BIOGRAPHIES: William WHITMARSH, Pepin, Pepin Co., WI

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Submitted by Nance Sampson, Pepin Co. Archives File Manager on 19 November 2004
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**Posted for informational purposes only - submitter is not related to the
subject of this biography and has no further information.

William Whitmarsh, farmer, P. O. Pepin, was born on the Isle of
Wight, April 5, 1818, and is a son of John and Jane (Davis)
Whitmarsh.  He attended school until eleven years of age when he went
to Quebec and thence to Toronto, Ontario, where he worked as a farm
laborer.  In 1833 he removed to Mercer county, Pa., and in 1837 to
St. Louis, where he engaged as a watchman on a steamboat running from
New Orleans to Fort Snelling.  St. Paul then consisted of two or
three log trading posts.  This business he continued until the
Mexican war broke out, when he enlisted and was mustered into Company
K, Mounted Rifles, on Christmas day, 1846.  After serving all through
Gen. Scott's campaign, he was honorably discharged and returned to
St. Louis, but resolved to seek a home up the river.  Starting in
November, 1848, the boat was stopped by ice in Lake Pepin, and he
returned to Read's Landing, Minn., where he worked at odd jobs until
the close of navigation in the fall of 1849, when he began carrying
the United States mail between Wabash Prairie (now Winona) and Fort
Snelling, on foot, making bi-weekly trips when practicable, but often
delayed long past the prescribed time.  This he continued for three
winters as a sub-contractor under H. M. Rice, St. Paul.

Few, at the present day can realize the hardships, perils and
privations endured by this sturdy pioneer.  His route lay through a
trackless wilderness, covered with ice and snow, and infested with
Indians and wild beasts.  HIs outfit consisted of a mail bag, a
blanket, gun, and a week's provisions.  In spring and fall he was
often obliged to carry an ax and an auger wherewith to bridge the
streams he had to cross.  He afterward carried the mails, for two
years, from St. Paul to Black River Falls, Wis., and return, making
bi-weekly trips on horseback.  In 1854 he made a "claim" near Read's
Landing and built a log cabin.  This he sold in 1856 and removed to
Pepin township and bought a farm on sections sixteen and seventee,
township twenty-three, range fourtee, and built a frame house, which
forms part of his present dwelling.  Mr. Whitmarsh married, June 11,
1855, Miss Frances J., daughter of P. N. and Frances C. Tuttle. 
Their children are William Walter, born September 6, 1856, died
November 27, 1858; John, born July 27, 1861; Clarinda (now Mrs. M.
Milliren), born August 15, 1864; Sarah, born May 10, 1867, died
August 20, 1877; Paphiras, born October 15, 1870, died August 24,
1877; Mary A., born November 13, 1872, died September 1, 1877;
Arthur, born August 26, 1874, died September 2, 1877.  Mr. Whitmarsh
is independent in politics.  He belongs to the Masonic fraternity.

-Transcribed from the "Historical & Biographical Album of the
Chippewa Valley Wisconsin, 1891-2," page 697.


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