William W. Robinson

Union officer

William Wallace Robinson was born on December 14, 1819 in Fairhaven, Vermont. His father, descended from the Mayflower Pilgrinms, had served and been been wounded in the the War of 1812.

William attended Rutland and Castleton Academies and Norwich Military Academy, going on on to become a teacher in New Jersey and in Cleveland Ohio. While in Cleveland he married Sarah Jane Fisk. He headed west seeking gold, but returned to Ohio to become a lieutenant in Company G of the 3rd Ohio Infantry Regiment during the Mexican War. By the end of the war he had been promoted to Captain.

In 1852 he set out for the gold rush in California, returning to Minnesota where he founded the town of Winton and became a colonel in the state militia. He moved to Sparta, Wisconsin, in 1858, becoming a farmer.

On August 18, 1861 he became lieutenant colonel of the 7th Wisconsin Infantry. He became colonel in January of 1862 when the regiment's Hungarian born Colonel Vandor resigned to become U.S. Representative ot the island of Tahiti. Robinson was wounded at the Batle of Ganesville on August 28, 1862.

As Colonel, commanded the 7th Wisconsin Infantry at Gettysburg; took over the brigade during the battle.
* July 9, 1864 - Mustered out
* April 27, 1903 - Died in Seattle, Washingon