The record-union., 1891-07-27
MRS. HoPKINs-sEARLEs

MRS. HOPKINS-SEARLES
Mrs. Edward F. Searles died at Me-
thuen, Mass, on Saturday. She was the
widow of Mark Hopkins, one of the
oldest, best known, and most respected
of Sacramento's early citizens. Mr..
Hopkins died early in 1878. In Novem-
ber. 1887, Mrs. Hopkins married Edward
f. Searles of Massachusetts. In both Of
her marriages she was happy, living q
life of content and peace, and beloved
and respected by her family.
Mr.. Hopkins came on to California in
1S49, and early located in Sacramento.
Being of a prudent, careful and economic
disposition, with natural business ability
OF high order, he laid the foundations
OF great fortune-strong and deep in
those enduring virtues, frugality, sobriety
and untiring industry. He became one
of the founders Of the firm of Huntington,
Hopkins d Company, and subsequently,
in connection with Messrs. Huntington,
Stanford and Crocker, a protector and
builder of the Central Pacific Railroad
In 1854 Mr.. Hopkins returned to the
East and married his cousin, Mary
Frances Sherwood Of New York, she
being then thirty-one years of age.
They had long been devotedly attached,
and the marriage was one of pure
affection and in all respects was congenial.
His wife proved to Mr.. Hopkins to be a
true companion, entering into his views
of life and duty heartily and fully, and
she with him practised those frugalities
and self denials necessary to limited
meanC, and with him aided in building
to the fortune they finally amassed.
They resided in Sacramento until early
in 1874, when the railroad offices being
removed to San Francisco, and Mr..
Hopkins being Treasurer of the COM
pany, he set up his residence in the
metropolis. Soon after he began the
erection of a splendid dwelling house in
that city, work in which his wife en-
gagged with great satisfaction, but died be-
fore it was completed.
Mrs. Hopkins was one of the best
known women of Sacramento. She was
not much given to social activities in the
years of her residence here, but enjoyed
the communion of a large circle oi
friends. She was naturally of a reserved
disposition, more content with the
privacy and peace of her home and the
pleasures of reading than with gaieties
of society. Because she was frugal
squandered not, and did not indulge
largely in luXuries, she was by some
thought to be unsympathetic and hard
but this her intimate friends declare was
error. She said little about her benefac-
tions; but they were many and bountiful
and dispensed with the same quiet and
absence of publicity that characterized
her daily life.
In the cemetery in this city there stands
magnificent tomb that cost large sum
of money, which Mrs. Hopkins erected tc
hold the remains of her husband, anC
where they to-day repose. She completed
the mansion in San Francisco upon the
lines originally projected, and furnished
it with lavish expenditure, adorning il
with a splendid collection of rare gems o
art, in painting and in sculpture. a few
years later, having brought out her niece
Miss Crittenden, from the East, Mrs
Hopkins entertained more than she haC
been accustomed to do, and did so with
Gberality of expenditure, a frequency anC
fine taste, that made her drawing-roon
famous. She drew about her people o
artistic and literary tastes and of genera
culture, and took keen pleasure in thei
society.
The adopted son of herself and hus
band, Mr.. Timothy Hopkins, now Treas
urer Of the Southern Pacific Company
married Mrs. Hopkins's niece, Mis-
Crittenden. 1t was union that mucl
pleased Mrs. Hopkins, and she mani
tested her love for the young couple b,
generous aid and by renewed activities
in which she entertained with refine,
taste and with lavish expenditure.
At the home of Mark Hopkins fathe
inGreat harrington, Mass, Mrs. Hopllin
determined to erect a palatial mansion
During its construction she met Edwar
+. Searles, to whom in November. 1885,
as stated, she was married in the city G
New York. This union, like her frs
marriage, proved one OF compatibilit
and affection, and TO the day of her deaf
lived in peace and affectionate regarc
and enjoyed each the society of the otheI
as only do congenial minds.
Mrs. Hopkins-Searles was a patron {
the fine arts, and music, sculpture an
peinting have received millions from hc