John H. Hopkins III
Anne Arundel County Court Clerk, 1938-1955
MSA SC 3520-13109
Biography:
No Clerk experienced more dutiful change while in office than John Henry Hopkins III. In the 17 years that he served, the work volume increased so much that he chose to resign his position. This Clerk was born on November 25, 1884 in Owensville.1 He was the son of John Henry Hopkins II and Mary Hyde. He had two brothers, Marion B. and Hastings B., and two sisters, Mary C. Linthicum and Eleanor B. Hall.2 He moved to Baltimore with his family until 1916.3 Hopkins then worked as a bank cashier and manager at the Galesville branch of Annapolis Bank and Trust Company. He stayed there for 17 years. He and his wife Katherine Bailey had five children: John H. Hopkins IV, W. Spencer, Stuart B, Henrieta, and Evelyn.4
Hopkins first ran for the position of Clerk of the Court in 1938. He was the Democratic candidate in a very close election versus the incumbent Republican Frank A. Munroe. Hopkins won by only 710 votes. The race was so tight that the original unofficial results listed Munroe as the victor. In fact, every Democrat on the ballot in Anne Arundel County won this election year, due in no small part to the efforts of Frank S. Revell.5 Hopkins was eleced to four more terms. In the summer of 1955 he retired from the office citing illness and "the increasingly overwhelming nature of the job" as his reasons for leaving.6 In an article in the Evening Capital Hopkins discusses the "mushrooming work volume" that has occurred over the 17 years he served. For example in 1940 the office's collection of fees was $37,052, increasing to $132,290 in 1954. The number of new cases in 1945-46 was 1117, but in 1953-54 the amount of new cases was over 3300. The number of employees increased from 12 to 21 in order to help alleviate the strain on the Clerk, but it was still not enough for Hopkins.7 One can see how much the duties of the Clerk have increased just in the service of this one man. As a retirement gift, Hopkins received a 21-inch television.8
On December 15, 1971 John H. Hopkins died in West River. He was buried at Christ Episcopal Church in Owensville.9
Biographical Profile-
Born - November 25, 1884, Owensville 6/30/55/dc
Family - moved to Baltimore with his familiy until 1916 6/30/55; father - John Henry Hopkins II, mother - Mary Hyde; 2 brothers: Marion B. and Hastings B.; 2 sisters: Mary C. Linthicum, Eleanor B. Hall (o)
Education -
Occupation - bank cashier and manager at Galesville branch of Annapolis Bank and Trust Co. for 17 years (o); manager and supervisor for WPA 6/30/55; charter member of Annapolis Lions Club (o)
Married - Katherine Bailey 6/30
Children - 5 children - 3 sons: John H. Hopkins III, W. Spencer, Stuart B.; 2 daughters: Henrietta, Evelyn(o); several grandchildren
Political Highlights -
1938, Clerk of the Court for Anne Arundel County - victor in a very close election versus Republican Frank A. Munroe; Hopkins won by only 710 votes; the early, unofficial results listed Munroe as the victor; every Democrat on the ballot in AA County won this election year (11/11/38 cap); elected to four more terms (tb); resigns in the summer of 1955 due to illness and the increasingly overwhelming nature of the job 6/14/55; discusses changes in job and volume of cases, etc in 6/30 article
Death - December 15, 1971, West River dc; buried Christ Episcopal Church in Owensville; Hardesty Funeral Homes dc
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