Mr. & Mrs. William C. Main - 60th Anniversary - 1915

Wedded Life of Sixty Years

Utica Saturday Globe, June 1915

 

William Carpenter Main

1832 - 1918

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  The celebration of 50th wedding anniversaries has become a rather common occurrence, but instances are rare where the couple have reached the 60th milestone of wedding felicity and with the family circle still complete.  Mr. and Mrs. William C. Main, of South Broad street will reach their 60th anniversary on Saturday of this week. The event will be quietly recognized by relatives and friends, Mrs. Mary Smith, a sister of Mrs. Main, and her daughter Miss Louise Smith, of New York city, being among the guests.

Mr. Main has the distinction of being the veteran business man in Norwich, which is his native place.  He was born on what is now known as the McNitt farm on the southeast section of the town, July 14, 1832, the son of Mr. and Mrs. William F. Main.  His father followed the occupation of farming until his death at 65.  The son was educated at the union school near Mt. Upton and learned harness making with his uncle, Chester W. Carpenter, at Unadilla.  In 1850 he set up in business on his own account in Deposit, remaining there for two years during which he met among his acquaintances, Miss Martha E. Demander, who was destined to become his life partner.

 

Leaving Deposit, Mr. Main came to Norwich in 1852 and worked at his trade until 1854, when he again embarked in business for himself.  In the summer of 1855 he brought  his bride to Norwich, following their wedding, June 12.  They made their home on South Broad street in the residence recently remodeled by Judge John H. Hicks, removing later to the residence at the corner of South Broad and Division streets, which Mr. Main erected and where they have spent so many years together in the cheery companionship of each other and their only daughter, Miss Ada R. Main, and have drawn to themselves so many friends.

 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Main enjoy exceptional health and excellent spirits.  They maintain a lively interest in the affairs of Norwich in which they have seen so many changes during its evolution from an isolated village to a live, enterprising city.  They are deeply interested in the welfare of Emmanuel Church, of which they have been members so long.  Mr. Main recalls his first visit to Norwich as a boy.  It was during a political rally in the campaign of 1840, a young lad came with his father to see the sights.  he recalls that another visit was during the time when the First Baptist church was being erected. 

 

Mr. Main first carried on his harness business in Norwich in a wooden block on South Broad street that was razed to make room for this modern Turner building.  His business prospered and four years later he built the block where he is now located, but which he sold to Whit Stratton in 1874 and moved to the Summer store on the other side of South Broad street.  In 1877 he returned to the old Hill Block on the site of the present Turner building and has since been located in the Porter Block on South Broad and the Schneider building on Birdsall street before returning to the block he built about 1858 and now owned by John Storch.  From 1874 to 1892 he had as a business partner Henry F. Weeden, deceased, conducting the business alone during the other years. 

 

Mr. Main joined Norwich lodge, No. 302, F.&A.M. October 7, 1855, and in length of membership is the oldest Mason in the lodge.

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William Carpenter Main was born 14 July 1832 in Norwich, Chenango, NY the son of William and Submit (Carpenter) Main.  He married Martha E. Demander 12 June 1855 who died in December 1916.  Mr. Main died 12 February 1918.  They are buried in Mt. Hope cemetery, Norwich, NY.

The obituary of William Carpenter Main was posted to the Local History Notes blog on September 12, 2015.