by Karen Yvonne Hamilton, 2024

James Berrian HOPKINS was born on November 1, 1857, in Colquitt, Georgia, to  James HOPKINS (1828-1865), and Frances HARRARD (1832-1865).

When his parents died of yellow fever, James Berrian was 8 years old. His sister,  Jane Ann HOPKINS Knowles, took into her own household two of their siblings, Charles, age 11 and Henrietta, age 2. In 1870, this blended family was still living on Knockemdown Key. It is not known who took in James Berrian. 

Yellow Fever (Yellow Jack or the Yellow Plague) in Florida

In 1881, he married Mary Melissa CAREY. I have their children listed as Fannie 1882 (married name Russell), Charles Wesley 1885, Alice Mae 1887, Rose Ella 1891, James C 1897, Willard 1899, Clifford 1904, Paul Douglas 1907.

In 1885 James was married and living in Key West next door to his sister, Jane Ann on Watson St. He worked as a seaman.

In 1900 he lived at 1032 Catherine St. and was a cigar maker. James would later become prominent in Key West as a police officer.

In 1910, he was living at 1033 United St. in Key West and working as a policeman.

In 1920, he was living at 1022 Knowles Lane and still working as a police officer. The census of that year lists him as being unable to read or write.

The city’s 10 man police force photographed in 1909. Seated from left: R. Reneso, an unidentified man, Police Chief Whitemore Gardner, “Red Mack” Stickney, Lee Baker. Standing from left: John Kirschenbaum, Pat Stickney, John Carey, another unidentified man, James Berrian Hopkins

He died on February 12, 1921, in Key West, Florida, at the age of 63, and was buried there.

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