San
Francisco County
Biographies
TIMOTHY
HOPKINS
The high and responsible position of Mr.
Hopkins as Treasurer of the Southern Pacific Railroad is a striking contrast
with his start in life at his humble home in Maine where he was born. His
father died whilst he was a mere child, but his uncle, the late Mark Hopkins,
became his foster father and adopted him as his own son. At the age of fifteen
years he was sent to Urban Academy, San Francisco, preparatory to a college
course. His health failing, he took up a residence in Lake county,
where he occupied his times as a Nimrod until his health was fully restored. As
Mark Hopkins was the financial manager of the Central Pacific Railroad and the
umpire among his associates in all great undertakings, it seems a happy
circumstance that his mantle should fall on his adopted son, and that he should
represent his illustrious father by adoption so worthily. He commenced at the
beginning to learn the art of railroading. On the 1st day of
January, 1883, he was appointed Treasurer of the Central Pacific Railroad and
of the various companies connected therewith, and upon organization of the
Southern Pacific Company assumed the same office, which he now holds. He was
united in marriage to Miss M. K. Crittenden, a niece of Mrs. Mark Hopkins, a
lady who has endeared herself to California by her generous benefactions to the
poor. We quote from an interesting sketch from Resources of California: “In manner Mr. Hopkins is most genial and affiable, (sic) showing an utter absence of that hauteur
and formality often affected by those who have been called to fill high
positions of trust and honor. In business matters he goes straight to the
point, using no unnecessary words, and by the kindness of his demeanor placing
a visitor at once at ease. Although the youngest, we predict that he will not
be the least useful of the trustees of the Leland Stanford, Junior,
University.”
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: “Illustrated Fraternal Directory Including
Educational Institutions on the Pacific Coast”, Page 67, Publ.
Bancroft Co., San Francisco. Cal. 1889.
© 2012 Cecelia
M. Setty.
San Francisco County Biographies