Jesse J. Toop (1871-1933)

TOOP

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 4/1/2022 at 17:03:27

Jesse J. Toop
(April 27, 1871 – November 18, 1933)

Among the agriculturists of Calhoun County who are devoting special attention to the raising of stock and are meeting with excellent success in that business is the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch, his home being on section 33. Jackson Township. He was born on the 27th of April, 1871, near the city of DeKalb, in DeKalb County. Illinois, and is a son of William Toop, a native of England, born in Winfrith, in 1836. When a young man of twenty years the father emigrated to the United States and settled in DeKalb County, Illinois, where he commenced life without a dollar and in debt. After working for some time as a farm hand by the month, he rented land and engaged in farming on his own account. Prospering in business affairs, he was at length able to purchase a farm of one hundred and twenty acres adjoining the present city of DeKalb, and at once began the improvement of that place. As time passed he added to his farm until he had one hundred and eighty acres of very valuable land under a high state of cultivation and was accounted one of the most thrifty and successful farmers of his community. Selling his place in 1881, he came to Calhoun County, Iowa, and purchased a half section of land, upon which he subsequently located, and to the improvement and cultivation of which he devoted his energies as long as he was able. In the development of his farm he was ably assisted by his sons. As he was an invalid for several years prior to his death, his sons, William I. and J. J., took charge of the place and carried it on until the father's death, which occurred December 3, 1893. William I. now owns and operates the old homestead, consisting of three hundred and twenty acres, and is one of the well-to-do citizens of Jackson Township. While residing in DeKalb County, Illinois, the father married Miss Sarah A. Whiteman, a native of that state and a daughter of John Whiteman, who was one of the early settlers of DeKalb County. She still survives her husband and now makes her home with a daughter, Mrs. Florence Behrend in Auburn, Iowa.
The subject of this sketch was a lad of ten years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to this county and here he grew to manhood, acquiring his elementary education in its public schools. Later he attended the Western Normal School at Shenandoah, Iowa, where he was graduated. After completing his education he returned home and remained with his father until his marriage, which was celebrated in Carroll County, Iowa, February 25, 1892, Miss
Sophia Koppelman becoming his wife. She was born in Lockport, Will County, Illinois, and is a daughter of Frederick Koppelman. a native of Germany and an early settler of Will County, Illinois, whence he removed to Carroll County, Iowa, in 1890. Our subject and his wife have two children, Elmer and Myrtle.
After his marriage Mr. Toop remained on the home farm one year and during the following two years operated a rented farm. On the expiration of that period he bought the farm where he now resides and has since made many improvements upon the place. Here he has one hundred and sixty acres under a high state of cultivation and supplied with all the conveniences and accessories found upon a model farm of the present day. He is a breeder of a good grade of cattle, pure-blooded Poland China hogs and Shropshire sheep, and fattens about two carloads of stock for market annually. In this business he has prospered and is today quite well-to-do.
Mr. Toop cast his first presidential vote for William J. Bryan in 1896, and always supports the Democratic party and its principles. Although still a young man he has already met with excellent success in life, and his career has been such as to win for him the confidence and high regard of all with whom he has been brought in contact. His wife was reared in the Lutheran faith and is a member of that church. [Source – Biographical Record of Calhoun County, Iowa, by S. J. Clarke, 1902, p.277]