Alexander Toponce

Who was Alexander Toponce?

Alexander Toponce was an American pioneer in the Intermountain West region of the United States.

Toponce was born in Belfort, France. His family emigrated to the United States when he was seven. He reportedly ran away from home when he was ten.

Toponce worked in various occupations, including as a logger, cowboy, stagecoach driver, Pony Express rider, and gold prospector. He was an assistant wagon boss during the Utah War from 1857 to 1858. Toponce spent much of his later life in Utah. Although a friend to many Mormons, including well-known ones such as Porter Rockwell, he was not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Toponce attended the Golden spike ceremony at Promontory, Utah in 1869.

Toponce ran several businesses during his life. These included trading between Salt Lake City and Montana gold camps and Nevada silver camps, performing various services for Union Pacific, raising cattle in Idaho, and running stage lines to mining towns.

Toponce died in Ogden, Utah. His autobiography, Reminiscences of Alexander Toponce, was published posthumously.