Elizabeth Malvina (Russell) Hopper Wine was born on January 25, 1863, in Pineville, Missouri to Alvina Caroline (Davenport) and Carlyle Ross Russell. Elizabeth married Robert Monroe Hopper in McDonald County, Missouri, on August 24, 1877.

Elizabeth and Robert lived in Texas and New Mexico before deciding to move to the Arizona Territory for Robert’s health.  They already had seven children at this time, including a three-month-old baby: Rhoda Belle (Mrs. George Baxter) Reid, born in 1880 in Grayson County, Texas; Mary Irene "Mamie" (Mrs. James) Donnell, born in 1881 in Texas; Ella Heath (Mrs. George) Haigler, born in 1884 in Texas; Etta Pearl (Mrs. Wesley) Sneary, born in 1889 in New Mexico; Laura Alice (Mrs. Lex) Wall Cochran, born in 1891 in New Mexico; Robert Earl Hopper, born in 1892 in New Mexico, and Maude Agnes (Mrs. Robert) McMahan, born in 1896 in New Mexico.

They "set out on the long and wearisome journey" to Arizona (Echoes of the Past: Tales of Old Yavapai, Volume II).  After five weeks of travel, they arrived in Lower Verde, Yavapai County, Arizona Territory, where Robert built a store. Robert died on June 14, 1900, and Elizabeth continued to run the store. Elizabeth is quoted in Echoes of the Past, II: “Our only means of communicating with the outside world was by means of stage coach…Our store developed into an evening meeting place for the cowboys, miners, and ranchers…The Indians became our loyal friends. Many times I served them in their perplexing problems and cared for them in sickness. In turn, they gave us their steadfast devotion, which affords me many sweet and lovely remembrances of their childlike faith in me.”

In 1913, Elizabeth married Elias Wine (1851-1930), her neighbor, a widower with seven children. Elizabeth is quoted in Echoes of the Past: "During the years of struggle, I enjoyed the steadfast loyal friendship of Elias Wine, but for the sake of our children's happiness, we decided not to marry until they were all well established. Our succeeding life together was one of pleasant companionship and counted (sic) happiness until he was taken by death in 1930."

The family moved into the Old Fort Building (Colonel's Quarters) at Fort Verde where she died on June 4, 1941. She is buried in Cottonwood Cemetery.

Laura (Hopper) Wall Cochran, her sister, is also represented in the Territorial Women’s Memorial Rose Garden.

Donor: Mrs. J. E. Donnell
Photo Located: Digital Format Only - I-Drive>Rose Garden Photos & Bios>RG TIFF Portraits
Updated: 8/27/2015, Gretchen Hough Eastman