TOPE FAMILY PAGE

 William Wesley Tope, son of Eli Tope and Catherine  Davis, was born in July 1840 in Carroll Co., Ohio [note 1]and died in 4 September1910 in Coalton, Jackson Co., Ohio [note 2]. He married Catherine Rapp, daughter of Fred Rapp [note 3], on 16 April 1865 in Coalton, Jackson Co., Ohio. She was born 9 September 1835 in Wurtemberg and died 16 November 1917 in Coalton, Jackson Co., Ohio [note 4].

William and Catherine had four children:

1. Rosa Tope
2. Joseph Eli Tope
3. Laura Alice Tope was born 24 May 1871 in Massieville, Ross Co., Ohio, and died of cancer on 10 September 1939 in Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio. She married Edward John Thomas, son of John Thomas and Ann Dudley, on 6 March 1890 in Coalton, Jackson County, Ohio. Edward was born 10 March 1864 in Gallia Co., Ohio, and died of a heart attack on 6 October 1926 in Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio. Laura and Edward are buried in The Coalton Cemetery,  Coalton, Jackson Co., Ohio.
   Shortly after 1907, the family moved to Columbus, Ohio, where Edward worked as an electrician with the Indiana, Columbus Eastern Traction Company.
   Laura and Edward had nine children:
   1. John David Thomas was born in Coalton, Jackson County, Ohio, on 26 November 1891, and on died 9 August 1914 in Michigan. He married Mabel May Kull, daughter of Fred J. Kull on 26 November  1913 in Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan. Mabel was born 5 April 1888 in Saginaw, Saginaw Co., Michigan and died 10 June 1970 in the Frankenmuth Convalescent Center, Frankenmuth, Saginaw County, Michigan [note 5].
      John and Mabel had one child:
      1. Marjorie Jean Thomas was born 31 October 1914 in Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan and died 28 July 1933 in Bridgeport, Saginaw County, Michigan.
   2. Kathryn Thomas was born 21 March 1894, and died 27 February 1985 in the Licking Memorial Hospital. Kathryn married Walter Merrell Gardner, on 19 May 1915 in Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio. Walter was born 3 March 1890 and died 27 January 1963.
      Kathryn and Walter are buried in the Kirkersville Cemetery, Kirkersville, Ohio [note 6].
   3. William Thomas was born 29 November 1896 in Coalton, Jackson Co., Ohio. He died 18 January 1978 in Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio. William married Myrta Belle Jones on 5 July 1923 in Zanesville, Muskingum Co., Ohio. Myrta was born 5 July 1905, Viropa, West Virginia. She died 15August 1987 in Washington Court House, Ohio, and is buried with William in the Concord Cemetery, Grove City, Ohio.
      William was a veteran of World War I.
      
   4. Edward Thomas was born 20 February 1899.  He died on 22 May 1971 in Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio, and was buried 26 May 1971 in the Sunset Cemetery. He married Mary Elizabeth Southward on 12 October 1922 in Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio. Mary was born 29 July 1903 and died 11 May 1994. Edward and Mary are buried in the Sunset Cemetery, Galloway, Franklin County, Ohio [note 7].
           Edward was a veteran of World War I.
      
   5. Clarence Thomas was born 18 May 1901. He died 20 May 1926 in Mt. Carmel Medical Center, Franklin County, Columbus, Ohio, and was buried 23 May 1926, Coalton, Jackson Co., Ohio. 
   6. Mabel Thomas was born 3 September 1903, and died 17 June 1999 in Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio. She married J. Wilber Harris on 4 October 1928 in Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio.
   7. Unknown Thomas, born 30 January 1906; died 18 February 1906.
   8. Carl Thomas was born 9 December 1907, Coalton, Jackson Co., Ohio, and died 14 June 1980 in Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio. He is buried in the Forest Lawn Cemetery. He first married Virginia Lawhorn, and then married Gladys (nee Philobaum) Sherburn [note 8]. Gladys died 29 October 1964.
   9. David Thomas was born March 24, 1913, and died in August 1966.  He first married Mary Forster and then Jean Haines, who was born 16 November 1915 and died 6 July 1992. David and Jean are buried in Union Cemetery, Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio [note 9].
4. Irene Dordelia

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Notes:

1. Undated paper received from Thalia Brown by Donald Kear on Septembe 2007. [Return to text]
2. Ohio Deaths, 1908-1932, 1938-1944, and 1958-2002 Vol. 470, No. 50, 412. [Return to text]
3. Marriage Records, 1816-1913 Probate Court, Jackson County, Ohio. [Return to text]
4. Death Record, Jackson County, Ohio, Vol. 2423, Certificate No. 71651.  [Return to text]
5. Undated paper, ob sit.
6. Email, Thalia Brown to Donald L. Kear, Friday, November 15, 2002 12:52 AM. [Return to text]
7. Ibid. [Return to text]
8. Ibid and Ohio Deaths, certificate 043165. [Return to text]
9. Ibid. [Return to text]

Updated 19 July 2010  
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