Gates Upson has a Civil War marker in the extreme south west corner of this cemetery. His marker reads "Gates Upson Co. B 19th Mich. Inf." Paper records indicate he enlisted in Company B of the 12th Michigan Infantry. Records of Service of Michigan Volunteers in The Civil War 1861-1865, The Twelfth Infantry was organized at Niles by Colonel Francis, Quinn of that city" and was mustered into service March 5, 1862, with an enrollment of 1,000 officers and men. Page 161: "Upson, Gates, St. Joseph. Enlisted in. company B, Twelfth Infantry, Oct. 30, 1861, at St. Joseph, for 3 years, age 46, Mustered Dec. 19, 1861. Died of disease at St. Joseph, Mich., Jan., 1862." Some records indicate he died on 18 Jun 1862, some give his death year as 1872 and some as 04 Jul 1862. He was the father of Nelson Upson who also served in the Civil War but for the Missouri Union Troops and who is buried here also. Gates married Elizabeth Williams. Gates and Elizabeth (Williams) Upson lived in Niagara County, New York before coming to Michigan. After his death Elizabeth remarried to John Roe. His wife had remarried by 1866 so the 1862 death date is very likely. The card that was made out for his Civil War marker gives his death date as 04 Jul 1872. Military records also indicate he died while on furlough and if that is the case the 1862 date is more likely than the 1872 date. The 1873 plat book for St. Joseph shows the property as "Est. of G. Upson". It seems if he died in 1872 his property would not be in estate yet in 1873, making the 1862 likely. There was a news article carried in the St. Joseph Herald dated 06 Jun 1868 which tells of the graves of Civil War soldiers being decorated and one of those was Gates Upson's grave. There is no death record on file with the county and conflicting death dates but I believe it was 04 Jul 1862. He died while at home on furlough. He had served at the Battle of Shiloh in April of 1862 and was then listed as being "sick in camp" on 21 Apr 1862. Reports were that "two thirds of the sick had diarrhea." Gates must have been furloughed and at home awaiting recovery when he died.

Gates and Elizabeth Upson had children:
Anna Upson born about 1839 who married Leonard Hilton
Nelson Upson born about 1842 who married Elizabeth Gow
Frances Upson born about 1844 who married Charles Roe
Elizabeth Upson who married Joseph Wilson
William Upson born about 1854 who never married
Josephine Upson born about 1858 who married Lewis G. White