Payson Ephraim Upham was born on July 31, 1843 at Webster, Massachusetts. He married Frances Tilden on December 22, 1872. A son, Osmer Payson Upham, was born on June 24, 1874 at Dudley, Mass. A second son, Charles E. was born on February 18, 1876, also in Massachusetts.
Payson and Frances were divorced. They were supposedly separated by her mother's trouble-making. Payson was sickly and went to live with his sister, Mary Hunt. When he came back, his wife wouldn't let him in. Probably in 1878, Payson took Osmer, 4 years, and Frances took Charles, 2 years.
Payson and Osmer settled in Dume, Otter Tail Co, Minnesota. Payson probably farmed. On November 17, 1879 he married Mary Jane Chadbourne, daughter of Josiah Chadbourne at Detroit Lakes, Becker Co, Minn. A son, Osroe Darius, was born at Dume on October 28, 1881 and died February 25, 1883. A daughter, Anna Elizabeth was born on April 7, 1884, also at Dume.
On August 25, 1885, Darius Gilbert was born at Pelican Rapids, Otter Tail, Co. Apparently, the family started to migrate south after this. Evelyn May was born February 8, 1888 in Orient, Hand Co, So.Dakota. The next child Neal Willard, was also born at Orient, Hand Co, So.Dakota on October 7, 1890. Ralph Edward was born on April 26, 1892 at Cricket, Boone Co, Arkansas. George Emery was born at Omaha, Arkansas on December 13, 1894. Also at Omaha, Arkansas, Myrtle Laura was born on April 23, 1897.
Again the family moved, this time to Kansas in 1898. Spent most ot the winter getting to Morris Co. Arrived in 1899, lived there about 8 months. Moved to Kelso (Norris Co), then to Rinehart community near Woodbine. Later they moved to the Albert Miller place in Geary Co, then to the Ben Ruhnke place. Mary Ethel was born at Lyonsdale in Dickinson Co, on May 23, 1901.
After several relocations in the area, the family built a house west of Junction City and moved there in 1903. Payson died on February 27, 1907 when a load of hay fell on him.
Payson and Mary Jane Upham became members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1905

This information was obtained from the archives of Geary Co. Historical Society and Museums, (Junction City Kansas) from Alta McCluskey who probably learned it from Ralph Upham.


Massachusetts, Birth Records, 1840-1915
about Ephraim Payson Upham
Name: Ephraim Payson Upham
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 31 Jul 1844
Birth Place: Dudley, Massachusetts, USA
Father: Ephraim PR Upham
Mother: Elizabeth Upham