Dr. Oliver P. Hopping has been a resident of Mount Pulaski, Logan county, but three years, although a native of Illinois, having been born and reared in Mason county, his birth occurring February 12, 1870. But in the brief period 'he has spent at his present location he has come to be recognized as one of the best medical practitioners of the community.

Dr. Hopping is a son of the late George N. and Mary L. (West) Hopping, of Mason county, where they reared their family of three children, of whom the subject of this review is the eldest. The parents were both natives of Indiana and came to Illinois while quite young with their respective families. The father was of German descent. At the age of ten years he came to Mason county, Illinois, where he grew to manhood. He followed farming during his entire life, save for the four years he spent in the service of his country during the Civil war. At the outbreak of that conflict he enlisted in Company K, Eighty-fifth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, served throughout the entire period of that long contest and was mustered out at Washington, D. C., at its close. With his regiment he participated in the battle of Lookout Mountain as well as in the fights at Chickamauga and Kennesaw Mountain and then went with Sherman on his famous march from Atlanta to the sea. Shortly after his return home he was married, in 1867, to Mary L. West, who was born in 1841 and died in 1882. She was the older of two children and was born in Indiana. Mr. Hopping was a stanch republican and remained so until his death. He was a very successful man, owning a splendid farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Mason county, Illinois, and a fine residence property in Pawnee City, Nebraska, at the time of his death in 1905, being then in his sixty-third year.

Eldest child in a family of three, Dr. Hopping received his common school education in Mason county, and was graduated from the Havana high school in 1888, after which he taught school until 1894. In September of that year he entered the St. Louis Medical College, a branch of the Washington University at St. Louis, Missouri. For two years he studied there and then took one summer term of instruction and lectures at the Illinois Medical College, graduating in 1896 with the degree of M. D. Then he returned to the St. Louis Medical College, completed his course and was graduated from that institution March 3, 1897.

On August 9, 1890, Dr. Hopping was married to Miss Nannie E. Yutas, a daughter of Jonathan and Mary E. Yutas of Illinois, and two children were born of that union, but shortly after the death of the second child Mrs. Hopping died. In 1904 the Doctor was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Zelle, a daughter of Carl and Annie Zelle of Illinois.

Following his graduation from the St. Louis College Dr. Hopping began the practice of his profession in his home town of Havana, Mason county, where he continued to reside for six years, building up a splendid practice in that community by reason of his excellent skill as surgeon and physician. The exacting duties of his profession, which resulted from an exceptionally large practice, caused a breakdown and necessitated his immediate release from the severe strain of a country practice. He disposed of his office and excellent practice and for four years traveled throughout the west, maintaining Parsons, Kansas, as his headquarters. The change proved beneficial and in 1907 he decided to again follow his profession in the state of Illinois. On October 30, 1907, he began practice in Mount Pulaski, where he still resides, having become one of the substantial citizens of the place. He is the owner of a plot of fifteen acres of valuable land lying on the outskirts of the city and two residence properties within its limits. His political faith is shown by his allegiance to the republican party, with which he has always been identified, though holding no offices of any importance. With his wife, who is a member, he attends the German Lutheran church. He is a member of Mount Pulaski Lodge, No. 154, M. W. A., and of the Havana Lodge, A. F. & A. M. A conscientious and faithful follower of his chosen profession. he is making a splendid record for himself as a physician and has already won the respect and esteem of the worth-while citizens of the community.

Source: Skinner, Lawrence B., History of Logan County, Vol. II, [Chicago: Pioneer Publishing Company, 1911] p. 11-18.

Submitted by Cheryl Rothwell who is not related to Oliver Hopping and knows nothing further about him or his family.