USA > New York > Chenango County > Norwich > History of the first one hundred years of the First Congregational Church, Norwich, New York, 1814-1914 > Part 14
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Äs " Porter " grew to young manhood the choice of an occupation became a matter of study and choos- ing. The most available thing was as an errand boy
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and general helper in the store of his brother-in-law, Mr. Edward Douglas, in Meredith, Delaware County. To this store young Chapman went and for two years faithfully did the work assigned him; and all the time kept his eyes and ears open. He had learned a lot about storekeeping.
In 1855 his uncle, Benjamin Chapman, in Norwich, had gone out of business and his cousin, William H., son of " Uncle Ben," had started, successfully, a mercantile business in the " Old Chapman store " in Norwich. The next year " Porter" came into this store as a clerk, not being yet out of his teens; but he had used his advantages to so good purpose that he knew what to do in the larger place and did it every time. His habits were fixed and he had no bad ones to correct nor to be a handicap on his advancement in the new place; and he very soon made a place for him- self in the new surroundings. He was given a place to live in the family of his uncle, where he was help- ful, gentlemanly and considerate and compelled re- spect and consideration from all with whom he came in contact. He had learned the homely virtues of honesty, industry and energy; and his idea was to make himself a successful merchant. He did not allow pleasures, society nor questionable habits and prac- tices to lure him from his purpose. At the close of every year he knew he was nearer his ideal, so with splendid courage and grit he grasped the problems of the new years undaunted. He took up his church duties and made good in them also. " De " had be- come identified with the church, but not yet by con- version. The two young men were made ushers; one for each aisle-there were but two in the old church. Then came the revival of 1857. Rev. Hiram Doane was the pastor and the revival was quite extensive. " Porter " was converted, but "De " was not; but it did not drive him out of the church. There was not
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much of the emotional about him. He never got excited over his own affairs; so he kept right on doing what he had been elected to do of church work.
I said that Chapman was converted, but perhaps I should modify that statement somewhat. He himself often said in after years, that he did not know when he was converted-" brought out " in the language of 1814. He made an open confession of Christ, but there was none of the pagan about it-no harrowing experi- ences; no " distress of mind." He had been brought up in a family where the whole atmosphere was Chris- tian, so he had no specific sins to be mourned over. It was as simple a matter as walking the street and turn- ing around and going the other way. When he had made up his mind to do it, he did it and it was just as thoroughly done as though he had taken months of prolonged agony to bring the result. His daily life for these many years has proved the thoroughness of the work. Young Miller had not the long training in the family, so he could not-or thought he could not, act on the moment and the time went by unimproved; and remained so for 15 years.
The next February, the church burned; but in the Academy, in " Coffin Hall," in Concert Hall and into the new church of 1862, these two young men remained faithful to their duty. These same traits they both carried into their commercial life.
Sunday, December 27, 1863, " The Old Stone block," South Broad street, was burned. About 1865 the present brick block was built. Soon after, John F. Hill and George Mitchell opened a drug business in the corner store, next to the Park. A year or two after T. D. Miller boughtthe business and left the bank, re- taining his stock, however, and his directorship. He knew next to nothing about the drug business; but he made a success of it.
In 1858, W. H. Chapman decided to live in New
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York. He thereupon offered W. P. Chapman a part- nership in his business. W. H. Chapman to do all the New York buying; and W. P. Chapman to have sole charge of the Norwich end of the business-under the style of W. H. Chapman & Co. " Porter " assumed this responsibility with a good deal of anxiety .. It was his first trial of entire, or practically entire respon- sibility; but with a splendid courage he took the reins and drove the steed to victory. The business was a success from the start; but it would not run alone. He put into it a tremendous amount of hard work. He knew every detail and kept up with it all to the very last minute. This partnership continued about twenty years.
September 12, 1866, William Porter Chapman and Mary Evelyn Curtiss, daughter of Roswell and Polly Mary (Hale) Curtiss, of Norwich, were married by Rev. Samuel Scoville. Soon after this, Chapman bought the house and lot, 25 Hayes street, and estab- lished a home. In this home their three children were born; a daughter, Mary Evelyn (who died in about three months) and two sons, William Porter, Jr., and Roswell Curtiss.
June 19, 1874, Mr. Chapman was elected a trustee of the church. He had made a place for himself in the commercial life of the village. Now it was discovered that he hade made a place for himself in the activities of the church. To the present time he has been elected trustees fourteen times, and has been chairman for many years. The term of a trustee has been three years. Beginning with 1874 he has been re-elected every time and is now serving the fourteenth term. Mr. Miller was first elected a trustee March, 1867, and served the term; but he was not again elected until 1872. From that time he was re-elected every term since until his death, at which time he had one year to
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serve, making thirteen consecutive terms-fourteen in all.
July 9, 1876, Mr. Chapman was elected a deacon for life. Then there were four of them. Now he is the only one left. In 1897 the church voted to limit the term of the deaconate to four years when any vacancy occurred. Mr. Chapman has been the longest time a member of this church, at this time, of any one living.
Thus these two men have rounded out over half a century in the service of this church; the first emin- ently fitted to care for the material and the second as eminently fitted to care for the spiritual interests. As we see Mr. Chapman has had the care of both inter- ests. He has been a member of the Prudential commit- tee since his election as deacon, July 9, 1876. The writer was elected church clerk September 30 of that year, and to the deaconate in 1906.
Mr. Miller was a little pessimistic occasionally, when things would not go as he wanted them to; but not so with Mr. Chapman; he always saw the "silver " back of the cloud. He was in the church as he was in business-if the axe was dull he " put to more strength." He has the faith of Father Enos. I speak from knowledge. In 1809 that faith worked a miracle. He was laid on his bed by what was named by every physician (and he had some of the best) Bright's dis- ease and that he could not possibly live. Of course this was not told to him; but he probably surmised it, for he said repeatedly " I'm not going to die. I'm going back into the store again." He faithfully fol- lowed all the medical advice and for a while remained about he same, but he made the same assertion many times. Suddenly there was a change-slight at first, but it was for the better and from that time his im- provement was slow but steady and he did go back into the store. He spent some part of each day there until a few weeks ago when the concern was reorgan- ized and Mr. Chapman retired.
REV. AUGUSTUS GOODNOW UPTON. The Fourteenth Pastor of First Congregational Church, Norwich, N. Y., 1883-1888.
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He has also resumed his duties in the church. When Isaac Newton died in 1891, the Bible class, much to Mr. Chapman's surprise, choose him for the teacher. He declined; but the class was very urgent, so he finally consented. He put the same enthusiasm into the task which had carried him through many another difficult proposition; and after his sickness, the class was still insistent; so he again took up the duty and he is sel- dom absent from his place in the class or his pew at morning service.
He has proved untrue what has often been asserted, that a business man cannot be a Christian. With him the end never justified the means. If a course of action appealed to him as true, he followed it. If it did not, no amount of policy nor prospect of personal gain was thought of. He would not touch it. The Chapman business has continued for more than a century and has always had a member of the family at the head of it-one named Chapman; and they, until now, have all been members of this Church. It just happened so.
REV. AUGUSTUS GOODNOW UPTON.
As I remember it now, soon after Dr. Taylor left and a committee on looking up a pastor had been appointed, as church clerk I wrote Rev. Charles C. Creegan, who was Home Missionary Secretary of the State of New York, whom I knew very well and who was very well known to many in this church, telling him of Dr. Taylor's leaving and saying that he knew about what kind of a man we wanted, and asking if he could put us on the track of a pastor. About as soon as " by return mail " came the answer, " Yes. Just the man you want and he will fill the bill I know, for he is in every way capable. "I turned the letter over to Mr. Miller or Mr. Stanton, I cannot say which now. Rev. H. W. Teller, who later came to Sherburne church, was already invited to spend a Sunday here,
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which he did; and then Mr. Upton was invited to do the same April 15. April 14 came and the last train, but no Mr. Upton. The committee had quite a discussion on what to do. The clerk had, however, great confidence in Mr. Creegan and was sure from his estimate of Mr. Up- ton, that the later would be here if he had to walk. That he probably, not knowing the country, had got off at North Norwich. If that was true he would drive into town in an hour or so-and that was just what hap- pened. Mr. Upton soon found his mistake and hired a farmer to drive him down; and while we were dis- cussing the matter he alighted at the Eagle Hotel, and soon made the acquaintance of the brethren who were to " show him around."
What was seen when he was found, was a fresh, bright appearing young man, of 30 years of age; very cheerful and cordial; a good talker and with an earn- est energetic manner; good looking, pleasant and not at all put out by his misadventure, which he, with much humor, related as a good joke and we all had a hearty laugh. In his state of mind the ride down the beautiful Chenango valley was a delight and a revelation to him, as well as an attraction as a place to live. He spent the rest of the day in looking around the village and meeting some of the men of the church; forming some acquaintances which were very enjoyable through his life and to this day are blessed memories deeply cher. ished.
At the service next morning his sermon was from the text, II Cor. 6, 17-" Come ye out from among them and be ye separate." The title was, " Separa- tion." The Great Apostle's advice to the Corinthian church. He thought that Christians should have those words for a motto and live by it-be separate from the world; and he fearlessly affirmed his belief in the sen- timent so clearly taught by St. Paul and trusted that those who heard him would make their lives conform
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to the plain meaning of the words. The evening ser- mon was a plain talk on " Haman."
Monday Mr. Hammond and two or three of the com- mittee took him around town. One of the business places visited was Deacon Chapman's store, where they remained for perhaps half an hour. In the conversa- tion Mr. Hammond said with a smile, "Mr. Upton, I think it rather singular that you chose that subject for your first sermon in town as a candidate." " Well, Mr. Hammond, I admit the force of your remark, but as I most thoroughly believe in the idea, I could not see any reason why I should not preach it "-thus in a single sentence revealing the character of the man. His listeners could not but say he was right. He made no excuse, nor any effort to smooth over the sharp incisive force of the text, nor his equally clear state- ment of it. The next day he left for home.
Other good men came as candidates, but none seemed to get hold of the people. It came to near the first of July and the matter seemed to have come to a standstill. One day the clerk met Mr. Miller on the street and asked what has been done about a pastor? " Nothing," he said. The clerk with some energy affirmed that that was hardly the right course to pur- sue for the good of the church, for it was in great need of a pastor. The members all knew Mr. Creegan, and were confident that he would not recommend a man as he did Mr. Upton, unless he knew he was suited for the place. They were willing, therefore, to trust to his judgment; so why don't you give Mr. Upton a call at once and end this uncertainty? Whether this outburst was the spark which set ablaze the dormant fire of the committee or not is not known; but very soon a meeting was called of the church and society and a resolution calling Mr. Upton was carried with but two negative votes. The call was sent and July 3, the acceptance was received to take effect September 1.
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August 29, Mr. Upton and his wife and daughter arrived in Norwich and took rooms at the American Hotel, and began the task of getting acquainted. Mr. Upton led the prayer meeting Friday evening. Sunday was Communion. He preached a short sermon on the pastor's office and how he should preach and then ad- ministered the Communion. Three persons united with the church by letters.
Rev. A. G. Upton .- In the home of a sturdy Massa- chusetts blacksmith named Benjamin Upton, located in Heath, Franklin County, on December 7, 1851, was born a boy. The name given him was Augustus Good- now Upton, and the mother's name was Miranda. It is somewhat curious that the man who succeeded Dr. Taylor in the pastorate of this church, was also a native of the western section of Massachusetts. Heath is about 30 miles a little east of north from Lee, the birthplace of Dr. Taylor. It is also about 10 miles directly east from the Hoosic Tunnel and North Adams. It was a small village then and is yet, in the Berkshire Hills. and some miles from any railroad; the Fitchburg being the nearest. This boy was converted at fifteen and baptized in Elyria, Ohio, in 1866.
In 1869 he entered Oberlin College, which is about 10 to 15 miles from Elyria. Graduated August 6, 1873, and at once entered the Theological department of the College. Was graduated from this department July July 29, 1876, and ordained August 4 following by the Presbyterian church of Elyria. Nov. 23, 1876, he married Lucy Heywood Metcalf, daughter of Eliab Wright and Eliza Maria (Ely) Metcalf at the family homestead in Elyria. He taught in Oberlin College from 1871 to 1875. October, 1800, he joined the Cen- tral North Conference, Ohio, of which he was a mem- ber when he came to Norwich. He soon after joined Oneida, Chenango and Delaware association. His first pastorate was at Windham, Ohio. It began in 1876.
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He resigned in 1878 and became pastor of the church in Wayne, Mich., from which he resigned in 1880 and went to Wakeman, Ohio. In 1883 he came to Norwich, N. Y., and became pastor of the First Congregational Church, September 1 ... Mr. Upton resigned his pas- torate in this church April 30, 1888, and went directly to Syracuse, N. Y., and assumed the office of Secretary for New York State, of American Home Missionary Society. He remained there but a few years, when his health failed and he was obliged to take a rest. He went to Colorado Springs in November. In the spring he returned to Syracuse; but was obliged to go back to Colorado Springs in the fall; and later to Denver. There he took charge of two Mission churches in the poorer part of the city. One of these grew from a congregation of fifteen to so many that there was hardly standing room in the church. About 1895 he went to Weiser, Idaho, and became president of a school for higher education; a sort of preparatory school for college. He was for a time also pastor of the church at Weiser. January, 1910, he went to Arizona for the winter and in May back to Colorado Springs; all the time seeking health in the high altitudes of the far west. Here at this time they built their house in Broadmoor, a suburb of Colorado Springs. Then they took letters from Plymouth Congregational Church, Syracuse, N. Y., and transferred their membership to the First Congregational Church of Colorado Springs. He did not have, however, long to enjoy the new home, nor the new church home. His disease soon ran its course despite all medical aid, and he died in the new home November 20, 1901, at the age of 49 years, 11 months and 13 days, just at the age when he would have been doing much of his best work. Interment was made in the family plot in Elyria, Ohio.
Some very important things were brought about in Norwich by Mr. Upton during the five years he lived
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here. He was really the one who started the Y. M. C. A. Library Association.
He also made possible the purchase of the beautiful and remarkably complete organ which for 30 years has done royal duty in this church. January 5, 1881, dur- ing the pastorate of Dr. Taylor, the Young People's Association voted to begin raising an organ fund. By the second year of Mr. Upton's pasorate the fund had grown to about $550.00. He proposed to the Young People, which included Mrs. Mitchell and Mrs. John- son and the large choir, that a campaign be started vigorously and the organ installed as soon as possible, which was enthusiastically taken up. Mr. Upton had cards printed in the form of stock certificates, good for five shares in the new organ at $1.00 a share. The Young People were given these to sell and they started in at once vigorously. The idea took with the people and when the canvas of about two weeks was over the results figured up $2,100.00, cash. They decided to order a $3,000.00 organ at once. Mrs. Mitchell had, while the canvas was going on, been looking up organs and had done it very thoroughly, with what help Mrs. Johnson could give; and they, with the pastor laid the matter before the truseees, who authorized them to get the best organ they could for the money. Mrs. Mitchell was of course the chairman of the committee. They thoroughly went over the matter and decided to give the contract to Johnson & Son, of Westfield, Conn. They found that Mr. Johnson was very anxious to get one of his organs into this part of the state as an advertise- ment-a large territory in which he had no specimen of their work. He therefore very readily proposed to build an organ based on whatever price they decided to pay, at cost; and he further offered to subscribe $100.00 toward the fund. They gave him an order for an organ and water motor at the price of $3,000.00 and he began the work.
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It was well known that Mr. Maydole had bequeathed $1,000.00 to the church, and the money was in the hands of the trustees. Mrs. Merritt, his daughter, proposed that the money be added to the organ fund. The other heirs expressed the same desire and Mr. C. B. Martin, who was one of the trustees, said he would see that it. was voted. The result was that the organ fund was $4,000.00 instead of $3,000.00,so the order was put at that amount for the organ alone; and it was decided that the old organ would sell for enough to pay for the motor; and Mr. Johnson was so notified. This was February 1, 1884. May 9, the parts of the organ were all in the church, spread over the tops of the pews. May 24 ,the instrument was all assembled and set up in its place, ready for use, but was used only enough to test it, when it was closed and not to be used until June 25, when an inaugural concert was given on it by Mr. Michael Cross, a noted organist of Philadelphia, assisted by Mr. W. Apmadoc, of Utica, tenor; Miss Clara Ensign, of Syracuse, alto; Miss Nellie Reed, of Greene; and Mrs. Nettie C. Mitchell, of Norwich, sopranos.
Sunday, June 29, the new organ was first used at church service; Mrs. Nettie C. Mitchell, the organist playing. Mr. Upton's sermon was "On Music and its Place in Worship." The old organ was sold to the church in Sidney for $275.00.
Anyone looking over the parts of the organ as they lay spread out over the tops of the pews could with exact truth say " That is a very thorough piece of work." Nothing was left undone. A piano manu- facturer would have said, " That is a beautiful job and done 'pon honor." When it was set up and ready for use the word " elegant " was the only word which seemed to fit the case. From the beautiful and artistic- ally decorated show pipes and the elegantly grained quartered oak of the case to the very last detail of the
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intricate interior, there was not a blemish. Mr. John- son had fulfilled his part of the contract. The decora- tion of the show pipes was done by the junior member of the firm, who had a nation wide fame as a decorator. The exquisite taste in the delicate tracery could not be done except by an accomplished artist, and any one studying it will find new beauties every moment. When one hears the price, if one knows anything about an organ, it is at once apparent that the maker must have lost money on the contract. Every noted organist who has used it (and there have been several of them) have expressed surprise that we got it as so low a price and have added that it could not be duplicated at less than $8,000.00. This is its thirtieth anniversary and it has not yet had any extensive repairs, which shows that neither time nor expense were considered in its build- ing.
Not only is its value shown in its manufacture; but is shown in its capabilities. The wonderful playing by Mr. Edward Brechlin at the concert of the Monday Evening Musical club was a revelation to many people who have supposed they had heard all the organ was capable of under the hands of masters such as Michael Cross and others who have delighted us with their music, but I venture to say that on no other organ in this vicinity could Mr. Brechlin have played that im- provised fantasia on an old theme as he gave it at the concert mentioned. The organ and the man had come together. It helped us to appreciate the value of the organ better.
It was a very unfortunate circumstance that the case had to be stained over in the repairs of 1910, and thus the exquisite beauty of the quartered oak covered over and lost forever. Only a vigorous protest saved the beautifully decorated pipes from the same fate. " Mona Lisa " could not be improved by a coat of paint, no matter how beautiful the shade.
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Mr. Upton was an interesting speaker and very often truth would be put in such a way that one would find it in his memory days after. In one sermon was this: " Some people come to a church social, sit against the wall with arms folded and a determined look, as much as to say, " Well, I'm here now entertain me if you can." In another sermon: " We build the walls of our churches so low that anyone can step in; forget- ting that they can just as easily step out." In another sermon : Speaking of " Original Sin," he said some believed that
" In Adam's fall We sin-ned all; In Abel's murder We sin-ned furder."
April 29 was Mr. Upton's last Sunday. At his re- quest it was made Communion day. Eleven persons were taken into the church and he administered the communion. He had no sermon, but gave a few min- utes' talk on what he had tried to do during his pastor- ate here. For a text he read this: " I Will Go Before You Into Galilee." In the evening he wanted a con- ference meeting, but Rev. W. G. Partridge and Rev. A. J. VanCleft had notified him that they should give up their evening services and unite with his church in a farewell; so the meeting was held in the audience room and every seat was filled. Not long after the services began, Rev. M. M. Goodwin, rector of the Episcopal church came in, followed by his membership. He an- nounced that the gas in their church had gone out, so they decided to come over and join in Mr. Upton's farewell. Mr. Goodwin was invited to a seat on the pulpit and, later, he added his testimony to Mr. Upton's Christianity, to what the others had said.
Mr. Upton replied to it all in a short, familiar talk full of thankfulness and love. After a hymn by the
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choir and congregation and the benediction the services closed and very many came and took Mr. Upton by the hand and said good-bye. He left town next day, going to Syracuse.
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