PAST AND PRESENT OF THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD AND SANGAMON COUNTY ILLINOIS By Joseph Wallace, M. A. of the Springfield Bar The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, IL 1904
EBEN WILLEY HOPKINS. - Eben Willey Hopkins was born on the 1st of October, 1857, in the old family home in the city of Springfield and remembers distinctly the house in which the days of his boyhood and youth were passed, it being used as the state arsenal as well as the family home, for his father was then in charge of the state arms and the upper floor of the house was used as a storage place for the bullets, while two or three cannon were seen in the yard. At the usual age he entered the public schools and therein pursued his literary education. The musical taste of the family was early manifested in him and when a mere lad he displayed marked ability in this direction. He afterward learned the plumber's trade and also that of a cigar maker, but followed neither, returning to his first love, music. Mr. Hopkins went upon the road with the Haverly Minstrels and with that company traveled throughout upper and lower Canada and visited nearly every state of the Union. He was a member of the Mastodon Minstrels Baseball Club as third baseman. His first trip upon the road covered a period of thirteen months and his second trip occupied nine months. He then returned to Springfield, where he entered the employ of the Illinois Watch Factory as assistant foreman, having thirty-five girls under his supervision. He occupied that position for seven years and soon after accepting it he joined the Illinois Watch Factory Band, of which he was a long a most prominent member. When he resigned his position he went to Boston to study music under Morrison Allsberry, who is now at the head of the Des Moines College of Music, and who had been a pupil of the noted musician, Kneisle, of Boston. Mr. Hopkins studied for some time there, and upon his return to Springfield he began teaching music, making a specialty of stringed instruments and of the clarinet and cornet. He was also the leader of an orchestra of twenty-five pieces in the Second Presbyterian church of Springfield for a number of years, and for nine years was the tenor singer in the First Presbyterian church. He is a member of the Musicians' Union, and his influence in musical circles in Springfield has been potent and far-reaching. He has been a member of the orchestra in the Chatterton Opera House at intervals from the age of fourteen years. He owns a very valuable violin, which dates back to 1692. It is a Nicholas Amati instrument, very sweet in tone, and for which he has been offered one thousand dollars.
Professor Hopkins was married at the old homestead, where he was born and where he now lives, to Miss Nettie Crippen, the wedding being celebrated in 1886. The lady was born in Clyde county, Ohio, was educated in that state and is a daughter of Henry Crippen. Three children have been born of the union, Walter, Luta and Rhea, all born on the old homestead. Mr. Hopkins owns his pleasant residence at No. 513 College street and also the one adjoining it.3
Former Local Musician Dead - Eben Hopkins Passes Away in Little Rock - Was for Many Years a Teacher of the Violin and a Member of the Watch Factory Band
~~
Hopkins -- Word was received here yesterday of the death at a hospital at Little Rock, Ark., on Friday of Eben W. Hopkins, formerly of this city.
Mr. Hopkins was born in this city October 1, 1857, and resided here from that time until two years ago, when with his family he moved to Amity, Ark., where he had since resided. He had been in poor health for several years.
Mr. Hopkins resided at 513 South College street. He taught music here when a resident of this city, for many years. He was a very fine musician, particularly on the violin. He was a member of the Watch Factory band.
Decedent is survived by his widow and one son, Walter E. Hopkins, of Amity, Ark., two daughters, Miss Luta Hopkins of this city, and Mrs. Edward Maisenbacher, of Lancaster, Pa.; two sisters, Mrs. A.W. Kessberger and Mrs. Charles W. Bales, both residing in this city, and three brothers, Loen P. Hopkins of this city, George D.V. Hopkins of Alvin, Tex., and James D. Hopkins of St. Marie, Idaho.
The body will be forwarded to this city for burial. Funeral arrangements will be announced later.
Illinois State Register Sunday, September 6, 1914, Page 12.
Mrs. Hopkins Dies at Home of Daughter - Mrs. Nettie May Hopkins, widow of Eben W. Hopkins and a resident of Springfield most of her life, died at 12:45 p.m. yesterday at the home of a daughter, Mrs. James Abels, 2213 Wiggins avenue. She was 73 years old and had been ill five weeks.
Funeral services will be held at Smith Sons funeral home. Rev. John T. Thomas will officiate and interment will be in Oak Ridge cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Dr. R.K. Campbell, Dr. Louis L. Hopkins, John Willey, Richard Willey, Howard Kessberger and Homer Marsh.
Mrs. Hopkins was born in Ohio and came to this city at an early age.
Surviving are one son, Walter E., of Rochester; two daughters, Mrs. Abels and Mrs. Edward Maisenbacher, both of Springfield; ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Illinois State Journal Springfield, Ill. Sunday, February 2, 1936 Part Two.
Rhea A. Maisenbacher
Mrs. Rhea A. Maisenbacher, 93, of 2800 W. Lawrence Ave., died at 10:15 a.m. Monday at Memorial Medical Center.
Born in Springfield, Mrs. Maisenbacher was the daughter of Eben and Nettie Crippen Hopkins. Her husband, Edward, and three grandchildren, preceded her in death.
Surviving are four sons, Edward, Bob, and Jerry, all of Springfield and Ralph of Cincinnati, Ohio; five daughters, Mildred Bradley, Dorothy Kincaid, and Betty Alborg, all of Springfield, Eleanor Young and Shirley Gunter of San Antonio, Texas; 24 grandchildren and 21 great-grand children.
Services will be at 3 p.m. Thursday at the Boardman-Smith Funeral Chapel, with the Rev. Robert McDonald officiating. Burial will be in Farmington Cemetery, Farmingdale.
The State Journal-Register Springfield, Illinois Tuesday, July 3, 1984 Page 8.
Edward J. Maisenbacher, 71, of 2428 S. 9th St., died at 4:45 p.m. Thursday at St. John's Hospital.
Mr. Maisenbacher was born in Springfield, the son of Joseph F. and Pauline Girard Maisenbacher. He was a former employe of the Illinois Watch Co., Springfield and of the Hamilton Watch Co. Lancaster, Pa. He returned back to Springfield 15 years ago. Maisenbacher was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles No. 437.
Surviving are his wife, Rhea A.; four sons, Edward J., Robert W. and Gerald R. all of Springfield and Ralph G. of Cincinnati, Ohio; five daughters, Mrs. Mildred J. Bradley, Mrs. Dorothy M. Bailey, Mrs. Betty L. Alborg all of Springfield, Mrs. Elanor E. Young of San Antonio, Texas and Mrs. Shirley R. Gunter of Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.; one brother, Charles of Columbus, Ohio; two sisters, Mrs. Marie Mueller and Mrs. Volterine Cantrill both of Springfield; 19 grandchildren on great-granddaughter.
Service will be a 3 p.m. Saturday at the Smith Funeral Chapel. Rev. Harold W. Peterson will officiate and burial will be in Farmingdale Cemetery.
Illinois State Journal, Springfield Friday, July 14, 1961.
Betty L. Alborg, 87, of Springfield died Jan. 23, 2008, at St. John's Hospital. Betty was born in Springfield on May 28, 1920, the daughter of Edward J. and Rhea Hopkins Maisenbacher. She married James L. Alborg on July 7, 1944. She was preceded in death by two sons, Thomas M. Alborg
and James D. Alborg, both in 1988. She also was preceded in death by three sisters and two brothers.
She was a veteran of World War II, serving as a sergeant in the United States Marine Corps.
She retired from Franklin Life Insurance Co., where she was vice president of new business/policy issue.
She is survived by her husband, James; daughters, Ann (and husband, Jim) Keys of Rochester and Salli (and husband, John) Chernis of Sherman; sons, Don Alborg of Springfield and Bill Alborg of Mission, TX; sister, Shirley (and husband, Dan) Gunter of Canyon Lake, TX; brothers, Edward Maisenbacher of Springfield and Ralph (and wife, Ruby) Maisenbacher of California; five grandchildren, Cori Charlson, Katie, Kassie and T.J. Keys and Scott and Eric Alborg; and several nieces and nephews.
The family is being served by Boardman-Smith Funeral Chapel where friends may call Jan. 26, 2008, with the Rev. Vaughn Beeman officiating. Interment will be in Camp Butler National Cemetery with military honors by the United States Marine Corps Honor Guard.
Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association.