|
|
|
|
|
  |
Robert Topping
1833-1918 |
|||
| Death of Robert Topping
Robert Topping, an old citizen of Jones county, well known in Monticello, Richland and Castle Grove townships, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. L. Aldrich, Last Tuesday morning, at 4 o’clock, at age 85 years. Mr. Topping had been ailing during most of the winter, and was unable to walk on account of troubles with his feet, but he did not take to his bed until the Sunday proceeding death. The cause of death was given by the physician as dropsy and heart failure.
Mr. Topping was born in Dublin, Ireland and came to the United States with his parents at the age of 8 years. They settled in New Jersey, not far from the city of New York, and that locality remained Mr. Toppings home until his removal to Iowa in 1864.
During the early part of the Civil War, Mr. Topping was in a foundry working for the government , and he was one of the workmen employed on the ‘Monitor’ which caused so much excitement in the fight with the ‘Merrimac’. During the latter part of the Civil War he served as cook in the Army camps.
He was married to Margaret Harris, August 10, 1859. They came to Iowa and settled in Richland Township, Jones County, in 1864, and remained residents of that township until after 1879. It was in January of 1879 that Mrs. Topping died. Afterwards Mr. Topping married Mary Bacon and resided for a time in Delaware County. The second wife has been dead a number of years. Since the death of his wife, Mr. Topping had lived alternately with his children, spending the most of his time with his daughter, Mrs. Aldrich, and with whom he lived in Monticello, during the last three years.
The decedent is survived by the following named children: Mrs. Anna Aldrich, Monticello; Robert J. Topping, Olin; Richard Topping, Cedar Falls; George Topping, Sand Spring; and Harry, the latter being by his last wife and bearing the adopted name of Rockwell, of Oconto, Nebraska. The funeral services were conducted at the home of Mr. and Mrs. L. Aldrich this afternoon, by the Rev. A. R. Walton, pastor of the Presbyterian Church, and burial was had at Oakwood Cemetery.
Mr. Topping was a quiet man, but of a sociable disposition and entirely trustworthy. He was regarded as honest, and a man who always kept his word. He was a skilled in gardening and horticulture, and when he owned a place of his own it was always noticeable on account of its being well kept and the great variety of flowers that surrounded the house.
Submitted by: Steve Hanken
|
||||
© Copyright 1997-2013, The Art Department, © Copyright 2014-2020, Richard Harrison. Last updated on Friday, 16-Apr-2021 16:55:55 MST | ||||