Hopkins, Johns, 1795-1873

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Johns Hopkins was a Baltimore merchant and philanthropist.

He was born in Anne Arundel County, MD, May 19, 1795, the son of Samuel and Hannah Janney Hopkins. In 1812, Hopkins moved to Baltimore where he was employed in his uncle Gerard's wholesale grocery business. He later formed a wholesale provision house, "Hopkins Brothers," with his brothers Philip, Gerard, and Mahlon. Through further investments and lending, Hopkins amassed a private fortune, part of which was left as a bequest to fund the university and hospital in Baltimore which bears his name. Johns Hopkins died Dec. 24, 1873.

From the description of Johns Hopkins family collection, 1691-1971. (Johns Hopkins University). WorldCat record id: 48380098

The central figures in this collection are Cuthbert Powell (1775-1849), his son, Charles Leven Powell (1804-1896), Charles Leven Powell's wife, Selina (Lloyd) Powell (d. 1871), and their children.

Cuthbert Powell Cuthbert Powell (1775-1849) was born in Middleburg, Loudoun County, Virginia to parents Leven Powell (1737-1810) and Sarah (Harrison) Powell. He was one of eleven children. Cuthbert made his fortune alongside his brother, Leven Powell, Jr. (1772-1807), as a merchant and ship owner. He retired to "Llangollen," Loudoun County, Virginia in 1812 after a decline in business. Later he was elected to serve in both houses of the Virginia General Assembly; the Virginia State Senate in 1829 and the Virginia House of Delegates in 1840. In 1788, Cuthbert married Catherine Simms, daughter of Col. Charles Simms. The couple had ten children including; Anne Maria Powell (1800-1885), who married 1st cousin Dr. William Levin Powell; Dr. Llewellen Powell (1802-1870), who married cousin Sarah Elizabeth Harrison; Charles Leven Powell (1804-1896), who married Selina Lloyd; Mary Emily Powell (b.1807), who married cousin Cuthbert Powell and later Rev. George Adie; Ellen Douglas Powell (1813- 1862) who married Judge William H. Gray; Cuthbert Harrison Powell (1814-1897); and Jane Simms (Fanny) Powell, who married Wellington Gordon.

Charles Leven Powell and Family Charles Leven Powell (1804-1896) married Selina Lloyd (d. 1871) in 1830. The couple had six children, including; Rebecca Powell (1831-1921), Harriet Lee "Hattie" (Powell) Smoot (1833-1870), Lloyd Powell (1834-1861), Charles Leven Powell, Jr. (1835-1862), Minna Powell (1837-1854), and Selina "Nina" (Powell) Hepburn (1842-1918). Harriet Lee "Hattie" (Powell) Smoot (1833-1870) married Rector Smoot. In 1871, Selina "Nina" (Powell) Hepburn (1842-1918) married Sewell Stavely Hepbron. At some point, the last name Hepbron was changed to Hepburn.

Charles Leven Powell (1804-1896) graduated from Yale College in 1825. After unsuccessful attempts at starting a law practice in Alexandria, Virginia, he was able to support his family as a teacher. Still hoping to advance his law career, the family moved to Henry, Illinois in 1850. After the death of their daughter, Minna Powell (1837-1854), the family returned to Virginia leaving the two sons behind. The parents opened a girls boarding school in Winschester, Virginia, but at the start of the Civil War in 1861 were forced to shut down. Lloyd Powell (1834-1861) returned to Virginia to enlist in the war and was killed at the 1st Battle of Bull Run, 21 July 1861. Following his death, Charles Leven Powell, Jr. (1835-1862) returned to Virginia to enlist and was killed in a skirmish in August 1862. The rest of the family scattered across the state to live with various relatives until the end of the war. The family reassembled in Alexandria, Virginia and opened another school for girls called the "Arlington Institute." The teachers on staff include Charles Leven Powell (1804-1896), his wife and his three remaining daughters. This school supported the family for 30 years until its closure in 1894.

From the guide to the Powell Famiy Papers, 1775-1927., (Special Collections, Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Hopkins, Johns, 1795-1873. Johns Hopkins family collection, 1691-1971. Johns Hopkins University, Sheridan Libraries and the Milton S. Eisenhower Library
referencedIn Evans & Iglehart. Evans & Iglehart receipt book, 1815-1823. Johns Hopkins University, Sheridan Libraries and the Milton S. Eisenhower Library
referencedIn Maryland Manuscripts Collection, 1664-1981, 1664-1981 University of Maryland (College Park, Md.). Libraries
creatorOf Powell Famiy Papers, 1775-1927. Special Collections Research Center, Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary
referencedIn Dennis, James Teackle, 1865-1918. Papers, 1651-1917. Maryland historical society
creatorOf Powell family. Powell family papers, 1775-1927. William & Mary Libraries
referencedIn French, John Calvin, 1875-. John Calvin French papers, 1928-1957. Johns Hopkins University, Sheridan Libraries and the Milton S. Eisenhower Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Conrad, Robert Young, 1805-1875 person
correspondedWith Dennis, James Teackle, 1865-1918. person
associatedWith Dupuy family. family
associatedWith Evans & Iglehart. corporateBody
associatedWith French, John Calvin, 1875- person
associatedWith Hopkins, Gerard. person
associatedWith Hopkins, Hannah Janney, 1774-1846. person
associatedWith Hopkins, Samuel, 1759-1814. person
associatedWith James Monroe. person
associatedWith Johns Hopkins University. corporateBody
associatedWith Lee, Agnes, 1841-1873 person
associatedWith Lee, Fitzhugh, 1835-1905 person
associatedWith Lee, George Washington Custis, 1832-1913 person
associatedWith Lee, Mary Anna Randolph Custis, 1806-1873 person
associatedWith Lee, Robert E. (Robert Edward), 1807-1870 person
associatedWith McGuire, Hunter Holmes, 1835-1900 person
associatedWith Monroe, James, 1758-1831 person
associatedWith Parrish, Joseph. person
associatedWith Powell family. family
associatedWith Powell Family, family
associatedWith Williams, Langdon. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Maryland
Subject
African Americans
Apprentices
Courtship
Freedmen
Kilpatrick
Merchants
Philanthropists
Reconstruction
United States History Civil War, 1861-1865
Women
Occupation
Merchants
Philanthropists
Activity

Person

Birth 1795-05-19

Death 1873-12-24

Americans

English

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