St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-30
THEPALACE OF THE WIDOW
Mrs. Mark hopkins and Her New
House at Great Darlington.
How She Came to be the Possessor of $50,
100000 Leaving Million Dollar Res
i1ence in California
To Live in Finer One in Massachusetts
Great harrington and Its
Dear Memories.

Oh California, hau OeleTIHIueu ~ O1"u -
$4,000, 900 residence at Great Darlington,
Mass. Previous to that the Boston papers had
published the report that the house was 10
cost only one-tfth that sum, and the third
and last report is that the amount to be eX-
pended is only $500, 900. 1t is true, indeed,
that Mrs Barrin gtou is going to bald resi-
dence at Great Darlington. 1t is furthermore
true that it is 10 be a very expensive one-the
most expensive probably in Massa-
chusetts, or even New England II VIII
not cost so much as 100000, but it will
cost more than $1,000, 900. The plans are
COMPLETED and have been accepted. They
now rest in the hands OF New York archi-
tects aud will not be made public for some
time. Work on the foundation of the build
ing win be commenced this coming spring
and Mrs. Hopkins expects TO see It ready
for occupancy three years hence.
There is some interesting history woven
in and about the life of Mrs. Mark Hopkins.
She is one of the richest women in America.
She is the widow of Mark Hopkins who was
one of the five men Of California who built
the Central Pacifi railroad and made each q
princelv fortune out Of it. The others were
Leland Stanford, c. P. Huntington, and the
two Crockers. Hopkins was the treasurer OF
the company from its organization in 1861 or
thereabout, till his death in 1873 lie left an
estate that was inveutoried at S21, 700, 600.
The inventory was abou. one-third below the
zeal value. Mrs. Hopkins got the whole Of it
except about $4,000. coo, and she is now
worth quite $50, 600, 900.
Mark Hopkins was a Massachusetts man,
and was OF q strict Puritan type. H. was
grandson Of Samuel Hopkins, the celebrated
New England preacher and theoogian, who
died at Providence, r. l., In 1903. He lived
TO be nearly eighty, and was the friend and
companion Of Jonathan Edwards. he was
more Of 4 Caly.uist than John Calvin him
self, and his principal work, called "a Sys-
TEN Of Theology" viii forever stand as
about the most faithful and logical deduction
from the scverest Of religious beliefs. HIS
first pastorate was at Great Darlington. Be
was ordained rs preacher there IN 1741. about
ten years after the town had been founded by
the Dutch. and be remained there and
preached TIL 1863, when he went 10 Proyi-
dence. DR.. Samuel Camp, of Great Bar
rngtou, the principal physician there and
the agent of Mrs. Hopkins, has in bis pos
session Il portrait Of the great DR.. Hopkins,
painted life size, which looks the real Puri-
tan He has a strong, hooked nose that is
a. sharp and severe as a knife blade,
mouth shut close, thin lips, narrow cheeks,
with high cheek bones, a pointed chin and
hard, rugged forehead AL Of which is sur
mounted by a red cap that fits down close to
his temples, buges out in the middle and
ends in q quaint knot, reminding one Of an
old fashioned nightcap. This he always
wore, whether in the pulpit or out, being as
much attached to it rs cardinal IS 10 his
berreta.
THE FAMOUS HOPKINS FAMILY.
It NAV be mentioned here that the name
Hopkins has been fortunate one both for
fame and wealth in American history. One
Of the colonial governors Of Connecticut was
Edward Hopkins, who came over from Eng
land; EseK Hopkins, OF Rhode Island, was
an admiral in the American navy during the
Revolution; Stephen Hopkins, Of Rhode
Island, was one Of the signcrs OF the Declara-
ton Of Independence; Lcmuel Hopkins, Of
Connecticut Vas poet OF considerable repu-
tatiou In his Gay; every scholar knows Mark
Hopkins who was the president Of Williams
COLI &c for nearly forty years: Bishop Hop
kins, Of Vermont, High Church Episco-
palian, was famous theolOgian, and
John Hopkins OF Maryland, gave his state
university with an endowment Of s., O00,
900, the most substantial educational iu-
sttutiuu In the south and probably the
richest ia America. The New England
Hopbinscs all came from England. all be-
louged To the same Puritan stock and were
all related by blood, except Bishop
Hopkins, Of Vermont who was
an lri-nmau. Dr. Samuel Hopkins had
number of SONS and / believe President
Mark Hopkins, OF Williams college, was one
oi them. Il was for him that the California
Mark Hopkins was named. Mrs. Mark
Hopkins, VINO Is going to build such a mag
nihCcut residence az Great Darlington, was
cousin 90 ucr husband, So that she belongs to
the Hopkins family by blood as well as by
marriage She was horn in New York city
aud her father was VIM. Sherwood, a teacher
aud author Of some repute in his day. When
tie present Mrs Hopkins was vet little girl
be- removed TO Great Darlington, where,
think. hc Lal previously lived. he and his
wife soon died aud left several daughters,
who maintained seltct school in the
town for suur years. Mrs. Hopkins was
herself a teacher of music.
The father of Mark Hopkins lived in Great
Darlington. He had three sons. who lived
10 mature nge-Niurk. Moses aud samuel.
The latter went 70 live in Michigan, and Is
now dead Moses Is now in California,
having gone out there since the death OF his
wealthy brother, from whose estate he got
g., O11. 600. He married a New York woman
two or three years ago, having been bache-
lor up 20 siXty-fve.
now MARX HOPKINS MADE his FoRrCSE.
Mark uooNins went out 70 California by
sca in 1919. sailing from New York aud
doubling Cape Horn. He was then a single
man about thiriv-6ye years old. He had
few thousand dollars and went up 70 Sierra
mcuto, where he founded a hardware store
with C. 2. Huntington, with whom be was
afterwards assaci5ted in the Central Pacific
railroad. The hym made great deal OF
money, and I'm 1854 Mr.. Hopkins came back
l. Great Darlington and married his cousin,
Miss Fraucis Sherwood. Both her parents
had died, and she VAS living with her sisters
In pretty little frame house which yet stauds
upon the very ground whore Is 20 be erected
hex more than milton dollar mansion. Since
the day OF her wedding her sisters have died
rs well as her husband, aud she has left no
immediate relatives. Tue newly married
couple returned Ia California 10 1855. and Ia
1859 Hopkins, Huntington. Stanford aud
the two Crockrrs began 90 agjtat, the ques-
tinu 0t building ihc Central Pacific. An en-
ginycr named Judah told him the road could
b. tuilt, aud thsy had him las on, the plans.
When they wcut acoJt askiuc for popular
subscription they did not gel $500. Tor no.
body except these five mcu believed 9 rail-
mad could BE- constructed over tie Sierra
N-vHtas They tlefu selves has ,r,,s-b
faith jn the scheme proposed hv Judah
to iuves; $4,000 each 10 4 con
strCctiou company, sud in 1858 The work