Topping Funeral Parlor Records, 1905 through 1914

This volume contains funeral home records for the Charles S. Topping Funeral Parlor, otherwise known as the “Topping Funeral Parlor” for the years of 1905 through 1914. The original blank book was published by F. J. Feineman for mortuary homes across America to fill in and would have cost $3 to purchase at the time. It is a 300-page record book, two records per sheet of paper (1 on front, 1 on back) though the book has additional pages for the index. The scan did not include blank pages and as such, stops at page 264. There is an index at the front of the book, but it is incomplete and inaccurate. We have provided a complete index to the manuscript below the book images.

The form starts with the number of the record and includes the date. It then provides place for the Name of Deceased, where born, name of the individual charged for the funeral, who (or relationship to deceased) gave the order, how the body was secured, date of funeral, place of death, where the funeral service was held and the time, Clergyman officiating, certifying physician, physicians residence, number of Burial Certificate, cause of death, date of death, occupation of the deceased, single or married, religion, age, body to be shipped to, size and style of Casket or Coffin, Manufacturer, Interment at, Lot or grave number, section number, names of pall bearers. A column of information on the front of the form deals with the costs of the specific funeral and a ledger at the bottom for how and when it was paid.

Unfortunately, it does not appear that the section for the names of pall bearers was ever used. The physical records for this item are maintained in archival binders at the Los Gatos Library, located at 100 Villa Ave., Los Gatos, California, and are accessible to the public for viewing and copying.

The last record in the book for Oroville was #53 and occurred on 8 Oct 1905, the first record for Los Gatos community is #55 and occurred on 27 May 1908. Record #54 is blank. Some records have obituaries and certificates of death.

See also: Topping Funeral Parlor Records, 1915 through 1919

Charles S. Topping Funeral Parlor Records, 1905 to 1914

Index to the 1904-1915 Topping Funeral Parlor Records

This is an accurate index to the Topping Funeral Parlor Records for the years of 1915 to 1919. It includes the surname, given name, page number (stamped in blue), location (whether funeral occurred in Oroville or Los Gatos) and whether an obituary is included with the record. Please reference the individual in the file above using the page number.

About the Records

Charles S. Topping operated a funeral parlor in Los Gatos, California, with records spanning from 1905 to 1919 across two volumes. This volume is the first and covers the years of 1905 through 1914. In 1919, Edwin H. Melvin assumed management, subsequently renaming it Melvin Funeral Parlor (refer to their records for more details). While it’s clear the Topping parlor was active before 1905 in Oroville, these records initiate in January of that year; I do not know what happened to the earlier record books and/or if they still exist.

According to Bill Ellis, Charles S. Topping’s grandson, his grandfather was Los Gatos’s first mortician, potentially establishing the parlor before 1886, predating A. F. Place’s business. I have found evidence only supporting the operation of the Charles S. Topping parlor in 1895 and 1898 in Oroville, not Los Gatos. In Los Gatos the Topping Funeral Parlor was eventually located at 249 West Main Street in 1908, housed on the first floor of a gray building adjacent to the Happy Dragon. That home is now blue.

Mr. Topping was known to be acquainted with some of the impoverished Chinese residents in the area, often providing private funeral services free of charge. During the Chinese New Year, the community reciprocated his kindness with gifts. This narrative is recounted by his grandson, Bill. However, it should be noted that such acts of service are not documented in the records mentioned, other than by Bill’s statement, coming 2nd hand.