Background
He was the son of General Timothy Soveral Hopkins (b ca 1777) and Nancy Ann (Kerr) Hopkins (d 1848).
He was the son of General Timothy Soveral Hopkins (b ca 1777) and Nancy Ann (Kerr) Hopkins (d 1848).
Hopkins attended Fredonia Academy and Genesee Wesleyan Seminary in preparation for college.
In 1865, he was President of the Common Council of Buffalo, New York having been an alderman since 1856. In 1867 he became Collector of Internal Revenue for the 30th District of New New York He was New York State Comptroller from 1872 to 1875, elected in 1871 and 1873 on the Republican ticket.
He graduated from Union College in 1841, with Phi Beta Kappa honors and became a member of the Kappa Alpha Society there.