Missouri, but was reared in this county. After renting land for a time Mr. Priestley invested his savings in a farm in Martinsburg township about five miles south of Pittsfield, this place comprising one hundred and forty acres. He located thereon and carried on general agricultural pursuits for thirty-two years. His land was placed under a high state of cultivation and the fields returned good harvests. In connection with general agricultural pursuits he carried on stock- raising, having cattle, sheep and hogs, which he fattened for the market. At length he sold his farm and in 1900 removed to Pleasant Hill, where he yet resides. He was a practical fruit-grower and upon his farm had a thrifty orchard. In all of his work he was energetic and persevering, realizing that persistent labor is the basis of all desirable success.    Unto Mr. and Mrs. Priestley have been born three children, of whom two are living: Mrs. William Edmonds, who resides at Pleasant Hill; and Frederick, who is married and operates his father's farm in Ross township, a place comprising nearly two hundred acres of land with about one hundred and seventy acres under the plow. They also lost one son, Charles P. Priestley, who was married and died May 3, 1904, at the age of thirty-six years.    Mr. Priestly proudly cast his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln in 1864 and has usually voted with the republican party since that time. He has served as road overseer and has done effective service in improving the condition of the roads. A believer in good schools, he has labored earnestly to advance the cause of education during his nine years' service as a school director. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, Mr. Priestley having been connected therewith for over forty years. In church work he takes an active and helpful part and has served as trustee and steward. He likewise belongs to the Grand Army post at Summer Hill. For nearly half a century he has made his home in Pike county and has helped to improve it and make it what it is today. Although he commenced life a poor man at the lowest round of the ladder he steadily climbed upward until he reached the plane of affluence. He has accumulated valuable property, comprising a large and well improved farm and a good home in Pleasant Hill. He fought for the old flag of the Union and his is an honored name in the land of his adoption.                                             *-------------*                               CAPTAIN BENJAMIN B. HOPKINS    Captain Benjamin B. Hopkins, who has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits with the result that his labors have been crowned with a well earned and gratifying measure of success, now makes his home on section 29, Griggsville township, where he has excellent farming interests. He is a native of London, England, born on the 2d of January, 1838, and represents one of the old families of that country. His paternal grandfather, Robert H. Hopkins, was born not far from the city of London and spent his active life in County Kent, where he was accidentally killed by a falling tree. His wife survived him for some years, reaching the age of seventy. Their son, Robert Hopkins, father of our subject, was born in County Kent, England, but made his home through most of his life in the city of London. In his youth he learned the trade of a silk weaver, which he followed for some years and then became a confectioner, continuing in that line of business up to the time of his demise. He married Miss Matilda Bazim, who was a native of London but was of French parentage and was descended from Huguenot ancestry. Mr. Hopkins died when sixty-five years of age and his wife passed away in 1888, when about seventy-six years of age. They were devoted members of the Wesleyan Methodist church. They had a family of three sons and five daughters, of whom five are living.    Captain Benjamin B. Hopkins, who was the second in order of birth and is the only representative of the family in America, spent the first fourteen years of his life in his native country and then crossed the ocean as a passenger on the ship Petersburg, which weighed anchor on the 22d of September, 1852. He landed at New Orleans and then came up the Mississippi and Illi-