In 1890 Edmon D. Upson began fifty years in the Methodist ministry. He was first an evangelist in lumber camps, and later served at churches in Hebron, Peshtigo, Verona, Middleton, and Madison, Wisconsin. An advocate of temperance, he not only preached but also lectured on the topic throughout his career.
In addition to his ministry, Upson was a gun instructor; an amateur photographer; a Boy Scout scoutmaster; and a prominent conservationist, even serving as a game warden from 1918 to 1923.
Upson was married and had two sons: Raymond, who was killed in World War I, and Richard, who was killed in World War II.
