Topliff, John Nelson, Sr. 1836 – 1915
TOPLIFF, WOODWORTH, REED, ALLEN, TILLOTSON, KETTENGER, LENNON
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/6/2015 at 12:01:29
JOHN NELSON TOPLIFF, SR.
After a long and active career devoted to agricultural pursuits John Nelson Topliff, Sr., lives retired in Decorah in the enjoyment of a competence which provides him with all the conveniences and many of the luxuries of life. For many years he was a prominent farmer in Winneshiek county and has not only attained his own success along that line but has been instrumental in promoting general agricultural conditions and advancement. He has lived retired in Decorah since 1891, having become connected with the business life of the city as the owner of valuable property here. Although seventy-seven years of age, he is still active and enjoys the best of health, taking interest in all matters that affect the community and giving his support to all worthy causes.
Born in Newark, New Jersey, on July 24, 1836, he is a son of Elias and Sarah (Woodworth) Topliff, the father born near Coventry, Connecticut, of English stock. Elias Topliff studied medicine in order to practice as physician and surgeon and for a time was active in his profession. Subsequently, however, he engaged in the jewelry business and upon coming to Ohio, where he located near Milford Center, there engaged for ten years at the shoemaker's trade. In 1847 he made removal to northeastern Iowa and tried to find a suitable location for settlement. The first spot which aroused his interest was two miles west of Postville, in Winneshiek county, and although it appealed to him as a likely location, he was not entirely satisfied and traveled on for some time, but finding nothing more suitable, subsequently returned to make his home there. He drove back to Ohio and bringing his family, settled on the property. His journeys were fraught with obstacles and hardships, as there were no roads at the time and he had to follow Indian trails. It was in 1848 that Mr. Topliff took up three hundred and twenty acres of land, partly in Allamakee county and partly in Winneshiek county. There he lived until the spring of 1852, when he was elected judge of Allamakee county and in order to enter upon his duties moved to Columbus, which was the county seat at the time. Public-spirited and progressive, he held public office from that time until his death. He was the first judge of Allamakee county and he died in Waukon, this state, in November, 1860, while serving in the important position of county treasurer. For some time he also held the position of school commissioner. His wife was a native of Ohio and in that state their marriage took place. She died on May 4, 1854, on the farm which was located east of Waukon, Iowa.
John N. Topliff, Sr., enjoyed but meager educational advantages, attending school in Ohio until eleven years of age and working upon his father's farm after coming to Winneshiek county for two or three years. He improved his school advantages by attending the log schoolhouse erected on his father's farm near Postville, making use of the primitive opportunities thus offered. The father subsequently left the farm and our subject, when yet quite young, operated the place for five years. In 1865 John N. Topliff, Sr., bought out his mother's share in the farm and made his home thereon until 1891, when he retired. Employing progressive and scientific methods, he brought his land to a high state of cultivation, placing suitable improvements thereon and installing such equipment as would increase the productivity of the soil and facilitate the labor. The years have brought him prosperity and in 1891 he was enabled to retire, selling his property and now residing in Decorah in the enjoyment of a comfortable competence. While living in the country Mr. Topliff served for some time as local school director, and while his father was living was also employed for two years in the treasurer's office.
In 1860 Mr. Topliff was married to Miss Rachel Elizabeth Reed, a daughter of David and Mary (Allen) Reed, the father a native of Ross county, Ohio, where he was born on June 27, 1799. He was of Irish and Scotch descent and his occupation was that of a farmer. In 1848 he came to Winneshiek county, being one of the early pioneers of this part of the state, and located on land situated near the place upon which Elias Topliff had settled. He came to Decorah in 1852 and there died in March. 1880. He was closely identified with the public life of his locality and for eight years served with fairness and impartiality as county judge. His wife was born in Pennsylvania on May 9. 1814, and reared in Ohio, as was her husband, where they were married. She was of Yankee and Dutch extraction and passed away on February 4, 1866. Mr. and Mrs. John N. Topliff, Sr., became the parents of the following children: Charles L., born December 28, 1862, a well-known dentist of Decorah, who married Ida Tillottson of that city, by whom he has three children—Myrtle, Alta Grace and Lyle Ray; John N., Jr., born November 11, 1864, a farmer of Bruce, Wisconsin, who married Josie Kittenger, of Castalia, Iowa, by whom he has one son, Roily, a graduate of Highland Park College, now engaged in automobile manufacture in Des Moines; Ann Grace, born July 3, 1868, who died November 25, 1877; Frank Roily, born February 6, 1875, who died October 25, 1877; and Frank Ray, born May 19, 1884, a dentist at Postville, who married Miss May Joe Lennon of Decorah.
Mr. Topliff is a stanch republican, giving his support to the measures and candidates of that party. Both he and his wife are members of the Unitarian church, in which they take an active and helpful interest. Fraternally he is a member of the blue lodge of Masons at Decorah and both he and his wife belong to the Order of the Eastern Star. Mrs. Topliff was one of the first ladies to be initiated into this lodge in this part of the country, her initiation taking place at Postville. This lodge was instituted by Robert Morris, who at that time had just returned from the Holy Land and, giving a lecture thereon, organized the lodge, Mr. and Mrs. Topliff becoming charter members. Mr. Topliff has also become closely connected with the business life of Decorah, owning a valuable business block in the down town district. Although seventy-seven years of age, he is still active and takes a deep interest in all matters that affect the community life. Widely known, he is highly respected and esteemed by all for what he has accomplished and those qualities of mind and character which have made possible his success.
Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark Publishing Company 1913
Phelps Cemetery gravestone
Winneshiek Biographies maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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