John William "Bill" Lupton
Marriages
Alice Martin Lupton - July 1872
in Carthage, Missouri.
Burial Details
Obituaries
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 1 - May 17, 1940
WM. LUPTON PASSES AWAY AT AGE OF 92.
One Of Last of Civil War Veterans-Buried in Gypsum with Military Honors by American Legion.
With the passing of Wm LUPTON at his home in Gypsum last Sunday morning, of of Eagle county's most colorful and highly respected citizens passed to a reward he had justly earned. Mr. LUPTON lived an eventful life. Starting as a soldier in the Union army in the war of the rebellion at the age of sixteen,he was to be found in the thick of excitement and adventure in the west all of his active days. At twenty-five years of age he was marshal of the mining town of Joplin, Mo., one of the wildest towns of its day. His fearlessness brought peace and safety to the citizens of that town, and his name brought fear to the lawless who infested that region in those days.
Later, he went to Cripple Creek, Colo., and served as a peace officer there during the great strike, keeping peace between the warring factions where no other had been able to so do. Other mining and western camps knew him to respect and admire him, for he was always on the side of the law and good government. He first came to Eagle county in 1886, locating on the Deep creek ranch,later to be taken by the late Jim DILTS, and now owned by the DOLL interests; but a ranch life was too quiet for his restlessness, and he again sought the excitement of the mining camps, living at Aspen for a time, then in the heyday of its boom. Later he returned to the county, and has been a continuous resident of Gypsum for thirty years.
Of a calibre and type of man which won the old west to peacefulness, Bill LUPTON was withall an unassuming man of a lovable disposition which made him admired and loved by his associates.
John William LUPTON
John William LUPTON was born on a large farm in Highland county, Ohio, June 11, 1847. His early life was spent on the farm, where he learned to love the outdoors. He was particularly fond of horses and riding them, and of fishing, sports of which he never tired.
When a mere boy the civil war broke out, and he, being intensely patriotic, ran away twice before he was sixteen to join the army. Finally his father gave his consent for the lad to enlist and on October 16,1863 he enlisted as a private in Captain James Hicks' company-Company M of the 12th Ohio Cavalry, giving his age as 18 years.
He took part in the famous battle of Gettysburg, and was also among the soldiers marching with Sherman from Atlanta to the sea.
It was there that he learned to love the southland-"Dixie"and "Marching Through Georgia: being his favorite melodies.
He was wounded by a bullet through the hand which became infected,and while in a southern army prison camp, an amputation of his hand was decided upon by the surgeon in charge of the wounded prisoners. But this was too much against William's desire, so, purloining the captain's overcoat and saddle horse, he escaped. Living for three days on a pint of cornmeal, at last he reached the camp of Union soldiers, where his hand was saved,though left somewhat crippled.
He was honorably discharge on November 11, 1865, at Nashville, Tenn., where his company was mustered out of the service.
July 28, 1872, he was united to a southern girl, Alice MARTIN, of Carthage, Mo. This was a most fortunate union. His bride followed her husband willingly and cheerfully in all his adventures, and was a real helpmeet to his restless adventurous soul. To the union were born eight children, five of whom have preceded him in death.
All of his life he was a peace officer, fearless in doing his duty, when enforcing the law.
The LUPTON family came to Colorado in 1886,and took up as a homestead the Deep Creek ranch. This he later relinquished and then moved to Cripple Creek,Colo., where he served as peace officer for years. He spent three years in the San Luis valley, during a mining boom, then again returned to Cripple Creek. It was while living here that he formed an acquaintance with W. S. STRATTON, the millionaire mining man--a friendship being formed which lasted during the life time of Mr. STRATTON. Owing to his prominence in the mining industry and his wealth acquired in the Cripple Creek mines, Mr. STRATTON's life was in constant danger, and Mr. LUPTON became his bodyguard, a position he filled for years. He accompanied STRATTON on a trip to Old Mexico in the nineties, but while there the battleship Maine was blown up in Havana harbor,and with war declared with Spain, the presence of citizens of the United States in Mexico was not safe and the STRATTON party at once returned to this country, Mr. LUPTON with them.
After this the family returned to Gypsum and while here, accepted a position as a special officer for the Rio Grande railroad, stationed at Minturn.
Mr. LUPTON and his wife, Alice celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in Casper, Wyo., at the home of their daughter, in 1922, since when have spent eighteen years more together in their home in Gypsum.
He always retained his love for the out-of-doors, and at the age of 90, rode a horse from the Bonar ranch in Gypsum canyon to the Muckey lake to fish.
John William LUPTON passed away at 8:10 a.m. Sunday morning, May 12, 1940, at the age of 92 years, 11 months and 1 day. And, he who lived so fearlessly, practically never knowing a day of sickness, entered the Great Beyond, without struggle, joyfully accepting it as a haven of rest, remarking to the family surrounding him just before passing on, that it was, indeed, a beautiful day. He leaves to mourn his passing his widow, Alice LUPTON, three daughters, Mrs. Bert WILSON of Eagle, Mrs. Ora L. FRY of Casper, Wyo., and Mrs. Lenna BONAR of Gypsum; three grandchildren--Betty and Wyon BONAR and Eldon WILSON; two great grandchildren, Shirley and Willard WILSON. Also a host of friends and neighbors.
Short funeral services were held at the home in Gypsum on Tuesday afternoon by Rev. F.W. CASSELMAN, following which the American Legion--of which the deceased was an honorary member--took charge and a full military funeral was accorded the old veteran at the grave, which is as Mr. LUPTON would have had it--laid away in a scene and with a setting recalling his early life. Hundreds of friends followed the body to its last resting place in Cedar Hill cemetery and stood lovingly at attention as it was laid to its last mortal resting place.
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 8 - May 17, 1940
One by one they answer the roll call of death. Sunday morning Wm. J. LUPTON [sic John William LUPTON] passed away at his home in Gypsum at the age of 92 years, 11 months. Mr. LUPTON was one of the few surviving veterans of the Civil war. On Tuesday afternoon the American Legion post of Gypsum and Red Cliff honored his memory with a full military funeral, conducted from his home and he was laid to rest in Cedar Hill cemetery. He leaves to mourn his passing his widow, Alice LUPTON, three daughters, Mrs. W. M. WILSON of Eagle, Mrs. Ora FRYE of Casper, Wyo., and Mrs. Wyon BONAR of Gypsum; three grand children and two great grandchildren, and a host of sorrowing friends.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 4 - May 18, 1940
Who's Who in Colorado, 1938; Alice T. Bacon, p.427-436 page 432 - 1938
LUPTON, JOHN WILLIAM: Pioneer, Miner;
b Highland Co, Ohio, June 11, 1847; ed pub sch, Highland Co, Ohio; m Alice MARTIN, July, 1872 in Carthage, Mo; d Mrs Ora L FRY, Mrs Alberta WILSON, Mrs Lenna B BONAR, Maude (dec); left home, served in 12th Ohio Cavalry through Civil War, participating in Sherman's march through Georgia; mining, leasing, Joplin, Carthage, Mo; first marshal, Joplin, Mo; 1882-1886 foreman coalmines, Lincoln, Atlanta, Decatur, Ill; 1887 homesteading on Deep Creek, Eagle Co; 1888-1893 mine engineer, leaser, owner of livery stable, Aspen, 1894 for many yrs special bodyguard to Winfield Scott STRATTON, watchman at Independence Mine, Victor; 1894-1908 Undersheriff, special officer of El Paso & Teller Co; 1908-1910 special officer, D&RG RR, Minturn, Colo; 1910-1914 ranching, Eagle Co; 1915 to date res of Gypsum; Eagle Co Pioneers Assn, GAR; Rep; hobbies, hunting, fishing; res, Gypsum.
