Henry Topp 1861-1933

TOPP, MARKS, SODEN

Posted By: Bobbie (email)
Date: 1/28/2012 at 07:52:13

The Elgin Echo, Elgin, Iowa
May 11, 1933

HENRY TOPP

Henry Topp was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, April 15, 1861, and died suddenly of heart trouble at his home in Elgin on April 30, 1933, at the age of seventy-two years and 15 days. He was one of nine children born to Frederick and Henrietta Topp. At the age of fourteen he left school and worked three years as an apprentice in a blacksmith shop receiving his well earned diploma. In due time he served three years in the German army after which he came to America and settled in this community working at his trade in various places, at Sumner, West Union, Eldorado and Elgin.

In 1887, he was united in marriage to Wilhelmina Johanna Fredericka Marks. This union was blessed with seven children, three of whom preceded their father in death. The four living ones are, Otto of Elgin, Ernest of Independence, Henrietta Soden of Minneapolis, Minn., and Albert of Beaver Bay, Minn., nine of eleven grandchildren also surviving him. The two surviving brothers are Ernest Topp of Sumner, and August Topp of Bremerhafen, Germany.

Mr. Topp was a member of the Lutheran church. For the past twenty-three years he lived in Elgin and worked at his trade to support his family, in which circle he will be missed. He was of a friendly disposition and had a large number of friends. He was summoned by God who will call us also upon the arrival of our hour.

The funeral services were held in the Elgin Baptist church, Wednesday, May 3, Rev. Ph. Lauer officiating. The singers of the church under Hans Keiser's leadership sang four hymns with Frederick Lauer at the organ. Burial was made in the Elgin cemetery and a large number of friends and relatives from a distance were present.