George W. Hopkins
Encyclopedia
George W. Hopkins was a lumberman involved in the removal of tens of thousands of acres of virgin forests in Michigan and Florida.
Hopkins was born in 1844 in Virginia. His father soon moved his family to Michigan in search of farm land. Hopkins became a surveyor and map maker at a young age, and then moved to Manistee, Michigan in search of work. Along with his brother David, wife Ella, and sister Martha, he commenced to start a brick manufacturing business in Manistee, and then soon found profit in the lumber business.
In 1873, the Hopkins family purchased the 88 acres (356,123.7 m²) of the current village of Bear Lake, Michigan. The Hopkins built a saw mill, a grist mill, several business buildings, platted the village, and built homes for themselves.
In the 1870s, Hopkins build a railroad, the Bear Lake & Eastern, which moved logs to the mill, and from the mill moved lumber to a pier five miles (8 km) to the west of Bear Lake, on Lake Michigan. The area there was named Pierport.
In 1902, all of virgin forests in the Bear Lake vicinity had been removed, and the saw mill was closed.
He had at least one daughter, named Agnes.
Hopkins' attention turned to Eau Gallie, Florida
. where he had purchased over 10000 acres (40.5 km²).
While commencing the lumber business in Florida, he completed a drainage canal in 1909, now called Hopkins Canal, along present day Aurora Road between Lake Washington and the Eau Gallie River. The general idea and location of a navigable canal near the Hopkins Canal was first proposed by William Henry Gleason
in 1871. After passage of the Drainage District Act in 1913, George W. Hopkins organized a huge drainage project.
The towns of Deer Park, Florida
and Hopkins, Florida
were founded by George W. Hopkins. Some books consider William H. Kempfer, his son-in-law, the founder of Deer Park. As of 2005, the Kempfer Sawmill still exists in Deer Park. He founded the Union Cypress Company
in 1914. He died in 1925.
Hopkins was born in 1844 in Virginia. His father soon moved his family to Michigan in search of farm land. Hopkins became a surveyor and map maker at a young age, and then moved to Manistee, Michigan in search of work. Along with his brother David, wife Ella, and sister Martha, he commenced to start a brick manufacturing business in Manistee, and then soon found profit in the lumber business.
In 1873, the Hopkins family purchased the 88 acres (356,123.7 m²) of the current village of Bear Lake, Michigan. The Hopkins built a saw mill, a grist mill, several business buildings, platted the village, and built homes for themselves.
In the 1870s, Hopkins build a railroad, the Bear Lake & Eastern, which moved logs to the mill, and from the mill moved lumber to a pier five miles (8 km) to the west of Bear Lake, on Lake Michigan. The area there was named Pierport.
In 1902, all of virgin forests in the Bear Lake vicinity had been removed, and the saw mill was closed.
He had at least one daughter, named Agnes.
Hopkins' attention turned to Eau Gallie, Florida
Eau Gallie, Florida
Eau Gallie was a city in Brevard County, Florida from 1857 until 1969 when citizens voted to merge with neighboring Melbourne, Florida. It is now a small district in the north part of the city, near the Eau Gallie Causeway. William Henry Gleason founded the city. From 1874 to 1878 it served as the...
. where he had purchased over 10000 acres (40.5 km²).
While commencing the lumber business in Florida, he completed a drainage canal in 1909, now called Hopkins Canal, along present day Aurora Road between Lake Washington and the Eau Gallie River. The general idea and location of a navigable canal near the Hopkins Canal was first proposed by William Henry Gleason
William Henry Gleason
William Henry Gleason was an American politician from Florida. He was Florida's second Lieutenant Governor and was very briefly, acting Governor.-Early life:...
in 1871. After passage of the Drainage District Act in 1913, George W. Hopkins organized a huge drainage project.
The towns of Deer Park, Florida
Deer Park, Florida
Deer Park is an unincorporated community in Osceola County, Florida, United States. It is located off US 192, south of the intersection with County Road 419. The community is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area.-References:...
and Hopkins, Florida
Hopkins, Florida
Hopkins, also known as South Melbourne, is a former town in Brevard County, Florida, United States. It is part of the present-day city of Melbourne.-Town of Hopkins, Florida:...
were founded by George W. Hopkins. Some books consider William H. Kempfer, his son-in-law, the founder of Deer Park. As of 2005, the Kempfer Sawmill still exists in Deer Park. He founded the Union Cypress Company
Union Cypress Company
The Union Cypress Company operated a three-story double-band sawmill in Melbourne, Florida, built in 1912. The small company town of Hopkins , named after George W. Hopkins, the owner, was built at the site...
in 1914. He died in 1925.