Memorial record of the fathers of Wisconsin - Horace A. TENNEY
Containing sketches of the lives and career of the members of the constitutional 
conventions of 1846 and 1847-8 ~ With a history of early settlement in Wisconsin.
publ. Madison, Wis.D. Atwood, 1880; Page 173

                             HON. JOSIAH TOPPING.

  The ancestors of Mr. TOPPING came from England.  His parents settled in 
Charleston, Montgomery county, New York, in 1796, at which place JOSIAH TOPPING 
was born, February 16, 1798.  He received a common school education, and became 
a farmer.  He was married on the 29th of April, 1820, to Miss POLLY YOUNG, with 
whom he lived fifty three years.  She died July 2, 1873.  For some years the 
parties resided in Schoharie county, New York.  On the 3d [sic] of January, 
1840, the family located in Sharon, Walworth county, Wisconsin, at a point 
known as Topping's Corners.  Mr. TOPPING erected the first frame house in the 
township, and the first town meeting was held at his houe.  There were but six 
voters present.  Messrs. H. S. YOUNG and J. H. TOPPING petitioned to have the 
town named Sharon.
  In 1846, Mr. TOPPING was elected as one of the representatives from the 
ocunty of Walworth in the first Constitutional Convention.  In that body, he 
served on the committee on the militia.  He was not a man of many words, but 
occupied a respectable position in that body of very able men.
  Mr. TOPPING is still living (1880), being over eighty-three years of age, and 
is a respected citizen of Walworth county.

Submitted By:  Sandy
(scarletgen@yahoo.com)