(Our thanks goes to Michael A. Bryant, Sharon (Oates) Bryant, and Mark Redmond for the information in this section of the website)
Frederick(Fred) Joseph HOPKIRK is believed to be the the third child and only son of John HOPKIRK & Harriet THORLEY.
Frederick J. HOPKIRK was born about 1890 or 1891 in Colorado, possibly in Rock Vale or Cripple Creek.
At age 24, Fred married Edna May STEELE, on December 10, 1914 in Cripple Creek, Colorado. Edna May was the the widow of Joseph Frederick OATES, a miner in Cripple Creek. Joseph Frederick OATES contracted pneumonia and died in 1913. Edna may and Joseph OATES had two young sons, Joseph Frederick(Fred), Jr., and Alfred Lloyd.
It is not known if Frederick Joseph HOPKIRK adopted the boys formally, but during their early grade school days, records show that Alfred was registered as "Alfred Hopkirk," and Fred was registered as "Freddie Hopkirk." As adults, both boys went by OATES. (See below for more info about Joseph(Fred) & Alfred Lloyd OATES.)
The following children were born to Frederick J. HOPKIRK and Edna May STEELE OATES:
Winifred HOPKIRK, born July 22, 1916 in Cripple Creek,
Colorado. Winifred married a Mr. Hansen.
Winifred passed away in April 1977 in
Farmington, New Mexico.
Elizabeth Mae (Betty Mae) HOPKIRK, born October 26,
1924, in Denver, Colorado.
Betty Mae married 3 times(McNute, Hill
& Wood)
Betty Mae had at least one known son by
her first marriage.
Betty Mae's last husband was named "Skeet"
Wood.
Betty Mae passed away on January 31, 1997
in Farmington, New Mexico.
Sometime around 1918 the family moved to Denver, Colorado. Since the last major gold strike in Cripple Creek was in 1914, the move was probably because of economics. According to the 1920 census, Fred was a coal wagon driver in Denver.
Fred's wife, Edna HOPKIRK, eventually became a founding member of the Jefferson County, Colorado, Parents Teachers Association, remaining a member until her retirement.
Edna HOPKIRK passed away on November 21, 1967 in Lakewood County, Colorado. She is burried in an unmarked grave at Crown Hill Cemetery, Wheatridge, Colorado. It is not known when her husband Fred HOPKIRK passed away. Edna's obituary notes that Fred passed away before she did, but no dates or ages are given. The 1920 census lists Edna's birth place as Virginia, along with her father. Her mother is listed as born in Tennessee.
Additional Info:
Joseph Frederick OATES, Jr. married Helen on September 8, 1928 in Denver, Colorado. Helen and Joseph had two daughters. Joseph passed away on May 24, 1991 in Pasco, Washington.
Alfred Lloyd OATES married Lena May Bullock on September 29.1929 in Denver, Colorado. They had four children. In 1936 the family moved to South San Francisco, California, where Alfred earned his living as a carpenter. In 1973 Alfred & Lena moved to Santa Cruz, California. On November 8, 1980 Alfred passed away in Santa Cruz. Lena moved back to South San Francisco and passed away there on July 4, 1986.
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This page last updated on August 31, 2004