Upson, J. A.

UPSON

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 10/7/2008 at 14:10:48

J. A. Upson

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.195, Neola Twp.)
J. A. Upson, farming, P. O. Neola, was born in Ohio August 10, 1837, son of Reuben A. and Jane (Furber) Upson; he, born in Connecticut about 1808, emigrated from there to Ohio, where he was occupied as a farmer and raised his family; he is now living in Henry County, Ill. Subject's mother was born in England about 1810, and when ten years old came to America with her parents; she had seven children, three of whom are dead. Mr. Upson was engaged in farming; rented land in Illinois till he joined the army, in 1862; he enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifteenth Ohio Volunteers, and served three years. He was taken prisoner by Hood's forces, near Nashville, Tenn., and after about seventeen days he escaped from the enemy and returned to the Union lines. The faithfulness of the negroes to the Union cause is illustrated in the following incident: In December, 1864, some Federal soldiers, among whom was our subject, were confined in an old court house in Columbia, from which Mr. Upson escaped while after water; he was taken in by a colored family and secreted for eight or nine days in their garret. Gen. Thomas then took the town, and Mr. Upson was restored to his regiment. After returning from the war, Mr. Upson settled in Hampton, Ill., and worked in a mill one year, then engaged in farming two years, after which he spent two years farming in Iowa; thence to Nebraska, where he spent five years on a homestead and timber claim; sold this and returned to Iowa; spent five years in Harrison County, and in the fall of 1881 came to Pottawattamie County. Mr. Upson was married, in Rock Island County, Ill., in 1861 to Delia Richardson, born in Rock Island County, Ill., in 1838, daughter of Stephen and Nancy (Deby) Richardson; he, born in Connecticut in 1809, lives in Illinois; she, born in Pennsylvania, died some years since. Mr. and Mrs. Upson have eight children - George, Ida M., Nellie L., Sarah J., Bennie L., Minnie, Lily N. and Kate. Mr. Upson is a Republican.