James M. Topliff was a resident of Windham on August 18, 1862 when he enlisted as a Private in Co. D of the 21st Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. He was wounded May 16, 1864 at Drewry’s Bluff, Virginia and discharged June 1, 1865.

The descriptive muster roll of the 21st Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry lists his age as 18 and his occupation as farmer.  He is described as 5’ 5” tall with a dark complexion and dark eyes and brown hair.  His marital status is single.

He was born about 1843 in Mansfield probably to Francis and Chloe _____ Topliff. In the 1860 U.S. census in Windham, he is a 17 year old farm laborer in the household of Zalman Church. After his Civil War service, he lived in Mansfield and worked as a farm laborer. James Topliff married Mary ____ between 1860 and 1870. He married second, Mary Jane Hutchins, between 1870 and 1880. She was the daughter of George H. Hutchins, a soldier of Co. D of the 21st Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry who was killed at Petersburg, Virginia. Children with his second wife include: George A. Topliff, born about 1879.

On December 20, 1880, he applied for an invalid pension, No. 413,242 that was granted under certificate No. 346,422.  A pension application was filed at a later date for minor children.

James M. Topliff died on July 3, 1900 in Mansfield and is buried at the New Mansfield Center Cemetery in Mansfield.