The Upton House was built by Edward C. Upton. He purchased the land from the Trustees of Phillips Academy in 1848 and later built the house at the corner of Main Street (Essex Turnpike) and Morton Street (formerly called East Green and Pike Street).

The house was probably constructed with a traditional flat front façade with symmetrical window placement typical of Colonial and Federal period homes. A profusion of bay windows were being added to several homes and business in Andover in the 1880s and these bays may have been built during this style change during Sarah Abbott’s ownership.

Edward C. Upton was born in 1817 and baptized in Andover on July 24, 1825 at South Church. Edward was the son of Abiel Jr. & Abigail A. (Carlton) Upton. Edward was a stone and brick Mason. He married on May 7, 1841 in Amherst, MA to Eliza M. Bodell b. 1815 in New York. Edward and Eliza had four children: Edward Wilson bpt. July 17, 1842 - d. Jan. 26, 1844, Eliza Matilda bpt. Sept. 28, 1845 - d. Sept. 21, 1848, Mary Lizzie b. Apr. 8, 1854 and Martha "Mattie" b. Jan. 13, 1857.

The 1850 Valuation for Upton: 2 Dwelling houses & shed on 3/4 acre adj. $2100, 12 acre Old Place $108. The 1850 Census lists Edward, Eliza, son Edward W. and a sister Eliza A. age 21 along with eleven Andover Theological Seminary students in their mid twenties boarding in the home. Ten ATS students are listed in the Mass 1855 census.
Upton's Valuation in 1860: 2 Houses & barn 1/4 acre $2300, 1/2 acre house lot $200, 44 acres $390, Personal estate Horse $40. The Census enumerated only the Upton's two daughters, an Alice Vendine age 9 and a Kelly family of three. The Uptons continued to house boarders, but fewer in number. The Uptons moved to Lowell in 1880 and sold the property to Warren Draper of School St. on Nov. 3, 1880. Draper later sold to Sarah F. Abbott on Sept. 8, 1881

Sarah (French) Abbott was the niece of Hon. Samuel Farrar, and the widow of Rev. Sereno Abbott. Sarah was born on May 25, 1820 in Hampton Falls, NH dau. of Rev. Jonathan & Rebecca (Farrar) French. Her mother was Samuel's sister. Rev. Abbot was born in Andover in 1805, son of Asa Abbott. He was the pastor of the Line Church in Seabrook and Hampton Falls NH from 1836 until his death in May 1855. Sereno & Sarah had seven children: George, Adelaide, Annie, Albert F., Mary F., Harriett E. and John Alden.

Sarah F. Abbott came to Andover in 1858 and lived with her Uncle Samul Farrar in his house on Main St. and managed boarding students at the Academy and Seminary. Samuel died on May 13, 1864 and Sarah remained in his home until she purchased this house in 1881. Sarah continued to board students until 1904. That year at age 83 she attended the Worlds Fair in St. Louis. Sarah died on April 28, 1905 age 84y 11m 3d. and is interred in the Farrar lot at the Chapel Cemetery in Phillips Academy.

During the 20th Century the house has served as an apartment house and contains six units, two units on each level and the attic space. The house and lot are now part of a consolidated group of properties including lots to the north and east of this property.

It has been stated in the Free Christian Church history that this location on the corner of Main and Morton St. was the site of the first Methodist Church in Andover which had disbanded. (#126 Main which included this corner) John Smith of the Smith & Dove Manufacturing Co. purchased the church building and moved it to Railroad Street about 1845. He completely renovated the building adding the front spire and then gave it the Free Christian Church, of which he was the primary founder and charter member. It served as their primary house of worship until 1908 when the new edifice was built on Elm Street. The old church was then razed.