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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE ARTICLE ON MARTIN L. UPP

Martin L. Upp is extensively engaged in agricultural pursuits in Branch County, owning one of the largest farms in Kinderhook Township.  He is a native of Ohio, born in Richmond Township, Huron County, June 8, 1846.  His father, Jacob Upp, was born in little York, Pa., in October, 1822, and was a son of Philip Upp, a farmer, who removed from Pennsylvania about 1830 to Ohio, and became an early settler in Richmond Township, where he bought a tract of timber land, which he had developed into a fine farm at the time of his death.

The father of our subject was a lad of eight years when the removal of his parent to Ohio occurred, and he grew to manhood on his father's homestead in Huron County, and there married.  After marriage he bought a tract of partly improved land in Richmond Township, on which stood a comfortable log house, the same in which our subject was afterward born.  Mr. Upp remained on that farm until 1854, and then came to Branch County and located in Kinderhook Township, buying 360 acres of land, partly on section 5 and 6 of that township, and the rest on section 1 of Gilead Township.  Eight children were born to him and his wife, as follows:  Isabel is the wife of Henry Gripman; Martin L.; Hannah is the wife of Charles E. Hilton; Elizabeth is the wife of Edwin Hughes; Philip J.; Christie A. is the widow of Lewis Hilton; Alice is the wife of George Chase; Susan, now deceased, was the wife of Carrol Gager.  The mother of our subject married a second time, and is now the wife of Alonzo Mosher, and they live in Gilead Township.  Her maiden name was Susana Croningen, and she was born in Seneca County, Ohio.

Martin L. Upp was the second child born to his parents, and he was seven years of age when he accompanied them to this county.  He has a distinct remembrance of the journey, which was quite an incident in his young life, and he still retains recollections of the pioneer surroundings of his early home in this county the preater part of the grand old trees of the primeval forest had fallen before the ax of the pioneer, when deer and wild turkeys abounded, would often come near the house......  Then the grandfather of our subject went back to New York for his family, and returned with them the following July, and they resided in that place for nearly two years.  In the spring of 1836 Mr. Bradley sold his land in Ovid, and bought more on section 8, 9 and 17, Kinderhook Township.  There was a garden spot cleared, and a log house on the place at the time of purchase.  He remained there, actively engaged in agriculture, until his death deprived the community of one of its most substantial citizens.

Mr. Upp was married, Oct. 21, 1877, to Miss Emma Bradley, and their union has been blessed to them by the birth of three children, namely: J. Garfield, Phil Whitford, and an infant, Edward H.  Mrs. Upp was born June 4, 1850, in Kinderhook, Branch County, being a daughter of John Bradley, one of the first settlers of Ovid Township.  He was born April 20, 1808, near Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and his father, Howard Bradley, who was a resident of New York State for several years, came to Michigan in 1834, accompanied by his son, of whom we have just written.

The father of Mrs. Upp was twenty-six years old when he accompanied his father to Michigan, and as this part of it was then a wild, uncultivated country, deer, wolves, bears and other animals were plentiful, and he had many good opportunities to indulge in his propensities for hunting, and with his rifle many a delicious meal of wild game did he provide. Soon after the removal to Kinderhook Township.........  He completed the house, married, and settled in it, and continued a resident of this township until his death, April 21, 1881.  He was married twice.  His second wife, mother of Mrs. Upp, was Mary (Whitford) Gripman, who was born in Otsego County, N.Y., April 18, 1814.  Her father, Eli Whitford, married in Otsego County, Nancy Sim, who is thought to have been a native of New York, born to Scotch parents.  About 1820 they moved to Jefferson County, and lived there until about 1835, and then came to the Territory of Michigan, settling in Calhoun County, and resided there for some years.  They subsequently migrated west of the Rockies, and spent their last years there.  Mrs. Upp's mother had been twice married.  She was first married in New York to Uriah Gripman, a native of that State, who died in Battle Creek, Calhoun County.

Mr. Upp is regarded as a man of progressive and enlightened views, well dowered with firmness and high principles.  As a citizen, he is trustworthy and wise in council.  His learning well fits him to take an active part in educational matters, and he is serving his township as School Inspector, which office he has held for some time.  He has also been Justice of the Peace.