TOPE FAMILY PAGE

    22. William Vance⁴ Tope (Levi³, George², John¹) was born on 5 March 1852 in Allen County, Ohio, and came with his parents in 1869 to Van Wert County, Ohio. He died on 21 January 1924 in Van Wert County, Ohio. William had three wives, first marrying Myra Bell Smith on 20 November 1879.   Myra, daughter of James Smith and Elizabeth Read, was born 27 August 1861, and died 26 May 1881.¹ Myra's death occurred six days after the birth of their daughter, Alice, and possibly was caused by complications from the birth. William then married Alverda B. Beiler on 29 November 1883.² Alverda, daughter of Cicerow Beiler and Mary LaRue, was born 22 October 1863, and died 26 May 1888 in Van Wert County, Ohio.³ After Alverda's death, he married Viola Christina Snyder. on 24 November 1892 in Van Wert County, Ohio.⁴ Viola, daughter of Martin Snyder and Minerva Agler, was born 22 February 1867 and died 21 May 1944.⁵

    At one time William was elected to the office of Willshire township trustee.⁶  He was a deacon in the Baptist church. Fraternally, he was a charter member of the Willshire Grange, and served as master for five years.⁷ He also was a charter member and first president of the Farmer's Mutual Benefit lodge No. 5580.⁸

    Myra and Alverda are buried in the Wren Cemetery.⁹ William and Viola are buried in the Wren Mausoleum, Willshire Township, Van Wert County, Ohio.¹⁰

William and Myra Tope had one child:

48 i. Alice E.⁵ Tope, born 12 May 1881; died 17 May 1881. Alice is buried next to her mother in the Wren Cemetery, Willshire Township, Van Wert County, Ohio.¹¹

William and Alverda Tope had two children:

+49 i. Roy Beiler⁵ Tope, born 3 October 1884 in Willshire Twp., Van Wert County, Ohio.