The reason that there was missing work of Isaac T. Hopper’s that was unable to be found to this present day was because of the Draft Riots of 1863. The riots destroyed her home and the content of Isaac Hopper’s work was either stolen or destroyed. After Isaac Hopper’s death, his daughter Abby Hopper Gibbons was given much of her father’s work including his diary and his letters. This is made clear in a letter that Abby wrote someone responding to a request. It reads:

Dear Sir,

In reply to your request, I have to say, that the Riots of 1863. made sad havoc in our home. The house was sacked, and contents destroyed or stolen.

My Father’s letters were many, and of great value to his family & friends—not a vestige remained.

It gives me pleasure to send you a picture which is the best I can do now I hope it may reach you in safety. very truly yours,

Abby Hopper Gibbons

Within the archive of Abby Hopper Gibbons, we are able to find letter’s in which she wrote to friends and family during the Riots of 1863, about leaving her house and grabbing everything that she could from her home. She states “I can’t help feeling sorry that we have lost so many things of value, but, on looking back now, we cannot regret that we did not act differently. We knew we could not save the furniture, and so packed up little values.”[1]

As stated above, due to the Riots of 1863 much of Isaac T. Hopper’s work was missing because of Abby’s home being destroyed by the destructive riots that were occurring at the time.

[1] "Life of Abby Hopper Gibbons. Told Chiefly through Her Correspondence : Gibbons, Abby (Hopper) 1801-1893 Internet Archive. January 01, 1896. https://archive.org/details/lifeabbyhopperg00unkngoog/page/n15.