Bio: Upham, William H. (1923)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Upham, Derby, Lincoln, Davis, Peck, Fairchild, Arthur, Kelly, Finney, Sawyer, Mason, Kirtland

----Source: History of Wood County, Wis. (1923) pages 297-300

William H. Upham, of Marshfield, formerly governor of Wis., has been for many years one of the foremost citizens of Wood County. His life has been many sided and in various capacities he has won distinction and conquered success. In his early youth a soldier of the Civil War and Libby prisoner, a graduate of West Point and army lieutenant, later a manufacturer and business man, founder of the Upham Manufacturing Co., and one of the largest retail concerns in the Northwest, governor of his State, and a leader in local improvements, church extension and other useful activities, it might be thought that he had done his work and could afford to rest on his laurels yet he is still in the harness though now nearing his eighty-second year. William H. Upham was born in Westminster, Mass., May 3, 1841, son of Alvin and Sarah (Derby) Upham, and is of English descent, tracing his ancestry to John Upham, who was born in Somersetshire, England, and in 1635 came from England with the Hull Colony, who landed on the shores of America May 6, settling in the then young colony of Massachusetts, and making their first New-World home at Weymouth. In direct line to the subject of this sketch were Phineas, John, Samuel, Jonathan, Alvin and William H. At the age of 11 years the subject of this sketch came west with his parents, the family settling at Niles, Mich., where the father died within a year.

In 1853 William H. moved with his mother to Racine, Wis., continued his school studies, which had been begun in his native town and followed during his residence in Niles. At the outbreak of the Civil War, having a large share of the patriotic ardor which animated both the Northern and Southern youth, he enlisted April, 1861, then only 19 year old, in the Belle City Rifles, an organization which subsequently became Company F, Second Wis. Infantry. He soon received his first baptism of fire in the first battle of Bull Run, fought July 21, 1861, when he was shot through the lungs and left on the field as dead. The news of his death reaching his home, it was published in the local papers and his family and friends mourned his loss. His funeral sermon was preached in the Baptist church of Racine and printed in full in the papers, a clipping of the same being now contained in Mr. Upham's scrap book. But young Upham was not dead. Lying helpless on the battle field, he was found by the Confederates and taken to Libby prison. Parolled at the end of six months, he reported in Washington and was sent for by President Lincoln, with whom he had an interview. The President, being favorably impressed by his manly appearance, secured for him an appointment at West Point as a cadet, and he was the first private soldier ever admitted to that famous academy. He was graduated there with the class of 1866, and on June 18 that year he was commissioned second lieutenant in the artillery service, his first actual duty being as guard to Jefferson Davis, then a prisoner at Fortress Monroe. On March 4, 1869, he received his commission as first lieutenant and subsequently remained in the army until November that year, when he resigned his commission and returned home to Wis. He at once set his energies to work in the development of business interests, first locating in Kewaunee. From there, however, he soon removed to Angelica, Shawano County, where he remained until 1871, when he came to Marshfield. That was the year in which Marshfield was platted as a village and Mr. Upham became at once the leading spirit in its development. To him, it is said, is chiefly due the credit for its growth and success.

His first enterprises here were the building of a shingle-mill and sawmill, and the Upham Manufacturing Co., whose extensive plant comprises a sawmill, shingle mill, grist mill, furniture factory, veneer works and machine shop, was established here through his efforts. By 1895 this company was employing over 400 men and their products found a market in all the important cities of the United States as well as in the larger cities of Europe. The company also built up one of the largest retail stores in the Northwest. Mr. Upham also became president of the First National Bank of Marshfield, a position which he held until he was elected governor in the fall of 1894. In the great fire which occurred June 2, 1887, and almost destroyed the city of Marshfield, Major Upham, as he was then universally known, was a heavy loser, but with characteristic pluck he at once plunged into the work of rebuilding the city, and within seven months, largely through his personal exertions and stimulating example, 62 substantial brick blocks had been erected and occupied and a new era of prosperity begun. His honorable record, executive ability and personal magnetism had attracted wide attention, made him personally popular and marked him as an available candidate for the governorship. As such he announced himself before the Republican State Convention held in Milwaukee July 25-26, 1894, and was nominated from out of 11 candidates. The subsequent campaign was a bitter one, as party politics were at a white heat. In their anxiety to win the election the Democratic managers resorted to methods which were regarded as unfair even by many of their own party, and Major Upham therefore secured many Democratic votes, winning the election over a twice elected opponent - George W. Peck - by a plurality of 53,900. Among the many congratulatory messages he received was one from the Republican Club of Westminster, Mass., his native town, which gave him particular pleasure. He took the Gubernatorial seat Jan. 7, 1895, and served for that year and 1896. At the close of his term as governor Mr. Upham returned to Marshfield, where his extensive business interests demanded his attention and he has remained here ever since, being daily found at his desk in the office, and displaying an energy and capability that might be envied by many a much younger man. He built the electric plant for the city and put in the arc light electric system in Marshfield before it was adopted by the city of Milwaukee, and he also built the Marshfield water plant. He served the city twice as its-mayor, was alderman many terms and clerk of the city schools for 13 years. He was instrumental in founding the Presbyterian church in Marshfield, of which he has ever since been a liberal supporter, he and his family being numbered among its members. Mr. Upham has always maintained his interest in military affairs. A member of the Grand Army of the Republic, he served as department commander for Wis., and as aide-de- camp with the rank of major on the staff of Commander Lucius Fairchild. By President Arthur he was appointed as a member of the board of visitors to the naval academy at Annapolis, Md., and more recently he has become a member of the Loyal Legion.

William H. Upham was married Dec. 19, 1867, at Racine, Wis., to Mary C. Kelly, who was born in Cleveland, Ohio, Jan. 21, 1843, daughter of James H. and Elsie Kelly, and who came with her parents to Racine in the early fifties. Her father was in early days a leading merchant in Cleveland and he subsequently became a prominent citizen of Racine, where he engaged in the lumber business, owned and operated a chain of mills and also a line of sailing vessels on the great lakes. Of this first marriage of Mr. Upham two children were born: Elsie, now the wife of E. E. Finney of Marshfield, and Carrie, the wife of Philetus Sawyer of Oshkosh, Wis. The mother, Mrs. Mary C. Upham, died in Marshfield Nov. 29, 1912. She was a member of and an ardent worker in the First Presbyterian church, and was state president for some years of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. On June 1, 1914, Mr. Upham was married at Beaufort, N. C., to Grace Mason, who was born at Chapel Hill, N. C., March 5, 1886, daughter of James Bruce and Leticia (Kirtland) Mason. Of this union have been born two sons: William Henry, Jr., July 15, 1916, and Frederick Mason, May 19, 1921.