Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-10-16
ROMANTIC FAMILY HISTORY
Story of Mrs. Hopkins-searles' $40,
100000 and Her Adopted Son.

The published will Of Mrs. Hopkins
searles giving her property, estimated
at $4O, 100000, to her husband and ig.
noring her adopted son, Timothy Hop.
kins, has brought before the public the
somewhat romantic story Of the Hopkins
family, The adopted son, Timothy, was
the child OF an Irish laborer, named
Nolan, who worked for old Mark Hop
kins.
Nolan, ST., sent to Maine for his wife
and two children to join him in Califor-
mia. When the mother and children ar
rived at their destination it was only to
lind the father dead, he having been
drowned while they were on the way.
Mark Hopkins had warm heart be-
meath rough exterior, and he took the
fatherless lad to his own house, and by
both Mr.. and Mrs. Hopkins the boy was
treated as their own son. All the ad-
vantages Of education, oil the opportuni-
ties which their wealth could give him
he had, and that he was worthy and
availed himself Of their kindness is
shown by his subsequent career in
various enterprises, and latterly as
Treasurer Of the Southern Pacific Rail-
road.
He had not been adopted legally at the
time OF Mark Hopkins death, but shortly
after the event the widow took the neces-
sary steps, it was supposed with the in
tention of making him heir to the vast
property, no other motive being apparent
then or now. Timothy Hopkins and his
foster-mother have always been on the
best OF terms, apparently, but it was
thought OF the time of her marriage to
Searles that the young man was not al
together pleased.
Edward F. Searles, the fortunate re-
cipient OF Mark Hopkins millions, has
had almost as eyentfnl a life as the young
man who will, it is reported, contest his
good fortune.
Searles was born in Massachusetts
fifty years ago, on farm in the town Of
Methuen, and after receiving good edu-
cation, went to Boston and entered the
employ Of Paul & Co., who dealt in fancy
furniture
In 1874 he came to New York and en-
tered the employ Of Hotter Bros. He had
by this time come to be recognized as on
authority on art furniture and house
decoration. He was valuable to his EN-
ployers, and received large salary, with
which he was enabled to indulge his taste
for study. His own modest apartments
were furnished with that same exquisite
taste which eventually made him many
times millionaire.
In 1881 he went to California for his
health, and subsequently met Mrs. Hop
kins, who was much impressed by his
refined and courtly manners. At the
time when the famous palace on mob
Hip was being furnished, the long ex.
perience Of Searles was being utilized by
Mrs. Hopkins, and it was under his
direction that the interior Of that mag
niticent structure was brought from
chaos into well-organized household
While thus engaged he was often in the
company Of Mrs. Hopkins, and this as.
ISOLATION led to marriage after the
death of the sturdy old New Englandel
J who had built this colossal structure.
The house at Great Darlington, Mass.
was furnished under the direction o:
Searles. Mrs. Hopkins became his wife
Nov. 8, 1887, the ceremony taking place
at Trinity Chapel, in this city. She was
several years his senior, but their mar
ried life has been happy one, and he il
now one Of the richest men in this coun
try. It is said that Mrs. Searles did MOI
leave her adopted son legacy, for the
reason that he had been given 100000
during her life, in addition to an educa
ton and many gratuities.-(New Yorl
Advertiser.