The History of Cayuga County 1789-1879 page 372
UNION SPRINGS--CHURCHES/ TOWN OF SPRINGPORT

extended to the new church, which consisted of eight males and sixteen females. At a church meeting held the 27th of the same month, they resolved to hold meetings every Sabbath, and to engage Elder Abner Wakely to labor with them for one year. Ichabod Clark and Gilbert Weed were chosen deacons, and Henry Crane, clerk. Elder Wakely soon commenced his labors, and, although the engagement was not renewed, he continued to supply them a part of the time after the expiration of the year. During his connection with them he baptized fourteen and received sixteen by letter, and left them with fifty members.

In September, 1814, they joined the Association. In the summer of that year they commenced the erection of a meeting-house two miles north-east of the village, which was not completed till the summer of 1818. In February, 1816, Elder Warner Lake, of Harpersfield, Delaware county, became the pastor, and in the summer following seventeen were added by baptism. In 1819, sixty-six members were added.

Elder Lake closed his ministry with this church in the spring of 1830. He was highly esteemed. He did not receive a full support from the church; but labored upon his farm a portion of the time, from which he accumulated a competency.

Elder Jacob Fisk took the pastoral charge of this church in the spring of 1830, and closed his labors with them in the winter of 1832, from which time they had no settled pastor until March, 1834, when Elder Samuel Wood settled with them, and remained till August, 1837. In the summer of 1838, the services of Elder Chas. E. Wilson were engaged for six months. Elder O. B. Call became the pastor in February, 1839, and remained three years. Elder E. Marshall succeeded Elder Call, and continued his pastorate about two and a half years. Brother Justus Ask labored with them in the ministry one year, and Brother R. Persons another. Elder O. Montague became the pastor in April, 1847, and continued with them three years. During the first year of his ministry their meeting-house, which was old and uncomfortable, was repaired, and fitted up in a neat and convenient manner; and during the second year the congregation was much increased.

In July, 1850, Elder Thomas H. Greene became the pastor, and closed his labors in the fall of 1852. He was succeeded by B. C. Crandall, who continued till November, 1854. The church seems to have been without a pastor from that time until the first Sunday in May, 1857, when S. S. St. John commenced his labors. He remained till March 12th, 1859, when Elder S. Adsit took the pastoral charge, and continued till April 1st, 1861. Edgar Smith became the pastor April 7th, 1860, and, having served them "very acceptably," closed his labors with them, in consequence of ill and failing health, April 13th, 1867. He joined the church in Auburn, and died there September 28th, 1878. During the first year of his pastorate, in 1861, their church edifice was removed from its original location, near the residence of Curtis Coe, to the village. It was remodeled at an expense of $1,500 to $2,000, and rededicated August 7th of that year.

From the time that Elder Smith left till September following the pulpit was supplied by casual comers , for a few weeks during the latter part of the time by Ezra Clark. B. B. Gibbs assumed their pastoral care November 10th, 1867, and labored with them till April 22d, 1871. December, 1871, A. C. Ferguson commenced his labors with them,and

continued until their church was burned, April 13th, 1873, since which time they have had no pastor. The church numbers at present thirty-three members.

THE FIRST CHRISTIAN SOCIETY OF SPRINGPORT, at Union Springs, was incorporated February 4th, 1839. The first trustees were Elisha Vallance, Abram Burlew, Charles E. Hoagland, George W. Truesdell, Preserved Tripp, Noah P. Blanding and Porter B. Bristol. The land for their house of worship, which was erected in 1839, was bought of William Smith and Abby B., his wife, and George P. Morgan, May 4th, 1839, for $200. An organization seems to have existed and regular meetings to have been held before the incorporation was effected, but the records furnish no means of determining definitely in regard to them. The first settled Pastor was Melancy Wade, but when he began or closed his labors does not appear. Meetings were held then in the house now owned and occupied by Alanson Beam, on the corner of Cayuga and Homer streets. Mr. Wade was succeeded in the pastorate by John W. Guthrie,

Return to the Index of The History of Cayuga County 1789-1879 by Elliott Storke
Return to the Cayuga County NYGenWeb Project Home Page