Emory Upton's Colt Single Action Army Revolver recently sold at auction for $345,000.

Don Burkel said the results of the auction show that the Batavia-native is an important historical figure.

"He really was a very important person in American military history and apparently is still highly regarded," Burkel said.

Of course, the Holland Land Office Museum would have loved to have acquired Upton's revolver but the price was out of the museum's range, Burkel said.

The video above indicates the revolver is the same one Upton used to take his own life on March 14, 1881, at the Presidio in San Francisco after suffering for months with debilitating headaches.

Previously:

(File photo.)

Led by the Joint Veterans Council of Genesee County, local veterans will host a rededication ceremony Saturday morning marking the centennial of the city's gateway monument at the junction of routes 5 and 63 that pays tribute to the Union Army's Emory Upton, the military service of men and women of Genesee County, and its war dead.

It starts at 10:30 a.m. and everyone is welcome.

Commonly referred to as the Upton Monument, for the statue of the colonel of the Fourth Regiment of Artillery, Army Brevit Major General Upton, it is officially known as The Soldiers and Sailors Monument. The actual marker at the base of the bald-eagle-topped pillar is engraved: In Memory of The Soldiers, Sailors and Marines of Genesee County.

Doug Doktor, chairman of the Joint Veterans Council, said that James Neider, of the Glenn S. Loomis American Legion Post 332 in Batavia, will provide a brief historical overview of Upton, one of the nation's foremost military strategists of the 19th century. Then Elijah Monroe, of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln Camp 6 in Rochester, will speak on that organization's instrumental role in fundraising and getting the monument constructed.

There will also be a rifle salute.

The dedication held a hundred years ago took place on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 1919.

According to City of Batavia Historian Larry Barnes, there was a morning footrace from Le Roy to Batavia, followed by the dedication ceremony at which a relation of the Upton family, Col. Upton, served as the keynote speaker. The special occasion was capped off by a grand display of fireworks at the old Genesee County Fairgrounds, where Tops Friendly Market is now on West Main Street.

Proposals for the monument were bandied about as early as the 1870s. But getting it funded and built was not a given. Its price tag of about $15,000 was considered steep. Funds were sought from the county, the city and fundraising campaigns were launched by Batavia City School District Superintendent John Kennedy and Sarah Upton Edwards, sister of Emory Upton.

In 1907, city voters nixed spending $5,000 as their share of the monument's cost. It was not until World War I that action was taken that would finally pave the way for the planned monument to become reality.

In 1917, city fathers managed to get the city's funding share approved by a bit of political maneuvering -- slipping language for the monument expense into a sewer and water appropriations bill.

The architect chosen to design the monument was C. A. Worden, a local company responsible for many monuments at Gettysburg.

Once built, there was controversy as to whether the statue of Emory Upton was based on the actual likeness of the man himself. And the question, some local historians say, has never been wholly resolved.

To read more about Emory Upton from an 1885 biography, click here.

Also, previously: 

• New book corrects the record on Emory Upton's attitude toward the military and the republic
• History Department receives collection of Emory Upton documents
• Emory Upton: No. 5 in What Made Genesee County Famous

(Editor's Note: Publisher Howard Owens had planned to complete a video of the history of the monument in time for tomorrow's rededication. That is no longer possible, but he does hope to finish it very soon.)

At the Pentagon yesterday, walking down the hall toward the auditorium where the ceremony was held to induct David Bellavia into the Hall of Heroes, I noticed several Civil War displays, so I immediately started looking for anything related to Gen. Emory Upton. I spotted this small placard.

As I was trying to line up a shot, a Pentagon official walked up behind me and said, "Sir, photography is not authorized in this area of the Pentagon." I said, "But this is Emery Upton -- he's from our hometown; there's a big monument to him ..." the official said, "OK, hurry up."

Batavia is now permanently represented in the Pentagon by Upton, Charles F. Rand, and David Bellavia.

UPDATE Wednesday, Feb. 25: Due to the inclement weather we have decided to postpone Don Burkel's presentation "The Angel & The Warrior: Emory & Emily Upton." We are very sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. We will be presenting this again April 10th.

There will be a presentation of Dr. Fitzpatrick's book the previous night, Friday February 16th at 7pm. Tickets are $5 per person, please R.S.V.P. to the museum by Wednesday, February 14th. 

There will also be a free panel discussion with Fitzpatrick and other local historians on the Gensee Community College's Batavia campus on Saturday, February 17th at 10am. For more information regarding the free panel discussion, please contact the museum. 

Fitzpatrick's presentation at the Holland Land Office Museum is rescheduled to 7 p.m., March 2. He will also participate in a panel discussion the following day at Genesee Community College. More details on the GCC discussion will be announced later.

Many people had reserved a seat for Fitzpatrick's talk at HLOM, said director Ryan Duffy. The room tomorrow night would have been at near capacity. 

Previously: New book corrects the record on Emory Upton's attitude toward the military and the Republic

The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to present "An Evening with Dr. David Fitzpatrick." Fitzpatrick is the author of a newly published work on Batavia's own Emory Upton. He is also professor of History at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, Mich., and the leading authority on Emory Upton's career.

The book, entitled "Emory Upton: Misunderstood Reformer," seeks to revise the current view of General Upton and his importance in American military history. 

A Meet & Greet with Fitzpatrick with begin at 7 p.m., and the presentation will begin at 7:30 on Friday, February 16th.

Tickets are $5 per person, and those interested must RSVP by Wednesday, Feb. 14th, as seating is limited. You may RSVP by calling the Holland Land Office Museum at 585-343-4727 or by emailing the museum at hollandlandoffice.com. The Holland Land Office Museum is located at 131 W. Main St., Batavia, NY 14020.

There will also be a free panel discussion with Fitzpatrick and local historians on the Genesee Community College Batavia campus on Saturday, February 17th, at 10 a.m. For more information on the panel discussion please contact the museum.

The Holland Land Office Museum and the Genesee Community College History Club are proud to present a free panel discussion with Dr. David Fitzpatrick and local area historians. Dr. Fitzpatrick is the author of a new book on Batavia native General Emory Upton entitled, "Emory Upton: Misunderstood Reformer." The panel will discuss the life and career of Emory Upton and his importance to Civil War and American military history.

The panel discussion is free to the public and will begin at 10 am on Saturday, February 17th. It will take place in the New Student Success Center, Room G200 on the Batavia campus of Genesee Community College located at 1 College Road, Batavia, NY 14020. For more information please contact the Holland Land Office Museum at 585-343-4727 or at hollandlandoffice@gmail.com.

There will be a presentation by Dr. Fitzpatrick at the Holland Land Office Museum at 131 W. Main St., Batavia, NY 14020, the previous night, Friday, February 16th, beginning at 7 pm. Tickets are $5 per person and if interested please RSVP by February 14th by calling the museum at the above phone number or email address.

Admission is $5 per person, which helps support the HLOM Speaker Series. RSVP by Jan. 10^th due to limited seating.

Fitzpatrick is facility resident and professor of History at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, Mich. He attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point where he was also a history instructor.

He has authored several military journal articles and published essays. His current work is one of the definitive texts on the life of Upton and his post-war contributions to reforming the Army.

In addition, a panel discussion with Fitzpatrick and local historians, will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 13th, at the new Student Success Center, Room G200, Genesee Community College, 1 College Road, Batavia.

Discussion will focus on the various aspects of General Upton’s character and life. Free to the public. Hosted by the Holland Land Office Museum and GGC History Club.

For more information about the programs or purchasing his book contact:

Holland Land Office Museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com