Obituary, William Newton, Sherburne, NY

 Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, August 21, 1879

Death of William Newton

William Newton of Sherburne [Chenango Co. NY] the father of Isaac S. and Warren Newton, of this place [Norwich, Chenango Co. NY] died at his home in that town on Wednesday of last week, in the ninety-third year of his age. The funeral was held on Sunday afternoon and drew out a large concourse of people, all anxious to show respect for one who had for so many years been an active and honored citizen among them.  Rev. Lewis R. Foote of Brooklyn, formerly of this County, delivered an appropriate historical address on the occasion, which so completely described the life, character and services of the deceased, that we obtained permission to give it to the readers of the Union.  It is as follows:

Mr. William Newton was born October 15th, 1786.  He came to the town of Hamilton [Madison Co. NY] from Colchester, Conn., in 1806, being twenty years of age.  In 1810 he was married to Lois Butler, and they came to live in Sherburne in 1812.  Though dating religious impressions as early as when he was fifteen years of age, he did not make a public profession of his faith in Christ until 1816, when with his wife he united with the First Congregational Church of Sherburne.  His home has been in Sherburne for sixty-seven years, and he has lived in this house, from which he will be carried to the grave, fifty-seven years.  Had he lived nine days more, their married life would have numbered sixty-nine years.

He was one of the first manufacturers in the town.  Early in life he was engaged in the manufacture of woolen cloth.  Twice his factory was burned.  He was early engaged in farming, which business he carried on in connection with his other pursuits.  Identified with the great internal improvements in the State, he was engaged in constructing the Erie Canal, the Chenango Canal, the Black River Canal, and in the construction of one of the first railroads in the country, if not the first, under the auspices of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company.  He was elected Supervisor of the town of Sherburne in 1841.  Early in life he was appointed Captain in the militia and acted in that capacity for two or three years.  In 1826 he was chosen Trustee of the Church and held the position with some interruptions until 1867.  He also acted as Clerk of the society at one time.

Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Newton, nine of whom still survive [in 1879]. One daughter fell asleep in Jesus at sixteen and another daughter yielded her soul to God just after she had reached the missionary field in India, about 1850.  Seven sons and two daughters bow today at the foot of the Cross and adore that grace which numbers them all in the covenant of eternal life.  He leaves nine children, twenty grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Mr. Newton's life ran parallel with all the great movements in this country for the good of man and the conversion of the world to Christ.  The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions was organized in 1810, the year that Mr. Newton was married.  He became deeply interested in this work in 1831, and began then to contribute to its funds.  He gave to it his sympathy, his money, his daughter and his prayers. For many years it has been his custom each year to make one of his children or grandchildren an honorary member of this Board, by the gift of one hundred dollars each, until twenty-five have been thus honored. This is mentioned only to indicate the character of the man, as showing the work in which he was interested.  

He became early in life deeply interested in the work of the American Bible Society, another of those great institutions which ran parallel with his life, being organized in 1816, the year that he made a public profession of religion.  For many years it has been his custom to make some one of his numerous family an honorary member of that Society by the payment of one hundred dollars each, until fifteen or more have been thus distinguished.  He loved the Bible and began to read it through each year nearly fifty years ago, so that it is probably that he read that precious book through nearly fifty times. As expressing his attachment for the Bible, he remarked some time since that if it should be his lot to find his home in hell, he should want that book as his companion.  

Until the infirmities of age became very great, he was regularly in his place in the house of God, an attentive and earnest worshiper. The last occasion when he worshiped with God's people in public was at the Lord's Supper last September.  He was always active in the social meetings of the church. He began to worship God in his family when he united with the church and for sixty-three years, even to the very day of his death, he attended to this duty with scrupulous care. The tenacity with which he clung to the family altar was remarkable considering the great infirmity of the closing days of his life.  At the last when too feeble to kneel, he would worship like Jacob, leaning upon his staff, in some instances reading and praying himself, at other times members of his family would read the Scriptures and pray with him.  He sat at the table for his supper the evening he died, and himself asked God's blessing upon the food.  Like his Master, he loved children.  It was not an infrequent thing for him to have four of them upon his lap at the same time.  He was alive to the temporal interests of his children and took great pride in their prosperity.  He was also deeply awakened to the spiritual interests of his family, and it was his privilege to see them all gathered to the table of the Lord, and the most of them early in life.

Mr. Newton was a strictly temperate man, using no strong drink and no tobacco and it is worthy of mention in this age, that his seven sons follow in the steps of the father.  By his character he commanded the respect and reverence of his children.  He was a thoroughly energetic man and held his opinions firmly.  He was a very conscientious man, and frequently reviewed his own actions, and sometimes expressed fear lest he had made mistakes.   He never talked much of his own experience.  When asked on Monday if he found Christ a sufficient Savior, he replied "That is my only trust."  Wednesday night, August 18th, he fell asleep, having lived ninety-three years lacking two months and two days, having lived in holy wedlock with the companion of his life sixty-nine years lacking nine days, being sixty-seven years a resident of this town and sixty-three years a member of the Church of Christ.  He has come to his grave in a full age like as a shock of corn cometh in its season.  He was full of years.  He was full of the good things of this life.  He had a goodly heritage.  He was honored by his children.  He was honored among me.  He was honored in the work of the Lord.  He was honored in the church of Christ.  For nearly sixty-seven years actively identified with the interests of this town, as citizens we lament him today.  Such men do honor to the town, to the commonwealth.  Such men make a nation's strength. For sixty-three years connected with this church, an earnest and devoted follower of Christ, we lament him today. Such men give strength and stability to the church; such men are pillars of strength and are missed when they are gone.

Dear friends, this is the work of the Christian Church, to train up such men and prepare them to act well their part here, before they enter the place which Jesus has gone to prepare for them in heaven.  Capt. Newton was like one of the patriarchs in his family.  No family gathering was complete without him and though feeble with the weight of years, he held his place among them as their chief almost to the last.  Not claiming perfection for but one human life, we can but feel today that his work has been well done and signally blessed and accepted of the Master.  No bitter regrets will gather around his memory, but like the elders of Ephesus, when the beloved Paul bade them farewell, we shall sorrow most of all that we shall see his face no more.