Hopkins was the son of General Timothy Soveral Hopkins (b. ca. 1777) and Nancy Ann (Kerr) Hopkins (d. 1848). Hopkins attended Fredonia Academy and Genesee Wesleyan Seminary in preparation for college.
In 1865, Hopkins was President of the Common Council of Buffalo, New York, having been an alderman since 1856. In 1867, he became Collector of Internal Revenue for the 30th District of New York.