Hopper was born in 1830 in New Jersey. He married Margaret Stagg Mount on April 3, 1855. They had three children; Sophronia, Arthur and Marian. He became a steel merchant with the Crucible Steel Company of New York City. A Democrat, he was elected mayor on April 9, 1878. After serving one term as mayor, the Democrats did not re-nominate him but instead went with Isaac William Taussig.[1]
^"Jersey City Politics. Democratic Nominations. An Unpopular Man For Mayor". New York Times. 1880-04-04.
^"Henry J. Hopper". New York Times. 1905-10-06. Mr. Hopper had been in construction work all his life and at the time of his death was connected with the Crucible Steel Company of New York