Benjamin F. Hopkins

Benjamin F. Hopkins
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 2nd district
In office March 4, 1867 – January 1, 1870
Preceded by	Ithamar Sloan
Succeeded by	David Atwood
Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 26th district
In office January 1, 1862 – January 1, 1864
Preceded by	John B. Sweat
Succeeded by	Thomas Hood
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Dane 5th district
In office January 1, 1866 – January 1, 1867
Preceded by	James Ross
Succeeded by	Eleazer Wakeley
Personal details
Born	Benjamin Franklin Hopkins (1829-04-22)April 22, 1829 Granville, New York, U.S.
Died	January 1, 1870(1870-01-01) (aged 40) Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting place	Forest Hill Cemetery Madison, Wisconsin
Party	Republican
Spouses	Ethalinda Lewis (died 1855) Mary E. Willcut (died 1899)
Children	Arthur Frank Hopkins (died 1854)
Parent	Ervin Hopkins (father)

Benjamin Franklin Hopkins (April 22, 1829 – January 1, 1870) was an American politician and telegraph operator. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives for the last three years of his life from 1867 to 1870.

Earlier he had served one term each in the Wisconsin State Senate and Wisconsin State Assembly, and had worked as a private secretary to Wisconsin Governor Coles Bashford.

Biography

Born in Granville, New York, Hopkins attended the common schools as a child and later became a telegraph operator.

Early political career

He moved to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and then to Madison, Wisconsin, in 1849, and served as a private secretary to Governor Coles Bashford in 1856 and 1857. He was exonerated of involvement in the Bashford railroad scandal in 1860. He was a member of the Wisconsin Senate in 1862 and 1863 and served in the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1866.

Congress

Hopkins was elected a Republican to the United States House of Representatives in 1866 as part of the 40th United States Congress, representing Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district. He was reelected to the 41st Congress and served from 1867 until his death. There, he served as chairman of the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds from 1869 to 1870.

Death and burial

He died in Madison, Wisconsin, on January 1, 1870, following an attack of paralysis. He was interred in Forest Hill Cemetery in Madison, Wisconsin.

His death created a vacancy in congress that was filled by David Atwood for the remainder of the 41st Congress.

See also

• List of members of the United States Congress who died in office (1790–1899)

External links

• Benjamin F. Hopkins at Find a Grave