Charles Upson
Encyclopedia
Charles Upson was a politician from the U.S. state
of Michigan
.
Upson was born in Southington, Connecticut
to Lydia (Webster) Upson (1781–1861) and Asahel Upson (1783–1867). He attended the district and select schools of Southington and later taught school in Farmington
from 1840 to 1842. He married Sophia Upham on August 4, 1852.
Upson studied law at the Yale Law School
in 1844 and moved to Constantine, Michigan
the following year. He taught school in 1846 and 1847 and became deputy county clerk of St. Joseph County
in 1847. He was admitted to the bar in 1847 and commenced practice in Kalamazoo
. He served as county clerk from 1848 to 1849 and prosecuting attorney from 1852 to 1854. He was a member of the Michigan Senate
(17th District) from 1855 to 1856. He moved to Coldwater, Michigan
in 1856 and continued the practice of law. He was a member of the State board of railroad commissioners in 1857 and served as Michigan Attorney General
from 1861 to 1862.
In 1862 was elected as a Republican
from Michigan's 2nd congressional district
to the 38th United States Congress
and was re-elected to the 39th
and 40th
Congresses, serving from March 4, 1863 to March 3, 1869. He served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Navy (Fortieth Congress). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1868.
In 1869, Upson was appointed judge of the Michigan fifteenth circuit court, serving until his resignation on December 31, 1872. He was a member of the commission to revise the State constitution in 1873. In 1876, he declined appointment as Commissioner of Indian Affairs. He served as mayor of the city of Coldwater in 1877. He was again a member of the Michigan Senate
(10th District) serving from 1881 to 1882 and resumed the practice of his profession.
Charles Upson died in Coldwater and was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery
.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Upson was born in Southington, Connecticut
Southington, Connecticut
Southington is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is part of Connecticut's 1st congressional district. It is situated about 20 miles southwest of Hartford, about 80 miles northeast of New York City, 105 miles southwest of Boston and 77 miles west of Providence...
to Lydia (Webster) Upson (1781–1861) and Asahel Upson (1783–1867). He attended the district and select schools of Southington and later taught school in Farmington
Farmington, Connecticut
Farmington is a town located in Hartford County in the Farmington Valley area of central Connecticut in the United States. The population was 25,340 at the 2010 census. It is home to the world headquarters of several large corporations including Carrier Corporation, Otis Elevator Company, and Carvel...
from 1840 to 1842. He married Sophia Upham on August 4, 1852.
Upson studied law at the Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
in 1844 and moved to Constantine, Michigan
Constantine, Michigan
Constantine is a village in St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,095 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Constantine Township. It is on U.S. Highway 131, leading to Kalamazoo to the north and to the Indiana Toll Road six miles to the south. The...
the following year. He taught school in 1846 and 1847 and became deputy county clerk of St. Joseph County
St. Joseph County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 62,422 people, 23,381 households, and 16,600 families residing in the county. The population density was 124 people per square mile . There were 26,503 housing units at an average density of 53 per square mile...
in 1847. He was admitted to the bar in 1847 and commenced practice in Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo, Michigan
The area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to...
. He served as county clerk from 1848 to 1849 and prosecuting attorney from 1852 to 1854. He was a member of the Michigan Senate
Michigan Senate
The Michigan Senate is the upper house of the Michigan Legislature. The Senate consists of 38 members, who are elected from constituencies having approximately 212,400 to 263,500 residents....
(17th District) from 1855 to 1856. He moved to Coldwater, Michigan
Coldwater, Michigan
Coldwater is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,945. It is the county seat of Branch County....
in 1856 and continued the practice of law. He was a member of the State board of railroad commissioners in 1857 and served as Michigan Attorney General
Michigan Attorney General
The Attorney General of Michigan is the fourth-ranking official in the U.S. state of Michigan and one of four great offices of state. The officeholder is elected statewide in the November general election alongside the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, members of the Senate and...
from 1861 to 1862.
In 1862 was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
from Michigan's 2nd congressional district
Michigan's 2nd congressional district
Michigan's 2nd congressional district is a United States Congressional district in Western Michigan. It consists of the counties of Benzie, Manistee, Wexford, Mason, Lake, Oceana, Newaygo, Muskegon, Ottawa, and the northern portion of Allegan and the northwest portion of Kent. The 2nd district has...
to the 38th United States Congress
38th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:Before this Congress, the 1860 United States Census and resulting reapportionment changed the size of the House to 241 members...
and was re-elected to the 39th
39th United States Congress
The Thirty-ninth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1865 to March 4, 1867, during the first month of...
and 40th
40th United States Congress
The Fortieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1867 to March 4, 1869, during the third and fourth...
Congresses, serving from March 4, 1863 to March 3, 1869. He served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Navy (Fortieth Congress). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1868.
In 1869, Upson was appointed judge of the Michigan fifteenth circuit court, serving until his resignation on December 31, 1872. He was a member of the commission to revise the State constitution in 1873. In 1876, he declined appointment as Commissioner of Indian Affairs. He served as mayor of the city of Coldwater in 1877. He was again a member of the Michigan Senate
Michigan Senate
The Michigan Senate is the upper house of the Michigan Legislature. The Senate consists of 38 members, who are elected from constituencies having approximately 212,400 to 263,500 residents....
(10th District) serving from 1881 to 1882 and resumed the practice of his profession.
Charles Upson died in Coldwater and was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery
Oak Grove Cemetery
Oak Grove Cemetery may refer to:in the United States* Oak Grove Cemetery Historic Section, listed on the NRHP in Conway, Arkansas* Oak Grove Cemetery , listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Prairie County, Arkansas...
.