Lauren
A. Upson, second son of Lauren Upson, deceased, was born at Marion, Perry
County, Alabama, July 1, 1837. He was educated there and at the high school of
Mobile until his sixteenth year. In 1853, after his father had gone to California,
his mother and four children, including our subject, went to Connecticut. Then
he attended Lewis’ Academy at Southington, preparing for Yale College, but in
1855 his father sent for the family, and they then came out to California. Our
subject, who was then eighteen years of age, became a newsboy on the Union
at $75 a month. He carried papers one year, and then went into the employ of
the Pacific Express Company. When twenty years old he entered the employ of Sneath
& Arnold. After a short time he bought the interest of Mr. Kramer in the
firm of P.H. Kramer & Co., and the new firm of Purdy & Upson was formed,
composed of Mr. Upson and J. E. Purdy, and doing business at Woolsey’s Flat,
Nevada County. After two years in that firm, he left there and went to
Placerville. The firm of L. A. Upson & Co., did business then until 1860,
when the store was sold, and Mr. Upson came to Sacramento again and took the
position of bookkeeper for the firm of Sneath & Arnold. After the flood of
1862 the firm established a house in San Francisco, and Mr. Upson took charge
of the office there. In 1863 the firm was dissolved, Mr. Upson representing Mr.
Arnold in the dissolution, and W. J. Tilly action for Mr. Sneath. Mr. Upson
returned to Sacramento, and the firm of John Arnold & Co., was organized,
composed of John Arnold, John McNeill and L. A. Upson. A little later L. S.
Adams became a member of the firm. The house finally became Adams, McNeill, and
L. A. Upson. Mr. Upson remained a
member of the firm until 1868, when he sold his interest to L. S. Adams. He has
ever since been connected with the house as salesman. Mr. Upson is a charter
member of Sacramento Lodge, A. O. U. W.; member of Sacramento Lodge, K. of H.,
and member of K. & L. of H. In the
days of the volunteer fire department he was a member of Young American Engine
Company, No. 6, and is now an exempt fireman. Mr. Upson is an active Republican politically, and has held the
position of chairman of the City Central Committee. He was the first secretary
of the Sacramento paid fire department, and has been for many years treasurer
of the State Agricultural Society, which office he now holds. Mr. Upson was married in this city to Miss
Adelaide L. Hubbard, eldest daughter of I. M. and Sarah Buckley (Wilcox)
Hubbard, and a native of Utica, New York. To them have been born ten children,
of whom seven are living, viz.: Lauren Stuart, Lucy, Adelaide, Nellie, Miller,
Burchell and Gertrude.
Transcribed
by: Marla Fitzsimmons
An Illustrated History of Sacramento County, California.
By Hon. Win. J. Davis. Lewis Publishing Company 1890. Page 305-306.
© 2004 Marla Fitzsimmons.