In Memoriam:
True Son William H. Upham Jr.
Bill Upham passed away on August 16, 2009. He was Wisconsin's last remaining son of a Civil War Union veteran. This Web site's homepage is draped in black to mourn his passing. We remember Bill with great fondness, honor and respect, not only for his father's service to our country, but Bill's service during World War II as well. Read his obituary in JS Online.
Wisconsin's last True Son, William (Bill) H. Upham, Jr., was born in 1916. He studied law at the University of Wisconsin before graduating and enlisting in the Army. He served as an officer in the 5th Infantry Division during World War II and was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
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| Left to right: PDC Steve Michaels, True Son Bill Upham Jr., PCinC Danny Wheeler in 2000. |
After the war, he settled in Milwaukee and became a successful agent for Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance. He and wife Betty raised a son and two daughters.
Bill was a past National commander of MOLLUS, serving for three years, 1985-88 and a founding member of the reactivated Iron Brigade Association, which was reorganized in December 1990. He served as president of the Milwaukee Civil War Round Table from 1989-91 and brought broad experience to his successful two terms.
Bill joined the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War in 1987. He served as Wisconsin Dept. Treasurer 1992-99 and Commander of Madison's Henry Harnden Camp #2 in 1995 and '96. He also served as presenter of the Department's annual U.S. Grant award to a deserving Army ROTC graduate at Marquette University.
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| Lt. William Upham |
Bill recalls, "I used to sit on my father's lap while he talked with other veterans and they swapped war stories."
After training at Camp Randall, Madison, the regiment was ordered to Manassas Junction. On July 20, 1861, the 2nd Wisconsin lost 16 killed and 35 wounded in the battle at Centerville, near Bull Run … one of the wounded was William Upham.
"He got a minnie ball bullet in the chest and was left for dead. It was three days without any medical treatment."
The younger Upham remembers when he was quite small that he could not cover the scar on his father's back with both of his hands.
When news of the battle reached Racine, William Upham and three others were reported dead and a funeral service was held. Subsequently, it was learned that Upham had been taken prisoner.
In the Spring of 1862, after seven months in prison, William Upham was exchanged, paroled and returned to Washington.
After his meeting with the president, Upham wrote his family, "Mr. Lincoln sent me to West Point, assured at that time that the war would be over in 60 days." Upham was the first private volunteer soldier who ever received such an honor. He was one of eleven cadets appointed by Lincoln in 1862.
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| In this 1985 photo at the Lincoln Tomb, ceremony co-chairman and presiding officer PDC Johnson (far right) is seen with (l-r) True Son William H. Upham, Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief, Military Order of the Loyal legion; Col. Robert M. Graham, 114th Illinois Vol. Inf. and ceremony co-chairman; Eugene Russell, Commander-in-Chief, SUVCW. |
William Upham, Sr., graduated from West Point in 1866 as a 2nd lieutenant and was assigned to the 5th U.S. Artillery. The unit was on duty at Fortress Monroe, where Jeff Davis was being held in custody, pending his trial. As Officer of the Guard, Upham had an opportunity to obtain a thorough knowledge of the character of the fallen Confederate chief.
Bill often remarked, "My father had the distinction of meeting and talking to both Lincoln and Davis."
William H. Upham, Sr., founded the James G. Blaine GAR Post #110 in Marshfield, which was chartered on October 23, 1883. Upham served as its first commander and was re-elected several times. He served as an Aid on the Staff of GAR Wisconsin Dept. Co. Lucius Fairchild (1886) with the rank of Major. In March 1891, he himself was elected Department Commander. He was elected governor of Wisconsin in 1894.
His wife, Mary, died in 1912 and the elder Upham, now the owner of a 50-foot yacht, took a trip down the Mississippi River, around the Gulf of Mexico and up the Atlantic coast. When he got to North Carolina, a storm damaged his ship. While waiting for repairs, he met and later married his second wife. When he was 75 and his wife was 30, William Jr. was born.
"In no respect was I a 'mama's boy'" says Bill. "I was totally spoiled by my father. When he died, I knew life would not be the same." The younger Upham remembers going to the office with his dad and licking stamps, going to the post office and on daily trips to the barber shop, where his dad would get shaves.
William H. Upham Sr. died on July 2, 1924, at the age of 83.
He finally followed his father. William Jr. died of natural causes Sunday, August 16, 2009. He was 93.
Last Update:
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
Department of Wisconsin