Tope Family Page

    Harry was transferred to work at the Ford store in Catron, Missouri, where he and Harold worked together for awhile. One time a salesman came through selling 'unbreakable' lamp chimneys. When the chimneys arrived the young men (?) waited anxiously for someone to arrive to buy a lamp chimney. Harold was the demonstrator and broke most of the stock before finding the trick to the throw.
    Near this time Harry became more than a little interested with a beautiful young widow, Mabel Coats Milller and a cute little girl, Emma Katherine. Mabel was the telephone operator for Lilbourn. The central office was upstairs over the bank and across the street from the Lilbourn Ford store. Harry would take kindling up to the office and start the fire for the 'helpless family,' soon one visit led to more and the friendship that began in October 1920, grew into love and marriage on October 12, 1921. They were married at 8:00p.m. on Thursday and Harry took off the whole day of Friday for a honeymoon. Mr. G. W. Ford was less than happy but even so the couple lived together for 56 years! Mabel going HOME in 1978.