The Newtown bee., 1906-07-13

ClOSeO ms SCHOOL TOT DOyS, WulCu udS done so much in building up character mark in life. Feeling that a life work like that of Rev MT Upson's so rich in results should be properly re- viewed, the editor requested the priv ilege of an interview. With his char acteriStic courtesy and consideration for others MT UpsOn granted the same, although he was reluctant to be par ty to any Self-adulatiOn. A study of MT Upson's ancestry causes no surprise at the sturdiness and dignity of char acter which has been so prominent in his parents being Thomas Upson and Jerusha Upson. His father was born in Wolcott and died in Berlin in 1S48, at the age of 63 years. His mother passed away in 1864 at the ripe age of 75 years. They were married at the age of 21 and IS years and began life on a rough farm in Wolcott on which there was not building standing. When they left Wolcott in 1888 to set tie in Berlin, there was farm we'll equipped with buildings and cleared of stone and brush. Of Thomas Up- son it was said that he was a
 MAN NOTED FOR DIGNITY AND AU-
 1dOhtlI.
 Along with his farming, he taught school. It was indeed a remarkable family that this couple reared, Il boys and two girls, and the average age at death was 68 years. Henry, the sub. ject of our sketch, is the sole survivor.
 Of the children, II became members of Congregational churches, and three, Samuel, John and William, were chos- en deacons. A brief sketch of the members of this family will be of in- terest. Charles Hopkins Upson was a merchant and resided at Southington. He was blessed with six children. The home of GuStavus UpsOn was in Ber- lin. He was farmer, was twice mar ried and reared four children. Rus sell Upson was merchant and passed most of his life in New Haven. He married and had six children. Jen- nette UpsOn married Minor and lived in Cheshire. Two children were born to her. Isaac UpsOn was hat ter by trade. He had six children. Samuel UpSOn was a merchant and carried on stores in SOuthingtOn and Berlin. John UpsOn was merchant in Berlin. He was married but was not blessed with offspring. Samuel was sent to the Legislature from Southing- ton and Berlin. William Upson was resident of Berlin. He was farmer. Five children were born to him. Am brOSe Ives UpSOn was merchant. He was also interested in the American Cap & Flash Go. He had two chil- dren, both of whom survive him. Seth Peck Upson retained the family home stead in Berlin. He was farmer, but remained bachelor. Harriet Ara bella UpSOn, the twin sister of Henry, was unmarried. She died at the age of 25 years. This brings us to Rev Henry Upson, the youngest of the family.
 WITH SUCH STURDY ANCESTRY, it is not surprising that strong traits were manifested in the life and char acter of our friend. Beginning life as a farmers boy, he had the Experience of toll such as the early farmers knew worked for a time in drug store in Southington. He had a passion for taking care of sick people and the ex- perience he had later stood him in good stead in the army. While in New Haven MT Upson attended two courses of medical lectures When he began to fit for college bis aim was to be medical missionary. Entering Yale college in 1855, he graduated in 1859. He taught school for season, entered Andover seminary fora year and later entered Yale theological seminary, where he was when the war fever was at it's height. The chaplain of the 18th Connecticut regiment hay ing resigned, Prof Porter recommend ed MT Upson to Governor Bucking- ham, who appointed him at once. MT Upson utilized a church organization already formed in his regiment and the communion service was celebrated once while in camp. In this connec- tion the editor was much interested in peruSing the pages of the History of the 18th Conn. Volunteers. On Pages IT and IS we read: '"To fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Chaplain Salter, Rev Henry Upson, of Berlin, Conn.,, then theological stu dent at Yale, was commissioned on the 18th of June, 1862. In
 HIS CARE FOR THE SOUL HE DID NOT
 FORGET THE BODY.
 He was not only an eloquent and faithful preacher, but a good forager, as many load of turkeys, pigs, sweet potatoes, and the like, brought into camp and distributed by him to the l1dll-O Uol NCu oO1NlOlO3 OO1C 0OuhO0hU witness. At the battle of Irish Bend he displayed great courage, and ren- dered invaluable service by communi- eating orders, and by dispensing re- l treatments and consolation to the wounded"
 Again on Page 94, we read: "For a week or two after our arrival at Camp Stevens, we suffered for want of suffi. cient food, and our new chaplain, Rev Henry Upson, conciliated the good will of the soldiers by foraging exten. sively on these plantations for the benefit of the hungry: There was a solemnity of his look and demeano1 adding greatly to it's effect. One morning, he and Adjutant Grosvenol were blowing up sweet potatoes fol the half-starved soldiers; Grosvenol held the blow, negro drove the mule and the chaplain walked alongside picking up the vegetables and moralz ing, The course of the blow was any thing but straight, and the adjutan1 finally becoming impatient at the awkWardness of the driver, ejaculated
 "Where in h. are you going?" The chaplain discontinued his religion! discussion for a moment, looked uI
 gravely through his spectacles, eyee
 the African and the crooked
 furrow, and said slowly, "Perhaps
 under the circumstances, that is
 very proper question"
 Again on page 1O5, we find these in
 teresting facts: '"The Twenty-f iftf
 Connecticut were close beside us
 They alone, of all the regiments, man
 aged to get little coffee, a part O.
 which they generously distributed tC
 other sufferers, though some of theil
 men drove some of the Thirteenth from their fires. A few of our sol