THANKS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I am indebted to the following individuals for contributions and assistance with my research.

First I think I should mention, Tom Kelly of Clawson, Michigan. He responded to an inquiry placed in the Laurel Messenger, over twenty years ago, questioning the identity of Peter Andrew Topper’s father. I’d begun my genealogical research in the late seventies and acquired quite a bit of information back then. But raising a family and other interests lead to me put my work on hold. Tom’s letter inspired me to find my old dusty notebooks and fill in some of their blank spaces. This new interest, combined with modern conveniences like the world wide web and email –which make research easier and results more immediate, sparked my renewed quest for my family’s roots.

Tom and a trio of relatives from western Pennsylvania were pursuing Topper information from a variety of sources. Tom, it should be noted, is related through Mark Alphonsos Topper, the youngest brother of John Albert Topper, M.D., my grandfather. The three western Pennsylvanians were James Ashbaugh, David Topper, and Patricia Bakale. This triumvirate corresponded with Tom Kelly regarding the Toppers. It was that correspondence/information which Tom was kind enough to share with me.

Also, I am genuinely grateful for the information shared by Stuart Henri Yost, a professional genealogist. He generously provided information on Peter A. Topper connecting him to his parents, George Topper and Sabina Adams. Stuart is related to the Topper line by way of Mathias Topper, son of Andrew Topper, originally from Adams County and then moved onto Columbiana County, Ohio. And after Mathias’ death, his family moved onto Indiana. It is quite interesting that Stuart wisely contradicts some misinformation I’ve noticed on the web. Some researchers indicate that Mathias is the son of the younger Andrew Topper (b. 1772), yet believe the he is the son of Margaret Brown, instead of the son of his actual mother Anna Maria Riffel. Stuart offers conclusive reasons to verify this fact.

David Topper is related through John Michael Topper’s, (my ancestor), Francis Topper and his son, his son Hayden Henry Topper, through David Topper. Likewise, I have been pleased to meet David’s son, Mike Topper, via the internet.

Furthermore, I am grateful for the assistance received from the late Susan Suhrie, regarding the ancestry of Francis Suhre and his wife Mary Louisa Topper, daughter of Peter A. Topper and his wife, Mary A. Lucken. Susan was also kind enough to provide me emailed photographs of the Suhre/Topper line. These are the first photo contributions to this site. I was very excited to receive them and I am extremely grateful.

I am also appreciative of the information garnered by Bob Hankinson concerning the descendants of Anthony Lucken and hence the Mary A. Lucken line, Peter A. Topper’s wife. I am grateful for the kind direction of Debra Gardill who directed me concerning Somerset County sources and Gardill/Topper sources there. Through Debra and Bob Hankinson’s New Baltimore website, which was most helpful, I also received assistance of George Baker. He provided me with information on the Descendants of Henrich Wolfhope, containing information about Francis Topper and Anna Frances Wolfhope.

I am extremely grateful for the insight, generosity, and kindness of Cynthia Mason of the Meyersdale Public Library who never fails to keep me in mind whenever she comes across Topper “tidbits” as she frequently calls them.

Also, I am particularly grateful for the help of Kathy Chappy, a descendant of William H. Topper, brother of my ancestor, Peter A. Topper, children of George Topper. William initially traveled to Ohio, then to Indiana, thereafter his line moved onto Michigan. Kathy resides now on the Vashon Island in Washington State. By the same token, I have received some information from Maggie Smith from DeKalb County, Indiana, also a descendant of William H. Topper.

I thank Sharon [for whom I realize I have only an e-mail last name] also a descendant through the line of Tracy Topper line.

I am also thankful for the information of William K. Topper who has a great deal of related Topper information about Toppers in general, starting specifically with Adams County and related Maryland Toppers. But his scholarship on this subject is countrywide. William K. Topper is always most helpful. Likewise, I am grateful for the work of Brian Deaver, also a Topper scholar.

A thank you, too, is in order to Nancy Troxel of Portage, PA who provided information and insight regarding Cambria County Toppers, and their spouses, Costlows, Rhoades, Kohlers, et al. She generously provided me with a copy of a huge and fascinating hand crafted two-page family tree of Cambria County Toppers (created by Patricia Bakale). I am most appreciative.

I am appreciative, too, for the assistance of Dianne O’Shea, a skilled professional researcher from Cambria County Connections for newspaper clippings and related information on Toppers and those connected thereto from the Cambria County area.

More recently, I have had the generous contribution from James Bernard McDunn of a variety of photographs of Edward Topper and his wife, Edith A. Weimer Topper and some of her brothers, sisters, and parents, Peter Weimer, and his wife Anna Oswald. Peter Weimer was a blacksmith in New Baltimore, PA for many years. The photographs, generously contributed, were accompanied by family tree information that was gratefully received.

Similarly, and still more recently, I have received from Francis Neale Smith concerning the fascinating saga of Virginia/West Virginia Toppers/Spicers —descendants of John Henry Topper and of Thomas Spicer who wed in New Baltimore, PA and had some links to the Schellsburg, Bedford County area. Neale recounted the lives of the Topper/Spicer family in Hampshire County at the foot of the Spring Gap Mountain, near Slanesville, WV.

I should mention the genealogical research of my cousin, Fred Iannarelli, which helped bring me back to the Toppers and genealogy after being away from them for quite awhile. I am grateful for his research and his support.

I should also thank Nancy Halberg for her generous provision of documentation about the descendants of Christian Miller and the family of Harriet J. Miller and related family information about her ancestors and on another occasion information about John Henry Topper, that “impoverished and much travelled gunsmith.”

It is likely that I may have forgotten someone whom I should have acknowledged. If I have done this, I am sorry.

I hope everyone who visits Topper Family Tree site enjoys it, finds something of interest and comes back again. So too, I hope that if you have data to add you will feel free to do so. I look forward to hearing from anyone with Topper family information, contributions, comments, or insight.

Best wishes,
Marie Inyang