David Harris Hopkins
David Harris Hopkins, an attorney at law with offices in the Engineers' Building, is also principal and instructor in mathematics at the Cleveland Preparatory School, which he founded and which is now under the auspices of Baldwin-Wallace College.
The Cleveland Preparatory School occupies a rather unusual and a most useful place in the Cleveland educational system. "The purpose of the school," to quote the college Bulletin, "is to give young men and women a chance to secure a high school education without interfering with their daily occupations. The school is planned to accommodate those who work during the daytime but who are deficient in their high school education and desire to complete the necessary work for the bar examination and other examinations where a high school education is the minimum requirement." Thus it performs a part which the much agitated "continuation school" movement contemplates and the experience of the last seven years shows that this school has more than proved its usefulness in affording opportunities to acquire a high school education by night study. Several hundred young men and women have been assisted to higher education, and many of them are found today in the active walks of business and professional life.
David Harris Hopkins was born at Granger, Medina County, Ohio, October 8, 1882, a son of Chauncey I. and Allie (Harris) Hopkins. One of his paternal ancestors, Stephen Hopkins, was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and was descended from John Hopkins, who settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1630 and later removed to Hartford, Connecticut, in 1636. Stephen Hopkins was a brother of Esek Hopkins, the first commander-in-chief of the navy, and of the first American fleet, with rank of admiral. After his naval experiences he settled near Providence, Rhode Island, where he exerted great political influence, having been for many years a member of the Assembly. He graduated from the Granger High School in 1900 and the following year attended the Ohio Northern University at Ada and in 1911 received his law and Ph. B. degrees from Baldwin-Wallace College.
Mr. Hopkins opened a law office and began the practice of law in the Engineer' Building in November, 1911. In June of the same year he organized The Cleveland Preparatory School, which began with an enrollment of a few students, but has grown and prospered until it enjoys an established place in the educational system of the city. In August, 1914, the school became an organic part of Baldwin-Wallace College, and is an extension department of the academy proper and directly under the supervision and control of the college.
Mr. Hopkins is a man of many interests and successful in them all. He is interested in farming, owing a splendid stock farm where he is breeding Holstein-Friesian cattle, Poland-China hogs and fancy poultry. He was formerly a director of the Cleveland Poultry Breeder' Association. Mr. Hopkins is affiliated with the Masonic Order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of the Maccabees and with the Sigma Kappa Phi college fraternity. His home is at Berea, seat of Baldwin-Wallace College.
At Granger, Ohio, January 16, 1904, he married Vira Marie Kerstetter, the daughter of William J. and Amelia (Turner) Kerstetter. On her mother's side she is a descendant of Revolutionary stock and a long line of teachers and ministers. Her father was a soldier in the Civil war, a scientist and a lecturer. Mrs. Hopkins is a singer, and an active club woman. She was president of the Berea Literary Club, is now treasurer of Commodore Perry Chapter, United States Daughters of 1812, and a Red Cross worker.
From Cleveland - Special Limited Edition, The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago & New York, 1918 v.1