From "Family History and Boyhood Recollections" by John Cameron Hopkin:

In 1833 Grandfather John Hopkin emigrated to America from Scotland with his family, Grandmother, James, Helen and Annie I. Grandfather's parents had died of tuberculosis while young. He had one brother, James, who never came to America.

"They came from Galway, Ayrshire. The Hopkins of Scotland in all probability came from Oxfordshire, England, but it is supposed that the forebears came originally from the Isle of Mann.

After they settled in America, there were born to them Janet and Mary. Annie I. died in 1841, and another Annie was born that same year. John Jr., my father, was born in 1844.

The trip was made by sailing vessel across the ocean, then via the Great Lakes and the Erie Canal to Detroit. Nothing extraordinary happened on the trip except James fell through the hatch and broke his arm. From Detroit they went by ox team to Almont.

They settled in the southeastern part of Lapeer County, in Almont Township, on 80 acres bought from the government when Michigan was still a territory. The price paid the government was $1.25 an acre. This was during the administration of Andrew Jackson. I still have the original deed signed "Andrew Jackson, by his secretary.

Along with the Hopkins came the Robertson family. How many of them I do not know. They were acquaintances and friends in the old country. The two families acquired land adjoining and built the log cabin on the property line. Each had an ox which they yoked together for a team. However, this arrangement proved to be only temporary.

The first cabin was on the south side of Grandfather's 80 acres, where there never was a road, the next was on the north side of the land where the road now is, the cross road one mile south of Almont. This 80 acres was covered with heavy timber, elm, basswood, soft maple and a great many hard maples which was the sugar maple.

The soil of this farm is quite heavy clay, pretty flat and not very easy to drain. There never was very much improvement made on that piece of land in Grandfather's day, however, when Grandfather retired in 1875, my father leased the land for five years with the stipulation that he bring in cultivation three or five acres each year, and build a certain number of rods of rail fence.

The first year was the toughest one. After that they got along very well in a material way. Their first crop was potatoes, two acres planted among green stumps of a new clearing.

Yours of date Sept 1st reached us Sept 16th, We were glad to hear you were still all in the enjoyment of good health, we do hope this will find you all well.

I promised to write you in November, and to say positively whether we were intending to come out to your place or not next spring. We do intend to come out this next spring for anything we know of in the meantime, if God in his good providence spares us all in good health, we don't say positively, as we know not what a day may bring forth. But we have no other intention in the meantime, I am obliged to you for your directions, and if spared to come we shall attend so nearly as possible to be there. In my last I forgot to speak to you about any little money we may have with us whether to bring it in British money or exchange it for American money, or what to do with it. Just feel obliged to you to write us once more, as soon after receiving this as your convenience will allow and give us any other information you may deem necessary for us and if there is a prospect of me getting employment readily next summer.

Mrs. McKay is obliged to Mrs, Hopkins [her sister] for still keeping the [?huis..hens], and were it not for the sea she would soon relieve her of them. I will be looking for a letter from you in February if you and I is spared and I will write you when we start.

There have been no deaths among your friends here. But Mary Sterling,___sehill, since I last wrote you, she died very suddenly in the month of October last. Thomas Sterling who lives at Dear [?Dean] Castle, has a son named Thomas who went to America some time ago, but has sent no word to his parents. His father wished me to mention him to you, that if you or his cousins heard any word of him he would be greatly obliged by your letting me know the first time you wrote me.

There have been one marriage and three births among your friends here since I last wrote you. David McGibbon and Mary Barrie were united in marriage first day of September last. Mrs. McGibbon has given over her house and business to David and Mary. Aunt McGibbon lives with them, she continues to enjoy her usual health. She has seen Mrs. Young of Pell lately. Mrs. Young sends her kind respects to you all.

I have seen Mrs. Borland's son Thomas- he said to me he intended going to Michigan next spring, but I have since heard, he has been proposing going to Australia. Mrs. McKay was delivered of a daughter, the second day of Oct. last [Mary Yorks]. She was very unwell for some weeks after but by the blessing of God she is now able to perform her household duties. the child is named Mary and is at present a very thriving child.

our oldest daughter Margaret is 18 years of age, Anne 14, William 12, Agnes 8.

Mrs. William Nesbit was delivered of a son October 11th which with mother is doing well. Mrs, David McGibbon was delivered of a son Oct, 21st and both are doing well. I suppose they will call him Moses but I am not sure. Aunt Nisbet and her family are at present in good health. John Barrie and family are in good health. John is at present in the employ of Gilmore and Company Coal Mastere [?] here and has a horse and cart of his own & his second son drives it.

Our Greenock friends are all well. John Hunter and family are all in good health. John has been very busy repairing the damage done by the flood in Newmills, an account of which you would see in one of the papers sent to you. Widow Hugh Hunter lives in Galston, she is very much failed of late. I have not heard from your brother since I last wrote you. enclosed is a few lies from your nephew at John hill toll. Along with this I have sent a newspaper which will tell you better about our Markets and country news than I can.

My wife and family join me in sending our kind love to you all. If I have omitted anything, I will tell you all personally if you and I are spared to see each other.