My Genealogy Hound

HERMANN TOPF, a native of Prussia, was born August 3, 1836, the third of five children born to F. Wilhelm and Dora (Harden) Topf, both natives of Hanover. The father was a saddler by trade, having learned the business of his father, who was a harness-maker for Napoleon Bonaparte. He died at Enger, Germany, January 3, 1881, preceded by his wife four years. After receiving a fair education in youth he began the harness and saddlery trade at fifteen years of age with his father, remaining with him until 1859, when he came to the United States, first locating at Evansville, Ind., and then in Boonville. In 1861 he returned to his native country and entered the German Army, remaining in the service three or four years, serving one year in the war with Denmark. A year after this he returned to this country, residing six months at Evansville, then opened a harness and saddle shop in Boonville and has ever since continued it. By diligence, economy and with some pecuniary assistance from his wife, Mr. Topf has secured valuable property, a comfortable house and a creditable business, besides a farm near Boonville on which is a valuable medicinal spring bearing his name. He is a Democrat, a member of the I. O. O. F. and he and wife belong to the German Lutheran Church. December 23, 1870, Amelia Helm, a native of Germany, became his wife and one daughter that died in infancy was the only issue to their union.