William Hazlett Upson
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William Hazlett Upson | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 6, 1891 Glen Ridge, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | February 5, 1975 (aged 83) |
| Occupation | Author |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Glen Ridge High School Cornell University |
| Spouse |
Marjorie Alexander Wright
(m. 1923) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parents | William Ford Upson Grace Hazlett |
William Hazlett Upson (September 6, 1891 – February 5, 1975) was an American author, best remembered for a series of stories featuring Alexander Botts, a salesman for the Earthworm Tractor Company.
Born at Glen Ridge, New Jersey on September 6, 1891, Upson was the son of William Ford Upson (1857–1930) and Grace (Hazlett) Upson (1861–1911);[1] his older brother was the aeronautics engineer Ralph Hazlett Upson. He graduated from Glen Ridge High School in 1909.[2] Upson attended Cornell University, graduating in 1914. He worked for a short time as a farmer and then served in the United States Army during World War I, after which he was employed as a traveling tractor mechanic by the Caterpillar Tractor Company.
Literary career
Initially drawing inspiration from his actual work experiences,[3][4] Upson began writing short stories involving "Earthworm tractors," the first of which was published in Collier's magazine in 1923 but most of which appeared in The Saturday Evening Post. Beginning in 1927, the series focused on the work of Alexander Botts, a salesman for the Earthworm Tractor Company.
In 1936, the series was adapted into the film Earthworm Tractors, starring Joe E. Brown. It was also adapted into a short-lived comic strip and several radio shows.[3]
Upson also write two non-fiction books and several plays.
