History of Fulton County, Illinois; together with
Sketches of its Cities, Villages and Townships, Educational, Religious,
Civil, Military, and Political History; Portraits of Prominent Persons
and Biographies of Representative Citizens. Chas. C. Chapman & Co.,
Peoria, Illinois, 1879, page 952, Woodland Township
Wm. S. Hopping, farmer, sec. 6; P. O., Astoria. In obtaining our
biographical sketches many incidents come to hand. On the farm of Mr.
Hopping is a large mound, one of the largest in this county, and in
conversation we learn that relics of an interesting nature have been
found; is the youngest son of Gideon Hopping. He married Miss Sarah J.
Sturges, of South Carolina; her father, John Sturges, became known to
fame as a Revolutionary soldier and was a living witness of the famous
surrender at Yorktown. In 1823 Gideon Hopping and wife, each on
horseback, made the western trip to Illinois and stopped near
Springfield. In 1836 Mr. H. moved to Fulton Co, settling in Vermont
township, and passed away over a quarter of a century ago. Mrs. H., who
is a sister of Dr. Daniel B. Sturges, of South Bend, Ind., the
well-known writer and minister of the Gospel, passed away but a few
short weeks ago. She left but 3 children, - Gideon J., Joseph and Wm.
S. Wm. S. was married in 1861 to Miss Mary Cooper, a daughter of James
Cooper, by whom he had 5 children, 4 are living: Sarah J., John W.,
Mellisa E., Melina B. and Joseph H., deceased.
