Frederick William Whitburn was born in Austin, Lander County, Nevada, January 7th, 1887. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. William Whitburn of that place. After completing grammar school and two years of high school in Austin, his parents sent him to San Francisco, where he graduated from high school. Following this he entered the University of California at Berkeley and graduated from that institution. He then returned to Austin to enter into business with his father. In the year 1912 he was elected County Clerk of Lander County. He served two years in that position after which he retired to business life for himself. April 27th, 1918, found him in the Military Service of his Country. He served at Camp Lewis, Washington, until June when his regiment was sent over-seas with the 91st Division. He was in Company C, of the 363rd Infantry Regiment. The 91st went into action on September 26th in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Their advance was northward with the line. On October 3d, they were at a point about midway between Epinonville and Gesnes. On the following morning (October 4, 1918), Private Whitburn was struck by a shell which killed him instantly.

One of his comrades wrote to the soldier’s widow this account of his noble courage in moments of danger: “We were making night marches to the front with heavy packs and covering from twenty to thirty kilometers per night. I noticed that Whit seemed lame and spoke to him about it. He told me he had a boil on his leg and insisted that nothing be said about it, as he was not going to let a boil keep him from going over the top with the boys in their first real action. However, he had to report to the doctor and in spite of his protests was sent to the hospital. I bade him good bye as the ambulance carried him away and his last words to me were “it’s hell to walk this far just to go to the hospital, but don’t worry Jim, I won’t let them keep me long.”

He was true to his word. Just as soon as he was discharged he made his way to the front, found out that “C” Co. had been in action for four days and was now holding the front lines near Gesnes—(This place was later known as Death Valley on account of the heavy casualties suffered there by the 91st Division.) This was on Sunday, September 29th. Whit reached his company on the lines, after making his way through a veritable hell of fire, about 2 p. m. and participated in the fierce fighting that took place that memorable afternoon. That night he and another mutual friend, Geo. Lippe, of San Francisco, “dug in” together. During the night the Germans sent over a heavy barrage of gas and high explosive shell. One of these shells found your husband and Geo. Lippe about four o’clock Monday morning. They were both instantly killed as the shell made a direct hit on the hole in which they were sheltered. They were probably asleep and never knew what struck them.

It will be noticed that the soldier gives the date of his death as September 30th; that given by the War Department was October 4th. Besides his parents, living in Austin, he left his widow, Mrs. Fred Whitburn of Reno, to whom he was married on December 27th, 1917, and a child. A sister, Mrs. Al Moore of Round Mountain, Nevada, also survives him. He was a member of Toiyabe Lodge, No. 9, Knights of Pythias, of Austin.