Alex is the son of John Fred Poppin (1872-1967) and Parasha Andreyovna Bogdanov (1870-1907). He was born in Kars, Russia (now Eastern Turkey). Alex's family immigrated to America in 1907. His mother died at sea after giving birth to his sister, Hanya. All children were born in Russia, except for Hanya. They are Alex, Nicholas, Fred, Anna, William, and Hazel/Hanya.

Alex married Mary Sam Slivkoff in 1910 in San Francisco, CA. They had eleven children: John, Alice, Anna, Hazel, Vera, William, and Steve.

Alex is my uncle, my father's brother.

The picture to the right is that of Mary and Alex Papin.


Sketch written by George John Poppin on June 7, 2000.

ALEX JOHN PAPIN
...short, pleasant, talkative., raised MANY children...liked to sing Russian songs....raised a lot of children who mostly live in Elmira-Vacaville, CA area. Dad and Alex were quite close to one another. My father gave Alex's family my pet calf-cow called "five dollars" for that is what Dad paid for her when he purchased her as a calf..I raised her and she was a good milk producer. When brother Alex was on the "shorts" financially, Dad gave him my "five dollars" in order to help feed Alex' family.

Alex eventually retired in the Elmira, CA area on what is Vanden Drive today. In later life he sold fresh chicken eggs to the Molokans atop Potrero Hill from his chicken farm in Elmira.
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8/17/2000
Telephone conversation with Nick Papin, son of Alex Papin.
Alex remembers his father singing a lot before marriage ceremonies and funeral services. He would open the bible and sing and pray out loud.
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8/17/2000
Nadia Shubin Keller, grand-daughter of Alex Papin indicated that Alex would visit a family friend, Mary Shubin. Mary was a widow and Alex enjoyed talking with her. He was a widower and I am sure both wanted to talk to someone. They were older and nothing went on. They were old and dear friends. People started talking about them and Alex stopped going to visit Mary. That is a sad thing that people who gossip can ruin friendships.
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Obituary

Alex Papin
Alex J. Papin, 87, a rural Vacaville rancher, died Tuesday at the La Mariposa Convalescent Hospital in Fairfield. He was a native of Russia and moved to this area in 1930.
His wife Mary, died in Fairfield on April 6, 1967.
He is survived by seven sons, John, William, Steve, Nick and Mike, all of Vacaville, Fred of Fairfield and Sam of Elmira; four daughters, Alice Fernandez of Vacaville, Vera Jacobson of Vallejo, Hazel Bassett of Fairfield and Anna Shubin of San Francisco; a brother, Fred Poppin of Los Angeles; a sister, Ann Seminoff of Santa Rosa; two half-brothers; five half-sisters; 17 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held yesterday at the McCune Garden Chapel and another service will be held Saturday at 9 A.M. at the Christian Molokan Church in San Francisco, Burial will be in the Vacaville-Elmira Cemetery.
[The Reporter July 6, 1979]
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Death Certificate Transcription - 761
Transcribed from original document to the best of my ability - Nancy Poppin Posey

Alex J. Papin, died July 3, 1979 at 2117 hours at La Mariposa Convalescent Hospital, 1244 Travis Blvd, Fairfield, Solano County, CA. He was born June 5, 1892 in Russia; male white; 87 years old
SSN: 566-14-9485-A
Widowed
Primary occupation: rancher for adult life; self-employed in the farming industry
Informant: John Papin, 7008 Vanden Rd., Vacaville, CA 95688
Cause of death: Pneumonia - 3 days
Due to Cerebrovascular disease - 2 years
Other: Ischemia gangrene right leg; operation was not performed for any condition
Death was not reported to coroner
Physician: Percy A. George, M.D. 1525 Webster St., Fairfield, CA
Burial, July 7, 1979 Vacaville-Elmira Cemetery, Vacaville, CA
Funeral Director: McCune Garden Chapel