UPTON, George B.

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ November 2, 1962 George B. Upton, age 99, a pioneer mine developer in the Wickenburg-Rich Hill area, died in his sleep Thursday morning of last week in his home at Stanton. He had been in failing health for the past 12 years. Funeral services were held in the Community Church at Yarnell Monday afternoon with the Rev. Scott Siegle officiating. Cremation followed with burial in Lyons, Iowa. Mr Upton was born January 2, 1864, in Clinton, Ia. His interest in geology started in childhood and Iowa State College now has a fossil collection which he accumulated as a child. A Wickenburg resident after 1907, Mr Upton was active in the incorporation of the town and the establishment of the municipal electric system and electric plant. When the decision for the location of a new highway lay between the Wickenburg – Yarnell route vs. the Black Canyon route, he took the state road committee over the former route and convinced them of it superiority for Highway 89. Following the sale of the Upton Oil Co. to Standard Oil Co. in 1922, Mr Upton retained his mining interest at Rich Hill and Oro Grande. After the death of his wife in 1935, he lived in semi-retirement with his niece, Maurine Sanborn, at Stanton. Surviving are a son, Eugene, of The Isle of Man, Great Britain; his niece, Maurine Sanborn; and several nieces and nephews residing in California and Iowa.