William H. Upham

William Henry Upham (May 3, 1841 – July 2, 1924) was an American businessman, politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He was the 18th governor of Wisconsin and served three terms as mayor of Marshfield, Wisconsin. He is the namesake of Upham, Wisconsin, in Langlade County.

Biography Upham was born in Westminster, Massachusetts, and moved to Niles, Michigan around 1852 and then Kenosha, Wisconsin, in 1853.

Military service At the outbreak of the American Civil War, he joined up with the "Belle City Rifles", a Racine militia company, for service in the Union Army. His company was enrolled as Company F of the 2nd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment.

Just a few months after starting his service, 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 other members of his company—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 Dr. Lewis, the 2nd Wisconsin's surgeon. His family in Wisconsin, however, was told that he had been killed in action and held a funeral for him in Racine, Wisconsin—the captain of his company, William E. Strong, had seen him shot and reported that he believed him to be dead.

Upham was released in a prisoner exchange in 1862 and repatriated to Washington, D.C., where he was introduced to President Abraham Lincoln at a White House interview arranged by Wisconsin Senator James Rood Doolittle. Soon after, Lincoln appointed Upham to the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, from which he graduated in 1866. Upham was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the artillery and served in the Army until November 1869, On June 27, 1887, a major fire started at Upham's lumber mill and spread across all of Marshfield, destroying 250 buildings—virtually the entire city. Upham led reconstruction efforts and saw the city return to prosperity.

In 1894, Upham was the Republican Party of Wisconsin's nominee for Governor against incumbent Democrat George Wilbur Peck. Upham won the election and became the 18th Governor of Wisconsin in January 1895. He served one term but did not seek re-election in 1896. Upham instead tended to his business interests in Marshfield, as President of Upham Manufacturing and the Water, Electric Light and Power Co.

Personal life and family William H. Upham was the youngest son of Alvin Upham and his wife Sarah ( Derby). His grandfather, Jonathan Upham, was a soldier in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and was present at the surrender of Yorktown. The Uphams were direct descendants of John Upham, an English colonist who came to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1635, and was one of the first settlers of Weymouth, Massachusetts.

On August 20, 2009, at age 93, William H. Upham Jr., died in his home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, due to pneumonia. On December 30, 2018, at age 97, Frederick M. Upham died in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Electoral history