Mrs.Hattie
E Topham
Bio-Sawyers
Surnames: CASTLE, FERRY,
SYLVESTER, AYERS, BOYCE, CARLE, DAVIS,
SLANKARD, CAMERON, CHASE, McCLELLAN, ATKINSON, EVANS, BARRETT,
HARRISON, MOORE
MRS.
HATTIE E. TOPHAM.—The highly-esteemed daughter of a sturdy, successful
pioneer, Mrs. Hattie E. Topham of San Jose can look back, in her
contented sphere, and view with peculiar pride and satisfaction the
great strides made in the phenomenal development of that part of the
Golden State with which she and her family have had so much to do. A
native daughter always proud of her association with the California
commonwealth, Mrs. Topham was born at Forest Home, Amador County, on
October 29, 1853, the daughter of W. E. Castle, a native of New York, who moved to Michigan and there married Miss
Frances Ferry, a native of that state. Mr. Castle was a flour miller in
Michigan,
and in '49, as a real Argonaut, crossed the great plains on horseback.
After a strenuous experience of three years on the coast, he returned
East to get his wife; and in 1853 he once more braved the dangers and
the hardships of continental primitive travel and made his way back to California. He
was for a while a miner in Amador County,
and then he opened the Forest Home Hotel and the local grocery there.
In 1868 he came to Santa Clara
County, having just previously
maintained a dairy in Amador
County,
which required him to get into the mountains for feed for his cattle.
It will be seen therefore, that Mr. Castle endured and overcame much in
order to progress in such a manner that his prosperity would denote
real progress for his fellow-citizens and the state.
Inasmuch as the facilities for schooling were poor in Amador County
at that time, Mr. Castle sent his daughter to the Perry Seminary at Sacramento; and after coming to Santa Clara County,
she attended first the high school and then the Normal School. After
that she engaged in teaching for fifteen months in Auburn, Placer
County; and at Milpitas, on December 21, 1874, she married Edward
Topham, a native of Toronto, Canada, where he was born on December 26,
1840. His father was William Topham, and his mother, before her
marriage, was Eliza Sylvester.
In 1868 Edward Topham{bio
below} came out to San Francisco
by way of the Isthmus, and for a while resided in Santa Clara County.
He was a blacksmith, and was experienced in wagon and carriage
building. He bought out the interest of S. F. Ayers, and then he and
David S. Boyce were partners for years at Milpitas. He had had a blacksmith
shop there for several years previous to this marriage, and he also
owned a grocery; and he resided at Milpitas
for thirty-one years prior to his death, in April, 1905. He and Charles
Carle were partners for fifteen years in the grocery, and he also had a
farm of forty acres near Milpitas.
In addition, he and A. A. Davis and Goulder Slankard had a cattle ranch
in the mountains near the New Idra Quicksilver Mines, and this valuable
property, consisting of about 10,000 acres, was known as the Laguna
Ranch, and supported on an average of not less than 500 head of cattle.
The range was covered with springs, there was plenty of water, and it
was a beautiful spot. Spurred on by the motto, "Nothing venture,
nothing share," is it any wonder that Edward Topham succeeded for both
himself and others where many a competitor failed? He was a standpat
Republican, and as such did what he could to elevate the standard of
good citizenship. He belonged to the Masons of San Jose, and both he
and his wife were popular members of the Eastern Star. Soon after he
arrived in California, Henry Topham,
an elder brother, followed, then returned East, and afterward came to Milpitas
with his wife; and for a number of years he kept a warehouse there. Ten
years later, William Topham, a younger brother, also came to California, and
he is now living on a fruit ranch at Berryessa.
Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Topham.
Clarence is a farmer in Tulare
County.
He married Nancy Cameron and they have three children, Melba, Lester
and Hariett. Frank H. is a citrus grower at Lindsay. He married Miss
Jessie Chase and they have three children, Lois, William and Francis.
Edward is a surgeon and physician at San Francisco.
He married Cecile Belle McClellan and is the father of two children,
Neddie and Jack. Chester A. is with the W. L. Atkinson Realty Company
in San Jose.
He married Anna Evans and has two children living, Beverley and Chester; Maxwell
is dead. Blanche is Mrs. J. M. Barrett of San Jose and has a son, Chester
Barrett. Clifton is on the Fort Miller
Ranch at Friant in Fresno
County.
He married Charity Harrison and they have three daughters, Dorothy,
Helen Ann and Betty Louisa. Alida is the wife of Alexander H. Cameron,
a citrus grower at Lindsay, and has one son, Harold. Estella's husband
is J. B. Moore, a merchant of the same town, and they have a daughter,
Maxine.
Transcribed by Joseph Kral from Eugene T. Sawyers' History of Santa Clara County,California, published by Historic Record Co. , 1922. page 785
EDWARD TOPHAM
Bio-Pen Pictures
SURNAMES: SYLVESTER, CASTLE, FERRY
was born in Toronto, Canada, on the
twenty-fifth of October, 1840. His parents, William and Eliza
(Sylvester) Topham, were natives of Ireland, who emigrated while young
to Canada, and there engaged in agriculture. Until eighteen years of
age he lived on his father's farm, meanwhile receiving such schooling
as was afforded by the common schools. At that age he was apprenticed
to the trade of blacksmith; however, he remained there but a short time
after serving his apprenticeship, before coming to the United States.
He traveled quite extensively in the Middle States, in Kentucky,
Missouri, Illinois, and Ohio, and was also engaged as an assistant
engineer on the Mississippi and Yazoo Rivers. In 1861 he returned to
Canada, but after a short sojourn there he returned to the United
States, and during a portion of the years 1862-63 was employed in the
government shops at Washington, District of Columbia. In the last-named
year he again returned to Canada, and entered into partnership with his
old employer for three years in Burgessville, and shortly after
purchased a foundry and machine shop, which he, with his brothers,
conducted until 1868. He then sold out his business and came to this
State, locating, in June of that year, in Santa Clara, where he spent
about six months in working at his trade. Early in the following year
he settled at Milpitas, and there entered into partnership with David S. Boyce, in blacksmithing and carriage
works, and in this business he has since continued, having conducted it
through all these years most successfully.
The subject of our sketch married, in 1874, Miss Hattie Castle, the
daughter of W. D. and Frank (Ferry) Castle, residents, at that time, of
Milpitas. Mr. and Mrs. Topham have seven children: Clarence,
Frank, Edward, Chester A., Blanche, Clifton, and Alida.
Mr. Topham has been very successful in all his business enterprises,
and is the owner of considerable real estate, among which are seven
houses and lots in Milpitas, also a forty-acre tract adjoining the town
on the north. In Tulare County he owns eighty acres, which will be
devoted to orchard culture, and is also half owner of a large stock
ranch in San Benito County, upon which are roaming a large herd of
cattle. He is much interested in the finer breeds of horses, and is
raising some trotting stock from " Nutwood," " American Boy," "
Grosvenor," and other great families of horses. His horses are well
known, and, when entered in the agricultural fairs, take their full
share of premiums. He is also a share-holder in the Mexican Pacific
Railroad.
Mr. Topham is well known in social as well as business circles, and is
connected with several industrial organizations. He has been a
Director, and is now the President, of the Santa Clara Valley
Agricultural Society, and is also the presiding officer of the District
Agricultural Society, No. 5, of the State, comprising Santa Clara and
San Mateo Counties. For the past fifteen years he has served with
credit as School Trustee of his district. He is also a Trustee of the
Presbyterian Church, of which his wife is a member. He is associated
with San Jose Lodge, No 10, of the Masonic fraternity.
Politically, Mr. Topham is connected with the Republican party, and is
deeply interested in the administration of affairs in his county. As a
public-spirited man, and one who is ever ready to devote time and means
to the advancement of his section, he is a most useful citizen.
Pen Pictures
From The Garden of the World or Santa Clara County, California,
Illustrated. - Edited by H.
S. Foote.- Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1888.
Pg. 438-439
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