The History of Cayuga County 1789-1879 page 357
Town of Aurelius / Fosterille -- Aurelius

1838. He was succeeded by Jonathan Foster, his brother, who held the office till his removal to Throop, about 1848, when his son, Jonathan, succeeded to the office and held it about three years, when he also removed to Throop. Edgar Saunders was the next postmaster. He kept the office but a short time, and was succeeded in 1855 by Abner Saunders, who held it till his death. Myron Doty, the present incumbent, was appointed in 1865.

PHYSICIANS.--The first physician was Isaac Paddock, who came from Mentz in 1830, and practiced one year. A. Hamilton Cox came in soon after and remained one or two years. Josiah Griggs, from Montezuma, came in shortly after Cox left and practiced about four years. Nathan Abbott, from Mentz, came in soon after Griggs left and practiced two years. Lucian Hammond came in 1854 and practiced about six years. Alanson White, the present physician, is an allopathist, and came in from Seneca Falls, November 1st, 1874.

THE FOSTERVILLE M. E. CHURCH was organized in September, 1855, as a union church, by the Methodists and Presbyterians in that vicinity. Revs. Boyington and Hamilton were the officiating clergymen, and the first pastors, the former preaching the dedicatory sermon. Boyington served the Presbyterians three years. For the next two years the pulpit was supplied by students from Auburn Theological Seminary. After that the Presbyterians held no distinctive services. Services were held up to this time by the Presbyterians in the afternoon and the Methodists in the evening. Hamilton ministered to the Methodists two years, and had charge at the same time of the churches in Mentz and Montezuma. He was succeeded by Revs. Davis, James E. Ensign, Bowen, Eldridge, Guire, I. Harris, Wm. B. Curtis, Elias Hoxie, and Wm. Adams, now dead, each of whom served a two years' pastorate, except Eldridge and Adams, each of whom served but one year. G. W. Reynolds, the present pastor, commenced his labors with this church in the fall of 1875. Their house of worship was erected in 1855, and is still owned jointly by the Methodists and Presbyterians. The Methodists number about forty, which is the attendance at Sabbath school.

AURELIUS.

Aurelius, locally known as the Half Acre, is a four corners, whose early prominence, when it had three hotels, has been overshadowed by the introduction of modern modes of conveyance. It had not a very enviable reputation for morality, as may be implied from the suppressed, but readily inferred prefix to its local cognomen, which, it is but justice to add, is now a misnomer. It is situated a little south-east of the center, two miles east of Aurelius station, and three miles west of Auburn. It contains a church, not now used as such, formerly occupied by a Presbyterian society which is disbanded, a district school, one hotel, owned and kept about twenty years by Mrs. Betsey Westover, a blacksmith and wagon shop, kept by Michael Murray, and a population of thirty-three. The present hotel was built by Henry Ramsay. The first hotel was kept by a man named Brockway, where Robert R. Westover now lives.

MERCHANTS.--The first merchant was Solomon Dewey, who opened a store in 1810, and kept it some two or three years. It stood on the line between the property of John H. Baker and that of Mrs. Betsey Westover. The second and last merchant was Stephen Lombard, who opened a store in 1834, and kept it till 1837.

POSTMASTERS.--The first postmaster was Emory Ramsay, who was appointed about 1820, and held the office till his death, about 1832. He was succeeded by Samuel Taylor, who held the office till 1836, when Stephen Lombard was appointed and held it eight years. He was succeeded by Cornelius Feak, who held it till 1856, when he removed from the town. James C. Reed was his successor. He held it four years, when Halsey W. Taylor, the present incumbent, was appointed.

PHYSICIANS.--The first physician was Wm. C. Bennett, who came in as early as 1799, and practiced till his death, about 1841 or '42. Dr. Randall came in about 1818, but remained but a short time. He was followed by Drs. Ellis and Bennett, in the order named, neither of whom remained but a few years. The latter was called young Dr. Bennett, to distinguish him from the one first named. Dr. Morris came in about 1833 and practiced three or four years. Dr. Pomeroy came in soon after Morris left and remained a year or two. Alpheus Matson came in from the eastern part of the State in 1836 and practiced about two years. H. Shank came from Springport about

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