What Happened to the Major Wham's Daughter - NEW! Added 20 November, 2012

Much is written about the Major: Twice recommended for the Medal of Honor during the Civil War; Indian Agent; Warden of Joliet Penitentiary; the Wham Robbery in Arizona; beat three military court martial actions; and my favorite, during the Civil War when his unit was tasked to send a man on a special mission his commander said “Send Wham he hasn't missed a battle or a meal.” To give further insight and background to first time readers of Wham genealogy, I'm inserting a synopsis of the Major's career. This information was taken from a handout given to persons attending his lectures on General Grant's military career and strategic tactics during the Civil War. The Major as a young enlisted man served as a personal body guard to then Col Grant.

“Major Wham was born and raised on a farm near Salem, Marion County, Ill., and was attending school when the war came on in 1861. He at once carried his books to his boarding house and without going home to say good bye to his brothers and sister,enlisted as a private in Col. Grant's regiment and rose to the command of Company G, in which he served during the entire war. He was twice recommended for the “Medal of Honor” by his corps and division commanders, as stated elsewhere, for bounding over the works during the terrible battle of Franklin and going to the assistance of a mortally wounded comrade. And again for planting his regimental colors on Montgomery Hill at the battle of Nashville. Major Wham successfully managed and controlled the Nez-Perce Indians who afterward took the warpath under the leadership of Chief Joseph. Also, the Snakes, the Ogallalla, Sioux, Brule Sioux, Northern Cheyennes and Arapahoes, numbering in all about 30,000---more Indians than any other man ever managed in the whole history of our Government. In recognition of these services during and since the War, his old Colonel, then President, appointed him Paymaster in the Regular Army. Major Wham was at one time Warden of the Penitentiary at Joliet,Ill., which had previously cost the State $1,000 a day and soon made it pay a net revenue to the State of about $3,000 a month.”

The following is a paragraph from The Wham Robbery by Donald N. Bentz: “Joseph Washington Wham was born in Illinois on January 18, 1840. On June 10 1861, this twenty-one-year-old, five foot, ten-inch farmer with blue eyes, fair complexion, and auburn hair enlisted in the United States Army for service in the Civil War. He served as a Private and Sergeant, Company G, 21^st Illinois Infantry, from June 10,1861to July 27,1865,and was appointed 1^st Lieutenant, 21^st Illinois Infantry, on July 28, 1865. He was honorably mustered out on December 16, 1865. (During the war Wham was wounded in action at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on December 31,1862. It was also reported on August 31, 1863, that he was captured at the Battle of Stone River). On May 22, 1867, he was appointed 2^nd Lieutenant, 35^th U.S. Infantry, and honorably discharged at his own request on January 1,1871. Wham married Mary H. Smith in Greenville, Illinois on May 3, 1877. Based somewhat on his creditable military career in the Civil War, Joseph Wham was appointed from civilian life as Major and Paymaster, U.S. Army on March 3, 1877.”

The second member of this team is Mollie, a wife and partner to the Major. She was a strong woman who followed him from army post to army post in the wild west. While in Arizona, she purchased desert land from the government and built it into a working ranch. ( Personal Note: My Grandfather, Franklin L. Wham stayed with Mollie for a year while teaching school. He found Arizona not to his liking and returned to Illinois after his contract was finished and married my Grandmother. )

Mollie's grand parents were Middleton and Leah ( Williams) Smith. They were natives of Virginia and married on 13 Dec 1808. They had nine children including Mollie's Father, William Singleton Smith, born on 15 Aug 1810. His first wife was Amanda M. Hall, second daughter of Joshua and Charlotta Hall of Jefferson County, Virginia. She died 21 Jan1849,leaving seven children including Mollie.

William Singleton Smith was married the second time at Stony Point, Crittenden County, Ky., to Elizabeth W. Greathouse, daughter of John S. Greathouse, Attorney at Law, of Shelbyville, Shelby Co.,Ky., who married Lucy M. Clark. From this second union Mollie's Father had six children. William Singleton Smith began his business education at the age of fourteen as a clerk in a mercantile house in Virginia. William came to Greenville, Bond Co., Ill. from Virginia with the family in 1832 and began a very successful mercantile business. It was said that long lines of wagons could be seen in the 1830's unloading goods after returning from St. Louis. William was one of the founders of First National Bank of Greenville, of which he was President for several years. Other positions he held, Director of First National Bank, School Commissioner, County Assessor, City Alderman of the 3^rd Ward, and during the years 1846-47 a State Representative. William was a supporter of the East St. Louis, Vandalia and Terre Haute Railroad (CSX) and served as one of the nine Board of Directors. William was considered the richest man in Bond Co. When Abraham Lincoln visted Greenville to give a speech at Calcords Grove in Sept 1858, William provided accommodations in his home for the future President.

An article from the Greenville Advocate dated July 25,1895 has a letter from Mrs Elizabeth W. Smith describing her trip to Scotland on the steamship “State of Nebraska” out of New York. She and her party stopped at the military academy at West Point to visit her son Clarke Smith (Mollie's step-brother). There were indications in letters that Major Wham talked with Clarke as a young man on his future and had much to do with his appointment to West Point through his military and political connections.

A number of St Louis newspaper articles covered the death of Mollie's oldest brother, William S. Smith. The head line of one newspaper read: “He died alone. A sad fate of a homeless and deserted old man of 55 years.” William S. Smith was once rated as millionaire. He died unattended in the kitchen of a charitable physician. The Major and Mollie provided him a home and support in New York and Wyoming until a transfer to Arizona was required by the Army. Many letters requesting money were complied with until it become a burden. His falling out with the other members of the family and his sad life from riches to rags was probably due to his poor investments and a drinking problem. It was clear at the time of his death that the whole family had disowned him and did not want to claim his family membership. It was unclear if the breakup from the family was totally a result of his drinking. (Author's speculation: After the Father's death, it was common practice for the oldest son to control the family wealth. William S. Smith invested his money in cattle in Wyoming. During the Winter of 1885-86 millions of cattle were lost because of sever weather and over grazing conditions. Many of the so called “Cattle Barents” went bankrupt. If this was the situation, family feelings about their money could have been the driving factor for the split.)

Major Joseph W. Wham and Mary H. (Smith) Wham had one child. She was born in New York on 31 Jan 1885 and died in Orange, Orange Co., California on 14 May 1958.

Mary attended I'Institut St. Germain and Sorbonne in Paris, France (1906-1907) studying the French language. In 1908 with her B.A. Degree, she began teaching French at Mary Institute, St. Louis, Missouri (Later to be Washington University). Mary lived at McMillan Hall with her Mother after the death of her Father in Washington D.C. in 1908. Her mother died 5 Dec 1920 at McMillan Hall. At the time of her Mothers death, Mary lived at 5092 Westminister, St. Louis. Mary married Col. Robert C. Kimball, a veteran of WW1, in Pittsfield, Mass. in 1924. A newspaper article of the marriage follows: “The marriage of Miss Mary Wham, daughter of the late Major Joseph W. Wham and Mrs. Wham of St. Louis, formerly of this city, to Colonel Robert E. Kimball of Pittsfield, Mass., took place at noon yesterday in the chapel of St. Bartholomew's Church on Park Avenue at 15^th Street. Colonel Kimball is the son of J. Fred B. Kimball and Mrs. Addie Stanley Kimball. The bride, whose uncle, Colonel Clarke S. Smith of Columbia, S.C., gave her in marriage, was attended by Mrs. William Whittlesey of Pittsfield. Lincoln A. Wagenhals was best man. The ceremony was followed by a wedding breakfast at Sherry's, given by Miss Lucy E. Smith and Mrs. Robert London, the bride's aunt. After a honeymoon in Florida the couple will live in Pittsfield.”

The couple later moved to California. He is listed in the census of 1930 under the occupation of vice president of Stationary Mills. They did not have children.

The Major and his strong, independent wife experienced an exciting life together where the love between them formed the cement foundation that allowed the Major's daughter to seek and have a successful life.