An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, pages 305-306 CHARLES B. HOPKINS, General Manager of the Inland Telephone and Telegraph Company Spokane, Washington, is one of the enterprising young men of the Northwest. Following is a sketch of his life and ancestry. Charles B. Hopkins was born in San Francisco, July 18, 1855, oldest child of Charles and Lucy S. (Baker) Hopkins, natives of New York and Illinois, respectively. His father was one of the Forty-niners of California, and upon his arrival in San Francisco engaged in merchandising and also practiced law. In 1861 he enlisted with his father-in-law, Colonel Edward D. Baker, and became Quartermaster at Fort Vancouver, where he remained until the close of the war. In 1835 he engaged in the merchandise business at Portland. He subsequently removed to Walla Walla, where he was appointed United States Marshal for Washington, and served eight years. He and his family now reside at Seattle. Mr. Hopkins' grandfather, Colonel Baker was one of the prominent men of his day, distinguishing himself as a legislator, orator and soldier. He was born in London, England, February 24, 1811, and at the age of four years came with his parents to America and located in Philadelphia, remaining there ten years. In 1825 the family moved west to New Harmony, Indiana, and a year later he walked from there to Belleville, Illinois, then the most important town in that State. After a sojourn of two or three years there he went to St. Louis, and thence to Carrollton, Illinois, where he began the study of law. He was married April 27, 1831, to Mrs. Mary A. Lee. The year following his marriage, he served in the Black Hawk war. In 1837 he was elected to the State Legislature, was re-elected the next year, and twice, 1845 and 1848, was elected to the United States Congress. In the meantime, in 1846, he raised the Fourth Illinois Infantry and served in the Mexican war. In 1852 he came to the far West, located in San Francisco and engaged in the practice of law. He subsequently removed to Oregon and was soon afterward elected United States Senator, being one of the first senators from Oregon. He volunteered his services in the war of the rebellion in 1861, became Colonel of a California regiment, and was killed at the battle of Ball's Bluff in October, 1861. Mr. Hopkins' father having located in Portland just after the war, Charles B. attended school there from 1865 to 1872. In 1873 he went to Wall Walla. There he learned the trade of printer in the office of Spirit of the West; spent two years there and then a year in Portland and Puget Sound, working at the same business. The following year he was guard at the penitentiary on McNeil's Island. In 1877 he located in Colfax, Washington, and, in partnership with E.L. Kellogg, founded the Palouse Gazette, of which paper he become sole proprietor in 1879. In 1882 he founded the Mirror, and sold out a month later. That same year he was owner of the Chronicle of Spokane Falls. He was also the founder of the Sprague Herald. He was engaged in newspaper work up to 1889, and during all those years took an active part in developing the resources and advancing the interests of the various new towns that have sprung up in Washington. In 1882 he was Commissary General of Washington Territory. In 1886 Mr. Hopkins started the first telephone line in Eastern Washington, from Colfax to Almota. He extended the system rapidly and established the exchanges of Spokane, Coeur d'Alene and Colfax. The first two he sold out to Mr. W.S. Norman, after which he devoted his time and attention to extending the lines tributary to the Colfax exchange until May, 1890, when all the systems of Eastern Washington were consolidated under the title of the Inland Telephone and Telegraph Company, of Spokane. Mr. Hopkins then became the general manager. This company has connections with over 100 cities and towns, this being one of the most extensive inland systems in the world, and its advancement and development is greatly due to Mr. Hopkins' business ability and untiring industry. He has always been an active and working member of the Republican party. While a resident of Colfax he was Mayor of the town, and resigned that office, when he came to Spokane in 1890. He is one of the Commissioners of the World's Fair. Mr. Hopkins' lovely home is beautifully furnished throughout, is located part way up the bluff and commands a magnificent view of the Spokane Valley. He was married May 2,1880, to Josie Davenport, a native of Oregon and at the time of her marriage a resident of Colfax. They have two daughters, Carrie and Eva. Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in September 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer * * * * Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the individual featured in the biographies.