FEATURED PHOTO: Fannie HOPKINS Russell, Rose Ella HOPKINS Newcomb

Rose Ella Hopkins was born on January 17, 1893, in Key West, Florida, to Mary Melissa (Elizabeth) 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. 

James Berrain HOPKINS
Mary Elizabeth CAREY 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

Rose’s siblings included:

  • Frances Elizabeth “Fannie” Hopkins was born on January 14, 1882, in Key West
  • Charles Wesley was born on November 3, 1885.
  • James C was born in May 1897. He died a month later on June 3, 1897.
  • Alice Mae was born on March 1, 1888.
  • Willard Berrian was born on March 21, 1899.
  • Clifford was born on March 15, 1906.
  • Paul Douglas was born on December 28, 1907.James C was born in May 1897 in Key West. He died a month later on June 3, 1897, in Key West.
  • Willard Berrian was born on March 21, 1899
  • Clifford was born on March 15, 1906,
  • Paul Douglas was born on December 28, 1907, in Key West

SPOUSE

She married John Joseph “Jack” NEWCOMB.

CHILDREN

One ancestry tree lists a child born in 1922 that died that same year.

Jack Ray NEWCOMB was born in 1925.

Jack Ray NEWCOMB
Wedding day. Catherine Elizabeth YRADI and Jack Ray NEWCOMB
Jack Ray NEWCOMB 1942, Senior photo Key West High School

RESIDENCES

In 1900, Ella lived at 1032 Catherine St in Key West, Florida with her parents.

In 1910, she lived at 1033 United St in Key West, Florida with her parents. Ella’s mother is listed as “Elizabeth”. Her father worked as a policeman and her sister, Alice worked as a dressmaker.

In 1920, Ella lived with her parents and siblings at 1022 Knowles Lane in Key West, Florida. She was single and the census lists her with no occupation.

In 1927 and 1930, Ella lived at 1209 Knowles Lane with her husband, John NEWCOMB and son, Jack Ray in the household of her mother and two brothers. Jack worked as a switchman for the railroad.

In 1935, Ella (listed as Rosella) and Jack (listed as John) lived at 1209 Knowles Lane in Key West with their son, Jack R.

In 1940, Ella and Jack lived at 1209 Knowles Lane. Their son, Jack Ray, and Ella’s brother, Douglas also lived there. Jack is listed as “John”, a stevedore with the steamship line, and Douglas is listed as a laborer for the WPA Army Barracks.

In 1950, Ella (now listed as Rose) still lived at 1209 Knowles Lane with her son, Jack Rae. Also living with them was Paul Hopkins, Ella’s brother. He worked as a plumber.

Rose Ella HOPKINS Newcomb, Alice Mae HOPKINS Pinder, Fannie HOPKINS Russell
Rose Ella HOPKINS Newcomb and her husband, John (man’s identity not verified)
Fannie HOPKINS Russell, Rose Ella HOPKINS Newcomb
Rose Ella HOPKINS Newcomb, Unknown person, Fannie HOPKINS Russell, Alice Mae HOPKINS Pinder

LOSSES

  • Her father James Berrian passed away on February 12, 1921, in Key West.
  • Her mother Mary passed away on July 24, 1937, in Key West, Florida, at the age of 73.
  • Her brother Paul Douglas died on July 28, 1953, in Key West, Florida, when Rose Ella was 60 years old.
  • Her sister Frances Elizabeth “Fannie” died on February 7, 1958.
  • Her brother Charles Wesley died on January 5, 1967.

DEATH

Rose Ella Hopkins died on July 3, 1967, in Key West, Florida, when she was 74 years old.

SOURCES

1900 United States Federal Census; 1910 United States Federal Census; 1920 United States Federal Census; 1930 United States Federal Census; 1935 United States Federal Census; 1940 United States Federal Census; 1950 United States Federal Census; City Directory Key West Florida,1927; Florida Death Index, 1877-1998; U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007; The Key West Citizen Key West Florida Monday, August 10, 1936; Ancestry. com

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