William H. Upham
Encyclopedia
William Henry Upham was a soldier, businessman, and politician who served as the 18th Governor of Wisconsin
.
and moved to Racine, Wisconsin
, in 1853. He enlisted in the United States Army
in 1861 and served during the United States Civil War
in the Company "F", of the 2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment
called the Belle City Rifles. He was wounded during the First Battle of Bull Run
by a bullet passing through his shoulder strap that supported his cartridge box just at the shoulder blade. After going to the field hospital, he was captured by Confederate
forces and sent to the converted tobacco barn, Libby Prison
along with privates of the Belle City Rifles, F. Lacy, James Anderson, John H. Anderson and Antle Henry. Congressman Alfred Ely
from New York was captured along with them. At Libby Prison, he was attended by the Dr. Lewis the 2nd Wisconsin surgeon. His family back home was told that he was killed, since the captain of his company, Captain William Strong saw him shot and reported that he believed him to be dead. Thus back in his hometown of Racine, Wisconsin
a funeral
was conducted for him. Upham was released in a prisoner exchange in 1862, and repatriated to Washington, D.C., where he was introduced to Pres. Abraham Lincoln
at a White House
interview arranged by Wisconsin senator James Doolittle. Soon after, Lincoln appointed Upham to the United States Military Academy
in West Point, New York
, from which he graduated in 1866, and served in the Army until 1869, having risen to the rank of first lieutenant. While stationed at Fort Monroe, he was detailed as officer of the guard, overseeing the temporary quarters of the then-imprisoned President of the Confederate States of America
, Jefferson Davis
. In his memoirs, Upham related that he and Davis "usually ... past the hours until after midnight" in conversation, adding, "Mr. Davis was very pleasant and social ... full of reminiscences ... familiar with all parts of Wisconsin, he could tell me the meanings of all the Indian names of the [state]." Later in his life, Upham was a Grand Army of the Republic
officer with the rank of major.
Upham was a businessman in the lumber
industry. He served one term as governor of Wisconsin but did not seek reelection.
Some two years after the death of his first wife, Mary Kelly, in 1912, Upham (then 73) undertook a voyage along the Atlantic coast, that was forced by storm to harbor at Beaufort, North Carolina
. There he met and married his much younger second wife, Grace Mason, and begat two sons: William H. Upham Jr. (who was a member of Milwaukee Yacht Club
until his death) and Fredrick M. Upham, who survived his older sibling. Thus as of mid-2009, both of them were alive, meaning that between the father and his two sons, they lived all of the US history save its first 65 years. This means that children of civil war veterans are still alive.
On August 20, 2009 at age 93, William H. Upham Jr. died in his home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
, due to pneumonia
.
Governor of Wisconsin
The Governor of Wisconsin is the highest executive authority in the government of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The position was first filled by Nelson Dewey on June 7, 1848, the year Wisconsin became a state...
.
Biography
Upham was born in Westminster, MassachusettsWestminster, Massachusetts
Westminster is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 7,277.- History :Westminster was first settled in 1737, and was officially incorporated in 1759....
and moved to Racine, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin
Racine is a city in and the county seat of Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city had a population of 82,196...
, in 1853. He enlisted in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in 1861 and served during the United States Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
in the Company "F", of the 2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment
2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 2nd Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It spent most of the war as a member of the famous Iron Brigade of the Army of the Potomac.-Service:...
called the Belle City Rifles. He was wounded during the First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run, also known as First Manassas , was fought on July 21, 1861, in Prince William County, Virginia, near the City of Manassas...
by a bullet passing through his shoulder strap that supported his cartridge box just at the shoulder blade. After going to the field hospital, he was captured by Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
forces and sent to the converted tobacco barn, Libby Prison
Libby Prison
Libby Prison was a Confederate Prison at Richmond, Virginia, during the American Civil War. It gained an infamous reputation for the harsh conditions under which prisoners from the Union Army were kept.- Overview :...
along with privates of the Belle City Rifles, F. Lacy, James Anderson, John H. Anderson and Antle Henry. Congressman Alfred Ely
Alfred Ely
Alfred Ely was a U.S. Representative from New York. He was elected as a Republican to the Thirty-sixth and Thirty-seventh Congresses , serving New York's 29th congressional district....
from New York was captured along with them. At Libby Prison, he was attended by the Dr. Lewis the 2nd Wisconsin surgeon. His family back home was told that he was killed, since the captain of his company, Captain William Strong saw him shot and reported that he believed him to be dead. Thus back in his hometown of Racine, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin
Racine is a city in and the county seat of Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city had a population of 82,196...
a funeral
Funeral
A funeral is a ceremony for celebrating, sanctifying, or remembering the life of a person who has died. Funerary customs comprise the complex of beliefs and practices used by a culture to remember the dead, from interment itself, to various monuments, prayers, and rituals undertaken in their honor...
was conducted for him. Upham was released in a prisoner exchange in 1862, and repatriated to Washington, D.C., where he was introduced to Pres. Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
at a White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
interview arranged by Wisconsin senator James Doolittle. Soon after, Lincoln appointed Upham to the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
in West Point, New York
West Point, New York
West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
, from which he graduated in 1866, and served in the Army until 1869, having risen to the rank of first lieutenant. While stationed at Fort Monroe, he was detailed as officer of the guard, overseeing the temporary quarters of the then-imprisoned President of the Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
, Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Finis Davis , also known as Jeff Davis, was an American statesman and leader of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, serving as President for its entire history. He was born in Kentucky to Samuel and Jane Davis...
. In his memoirs, Upham related that he and Davis "usually ... past the hours until after midnight" in conversation, adding, "Mr. Davis was very pleasant and social ... full of reminiscences ... familiar with all parts of Wisconsin, he could tell me the meanings of all the Indian names of the [state]." Later in his life, Upham was a Grand Army of the Republic
Grand Army of the Republic
The Grand Army of the Republic was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army, US Navy, US Marines and US Revenue Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War. Founded in 1866 in Decatur, Illinois, it was dissolved in 1956 when its last member died...
officer with the rank of major.
Upham was a businessman in the lumber
Lumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
industry. He served one term as governor of Wisconsin but did not seek reelection.
Some two years after the death of his first wife, Mary Kelly, in 1912, Upham (then 73) undertook a voyage along the Atlantic coast, that was forced by storm to harbor at Beaufort, North Carolina
Beaufort, North Carolina
Beaufort is a town in Carteret County, North Carolina, United States. Established in 1709, it is the third-oldest town in North Carolina.The population was 4,189 at the 2008 census and it is the county seat of Carteret County...
. There he met and married his much younger second wife, Grace Mason, and begat two sons: William H. Upham Jr. (who was a member of Milwaukee Yacht Club
Milwaukee Yacht Club
The Milwaukee Yacht Club has been in operation on Lake Michigan's coast since 1871. The yacht club's slip is in Milwaukee's McKinley Marina. The Milwaukee Yacht Club is leasing the land from Milwaukee County; the current lease is for 50 years beginning in 1994....
until his death) and Fredrick M. Upham, who survived his older sibling. Thus as of mid-2009, both of them were alive, meaning that between the father and his two sons, they lived all of the US history save its first 65 years. This means that children of civil war veterans are still alive.
On August 20, 2009 at age 93, William H. Upham Jr. died in his home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, due to pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
.