Nathaniel (Nace) Hopkins, born enslaved circa 1830, became a leader of his people, fought for the Union in the Civil War, originated the annual Trappe Emancipation Day celebration in 1867 and headed it until his death in 1900, was one of the founders of Scott‘s Methodist Church, helped establish the first “colored schools” at Trappe and Barber, and was buried in old Paradise Cemetery on this site.