John
Thomas Lupton
He
was educated in a graded school at Strasburg, Va., and graduated as bachelor of
arts at Roanoke College, Salena, Va., at the head of the class of 1882, taking
also the medal in mathematics. In 1884, he took up the study of law at the
University of Virginia, graduating as B.L. in 1886. In 1887 Roanoke College
conferred on him the degree of M. A., and in September of that year he came to
Chattanooga, where he practiced law alone for several years, and then for one
year in partnership with Frederick Giddings.
On
November 14, 1889, Mr. Lupton married Elizabeth Olive Patten, only daughter of
Z. C. Patten, and, in 1891, gave up the practice of law and went into the
Chattanooga Medicine Company as vice-president and treasurer, where he remained
as long as he was actively engaged in business, which was up to 1906, since
which time he has been, in a measure, retired, giving his time and attention to
his various business interests.
In
1888, Mr. Lupton became secretary and treasurer of the Lookout Mountain Land
Company, and held the position while said company was active.
In 1894, he became a director in, and afterwards the vice-president of, the Chattanooga National Bank, which positions he held when that bank was consolidated with the First National, and after the consolidation he became a director and vice-president of the First National Bank, and holds said positions now. He is also president of the Thacher Medicine Company, and treasurer and manager of the Stone Fort Land Company, and president and manager of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company, that controls the bottling of coca-cola in the Southwest.
Mr.
Lupton has given visible evidence of his good work for Chattanooga
in the fine and extensive apartment house, known as the Elizabeth, in the
palatial Hotel Patten, which has given our city such reputation, and in
buildings on Stone Fort, and tho not on the building committee, he is one of
those whose work is seen in the magnificent new structure of the First
Presbyterian Church on McCallie Avenue and Douglas Street, he having held the
important position of a member of the finance committee, and the heavy expense
being so ably provided for, that the church on completion was dedicated without
a dollar of debt hanging over it. Mr. Lupton is a deacon of said church.
All
his works, however, are not known to the general public. He is a man who does
good in a quiet and unobtrusive way, and in a manner that adds to the kindness
of his benefactions, and he is one who does not need to be urged in a good work,
but goes ahead cheerfully. This side of his character is not known to all.
Mr.
and Mrs. Lupton have one son, age twelve, Thomas Cartter Lupton.
Mr.
Lupton is a man in the prime of life, and the community may hope to see him enjoy
many more years of usefulness.
Standard
History of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Chas D. McGuffey, 1911