"Life is lived forward, but understood backward. It is not until we are down the road and we stand on the mountain looking back through the valley that we can appreciate the terrain God has allowed us to scale.” Jill Savage

Wednesday, May 19, 2010





"Character must be kept bright as well as clean." – Philip Dormer Stanhope



Happy Birthday John Hopkins - wikipedia

On May 19, 1795, Johns Hopkins was born on Whitehall, a 500-acre tobacco plantation with approximately 500 slaves located in Maryland. His first name, Johns, (not John) was a family name. His great-grandmother, Margaret Johns, married Gerard Hopkins, and they named their son Johns Hopkins, a not-uncommon naming convention at the time; his name was then passed on to his grandson.

In 1807, the Hopkins family, who were members of the Society of Friends (Quakers), emancipated their slaves, which meant that the formal education of Johns, then 12, had to be interrupted in order to help out on the plantation. Moreover, his help was needed because he was the second oldest of eleven children and, as their local Friends society had decreed, the family freed only the able-bodied slaves, and had to provide for the less able-bodied slaves, who would remain at the plantation and provide labor as they were able.

In 1812, at the age of 17, Hopkins left the plantation and went to Baltimore to work in the wholesale grocery business of his uncle, Gerard Hopkins. While living with his uncle's family, Johns and his cousin, Elizabeth, fell in love, but the prejudice against the marriage of first cousins was especially strong among Quakers. Neither Johns nor Elizabeth ever married. Still, just as he would continue to provide for his extended family throughout his life and posthumously through his will, Hopkins bequeathed a home for Elizabeth, where she lived until her death in 1889.

Seems like a nice guy - I can see why there is John Hopkins University and Hospital.

13 comments:

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Sandie you have done it again, now I have happy smiley tears in my eyes. I hope I can be like Johnny! Bless you my friend!

Hugs,
Linda

My Grama's Soul said...

I so love it when I learn something new when visiting blogging friends.

Thanks Sandie.

Jo

Stella said...

Lou always have something new and interesting to brighten our day. Stella

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Awwwww, I just loved the story about Johnny the bagger. It touched my heart. We all need to take a heart lesson from Johnny and make a difference.

God bless and have yourself the best day!!!

Mollye said...

Who needs to go to school when we have Chatty Crone to do all the work for us. We just have to tune in and read! Thanks teach!

jeanmac said...

What a love story! Thanks for the info of the name.

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Sandie, that was the most inspirational story I've ever read. Thank you, precious friend, for sharing that. It literally made my day! Makes me want to go out and bless someone, too.

XO,

Sheila :-)

Melanie said...

What a great video, Sandie! I wish there were more people in the world like Johnny. :)

I'm way too familiar with Johns Hopkins Hospital, as you well know, but it's neat to read his story.

Lois Christensen said...

Very interesting. Never knew that! Hope you had a great day!

Angela said...

Hey Sandie!

Johns Hopkins would be surprised at how his name is still being carried out with the University and the Hospital. That is amazing that after all those years his name is still there!

Hugs,
Angela

Tanna said...

Sandie, I am still crying! That is the best thing I have seen in a long time!! Would you mind if I put it on my blog, too?? I just love it!

Sr Crystal Mary Lindsey said...

What a lovely story of a good man. So sad that he wasn't able to marry his cousin. Yet he obviously still cared enough to leave her a home...I cannot imagine how they felt to love so much and know they could never be together.

ocmist said...

I didn’t get to see the video, but I’ve heard the story before and it is beautiful and so inspiring! Thanks for reminding me about it.

That was really interesting about Mr. Hopkins. I wonder how they decided to name a hospital after him? Love the roses, too!