By Hub City Times staff

MARSHFIELD – Frederick M. Upham, the last remaining child of former governor William H. Upham died Dec. 30 in Fort Collins, CO, at the age of 97.

Upham was featured in a 2014 issue of National Geographic, as one of the last remaining children of a Civil War veteran. Hans Weise photo

Governor Upham was one of Marshfield’s largest employers in the late 1800s and is often credited with the rebuilding of Marshfield following the “Great Fire” in 1887. The historic Upham mansion now serves as a museum, and home to the North Wood County Historical Society.

Frederick “Fritz” was the son of Upham and his second wife, Grace Mason Upham, whom he met after the death of his first wife, Mary Kelly, in 1912.

Fritz was born in May 1921, during his father’s 80^th year, joining brother William H.”Bill” Upham Jr. Bill passed away in August of 2009.

Fritz was a1940 graduate of Marshfield Senior High. He was drafted into the Navy and served from 1942-44. With the Navy, he worked in a weather station for air traffic air traffic control in Oakland, CA.

Upham attended the University of Madison, where he studied pre-med, but later moved to Colorado to work in the oil fields. He had been living in the Fort Collins, CO, area upon his death.

Fritz was preceded in death by his wife, Jean. He is survived by his children: Pam (Walt) Evans, Rick (Mary Jo) Upham, Tim Upham, and Amy (Peter) Pryharski.