Bio: Upham, William H. (1881)

 
Contact: Janet Schwarze

Surnames: Upham, Lincoln, Davis, Marsh, Kelly

----Source: History of Northern Wis. (Wood County, Wis.) 1881, page 1212

WILLIAM H. UPHAM, lumberman, Marshfield, was born in Westminster, Mass., May 3, 1842. After the death of his father, Alvin Upham, the family moved, in 1851, to Racine, Wis. His mother died in 1878. He received his common and high school education at Racine. In April, 1861, he enlisted in Co. F, of the 2d Wis. I.; was badly wounded (shot through the left lung) at the first battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861; was taken prisoner and confined in the old tobacco-factory prison at Richmond, until March, 1862, the week of the " Monitor fight." He was appointed by Pres. Lincoln, in June, a cadet to West Point. He was graduated in the class of 1866. Was officer of the guard over Jeff. Davis, while prisoner at Fortress Monroe, and received the appointment of first lieutenant of artillery. He resigned his position in the army, in November, 1869, and soon after went to Kewaunee, Wis., where he remained about a year; then, in partnership with his brother, C. M. Upham, engaged in the manufacture of lumber at Angelica, Shawano Co., Wis. There this firm continued in business until in 1878, when they bought lands and built mills and a store, and transferred their business to Marshfield. Mr. W. H. Upham was married Dec. 19, 1867, to Miss Mary C. Kelly, daughter of James H. Kelly, Esq., of Racine. They have two children, Elsie and Carrie. Mr. Upham is one of the corporators and the business manager of the proposed Neillsville & Marshfield Railroad. He has furnished a room and started a public library and reading room. This library has been largely increased by a donation of books from Mr. J. J. Marsh of Haverhill, Mass., for whom the town was named.