Slyvania Vance Upchurch was born in Raleigh on December 19, 1872. A travelling salesman, Upchurch lived in multiple cities and states over his career, often for no more than a few years at a time. In 1915, he was living in Morganton (Burke County) selling farming implements as co-partner in the firm of Upchurch & Kirksey. He died in Atlanta on February 25, 1925.