Topping-Nero Family

Topping-Nero Photo Collection Mother, Frances Topping (Erickson) and I scanned a collection of photos that she had gathered from her mother, Hattie Nero (Topping). Mother's help was invaluable. She was so helpful in being able to identify, people, places, events, etc. The notes gathered from mother will be added as time permits. When describing some of the photos, I will refer to Frances Topping as "Mother". It is important to Mother that these photos are shared with family and friends. Please overlook any spelling or grammar until I have more time to proof. I will be adding the nearly 200 photos as time permits. If you see a photo/image that is of interest to you, click on the image to enlarge it. If you would like to save one of these images, most web browsers should allow you to do this. If you have difficulty saving an image, please send me and email david56er@aol.com and I will send it to you. In order to make a good quality print from these images, you should print them on no larger than 4" x 6" paper. Using a larger paper size may result in a grainy print. I have numbered each image. If you have any information about these photos that should be added or if you have any questions, please email me at david56er@aol.com and refer to the "Photo" number.
NERO
Photo	Description
	Photo 159 Marie Becker and August Nero. Hattie Nero (Topping's) parents.
	Photo 133 Marie Becker, Hattie Nero (Topping's) mother.
	Photo 134 August Nero... Hattie Nero's (Topping') father.
	Photo 166 The August Nero rural family home near Cedarburg, WI.
	Photo 002 Marie Becker, August Nero and three of their children Hattie, Anita, Irvin. Mother feels that this photo was taken before Melvin was born.
	Photo 146 August Nero, Marie Becker, ....? ** Discuss with Mother**
	Photo 137 ** Discuss with Mother**
	Photo 136 August Nero and ? ** Discuss with Mother**
	Photo 138 ** Discuss with Mother**
	Photo 140 Irvin and Hattie Nero
	Photo 168 Mother believes this is either Hattie Nero's baby brother that died or Hattie's brother Irvin Nero.
	Photo 169 Hattie Nero
	Photo 003 Hattie Nero ** Discuss with Mother**
	Photo 141 Hattie Topping is standing in the middle row on the right. Mother thinks this is may be a church photo. ** Discuss with Mother**
	Photo 004 Hattie Nero
	Photo 005 Hattie Nero. This photo was taken at the Nero rural family home near Cedarburg, WI.
	Photo 148 Melvin Nero, Hattie Nero's brother He is Frances Nero's God Father.
	Photo 149 Melvin Nero, Hattie Nero's brother He is Frances Nero's God Father.
	Photo 150 Melvin Nero, Hattie Nero's brother and Frances Topping's God Father.
	Photo 151 Melvin Nero and Eldora Nickolai on their wedding day. Melvin is mother's God Father. Mother remembers Melvin giving her a green checkered dress for her birthday when she was little. Most likely before he was married.
	Photo 152 Hattie Nero Mother believes that Hattie is younger in this photo than in Photo 153. She does not know the other person in the photo.
	Photo 153 Hattie Nero, Mother thinks Hattie is younger in this photo than she is in Photo 154.
	Photo 147
	Photo 123
	Photo 163 Hattie Hero, mother thinks this may have been before Hattie was married. She is not sure.
TOPPING-OLIPHANT
	Photo 103 This is the William Topping home where Floyd, Lloyd and Evelyn were born. We don't know if this was the home of William's parents Silas Topping and Hannah Scudder. There is now a different home in it's place. We do not know what happened to this home.
	Photo 165 Hannah Maria Scudder. Hannah is William Topping's mother and Floyd Topping's grandmother. The Waushara County Museum provided a copy of the obituary for Hannah. Hannah was married to Silas Topping who died in 1888. They had three sons, Fred, William and Thomas who died in infancy. They had two daughters, Esther and Frances Topping.
	Photo 162 Hannah Scudder with her grandchildren LR: Lloyd, Floyd and Evelyn Topping.
	Photo 167 Frances Agnes Oliphant and William E. Topping with their children LR: Floyd, Lloyd and Evelyn. William was killed in an accident on December 10, 1912 while oiling this steam engine that he and his brother used to run their corn shredder. The Waushara County Museum provided a copy of the newspaper article as well as the obituary for William E. Topping.
	Photo 107 Another photo of the steam engine.
	Photo 164 Floyd Topping
	Photo 104 Frankie Oliphant and Floyd or Lloyd Topping.
	Photo 105 Floyd Topping
	Photo 160 Floyd Topping
	Photo 161 Vernon Topping above and Floyd Topping below. Vernon's mother died in childbirth. Talk to mother more about this. Vernon Lived with Aunt Clara for a time.
	Photo 109 This is a picture of Frankie Oliphant with her brothers and sisters. Mother believes they are standing in order by age, The oldest on the left. Frankie is the third from the right. Uncle Morti Oliphant is on the far right. Mother doesn't remember the names of the other brothers and sisters.
	Photo 106 Frankie Oliphant, wife of William Topping and mother to Floyd, Lloyd and Evelyn Topping.
	Photo 108 Herbert King and Frankie Oliphant. Frankie married Herbert after her first husband William Topping was killed in the steam engine accident.
	Photo 111 Seated in the chair is Frankie Oliphant. We are not sure yet who is on her lap. Standing LR: ?, Maybe Alice King, Lloyd Topping, Ruth Topping, Larry Topping and Marie Topping.
	Photo 113 Morty Oliphant, Grandma Oliphant (King's) brother.
	Photo 114 Frances Topping and Uncle Morty Oliphant Uncle Morty is Grandma Frankie Oliphant (King's) brother. Mother believes this photo was taken after she and Dad were married.

TOPPING-NERO
	Photo 157 Floyd Topping and Hattie Nero wedding.
	Photo 006 Floyd Topping and Hattie Nero wedding.
	Photo 154 Floyd Topping and Hattie Nero. Mother believes they are married in this photo.
	Photo 007
	Photo 008
	Photo 009 August Nero, ?, ?
	Photo 010 August Nero
	Photo 011 August Nero
	Photo 012 August Nero
	Photo 014 Hattie, Marie, Dorothy and Frances
	Photo 015 This photo was taken on the Topping farm where mother grew up. The building in the background is the chicken house. On top was the grainery where the pickle pickers lived. The three girls are LR: Dorothy, Marie and Frances. Mother's dad Floyd is in the background on the horse. Photo taken in about 1938
	Photo 016 Floyd Topping & Hattie Nero Marie, Dorothy, Frances and Bill. In the background is the barn on the family farm. To the right is a fenced in area where the cattle stayed until they were brought to the barn for milking. Photo taken in about 1937
	Photo 017 Floyd Topping and Hattie Nero. LR: Frances, Bill, Hattie is holding Marsha, Dorothy. Marie is most likely taking the picture. The photo is taken at the family farm between Wautoma and Wild Rose. Their home is in the background. This photo was taken in 1941, the year that Marsha was born.
	Photo 018 LR: Bill, Marie, Floyd, Frances and Dorothy. This photo is taken at their farm between Wautoma and Wild Rose. This photo was taken in about 1937.
	Photo 019 Back Row LR: Floyd, Morti Oliphant, Not sure if this is uncle, Do not recognize the last person Frances, Dorothy, Marie, although the little guy is hard to see, mother thinks this is Bill. Mother is not sure if this is on the family farm or not.
	Photo 020 Floyd is standing in the back holding Marcia. The kids: Frances, Dorothy, Cousin James *(? Last Name)* and Bill. August "Grandpa" Nero is on the right. Mother is not sure where this photo was taken.
	Photo 021 Charles Streit, James Streit, Marie Topping, Dorothy Topping, Jimmy King and Frances Topping. In front LR: William "Bill" Topping, Marcia Topping and Gilbert Streit Mother is not sure where this photo was taken.
	Photo 132
	Photo 022 *Mother and I need to go over this picture again.* Buddy Keller, ? Keller, Marie Topping, June Keller, ? Keller, Gilbert ?, Floyd Topping holding Marcia Topping, August Nero, Frances Topping, Boyd King in a service uniform, ? Little Guy in front of Frances, Dorothy Topping, Jimmy King, Richard ?, James Streit, Charles Streit. Taken on this side of the railroad track, the garden is in the background, near the wood pile.
	Photo 128 Frances, ?, Marsha
	Photo 023 Frances Topping with cousin Gary Moody. Mother at first didn't think she would be holding the horse because she was not very brave around horses. At first mother thought maybe it was Mother came to the conclusion that it had to her because Marcia was about Gary Moody's age.
	Photo 142
	Photo 024 LR: Ruth Peterson (Topping) married to Lloyd Topping, Floyd's brother. Marie Topping (King) Floyd's daughter playing the guitar. Mother said that they used to sing in the evening and Marie would play the guitar. .
	Photo 025 Same day as photo 26 Keller and Topping children. bill, buddy keller, ?, Jimmy *Need to do this over again with mother*
	Photo 026 Uncle Frankie Streit (Aunt Evelyn, Floyd's sister married to Frankie) James Streit's dad. Not sure who the kids are. *Need to do this over again with mother*
	Photo 027 Same as photo 026. *Need to do this over again with mother*
	Photo 028 Rear window is cousin June Keller and Betty Keller, Norvel Keller in the driver's seat. Buddy Keller on the right. Uncle Lloyd Topping and Floyd topping sitting. Not sure who is under the vehicle. Need to do this over again with mother*
	Photo 110 Floyd working in the welding shop in Wild Rose
	Photo 112 LR: Floyd Topping, (? could be uncle Lloyd), August Nero, (?), Uncle Lyman
	Photo 029 LF: Aunt Ruth, Uncle Richard King, Aunt Hattie (Hattie Nero's cousin or aunt) Hattie Nero, Uncle Melvin Nero, August Nero, Dorothy Topping. Marcia Topping and Frances Topping are in the front.
	Photo 030 Frances Topping. This was taken at the family farm in the front yard. Mother remembers the bushes behind her. The highway is in the background.
	Photo 130 This is Dorothy Topping's confirmation day. This photo was taken in the front yard of the Topping Farm between Wild Rose and Wautoma. Back Row RL: Irvin Nero Girl, Frances, Dorothy, June Keller, Ronnie Keller, Bill Topping, Betty Keller, Irvin Nero Girl, Front Row RL: Roger Topping, Larry Topping, Robert Keller, ? Keller.
	Photo 031 LR: Marcia, Marie and Frances Topping, The far window is the living living room. The near window is August Nero's bedroom.
	Photo 032 Frances Topping and her cousin June Keller. They were almost the same age.
	Photo 033 Frances and cousin June Keller. June on the left and June on the right. Mother said that they would have known there was no train because it came at a certain time every day.
	Photo 156 Floyd standing on his head. There is a date on the photo that appears to be 1937.
	Photo 155 Floyd Topping, note the bird on Floyd's shoulder.
	Photo 127 Classroom... Mother and I will identify these later.
	Photo 034 Frances and Kristy, a girl she would take care of. Mother can't remember the name. This photo was not taken at the family farm. Mother is not sure where it was taken. The photo is dated 1949.
	Photo 035 Dorothy, Marie, Frances, Marsha and William Topping. *Try and edit this photo to make it less fuzzy.*
	Photo 055 This is Dorothy's Confirmation Day. Back Row LR: Cousin Betty Keller, Ronney Keller, June Keller, Marie, Dorothy, William, Francis Topping, Irvin Nero's two daughters, mother does not remember the names. Carol Keller (Anita Keller's daughtger) is standing in the middle in front of Dorothy. Front Row: Emanuel (Buddy) Keller, Roger Topping, Larry Topping, Marcia Topping. *Need to check with mother to get these names in the right order.*
	Photo 056 In the back row, Bill, Dorothy, Marie, Frances Topping, Margie or Margarit) In the front row, Larry and Roger Topping and Marcia Topping.
	Photo 057 August Nero, the horse is either Amos or Andy. This photo was taken at the Topping family farm.
	Photo 053 Hattie, Frances and Floyd Topping. This is Frances' confirmation day. She is wearing her new dress.
	Photo 054 Frances Topping on her Confirmation Day in front of the home on the family farm.
	Photo 058 Mother's confirmation day, Aunt Hattie, Frances, Uncle Henry (Mother believes that Aunt Hattie was a sister to her mother's mother.) The last name is unknown at this time. *Double check with Mother.*
	Photo 059 LR: Uncle Tony and Aunt Irma, Last name unknown. Aunt Hattie and Uncle Henry, last name unknown. Hattie (Nero) and Floyd Topping. Ruth (Peterson) and Lloyd Topping. *Double check with Mother.*
	Photo 060 LR: Aunt Irma, Last name unknown. Hattie Nero (Topping). Aunt Hattie, last name unknown. Ruth Peterson (Topping). *Double check with Mother.*
	Photo 061 LR: Uncle Tony (cousin to Hattie, Aunt Irma's husband), Uncle Henry (husband to Aunt Hattie ? Last name) Floyd Topping and Lloyd Topping. *Double check with Mother.*
	Photo 122 Written on the back of the photo: "To Dear Hattie. Thought you like it. Mom." Mother thinks this photo was taken in Milwaukee when Floyd was working. Floyd would come home on weekends. Mother remembers Floyd bringing Christmas presents home. The presents were hid in Grandpa Nero's close with a blanket over them. We weren't supposed to know it. Mother peaked under the first corner on the left. She doesn't remember what she saw.
	Photo 062 Frances Topping
	Photo 063 Bigfork High School cheerleaders, 1949 and 1950. LR: Jeanie Dunbaugh, Frances Topping, Joan Rajier and Connie Gustafson.
	Photo 064 Frances Topping and Jeanie Dunbaugh
	Photo 065 Front to Back: Connie Gustafson, Joan Rajier, Frances Topping, Jeanie Dunbaugh and Joan Hoglin. *Double check with Mother.*
	Photo 118
	Photo 119
	Photo 120
Topping School Photos
	Photo 036 Frances Topping
	Photo 050 Frances Topping
	Photo 049 Frances Topping
	Photo 037 Frances Topping
	Photo 038 Frances Topping
	Photo 039 Frances Topping
	Photo 040 Frances Topping. "Lots of Love Frances" written on the photo in mother's handwriting.
	Photo 041 Frances Topping
	Photo 043 Marie Topping's graduation photo.
	Photo 044 Marie Topping's graduation photo. "Love Marie" written on the photo.
	Photo 045 Marie Topping
	Photo 046 Dorothy Topping's graduation photo. "Love, Dot" written on the photo.
	Photo 047 Dorothy Topping, a school photo a few years earlier.
	Photo 051 William "Bill" Topping. Signed "Love Bill"
	Photo 052 Marcia Topping
Topping-Peterson
	Photo 170 On the left is Irvin Peterson. I am not sure yet who is seated in front of Irvin. On the right is Lloyd Topping. Seated in front of Lloyd is Ruth Peterson. Ruth and Irvin are sister and brother.
Erickson-Topping-Nero Photos
	Photo 066 Allen Erickson and Frances Topping
	Photo 071 This is Allen Erickson and Frances Topping's first home after they were married. It was located on their 320 acre farm, a half mile east of the Erickson Homestead on County Road 42. The taller portion of the house is an old grainery where they lived initially. They then added kitchen. Behind the larger portion of the house is in an old brooder house that was added. This became their bedroom. They then used the main portion of the house as a living room and an area for the crib. Mother had a gas stove. The kitchen counter and sink were below the two windows. The kitchen table was in the middle of the room. After a while they got a refridgerator. There was no running water. The cream can on the step is for hauling water. The dog in the picture is "Booties".
	Photo 72 and 73 Dave. Mother said that this was the only professional photo of any of the their children. She didn't know why I had something in my hand. She thinks maybe it helped get a smile.
	Photo 075 Allen Erickson and Francis Topping, Dennis, David, Dean and Patricia Erickson. This was taken after our family moved on the homestead.
	Photo 077 Dennis, David, Dean and Patricia Erickson
	Photo 074 This is a four generation picture. Floyd Topping, Frankie Oliphant, Frances Erickson (Topping) and David Erickson. Mother said that she was Frankie's pet.
	Photo 076 Mother and I struggled with this picture. *We need to discuss this again.*
	Photo 078 Dennis, David, Dean and Patricia Erickson. This was taken in the home on the homestead. The tree is in the living room near the front door. Patricia always had a doll.
	Photo 068 Frances Erickson and Suzanne Johnson (Vernie & Viola Johnson's oldest daughter). Mother is not sure why she would have made the cake given Viola's baking skills. Mother just couldn't remember the circumstances surrounding this.
	Photo 069 Francis Erickson with Harvey and Dorothy's daughter Margaret. Mother doesn't know where this photo was taken.
	Photo 070 Big Fork, MN Hosiptal This is where David, Dean, Dennis and Patricia Erickson were born. The Bigfork school was located to the right of the hospital. Mother used to walk from the school, across this bridge, to the Bigfork main street. It would be interesting to learn exactly when this bridge was raised.
	Photo 087 David, Dean, Dennis and Patricia Erickson Dave:While living on the Erickson Homestad, Allen Erickson would cut pulpwood during the winter months for extra income. Tom Evenson would loan Allen his pulp truck to haul the pulp to Big Falls, MN. Oftentimes I would ride with dad to Big Falls. Once the pulp was unloaded at the landing, we would go into the scale office and pick up the receipt. Dad would always buy each of us a candy bar.
	Photo 083 Frances Topping, Floyd Topping Dean, Dennis and David Erickson Dave is holding Suzie and Dean is holding Sandy. Not sure yet who Dennis is holding.
	Photo 084 Floyd Topping David, Dean, Dennis, Patricia Erickson







To Do Photos
	Photo 124 Hattie Nero is the person in the middle three children on the left. Mother does not know who the rest of these folks are.
	Photo 125 Anita King (Storley) and Mary Joy Storley. This photo needs to be re-scanned.
	Photo 042 This is the church in Wild Rose where Frances Topping was confirmed. This church still stands.
	Photo 048 Marie Topping in front of the home on the family farm. Mother remembers when they got new siding on the house. *Need to go over this with mother again to see if we can figure out when this photo was taken .*