William H. Upton, born February 16, 1863, in Staffordshire, England, was a distinguished citizen of Cambridge, Ohio. The son of William and Mary (Turner) Upton, he started working in iron mills at age nine. In 1892, Upton emigrated to the U.S., initially settling in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, before moving to Cambridge, where he worked for the Morton Tin Plate Company and its successors. He married Emily Hartill on March 26, 1882, and they had ten children. A dedicated member of the Methodist Church, Upton was known for his expertise in the mills and his strong community involvement. He became a U.S. citizen and a Republican voter, embodying the virtues of his English heritage and his adopted country.
William H. Upton, man of thorough virtue and honor, one who fully represents the best traits of his English ancestry, and who is a worthy citizen of the country of his adoption, is William H. Upton, who was born February 16, 1863, in Staffordshire, England, the son of William and Mary (Turner) Upton. His father was a puddler in the iron mills of his native country and never came to America.
The son, William H., had only three months of schooling and what education he has is self-acquired. He began work in the iron mills when only nine years of age, working in what were called the hoop mills. In time he became a sheet mill roller, and until 1892 worked in the mills of his native town. On August 4, 1892, he arrived in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, and worked in the mills there until 1894 when he engaged with the new plant of the Morton Tin Plate Company of Cambridge, Ohio, and has the distinction of rolling the first trial piece in the new mill. He remained with this company until it sold out to the trust, and since has continued in the mill under the trust’s operation. He is a head roller, has charge of the mill during his turn, and is one of the most valuable men in the service of the company, being considered an exceptionally expert roller. He was a member of the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel, and Tin Workers until the trust mills were declared open, and the charter of the local organization surrendered. He is a charter member of the local order of the Protected Home Circle.
Mr. Upton was married on March 26, 1882, to Emily Hartill, daughter of James and Harriett (Goodright) Hartill, of Staffordshire, England. Mr. Hartill was an iron worker, and he and his wife died in England. To Mr. and Mrs. Upton have been born ten children: Sarah Ann, deceased; Emily Amelia, now Mrs. Carl B. Stock, of Cambridge; Alice Maude; Lucy, now Mrs. Frank Wilson, of Cambridge; Annie; William T., a worker in the mill with his father; these six were born in England; four others have been born in America, Albert J., deceased; Samuel, Florence, and Mary. The sons and daughters have all had good school advantages. Alice Maude is a graduate of the Cambridge High School and for one year taught in the commercial department of West Lafayette College, in Coshocton County.
Mr. Upton and his family are members of the Methodist Church and are active church workers. Some of the members of the family teach in the Sunday school.
Mr. Upton has visited his old English home twice since coming to America — first in 1901, when he remained six weeks, and again in 1908, accompanied by his wife and oldest daughter, when he remained three months. He and his family are thoroughly Americanized and are ardent supporters of our institutions. Mr. Upton is a Republican, cast his first vote for McKinley in 1900, and is always interested in public matters, but is not an office seeker. The Upton family is a very interesting one and devoted to their home life.