Otto Upton In Canada!

Some people are 'missing' from each of the census...

some people though are enumerated twice.

In 1910 that is the case with Otto Upton.

1910 census - Warren Co, PA

Here Otto is shown living with his parents and siblings.

1910 census - Spokane Co., WA 

Here Otto (10 from the bottom) is in the wilds of Spokane Co., WA working in a logging camp.

1911 Canadian Census - Humboldt, Saskatchewan 

But most surprising of all is that one year later in 1911, Otto appears in the Canadian census (3rd from bottom).  He is working as a farm hand.  Who knew?   

Otto Upton Draft Registration

Otto D. Upton was the 'right age' to register for draft for World War I and World War II. 

WWI Draft Registration

Otto's WWI Draft Registration is significant as it lists his date and place of birth - 31 May 1890 - Garland, PA.  In June of 1917 Otto lived in Cherry Grove, OR with his 'wife and child'.   He is listed as a farmer - medium height and build with blue eyes and dark hair.

WWII Draft Registration

WWII Draft Registration

Twenty-five years later (1942) Otto Upton registered as part of the "Old Man's Draft" during WWII. His birth date has changed to 1892 - he signs his full name.  And he is missing part of his right ear.

Otto D. Upton

Otto Upton and Barbara - June 1945

Otto D. Upton

Born: 31 May 1890 Spring Creek, Warren County, PA

Died: 2 January 1954 Portland, Multnomah County, OR

The 1940 Census - Otto and Elsie Upton

1940 US Census - Springfield, Lane County, Oregon

The Upton Family is in the middle of the page - Household #54.

They are recorded as living at 503 5th Street.  They own their home valued at $5000.  Elsie has an "x" by her name - she provided the family's information to the Census Enumerator.  Elsie and Otto are recorded as having a 8th grade education, V'Ona age 21 as 4 years of college, and Ellen age 16 as 4 years of high school.  The census also notes that 5 years earlier the famiy resided in Dexter, Oregon.  Otto is listed as a logging contractor and V'Ona as a book- keeper for a bank.

June 1943 - Further Birthday Cards

...And Birthday Cards from Margaret's husband and parents arrived.

Card from Jim - Front

Card From Jim - Inside

Card from Elsie and Otto Upton - Front

Card from Elsie and Otto Upton - Letter

"Springfield, Oregon

6-15-43

Dearest Margaret:

I hope you will have a Happy Birthday and lots of them.  I wish you could have your birthday dinner with Dad and I.  

We had two letters from Ellen yesterday and we tho't that was pretty fine.  Don't you think that was nice.  I will send you one.  You won't need to send it back.  I sure hope they can come see us.  How is my Sugar Pie.  Love her for us.  We think it has been a long day since we saw our Darling..." 

Elsie and Otto Upton Card - Inside

Elsie and Otto Upton - Letter

"...This is a beautiful morning and I supposed it is the same in Portland.  Mrs. Carr came to see me Saturday.  She is still out on the farm and working to(sic) hard.  V'Ona came home Saturday and had supper with Dad and I.  We were glad to have her.  I am going over (sic) town this P.M. and see The Human Comedy with Mickey Rooney.

Mr. Ray will bring 2 doz. chickens tomorrow and they will have to be dressed.  Some job.

Dad did a lot of work in the garden Sun.  His little tractor is fine for cultivating and vegetables are growing and so are the weeds.  Mrs. Waning's garden is grand.  I must close with our love and write often.  Dad and Mom."

Upton Logging - 1942

OD Upton's Payroll Statement for James Waning

January 1942

Christmas 1947

Card from the collection of Jim and Margaret Waning

Margaret's card to Jim - Front 

Margaret's card to Jim - Inside

Otto and Elsie Upton - Card - Front 

Otto and Elsie Upton - Card - Inside

Ellen Upton Hall card - Front

Ellen Upton Hall - Card - Inside

Esther Greenwell Smith - Card - Front

Esther Greenwell Smith - Card - Inside

Greenwell - Upton Wedding 29 October 1913

Elsie Greenwell - 1907

Otto Upton - 1912

We don't have a wedding photograph for Elsie and Otto, I think there must have been one given the number of relatives who attended the wedding.

We do have the wedding booklet.

The Cover

Marriage Certificate

The two witnesses are sisters of the bride and groom - Fanny Greenwell Gantenbein and Olivia Upton Adams.

The Guests

Guests included George Adams and Olivia Upton Adams, Roy Greenwell and his wife-to-be Lillian Nelson, and several other Greenwell family members.

Wedding Sentiments

Otto and Elsie Go to Pennsylvania - Part 7

"Sept. 4th - 46

Dearest Family:

This is a beautiful morning but very cold.  We had a nice time yesterday.  Robert took us for a long ride out to Erie and to see Aunt Clara1.  We are going to Jamestown to-day.

We are leaving for home Tuesday 4-45A.M. from Erie.  We will come by way of Portland.  If we can get a room will spend a day there.  I want to see Aunt Fannie2.  I did so want to go through California and see my children3 but we didn't have any choice.  I plan to go see them when we get rested up.

I am going to send a box of our clothes by express and I hope you won't mind for we will send them to your home.

We will see you soon I hope.  I hope you are all well and not working too hard.  Olivia said you had a good rain out there.  They sure need rain here, it is so dry and in some parts have had frost.  Robert has a nice field of corn.  I think breakfast is most ready so I will go to the kitchen.  Will see you all soon.

With our love to all.
Mom"

1 Nellie (Ellen) Carter Upton's sister - Clara Priscilla Carter Loomis 1887-1953 
2 Elsie's sister, Fannie Greenwell Gatenbein
3 Her daughter Ellen Upton Hall, son-in-law Grover C. Hall II. 
  
 

Otto and Elsie Go to Pennsylvania - Part 6

Garland, PA Countryside

"Monday P.M.
9-2-46

Dearest Margaret, Jim, & My Girls:

Grandmother and Bobby are asleep and Mildred is washing for Bobby and the men have gone for a ride to see a Beaver Dam.  Parney came home yesterday and stayed last night and he is still here.  They have been doing some hunting and this morning Dad helped to cut some corn.  Mildred had such a nice dinner for Sunday and she wished you were all here.

We hope to be home soon.  We are supposed to hear tomorrow just when we can get our  reservations.  Dad is just as anxious to get started home as I am.  I believe he has had a good visit with the folks.  They have been very kind a good to us.

I am writing with my tablet in my lap.  I must write to Ellen1 and Grover too.  I am sure glad to hear Mr. Waning2 has had his teeth pulled and is feeling better.  It was too bad about Mrs. Waning's friend having a stroke.
  
We went out to dinner Saturday night.  I think the folks enjoyed getting out.  We didn't get any mail to-day and I missed getting a letter from some of my girls.  I miss my little girls and want to see them.

I did a little wash out this morning and have finished ironing it.  It is so cold here most of the time, not a bit like August.

I will have alot to tell you when we get home.  I am glad for you that you are going to have a nice clean house.

Tuesday Morning
Dad and Robert have gone to the barn and every one else is in bed, so I will try to finish this letter and get it in the mail.  We may go out to Jamestown to-day and I hope to hear just when we can come home.

I will be glad to get home.  Don't tell Olivia3 I said that, she would write and tell the folks.  It is so cold here you are uncomfortable most of the time,  U want to see my little girls, love them for me.

I hear Mildred in the kitchen so I had better finish this and see if I can help a little with the breakfast.  They have breakfast so late, about 8:30 or nine.

Bye bye dearies.  Hope to see you very soon.  Mildred is just coming down stairs and it is 8A.M.  Four back home.

With love from us,
Dad and Mom"

1 Otto and Elsie's youngest daughter - Ellen Upton Hall and her son Grover C. Hall III 
2 James Waning's parents - Billy and Net Waning of Dexter, Oregon
3 Olivia Upton Adams - Otto's sister - born March 1885 she married George Adams and lived in Newport, Portland, and Eugene, Oregon.

Otto and Elsie Go to Pennsylvania 1946 - Part 5

Entrance to Inlet, Chautauqua Lake, N.Y.

Postmarked Aug 29, 1946

Spring Creek, PA

"Mrs. J.W. Waning

1479 Moss Street

Eugene, Oregon

Dear Family:

I got your letter yesterday and was so glad to hear from you.  Thanks for the pictures.  I will (be) happy to see you all.  I am pretty tired.  We are going to Erie tomorrow.  I hope to find a coat.  I don't know if I told you or not but I lost mine in the car fire.  Your garden must be fine.  I am glad you are better.  It was too bad about Esther's baby.

Will be seeing you.

Love,

Mom"    

Lakeside Drive at Bemus Point in Chautauqua Lake, N.Y.

Postmarked Aug 31, 1946

Spring Creek, PA

"Barbara and Sandra Waning

1479 Moss Street

Eugene, Oregon

My Sugar Pies:

I will be so glad to see you.  Don't grow so I won't know you.  Bobby is a big boy and likes to go with his Daddy to the barn to help milk.  It stays so cold here you wouldn't know it was summer.  Take good care of Mommie and be good girls.  We will have fun when we get home.  Granddad and Robert went to a fair this P.M.

With all my love,

Grandmother"

Otto and Elsie Go to Pennsylvania 1946 - Part 4

"Jamestown, N.Y.
8-27-46

Dear Margaret, Jim and My Darlings(1),

We were so glad to hear from you.  "My pen is dry" and I haven't any ink to fill it so please excuse pencil.  Dad has written a letter to you so I will write a short one.  Every one is asleep but us and I don't seem to find time to write or shop so I tho't I would get up early and write a few cards.

I haven't bought a thing but a dress for Grandmother's(2) birthday and Jennie(3) got that for me.  The family were all here for dinner Sat. and Sunday.  I guess we are going out to see Parney(4) one of these days.  I like most of the folks very much, but I will be so glad to be home. Dad has asked about a Nash(5) but not a chance so I guess we will go back by train.

Ross(6) is still out on strike.  He has only worked a short time since they were in Oreg.

I have to iron to-day and Jennie has a big one to do.  We went out for dinner and a nice long ride around the lake last night.  Jennie said it was about a forty mile drive.  We visited Mary Bratt on our way home.

We will go back to the farm in a day or two.  I don't know what we will be doing.  I would like to shop.

I want to see my little girls.  I hope you are well Margie.  I miss you all.

The folks have a beautiful home.  They have made it all over since we were here before.  I want to get a letter off to Mrs. Gerlach(7) to-day.

Every one is well out here.  Grandmother like her pin and had it on her dress Sunday and Bobby(8) liked his little cart.  He sure is busy and keeps them all busy too.

Bye-bye dearies. 
With our love.
Mom"

1 Granddaughters Sandie and Barbara
2 Nellie (Ellen) Carter Upton - Otto's mother - her 83rd birthday was the 26th of August.
3 Jennie Upton - Ross Upton's wife
4 Parney Upton - Otto's brother born April 1888 - father to Helen, Virginia, and Jane
5 Nash - Otto's original Nash was totally in a car fire in Eastern Oregon on the way out to PA.
6 Ross Upton - Otto's brother born Feb 1893 - father to Janet and Rachel 
7 Elsie's seamstress and friend
8 Bobby - Robert and Mildred Upton's young son
     

Otto and Elsie Go to Pennsylvania - 1946 - Part 3

This letter was written by Otto Upton.  He left school early - perhaps as early as the 8th grade.  I have transcribed his letter as written.  If anyone in the family has ever wondered where Barbara's interesting phonetic spelling came from, here is the answer!

Otto and Elsie Upton at Oregon Coast

"Jamestown
Aug 26-46

Dear Margret Jim & Girls

Mother sid I had to wright you a letter so hear it is, if you can read it.  Wel we got back hear just fine.  Thou I shore wish we had are carr, I wonder if are stuff got back there ok.  I shore hope sow, if by any chance it hasn't I wonder if you would call the United Trailway bus line.
Well Mother* seems to be in verry Good Spirits.  She gets tired pretty easy but you can't expect anything different, as she is getting pretty old.  Well Robert** has had real good crops, & has a nice bunch of Holstein cows.  He just finished combining oats.  He hass got some buck what to cut for some other farmers yet.  He has about 12 acres of real nice corn to cut & put in the silo.  They have got Electric now which makes it real nice for them, & have a paved rode run by there place.
S**** is a nice big boy now taller than I am.  We came up to Ross's*** Saturday.  Will stay hear a few days.  They are fine.  Ross has ben out of work for over a month.  They are out on a Strike.  They are no idea when it will be settled, it shoar is the bunk.
Well how is every thing out there.  I hope ok.  We won't be back hear verry long.  The weather is real cool hear.  We thought it would be hot.  I don't know **** much news so will say good by.
from dad"

* Otto's Mother - age 83 - Nellie (Ellen) Carter Upton 1863-1853
** Otto's brother Robert
*** Otto's brother Ross (Hazel in 1900 census)
**** Cannot read these two words - the first may be Bobby - Robert's son 

Otto and Elsie go to Pennsylvania - 1946 - Part 2

This postcard is a bit of a mystery - Elsie did not date it, but it is postmarked August 21st.  The postmark says "Trans***Erie*****",  so I assume that they are in upper PA headed south to Garland.  And though they do not mention it, the Uptons are travelling by train because their car caught on fire in Eastern Oregon.   

"Dear Family

Our train leaves here at six for Garland.  We got here at 2-40A.M.  We have had a good trip but tired.  We tried to get a room but no luck.  Will be seeing the folks soon.  Will be thinking of you all and will be glad to see you.
Love,
Dad and Mom"

Otto and Elsie Go to Pennsylvania - 1946 - Part 1

Otto and Elsie Upton travelled from Springfield, OR back to Garland, PA in the summer of 1946 to visit Otto's mother and brothers.  They started out in Otto's Nash, but had a car fire, and then had to take the train for the rest of the journey. Elsie wrote all the letters and cards except one.  She appears to enjoy travelling and visiting, but the main theme is that she misses home and her daughters and grandchildren.  

Margaret Upton Waning saved five letters and three postcards dating from August 17th through Sept 13, 1946 which help to document the journey. 

Auto Camp Services in John Day, OR

"John Day Hotel
8-17-46

The Dear Waning Family:

We got here about 5 oclock.  We have had a nice day but it has been very warm.  We have a nice room with bath and a good bed.  I hope we have as good luck the rest of the trip.  Dad is out getting the car ready for the morning.  We had lunch in Prineville about noon. 

I wonder if you got to go home to-day Margaret*.  Take good care of yourself.
I like our part of Oregon so much better than E. Oregon.  Dad just came in and said he had the car ready.  He will wash up and then we will go out for dinner. 

I am going to bed early.  We were 28 miles from Madras and I was so our not to see June and Family**.  Another time maybe we can all go.

We just got back from dinner.  It is beautiful out to-night.  Dad is looking over the road map.

There isn't any news but I tho't you would like to lear from us.

Will get a note to Ellen tomorrow.  I am too tired to write any more tonight.

With love to all.
Dad and Mom.

Will be so glad to be home again."

* Margaret had been in the hospital for four days. 
** June Gantenbein Suckow - Elsie's niece.  
   

Upton Grandparents and Grandchildren - June 1945

Otto Upton, Sandie, Barbara, and Elsie Greenwell Upton

We do not have many photos of Otto Upton, perhaps he did not like to have his photo taken.  For whatever reason, it makes the few we do have that much more precious.  This one was taken in June 1945.  The Uptons both look pretty pleased with their grand-daughters.

Logging - Margaret and O.D. Upton

Fred Gantenbein, Margaret Upton, and Helen Gantenbein - circa 1933

Talk about destiny in the making! 

This photo shows Margaret Upton with her uncle and cousin.

A one-log load - it doesn't get any better than that.

O.D. Upton - about 1942

All #1 Peelers! 

O.D. Upton - about 1942

This was O.D.'s first "Cat" - note that it does not have a blade.

Otto D. Upton

Otto D. Upton was born the 31st of May 1890 in Spring Creek, Warren County, PA.  He was the third of five children of James Monroe Upton and Ellen Augusta (Nellie) Carter. 

He lived in Spring Creek and attended school through the 8th grade.  Shortly thereafter he left his family and headed to the Pacific Northwest.

He worked in lumber camps in Washington and as a milkman in Portland, Oregon where he met Margaret Elsie Greenwell.  They married on the 29th of October, 1913.  

Otto was the proud father of three girls, Margaret, Ellen, and V'Ona. 

His work career including working as a dairy farmer, running a sawmill, co-owning a lumber company in partnership with Mr. Williams...

and as in independent logging contractor.

The Log Scale book was one of the important tools of his trade.  And before heading up to the woods for a picnic with family on the weekend, all the log scale tickets were meticulously recorded. 

He was happiest in the woods both for work and for pleasure.  He suffered a severe stroke in the early 1950's and spent the last years of his life in a care facility in Portland, Oregon.

Otto D. Upton - School Year of 1902-03

Otto D. Upton as a young boy.  He was born the 31st of May 1890 in Spring Creek, Warren County, PA to James Monroe Upton and Nellie (Ellen) Carter Upton. 

The Cover - Note the photograph of the teacher on the cover page.

*

Inside Page #1 - This was an end of school-year memento.

*

2nd Page - The school year 1902-1903

Garland Intermediate School

Pittsfield Township

Warren County, PA

*

The class list for 1902-1903.  Otto Upton and his brother, Parney Upton are both listed.

And some final uplifting thoughts as the summer recess began!

Below you can see Otto with his family in the 1900 census.  They were probably related to the Holmes and Osborne families on the same page as those are surnames from previous generations.