Robert HOPPER (b. September 27, 1797, d. August 16, 1879)
Robert HOPPER (son of Robert HOPPER and Jane (Jean) Duff)219, 220 was born September 27, 1797 in Bellair, Ohio, and died August 16, 1879 in Barnesville, Belmont Co., OH. He married Tamar COWGILL on May 18, 1830 in Belmont Co, OH.
Notes for Robert HOPPER: Robert Hopper married Tamar Cowgill on the 18th of May, 1830. Sources: IGI - International Genealogical Index. Will of Robert Hopper, Belmont Co, Ohio. Robert and Tamar were married by Sr. Brockunier a Methodist Episcopal Minister and vouched for by William Johnston, record was found in the Genealogical Records of Belomont Co., OH, Vol 6, Marriage Records Vol 2, pg 333. Robert Hopper, member of the Friendship Lodge of Belmont Co., OH was an officer Junior Warden in 1843. History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, and history of the Barnesville, Masonic Lodge "Friendship Lodge #89" written in 1928 (100th anniversary). Robert Hopper was born in Bellair, Ohio, but lived in Barnesville, Belmont Co., Ohio where he died. A beautiful monument marks his grave with authentic dates and it shows that he used the spelling of Hopper as Happer, which is the same spelling as those in the cemetery at St. Clairsville, Ohio, who came from Ballygawley, Ireland. Their relationship to our branch has not been proven, but there branch came from the same vicinity as our branch in Northern Ireland. This family was Major Andrew Gardner Happer, Born in 1745, husband of Margaret Patton, Born 1753, and Married on March 17, 1778 in PA, both are buried in cemetery at St. Clairsville, Ohio. He could be Robert's great uncle, uncle to his father Robert Hopper, who changed the spelling to Happer in Ohio. Robert was a trustee of the South Cemetery in Barnesville and Associate Trustee of the Barnesville Woolen Mills.
In the History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties by Caldwell, Page 313, it is written, "In Friendship Lodge No. 89 R. Hopper was initiated in 1827. He was made Junior Warden in 1828, made Trustee of New S. Cemetery in 1858." On page 319-320 in the History of Barnesville, his name appears as Happer, Associate Trustee of the Barnesville Woolen Mills. These mills were sold to him in 1856 and he sold them again in 1861. He was the grandfather of Republican Congressman Earl Lewis, also the grandfather of Commander Chester Lewis of Annapolis and of Roy Elwood Lewis, attorney in St. Clairsville, Ohio. They were Republicans.
A quote from a letter of Commander Chester E. Lewis is as follows: " The 2nd Robert Hopper lived in Barnesville, Ohio. His home, a plain brick house, is still standing; his children were born in it, as was also my father. He was a stone cutter and stone dresser. In the latter capacity he was frequently employed by my great grandfather Lewis to dress the millstones in the water power mill, which Lewis owned at Lewis Mills (now Lamira, Ohio). I presume that it was in this way, that my grandfather Thomas Elwood Lewis met his daughter Mary Amanda. Robert Hopper 2nd was a Presbyterian and was an elder in the church at Barnesville (the Lewis' were Quakers). Robert Hopper 2nd and his wife Tamar, are buried in Southern Cemetery, Barnesville, Ohio. In Union Cemetery, at St. Clairsville, Ohio, there are the graves of several Hoppers (all spelled with an "a"), but I have never been able to determine their relationship to my ancestors (probably came from Ballygawley, Ireland, which is very close to the neighborhood of our Hoppers). The only relative of my grandmother on her father's side that I ever knew, or ever heard spoken of, was her first cousin whom we were taught to call "Cousin Lyde". She was married to Wilbur Elliot. They had no children.
Maria Jane Hopper, my grandmother's sister, was interested in genealogy, and I have no doubt, had in her possession some materials on the subject. I have heard her say that an ancestor, or uncle, was closely associated with Robert Fulton in building his steamboat, but that Fulton prevented him form getting any credit for his work." Note: Earl Ramage Lewis, great grandson of Robert Hopper (Ireland), was elected to the 76th, 78th, 79th and 80th Congress from the 18th Congressional District of Ohio.
More About Robert HOPPER and Tamar COWGILL: Marriage: May 18, 1830, Belmont Co, OH.
Children of Robert HOPPER and Tamar COWGILL are:
Samuel Duff HOPPER, b. March 01, 1831, Barnesville, Belmont Co, OH, d. January 22, 1935.
+Mary Amanda HOPPER, b. June 16, 1832, Barnesville, Belmont Co, OH, d. December 17, 1903.
Maria Jane HOPPER, b. August 28, 1834, Barnesville, Belmont Co, OH, d. Abt. 1922.
William Cowgill HOPPER, b. May 02, 1838, Barnesville, Belmont Co, OH, d. May 14, 1841, Belmont Co, OH.
Robert HOPPER (b. September 27, 1797, d. August 16, 1879)
Notes for Robert HOPPER: