The Washington herald., 1908-06-19
HONOR HIS BIRTHDAY
James S. TOpham Celebrates
10Th Anniversary.
PIONEER TRUNK MERCHANT
Children and Grandchildren Gather
I'm Family Circle 10 Do Him Honor.
Outfltted Gen. Grant for His Fa-
nous Trip Around the World.
Believes in Advertising.

Surrounded by his sons and daughters
in family reunion. James S. Topham.
founder OF the leather goods firm OF
James s. Topham. OF this city. last even
ing celebrated his seventy-slxth birthday
at his residence. 222O First street north
west.
All Of the children and grandchildren
Of Mr.. Topham. who has been one of the
leading merchants and manufacturers of
Washington for many years, were present
with the exception Of James Scott Top
ham. a grandson. who is at school at
the Leland Stanford University in Cali
forgia
Those present were Mr.. and Mrs. Rich
ard Topham and their son Richard. Mr.
and Mrs Washington Topham Mr.. and
Mrs George Topham and their daughters,
Misses Marjorie, Edna. and Amy; Mrs
Ida Oldheld and her children Annie
Isabel. Robert. and Albert; Mr.. and Mrs
Robert B. Bernheim. Of Welch. w. Va.
and their children. James and Salome:
Mr.. and Mrs. Howard ". Topham and
their daughter Florence. and Mr.. and
Mrs Frederick S. Topham and their
daughter aIary
Native of Delaware.
Mr.. Topham was BORN al Wilmington.
Del. June IS. 1S52. his father having been
Richard Topham. of Boythorp, Yorkshire.
England. who came 10 this country in
1921, at the age OF twenty-one. From his
fathers farm. Mr. Topham went 10 Phil
adelphia 20 serve an apprenticeship in
the saddlery trade. afterward 10 Hart
ford and Baltimore. Upon the death OF
his father. he came to Washington
Firmly believing in the business posi-
bilities Of the National Capital. at twenty
three years of age, and with a few hun
dred dollars on hand he In September.
lS55. rented premises az s99 Seventh street
and began the retail harness. saddlery,
and trunk business which has grown into
one OF the largest manufacturing con-
Germs in Washington.
TrunIsmaker for Grant.
During both the civil and the Spanish
wars he did a large business in govern
ment contracts for the army and navy,
and he has supplied all OF the Presidents
since Lincoln with leather goods. He
furnished Gen. Grants first trunk when
AiAt laANrl haS @llNlAkeQ 10 NNIlNlaNl lLt
army and also his s.. 200 four-in-hand solid
silver mounted harness. which was used
and displayed at Long Branch. Mr. Top
ham also supplied Gen Grant with his
travelling outfit for his famous journey
around the world.
In September, 1905, Mr.. Topham cele-
brated the golden or fftieth. anniversary
Of the establishment OF his business in
Washington. receiving the congratula-
tions Of his many business and personal
friends throughout the city.
Believes In Advertising.
Mr.. Topham has always been a firm
believer in advertising. and was the first
Washington merchant 10 place a card in
the street cars. having made this con-
tract himself with the Washington and
Georgetown Railway. with which he
signed the first contract for street car
display cards in 1864 He was also one
OF the pioneers in the use OF posters for
business advertising. and for fifty years
he had been persistent newspaper ad-
vertiser on the theory that il is the best
OF all methods OF reaching the public