Marshall Ashmun "Ash" Upson (1828–1894)[1] was a newspaper journalist for several years, postmaster, Justice of the Peace, and author. His claim to fame was as a ghostwriter of the book, The Authentic Life of Billy, the Kid, by Pat F. Garrett, 1882.[2][3]
Marshall Ashmun Upson was born November 23, 1828, the son of Samuel Wheeler Upson and Sally Maria Stevens of Waterbury Township, New Haven County, Connecticut .[4] Upson had married once, but later divorced. He then drifted West during the Civil War after working as a reporter for the New York Tribune. Afterwards, he established the Albuquerque Press in 1867.[5]
Careeredit
He gained his reputation as a writer while employed as the city editor of The Cincinnati Enquirer. From Ohio, he went to Louisiana, then Missouri and published a paper there for several years. Upson then drifted to Denver, Colorado where he was a writer for the Denver News. He was later engaged in the newspaper business in Santa Fe, New Mexico.[6]
Ghostwriteredit
After Sheriff Pat Garrett gunned down Billy the Kid in July 1881, he asked Marshall "Ash" Upson to ghostwrite his version of the story. The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid came out in early 1882, but failed to sell until years later. Upson and Garrett formed a real estate company in 1889, which failed.[7] Although not many copies of The Authentic Life of Billy, the Kid were sold, it had a decisive impact on the Kid's image. More than any other single influence, the book fed the legend of Billy the Kid. As the legend grew, writers turned to this book for authentic details. For more than a century, only a few researchers questioned the wild tales contained within Upson's book.[8]
Later Yearsedit
Marshall "Ash" Upson was the postmaster at Roswell, New Mexico, and served as a Justice of the Peace in eastern Lincoln County, New Mexico. Some claimed that Sheriff Pat Garrett was almost illiterate and he employed Upson as his clerk to maintain the records of the sheriff's office. Garrett and Upson became close friends, which lasted until Upson's death on October 6, 1894. He was buried in a cemetery lot owned by Pat Garrett in Uvalde, Texas.[9]
External linksedit
The Authentic Life of Billy, The Kid at Google Books
^Klasner, Lily (1972). My Girlhood Among Outlaws, University of Arizona Press, pg 116
^LeMay, John and Stahl, Robert J. (2020). The Man Who Invented Billy the Kid: The Authentic Life of Ash Upson. Roswell, NM: Bicep Books. pp. 127–133. ISBN978-1-953221-91-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^"[2]", M. Ashmun Upson, Connecticut Births and Christenings
^Metz, Leon C. (1974). Pat Garrett: The Story of a Western Lawman, University of Oklahoma Press, pp. 128-131, 156, 160
^Santa Fe Daily New Mexican, Santa Fe, NM, October 29, 1894, pg 4, "A Pioneer's Death"
^"[3]" True West magazine, November 3, 2015, "Pat Garrett's Ghostwriter"
^Utley, Robert M. (1989). Billy the Kid: A Short and Violent Life, pg 199
^Garrett, Pat Floyd (1974). The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid, University of Oklahoma Press
December 15, 2023
marshall, ashmun, upson, marshall, ashmun, upson, 1828, 1894, newspaper, journalist, several, years, postmaster, justice, peace, author, claim, fame, ghostwriter, book, authentic, life, billy, garrett, 1882, upsonborn, 1828, november, 1828new, haven, county, c. Marshall Ashmun Ash Upson 1828 1894 1 was a newspaper journalist for several years postmaster Justice of the Peace and author His claim to fame was as a ghostwriter of the book The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid by Pat F Garrett 1882 2 3 Marshall Ashmun UpsonAsh UpsonBorn 1828 11 23 November 23 1828New Haven County ConnecticutDiedOctober 6 1894 1894 10 06 aged 65 Uvalde TexasOccupationsJournalistAuthorPostmasterJustice of the PeaceYears active1850 1894 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Ghostwriter 4 Later Years 5 External links 6 ReferencesEarly life editMarshall Ashmun Upson was born November 23 1828 the son of Samuel Wheeler Upson and Sally Maria Stevens of Waterbury Township New Haven County Connecticut 4 Upson had married once but later divorced He then drifted West during the Civil War after working as a reporter for the New York Tribune Afterwards he established the Albuquerque Press in 1867 5 Career editHe gained his reputation as a writer while employed as the city editor of The Cincinnati Enquirer From Ohio he went to Louisiana then Missouri and published a paper there for several years Upson then drifted to Denver Colorado where he was a writer for the Denver News He was later engaged in the newspaper business in Santa Fe New Mexico 6 Ghostwriter editAfter Sheriff Pat Garrett gunned down Billy the Kid in July 1881 he asked Marshall Ash Upson to ghostwrite his version of the story The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid came out in early 1882 but failed to sell until years later Upson and Garrett formed a real estate company in 1889 which failed 7 Although not many copies of The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid were sold it had a decisive impact on the Kid s image More than any other single influence the book fed the legend of Billy the Kid As the legend grew writers turned to this book for authentic details For more than a century only a few researchers questioned the wild tales contained within Upson s book 8 Later Years editMarshall Ash Upson was the postmaster at Roswell New Mexico and served as a Justice of the Peace in eastern Lincoln County New Mexico Some claimed that Sheriff Pat Garrett was almost illiterate and he employed Upson as his clerk to maintain the records of the sheriff s office Garrett and Upson became close friends which lasted until Upson s death on October 6 1894 He was buried in a cemetery lot owned by Pat Garrett in Uvalde Texas 9 External links editThe Authentic Life of Billy The Kid at Google Books 4 Marshall Ashmun Upson at ancestry com 5 Googlebooks The Fabulous Frontier 1846 1912 by William A Keleher Sunstone Press 2008 pg 144 6 Ash Upson at New Mexico Statehood University of New MexicoReferences edit 1 Marshall Ashmun Upson at Findagrave Klasner Lily 1972 My Girlhood Among Outlaws University of Arizona Press pg 116 LeMay John and Stahl Robert J 2020 The Man Who Invented Billy the Kid The Authentic Life of Ash Upson Roswell NM Bicep Books pp 127 133 ISBN 978 1 953221 91 9 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link 2 M Ashmun Upson Connecticut Births and Christenings Metz Leon C 1974 Pat Garrett The Story of a Western Lawman University of Oklahoma Press pp 128 131 156 160 Santa Fe Daily New Mexican Santa Fe NM October 29 1894 pg 4 A Pioneer s Death 3 True West magazine November 3 2015 Pat Garrett s Ghostwriter Utley Robert M 1989 Billy the Kid A Short and Violent Life pg 199 Garrett Pat Floyd 1974 The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid University of Oklahoma Press Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Marshall Ashmun Upson amp oldid 1186963499, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
