Legislator Details
Image Description:
Portrait captured from Find-a-Grave.com, 10/1/2026
Number of sessions served 5
Gender: Male
Age at election: 66
Vital Records Information:
Birth
Date: 11/29/1858
City: Richland, MI
County: Kalamazoo County, MI
Country: US
Death
Date: 1/18/1936
City: Richland, MI
County: Kalamazoo County, MI
Country: US
Type of Burial:
Burial
Date: 1/21/1936
City: Kalamazoo, MI
County: Kalamazoo County, MI
Country: US
Cemetery: Mountain Home Cemetery
Marital Information:
married Carrie Barnes, 9/2/1885, in Richland, MI; she died in 1918; children: 5, Florence (Smiley), Amelia (Winkworth), Ruth, Ralph T. and James Robert; married Isabel Gillies, dau. of Albert and Helen (Abbott) Gillies, 2/10/1921, in Kalamazoo, MI;
Number of Children: 5
Background
Religion:
Military Service:
Occupation: farmer, physician, real estate, businessman
Race: Caucasian or White
Education:
attended Kalamazoo Public Schools; graduated from University of Michigan, Medical Department, 1886; post graduate work at University of Michigan
Biographical Sketch:
Son of Dr. Uriah and Maria (Mills) Upjohn. After completing high school, became a farmer for seven years. He practiced in Kalamazoo for 10 years. He was an organizer of the Upjohn Company, a pharmaceutical company, and worked as vice-president, treasurer and superintendent of laboratories for 25 years. He sold his interests in the company and travelled for a time before completing post graduate work at University of Michigan and working at the University hospital until 1920. He was also a stockholder and director of a number of paper manufacturing corporations in Kalamazoo and vicinity and in Detroit and Munising , MI
Notable Facts:
Sessions Served:
Committees Served On: Blind and Deaf, Education , Finance and Appropriations , Horticulture , Public Health , University
City of Residence: Kalamazoo
County of Residence Kalamazoo
District Description: Counties of Kalamazoo and St. Joseph
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Departed
Notes: Chair of Blind and Deaf.
Committees Served On: Cities and Villages , Federal Relations , Public Health , State Sanatariums, Finance and Appropriations , Prohibition
City of Residence: Kalamazoo
County of Residence Kalamazoo
District Description: Counties of Kalamazoo and St. Joseph
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Notes: Chair of the Committee on Public Health
Committees Served On: Public Health , Cities and Villages , University , State Sanatariums, Federal Relations , Prohibition
City of Residence: Kalamazoo
County of Residence Kalamazoo
District Description: Counties of Kalamazoo and St. Joseph
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Notes: Chair of Public Health.
Committees Served On: Geological Survey , Ionia State Hospital , State Library , Michigan Home and Training School
City of Residence: Kalamazoo
County of Residence Kalamazoo
Reason for Leaving Office: See Notes
End of Term Status: Departed
Notes: Elected to the state senate for the 55th session.
Committees Served On: Fish and Fisheries , Kalamazoo State Hospital , Public Health , Western State Normal School
City of Residence: Kalamazoo
County of Residence Kalamazoo
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Notes: Chair of the Committee on Kalamazoo State Hospital
Bibliography:
Manual 1933 p.647; Manual 1927 p.661; Weissert p.290-91; MIMarRec 1867-1952; Michiganology; USCen 1920; Find-a-Grave.com, includes portrait
