Mark Hopkins: In Pursuit of His Passions

Mark Hopkins was an American businessman and railroad investor. He was one of the four entrepreneurs who invested in the Central Pacific Railroad in 1861. Hopkins was born on September 1, 1813 in Jefferson County, New York.

Hopkins’ father died when he was a boy so he did not know that he was his father’s “Junior.”Hopkins studied law and later entered a number of business ventures. One of his businesses was “Hopkins and Hughes” where he was partner. He was also associated with “James Rowland and Company” as bookkeeper and later, manager.

During the height of the California Gold Rush, Hopkins formed the “New England Mining and Trading Company.” this company purchased goods to sell them to California. Hopkins moved to Sacramento, California and opened a wholesale grocery with his friend Edward Miller.

In 1855, Hopkins and a fellow businessman Collis Huntington established Huntington Hopkins and Company and sold iron and hardware. Hopkins, Huntington, Charles Crocker and Leland Stanford became the investors of Central pacific Railroad in 1861.