Topeka is a peaceful and progressive community that was settled in the Spring of 1832. Originally, the settlement was named Hawpatch. Agriculture and industry prospered to the point where the village was platted in 1893. Topeka was then incorporated in August 1913 and soon thereafter had its own waterworks system. Before the turn of the century, a historian recorded these thoughts about Topeka: “As for the people, they are intelligent, enterprising, and cultured, with a decided penchant for large farms and comfortable or even elegant homes, where generous hospitality is always found.” It’s a tradition we mention with pride and a tradition that continues today. An effective combination of the old and the new best describes the progressive development of its bustling community. Topeka has opened its doors to industrial development without losing its rural charm.