The World of My Ancestors

Gerald George HOPKINS was born in 1905 to Duke and Nellie MOUCK HOPKINS. He married Della Malinda ASH daughter of Lorenzo and Sadie MITCHELL ASH, in Monroe, Michigan, 7 May 1924. The announcement in the Marion Daily Star, Thurs. 8 May 1924 shows they had eloped to Monroe and were married by Reuben Crosby, Minister,  in his home. It also states Gerald is a contractor. It says that Mrs. HOPKINS is daughter of Mrs. KLINGEL of Park Blvd. They started their married life in Marion, Ohio, where they had their first daughter Jeanne in 1925.

Also in the Marion Daily Star newspaper dated 2 Sept 1924, Gerald was arrested for failure to provide for his wife. He was released after he agreed to give his wife $5 a week. In the 1925 and 1926 city directory of Marion, Della is listed as the widow of Gerald HOPKINS. We know this is not true.

In 1927 Gerald, Della, Jeanne along with Della’s mother Sadie, sister Sylvia and her husband Harold BROWNLEE, moved to New Jersey. Sadie, Sylvia and Harold all went to Newark, while Gerald and family ended up in Huntterdon County. In the 1930 census, taken in April, they lived in Tewkesbury. It shows he was a laborer on a dairy farm. My mother, Doris was born in Somerville later that year. By 1932 the family had moved back to Newark to be near the rest of the family. One day Gerald went to get his paycheck and has never been heard from since. In Sept of 1932 their third daughter, Geraldine was born. According to my mother and her sisters, the welfare and Della searched for Gerald. He was never found. He was declared legally dead so that Della could go on with her life. I have never found this record yet.

The last item I have found on Gerald was in his mother’s obituary. He is listed, but where about unknown. That was in May 1942.

See updates on HOPKINS family on this blog.

Labels: HOPKINS family

# posted by Shirley @ 10:47 AM