William Upjohn, born June 10, 1770 in Shaftesbury, England, was a surveyor, land agent, appraiser of timber, and Methodist lay preacher at St. Rumbold's Church in Shaston. In 1796, he married Mary Standard, and from their union would come nine girls and three boys. In the mid 1820s, with England in the midst of an economic depression, William sent two of his sons to American to explore the possibility of moving there. They stayed two years, then one of the sons -- Uriah -- returned to recommend that the family immigrate. Arriving in New York, William and his sons William and Uriah immediately set out to examine farm and mill properties in upper New York State. The family spent the winter of 1830-31 in Hyde Park, then moved to the town of Greenbush near Albany. They eventually settled in Pittsford, a suburb of Rochester.
While there, Uriah and the younger William started and completed their medical education at the College of Physician and Surgeons at the New York Hospital, graduating in 1834. After spending a year helping their parents with their farm, the brothers came to Michigan, eventually settling in Richland. William later moved to Hastings. The elder William never came to Michigan. He died August 26, 1847.
His sons would flourish. William, in addition to his medical career, would serve as Regent of the University of Michigan. During the Civil War, he served as Surgeon-in-Chief of the First Brigade of the 1st Cavalry Division of the Army of the Potomac. He died August 2, 1887.
Uriah Upjohn would prosper as a physician. Many of his children would attend the University of Michigan where they received training in medicine and allied fields. Henry graduated in 1871; May and Amelia received degrees in the School f Pharmacy also in 1871; Helen received her medical degree in 1872; and William his degree in 1875. Two of them, William and Henry, would become partners in the Upjohn Pill and Granule Company, based in Kalamazoo. The other two brothers Frederick and James would shortly join the company. Their company would grow into the Upjohn Company.
From the guide to the Upjohn family papers, 1795-1916, (Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan)
