the next 7 years. On February 18, 1866 he married Catherine Cowgill of Canal Dover, Oh, a graduate of the State Normal School at Bloomington, IL and a school teacher. She was the daughter of John and Catherine Cowgill, natives of Delaware and Maryland respectively.
In 1871 the family moved from IL to York Co., NE, where they obtained as a homestead the Northwest quarter of Section 12 of New York Township. The farm still has the original grant patent and never was sold or mortgaged during his lifetime. The land is now in the possession of his daughter, Helen Hopper Winfield. Robert Hopper's forebears seem to be mainly Quakers, Universalists and Methodists. Politically he and all his family were staunch Republicans. Both Robert and his wife Catherine were greatly interested in education and in developing the primitive pioneer settlement into a safe, stable, permanent community, where their children might have the opportunity of becoming worthwhile citizens.
A quote from the newspaper and History of York Co., NE at the time of his death read:
"Robert W. Hopper, well to do farmer and highly respected citizen of New York Township, Nebraska, was an important factor in its upbuilding and prosperity. He was a native of Belmont Co., Ohio, born May 18, 1829. His parents, William and Phoebe (Lewis) Hopper were born in Pennsylvania, but his grandfather was born in Ireland, a farmer and weaver. They went to Ohio in 1798. He followed agricultural pursuits until his death in 1872. He had a family of nine children - five sons and four daughters. They raised tobacco. He enlisted at Taylorsville, IL, in Co. G. 41st Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was three years and one month in service. In the Battle of Fort Donelson, he was wounded in the feet. He was in the battles of Cold Water and Big Hatchie, the Siege of Vicksburg, and went with Sherman as far as Marietta, Georgia. He was wounded again in the Battle of Jackson, Miss. He left Illinois in 1871, came to York County, Nebraska, secured a homestead in New York Township. In 1866 he married Miss Kate Cowgill, daughter of Katherine and John Cowgill, natives of Delaware and Maryland, who emigrated to Illinois in 1854. They were Presbyterians and Methodists. He was a Republican, actively interested in public affairs."
More About Robert Washington HOPPER and Mary Catherine (Kate) COWGILL: Marriage: February 18, 1866, Boise, ID.
Children of Robert Washington HOPPER and Mary Catherine (Kate) COWGILL are:
Robert Washington HOPPER (b. May 18, 1829, d. 1924)
Notes for Robert Washington HOPPER: