Frances Elizabeth “Fannie” Hopkins was born on January 14, 1882, in Key West, Florida, to Mary Elizabeth “Melissa” CAREY (1864-1937) and James Berrian HOPKINS (1857-1921), In the early 1900s, her father James Berrian was prominent in Key West as a police officer. 

Mary Elizabeth CAREY Hopkins
James Berrain HOPKINS

Her paternal grandparents were James HOPKINS (1828-1865), and Frances HARRARD (1832-1865). When her grandparents died of yellow fever in 1865, Fannie’s father, James Berrian was 8 years old. Her aunt (James Berrian’s 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. 

Life on the Florida Keys had to have been hard enough just trying to provide food and shelter amidst turbulent weather and isolation from medical care and other people. James and Frances Hopkins would have had no help as they lay dying of yellow fever. In the extreme southern areas of Florida, the threat of yellow fever lasted all year round (Huffard, 84). As Key West had a port that brought goods from the tropics, it also brought yellow fever. And from there and other southern ports, an American epidemic was born. Life in those times were fraught with fear, grief, treatments that were often as horrendous as the virus, quarantines, collapsed economies, and crippled transportation. (Read more here Yellow Fever (Yellow Jack or the Yellow Plague) in Florida ) 

SIBLINGS

Fannie’s siblings included:

  • Charles Wesley was born on November 3, 1885.
  • Alice Mae was born on March 1, 1888.
  • Rose Ella Hopkins was born on January 17, 1893.
  • James C was born in May 1897. He died a month later on June 3, 1897.
  • Willard Berrian was born on March 21, 1899.
  • Clifford was born on March 15, 1906.
  • Paul Douglas was born on December 28, 1907.
Rose Ella HOPKINS Newcomb, Alice Mae HOPKINS Pinder, Fannie HOPKINS Russell
Fannie HOPKINS Russell, Rose Ella HOPKINS Newcomb
Rose Ella HOPKINS Newcomb, Unknown person, Fannie HOPKINS Russell, Alice Mae HOPKINS Pinder

In 1885, Fannie lived with her parents on Watson St. in Key West. The family of Justin Everett KNOWLES lived next door.

Fannie married James Clinton RUSSELL in Key West, Florida, on December 30, 1899.  Their daughter, Violet Eileen was born on October 27, 1900, in Key West.

James RUSSELL (photo from Ancestry .com. Not verified)

In 1900, Fannie lived with her parents and siblings at 1032 Catherine St in Key West, Florida. She was 18 years old and her husband, lived there as well.

In 1910, Fannie and James RUSSELL lived at 1127 Catherine St in Key West with their daughter. James worked as a Foreman for the Penn Bridge Company.

In 1911, Fannie and her siblings (Alice, a seamstress; and Ella) all lived with their father, James (policeman) at 1033 Knowles Lane in Key West.

In 1920, Fannie and James RUSSELL lived with their daughter Violet at 1211 Knowles St in Key West. James RUSSELL worked as a diver at the Naval Station.

In 1930, Fannie and James lived at 1210 Knowles Lane in Key West. James worked as an Engine Man in the U.S. Naval Yard.

In 1940 and 1950, Fannie (widowed) lived at 1211 Knowles Lane in Key West.

LOSSES

Her father, James Berrian passed away on February 12, 1921, in Key West.

Her husband, James Clinton RUSSELL passed away on November 14, 1935, in Key West at the age of 66. They had been married 35 years.

Her mother, Mary Melissa passed away on July 24, 1937, in Key West at the age of 73.

Her brother, Paul Douglas died on July 28, 1953, in Key West.

Her brother, Clifford died on January 12, 1956, in Key West.

SECOND MARRIAGE

Frannie married Elvie Herman PIERCE in Monroe County, Florida, in 1945. They divorced in 1947. Pierce passed away in 1951 in Gadsden, Florida, at the age of 67. 

Frances Elizabeth “Fannie” Hopkins died on February 7, 1958, in Monroe, Florida, when she was 76 years old. She was laid to rest in the Key West Cemetery.

SOURCES

Ancestry.com; Florida State Census, 1885; 1900 United States Federal Census; 1910 United States Federal Census; 1920 United States Federal Census; 1930 United States Federal Census; 1940 United States Federal Census; 1950 United States Federal Census; Florida Death Index, 1877-1998; U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current; U.S. City Directories, Key West 1911; Florida Marriage Collection, 1822-1875 and 1927-2001; Florida Divorce Index, 1927-2001

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