Scott Hopkins, vice-president of the Prudential State Bank of Topeka while best known by his connection with this bank and with other banking institutions, has also had a successful career in law. He was born at Waverly, Chemung county, New York, Feb. 2, 1860, and is a son of John Shepard Hopkins and wife, who was Julia Scott. His father, who is a lawyer by profession, removed to Kansas with his family in 1869 and located at Holton, Jackson county, where both parents still reside. John Shepard Hopkins has not only been a successful lawyer, but has been a leader in movements pertaining to the public welfare. He has held the office of county attorney of Jackson county, has been state senator, and is an ex-member of the house of representatives in the state legislature.

Scott Hopkins comes of ancestry in which Scotch, Irish, English and French blood are about equally mingled. He is descended on the paternal side from stanch New England ancestors, who were of English descent and were numbered among the patriots of the Revolution. His mother, Julia Scott Hopkins, was of Scotch-Irish descent on her father's side, the mother's family name having been Bertrand. Mr. Hopkins was but nine years old when his parents removed to Kansas and located at Holton. His youth was spent in that little city and there he obtained his common school education, which was supplemented by a course at Highland University, of Doniphan county, Kansas. In the fall of 1877 he entered the University of Kansas, at which he graduated in 1881 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and which has since conferred on him the degree of Master of Arts. While at Lawrence as a university student he was captain of a military company composed chiefly of students of the university. He then entered the Columbia Law School of New York, where he graduated in 1881, and returned to Holton, where, associated with his father, he began the practice of his profession. His profession received his undivided attention until 1887, at which time he became president of the First National Bank of Holton, a position he has held from that time to the present. He retained his residence in Holton until 1910, when he removed to Topeka, but, meanwhile, in 1906, he became one of the organizers of the Prudential State Bank of Topeka and was made its vice-president, his present position. He is chairman of the executive committee of the Prudential Trust Company, which is operated in connection with the Prudential State Bank, and is also one of the directors of the Commercial National Bank, of Kansas City, Kan. While Mr. Hopkins has given the banking business the most of his attention since 1887, he has not entirely ceased his law practice, but has rather combined the two pursuits. He is a member of the Kansas State Bar Association and the State Bankers' Association, being an ex-president of the latter.

In politics, Mr. Hopkins is a Republican. He has never been a candidate for office, but has always taken a lively interest in politics from the standpoint of good citizenship, his interest having frequently gone so far as to do much active campaigning and stumping for his party and principles. Always a sound money man, who believes in the gold standard, he was not in harmony in this respect with his father, who, though a Republican, was once an advocate of free coinage of silver. A curious incident in this connection happened a number of years ago when he was sent by the gold standard committee to follow up his father, who was making speeches in favor of free coinage of silver, and if possible, undo what his parent had done, by making gold standard speeches. The affair of course was wholly good natured and the rather unique experience was enjoyed by both parent and son.

Mr. Hopkins is a member of the board of trustees of Christ Hospital, of Topeka, is a member and ex-president of the Topeka Commercial Club and is a member of the Fortnightly Club. He is also secretary and treasurer of the City Public Library, of Topeka, as well as a member and president of the board of regents of the University of Kansas. Fraternally he is a Knight Templar and Thirty-second Degree Mason.

Mr. Hopkins was married Nov. 26, 1885, to Miss Cora Elizabeth Pierson, of Lawrence. They have three living children: Warren Bernard, Edna Pierson, and Elizabeth. Edna Pierson was educated at the University of Kansas and Bryn Mawr. Warren Bernard is an electrical engineer. He received his training at Purdue University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Mrs. Hopkins was graduated at the University of Kansas, in the class of 1884, after which she studied music in Boston one year.