I am Dock Brown's brother's Great-Great-Great-Grandson.  One of Dock
Brown's (real name Gullim Hopper) brothers was Absalom, who fathered
Nathaniel, who fathered Calvin, who fathered Lloyd, who fathered John,
who fathered me.  I have a photocopy of Col Haynes' book, "Dock Brown
The Outlaw of Grayson County" which was given to my dad a few years ago
by someone who was tracing the geneology of a very distant aunt.  That
geneology buff determined that, before fathering my brother and me, my
dad was the last Hopper male from the Absalom branch of Dock Brown's
descendants.

I was very glad to see your web page about your Pine Knob theater.  I
would greatly appreciate any information you can offer about this piece
of family history.  Are there any remnants of the Hopper clan in your
area or any reunions you are aware of?  I travel through your neck of
the woods each year as I drive between Nashville and Cincinnatti on my
way from Texas to Dayton Ohio for Air Force Reserve duty.  I'd sure
enjoy trying to coordinate one of these trips with your Dock Brown play
or other related event.  I'd really like to see some of the sights
described in Col. Haynes' book, and the gravesight described by Ms.
Diane Hopmann and the "Hopper Chair."

Thank you in advance for any information you might offer.

Mike Hopper
Rockwall, TX

I am the Great-Great-Great Grandson of Absalom C. Hopper, brother of
Dock Brown (Gulliam Hopper).  My records show that Absalom and Dock's
parents were Gilliam Hopper (born 17 Oct 1776, married in 1799, and died
27 May 1848 in Caneyville, KY.  Gilliam married Nancy Campbell of North
Carolina who died in approximately 1862 in Adams, Illinois.  Absalom was
born about 1808 in Tennessee, married Ollie B. Moore of North Carolina
in about 1826, and died in 1851 (killed by Dock, whom Absalom himself
killed).  Ollie Hopper died about 1878, unknlown location.

Absalom and Ollie produced Nathaniel Hopper, born in Gibson TN in 1833,
died on 23 September 1895 (location unknown) and married Mary Isabelle
Forsythe of South Carolina.  Mary Hopper was born in 1840 and died on 13
March 1924, and is buried in Rosehill Cemetary in Tulsa, OK.  Mary's
parents were William Forsythe, born 1816 and Margaret McDaniel, born
1820 in Granger TN.  William and Margaret were married in Maury TN on 14
July 1836.

Nathaniel and Mary Hopper produced Calvin Wall Hopper, born in
Washington, Ark., date unknown.  Calvin married Clara E. Lewis in Benton
Ark. on 15 October 1887.

Lloyd Ray Hopper is the son of Calvin and Clara Hopper, and was born in
Oklahoma on 20 April 1905.  Lloyd married Helen E. Hall of Arkansas on
31 July 1930.  Lloyd died on 28 June 1987 in Tulsa, OK.  Helen died five
year later.  Lloyd and Helen are survived by their two children, John
Phillip and Ruth Ann, six grandchildren, and some great grandchildren
and more.  According to our research, John Phillip Hopper was the last
direct descendent (last male Hopper) of Absalom.  He has since increased
the numbers with my brother, Timothy John, and myself, Michael Eric; Tim
and I have done our part, contributing three additional male Hoppers.

Mike Hopper
Rockwall, TX

hoppers@cyberramp.net