San Francisco
County
Biographies
JOHN J.
UPCHURCH
The life of Father Upchurch is an example of
what a poor mechanic can do for humanity. He was a philanthropist, and the
subject of benefiting his race had been his study for years. In his
autobiography he says: “Nothing seemed to present itself so forcibly as a
society where the employer and employee could be brought face to face, and
obligate them to the same great principle of the greatest good to the greatest
number.” He opened the first temperance
hotel south of Mason and Dixon’s line, and it was a failure. He planted a twig
in Meadville, Penn., and it has grown from twenty members in nine months from
organization to 20,000 members in less than twenty years. His whole purpose in
life was to benefit his fellow-man, and although he was a poor man, slow of
speech and simple-minded, his name is enshrined in the hearts of a grateful people, and he will be known as one of the great benefactors
of this age. He was made a Past Supreme Master Workman by the Supreme Lodge;
was a member of the Select Knights, and also of the Masonic fraternity. The
inscription that will be placed on a monument that will be erected by the grand
army of Workmen will be, “Founder of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.”
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: “Illustrated Fraternal Directory Including
Educational Institutions on the Pacific Coast, Page 194, Publ. Bancroft
Co., San Francisco. Cal. 1889.
© 2012 Cecelia
M. Setty.
San Francisco County Biographies