The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-10-25
KNOWN TO FAMOUS MEN.
Death Of Francis UpSher. n Trusted
CoIored Messenger.

There passed To- his last rest yesterday
Francis Upshor. q venerable coloTed man,
who. since 1863. had served ds messenger
of the New York Tribune Bureau. and
who was almost landmark in Washing
ton. one of the notable survivors of the
old newspaper row.
Upsher was born a slave. about sixty
five years ago. the property of the Upsher
family of Virginia. His early days were
spent in the vicinity of Norfolk. and on
attaining maturity he was employed in
the Portsmouth Navy Yard. During The
early days Of the war he came to Wash
ingtcn and secured employment in tho
National Hotel where he waited on the
table q which the Justices of the United
States Supreme Court took their luncheon
and as a result of this service he came to
be well known by Justices Davis. Of Hi
nois; Swayne, of Ohio. and others, who
always exhibited strong regard for the
faithful and respectful cclOred man.
When the impeachment proceedings Of
Andrew Johnson were instituted in 1868
Frank was employed as special messenger
for the counsel tor the President. and
won the respect OF the eminent counsel
who defended Johnson. so that among his
cherished possessions was a warm testi-
mOnidl Of the high estimation in which
they held his services. When the inn
parchment case was closed. Frank went
To the Tribune Bureau, where ever since
ne has served with fidelity and a digui-
~ which could not have been surpassed.
When the Tribune published the text
of the treaty of Washington its two CORE
spondents were incarCerated i'm the sub
basement of the Capitol for contempt Of
the Senate because of their refusal to
disclose the source Of their information.
and to the imprisoned men Frank proved
10 be a dark angel lie was indefstigable
In his attention, performing the combined
services Of valet steward. and messenger.
His pride in the loyalty of his supeTiors
To their informant knew no bounds. and
although he was doubtless aware of The
identity of that informant. no device Of
the eTgeant-at-ATmS served 90 extract
from him the slightest intimation regard
ing the manner in which the treaty was
obtained
In the days when prominent men fire.
quented newspaper row. and chatted over
state secrets with their chosen CORE
spOndents. Frank was the repository of
many condolences, the bearer Ct many inn
portant messages, but never did he be-
tray his trust, while he won the respect
and regard OF all who came in contact
with him. President Garfield employed
Frank to carry a number of messages on
the evening before his inauguration. and
Horace Greedy John Hay. President
Grant, President Hayes, and many others
equally prominent In public life never
failed 10 acknowledge the salute of the
venerable old colored man whom they
knew and liked.
Men may come ana mon mag 60. bat
seems like dis old mans gOiu' on foreber."
Frank was twice married. the first tirn,,
i'm 1866 and the second time iu 1898. He
leaves q widow and three children. FOR
upward Of thirty years he had been a
vestryman of st. Luke's Protestant Epis-
copal Church, the leading colored church
In Washington, and from it he viii be
buried on Friday afternoon at O'Clock.
in the truest sense OF the term. Francis
Upsher was "a colored gentleman"