is what had drawn Hopkin and his family to the area, on the advice of Elias Thomas.
There was no sign of Hopkin in the 1900 census. In fact, he had died, aged about 49 in 1882 and was buried at North McAlester Cemetery. His wife, Margaret, now 59, was recorded as the widowed head of a family of 5 unmarried children who included a 17 year old, American born daughter, Jennie. 2 Welsh born boarders, employed as a miner and a musician respectively, completed her household. In total, Hopkin and Margaret had had 11 children - 7 sons and 4 daughters. Their 2nd son, Joseph had died aged only 9, before they emigrated from Wales. The passenger list of the ship, "Nurnberg" which brought them to America, records that 9 children travelled with their parents. In one of his early letters home, Hopkin had described the family as being alive and in excellent health and this had probably stood them in good stead for the trials that had faced them. In 1900, Margaret was recorded as being the mother of 11 children, of whom 8 were still living. Alongside the unmarried children, Daniel, Margaret, Gwenllian, Morgan and Jenny; 3 sons, John, David and Moses were married with families living locally. 2 remaining children, their eldest daughter, Mary Ann and 6th son, William cannot be identified in this census and along with the previously mentioned Joseph, probably account for the 3 deceased children.
Of the children at home, Daniel (32) was a miner and Morgan (21) was a salesman. Margaret (25) and Gwenllian (23) had no recorded occupation while Jennie was still at school. The next 3 censuses reveal that of these 5 children, only Morgan and Jennie had married by 1930. Eldest son, John (described as Ioan in the letters), aged 40 in 1900, was recorded as being a "mine boss". He and his Texan wife, Tennie had, by then, been married for 13 years and had 4 children. 3rd son, David (34) was a "business manager" and with his wife of 8 years, Illinois born, Georgia Amanda (nee Mason), had 2 daughters. 5th son, Moses (30) was a miner and he and his wife of 5 years, Bertha Mae (nee Humphrey), from Ohio, had 2 sons.
Over the years, the family became totally integrated into the local community. Polk's 1905 City Directory of McAlester, records David Hopkins, of 26 East Locust Avenue as being the secretary and treasurer of the J. J. McAlester Mercantile Company. John Hopkins, living at 56 East Smith Avenue was a coal operator and his 2 sons, Jonathan and David of the same address, were described as engineers. Morgan Hopkin was a storekeeper for the Bolen Darnell Coal Company, living with his mother, Margaret; brother, Daniel and sisters, Margaret, Gwennie and Jennie at 25 West Park Avenue. Jennie was by then, employed as a Post Office clerk.
By 1910, the Indian Territory had been integrated into the state of Oklahoma. McAlester, which was upgraded to the status of a city, found itself situated in the newly created county of Pittsburg. Margaret Hopkin was recorded as keeping a boarding house, providing lodgings for 8 men whose occupations were all connected with the railway. Son Daniel (a labourer) and daughters, Margaret and Gwenllian remained at home. Son Morgan, a manager in a lumber yard had by then, been married for 2 years and was living with his wife, Bessie (nee Cambron) who hailed from Kentucky. American born, Jennie was also recorded as having been married for 2 years and was living at McAlester with her husband, Wallace Bond and baby daughter, Olive. Margaret's eldest son, John had become a post master, while his brother, David continued to put his business skills to use as the manager of a departmental store. Moses Hopkins had moved near to his wife's parents in Krebs City, Oklahoma. He supported his 7 children by working as a track-man in the coal mines.
Margaret appears to have retired from keeping a boarding house by 1920. She continued to live with her unmarried children, Daniel, Margaret and Gwenllian. The census entries for her other children reflect few major changes. This was the last census entry for Margaret who died on 30th November 1922 