James H. Hopkins, district forest ranger for the Saranac Lake area in Franklin County, April 21 1919
New York State ArchivesBorn: 1881
Died: April 16, 1943
Married: Myrtle Slater
Children: Mrs. Hubert C. O'Connell, William James Hopkins.
James H. Hopkins was a District Ranger of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Plattsburgh Press-Republican, April 22, 1943
PRIVATE SERVICES FOR FOREST RANGER
Honorary Guard of Conservation Men Attend Obsequies at Home At Saranac Inn
The funeral of James H. Hopkins, well known district forest ranger, who died last Friday at the Saranac Lake General hospital, was held Monday afternoon. A private service was held at the Hopkins' residence in Saranac Inn, at 2:30 with Rev. Mr. Gurley officiating. An honorary guard of Forest Rangers, Game Wardens and State Police attended. The pall bearers were six of the Rangers.
Interment was in the family lot at the Riverview cemetery, Saranac Lake. [sic. He is buried in Pine Ridge Cemetery.
Plattsburgh people who attended were Ranger Gus Bodah and wife, Mrs. Marion E. Shay and daughters, Joy and Marionella and Mrs. Norman Swift.
The first serious illness since he became associated with the New York Conservation department, 28 years ago, Mr. Hopkins was stricken on March 24 with a heart -attack. Though he showed signs of improvement, his condition became critical last week and he never rallied.
A son of Mary Howard Hopkins and the late William James Hopkins, he was born, at Palmer Hill in 1881 and at an early age he went with his parents to Ausable Forks. On Jan. 15; 1901, he married Miss Myrtle Slater of that village and in 1908 he succeeded his father as postmaster at Ausable Forks.
After joining the Conservation department of the state in 1915, he was appointed, forest ranger and later district forest ranger and moved with his family to Saranac Lake. From there he went to Saranac Inn where the district headquarters are located.
His duties included fire control and recreational development for the Adirondack area, embracing Clinton, Franklin and the northern part of Essex county. Mr. Hopkins was active in much of the development of the Adirondack Park area for campsites and playgrounds.
His wife, a daughter, Mrs. Hubert C. O'Connell, a son, William James Hopkins, a grandson, William Oakey Hopkins, of Saranac Lake and .his mother, Mrs. William J: Hopkins, survive.
Lake Placid News, April 23, 1943
James Hopkins Dies, District Forest Ranger
District Forest Ranger James H. Hopkins, 62, head of the Adirondack division, New York state conservation department, died in Saranac Lake General hospital Friday. He had been ill since March 24, when he suffered a heart attack.
He was born at Palmer Hill, a son of William James Hopkins and Mary Howard Hopkins. He attended schools at Palmer Hill and while he was still a boy his family moved to Ausable Forks, where his father was appointed postmaster. In 1908 he succeeded his father in that position.
On Jan. 15, 1901, Mr. Hopkins married Myrtle Slater, Ausable Forks. He was appointed forest ranger in 1915 and promoted to district ranger in 1919. In that year he moved to Saranac Lake and later to Saranac inn.
Surviving are his widow. his mother, Mrs. Mary Hopkins; a daughter, Mrs. Hubert C. O'Connell of Saranac Lake; a son, William James Hopkins.
Mr. Hopkins was considered an authority on forest fire control and various other phases of conservation work. He supervised the work at Mt. Van Hoevenberg bobrun for a number of years.
Comments
