The History of Cayuga County 1789-1879 page 373
TOWN OF SPRINGPORT/ UNION SPRINGS--CHURCHES.
during whose ministry the legal organization was perfected and the church built. He was succeeded by J. C. Burgdorf and Edson J. Reynolds, the latter of whose pastorate continued till about 1851. He died here September 24th, 1857, aged fifty. A. S. Dean was the pastor from 1851 to '53. He was succeeded by A. Coburn, who remained as late as February 12th, 1856. William O. Cushing, the next pastor, remained till the spring of 1860. Rev. Mr. Fenton next labored with them about two years, and was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Bailey, who continued his labors until about 1867, after which the church was closed for two years, owing to a division growing out of a difference of opinion respecting a contemplated change of name. John W. Guthrie was the first pastor after the opening of the church. He commenced his labors with them about 1871 and continued with them some two years. John Carr became the pastor in the spring of 1874, and remained one year, when he was succeeded by J. C. Burgdorf, the present pastor. The church was repaired in the summer of 1876, at a cost of $600; and a pipe organ was put in the previous year at an equal cost. The present membership does not exceed a half dozen.
THE FIRST SOCIETY OF THE M. E. CHURCH IN UNION SPRINGS, was organized about 1843, with Henry Dills and wife, Austin Whittlesy and wife, Brayton and William B. Barber, Wadsworth Hanchett and Justus P. Burger as members. The society was incorporated February 10th, 1846, with Henry Dills, John Maurice, John Robinson, William B. Barber and Justus P. Burger as trustees. Their house of worship, a wooden structure, was erected in 1846, at a cost of about $1,600, exclusive of the lot, and has since been enlarged to a seating capacity of 400, and a value of $4,000, including lot. Occasional meetings were held some years before the organization by preachers who happened in this locality. The first settled pastors were Aaron Cross and Benoni I. Ives, who came in 1844, and staid, the former three years and the latter two. Their circuit included Fleming, Bolt's Corners, Aurora and Union Springs. Elias Hall succeeded Ives and remained two years. Dennis Tryon followed Cross, at least these were the pastors up to 1850. Samuel B. Porter was the pastor in 1850-'2; A. Benjamin in 1852-'4; B. R. Kenyon, 1854-'5; William M. Spickerman, 1855-'6; D. Lamkin, 1856-'8; ----Mason, in 1858; Albert Ensign, 1858-'60; Elias Hoxie, 1874-'5; J. S. Lemon, 1875-'6; William N. Henry, 1876-'8. Wesley Mason, the present pastor, commenced his labors with this church in the fall of 1878. The present number of members is 118; the attendance at Sabbath School, 40 to 50.
GRACE CHURCH, (Episcopal.)--The first regular services by a clergyman of this denomination were conducted by Rev. Wm. Wirt Raymond, in the fall of 1866. Previous to that time only occasional services had been held. Until the fall of 1876, this parish was united either with that at Cayuga, or that at Aurora, under the charge of one clergyman. Grace church was incorporated in 1867, and was admitted to union with the convention of the Diocese of Western New York the following year, passing, however, in the fall of the same year into the new Diocese of Central New York. The names of the first church officers were, in addition to the pastor in charge, George Fritts and George W. Bustin, Wardens; and Silas Ludlow, Justus P. Burgher (sic), Lorenzo N. Burgher, Philander Comstock, Benedict Robinson, Daniel A. Robinson, Jr., Etsel Wood and John A. Shrader, Vestrymen. The clergymen who have succeeded Rev. Mr. Raymond are, Revs. Alfred Brown, B. A., James A. Brown, J. O. Drumm, W. H. Casey, B. A. and Wm. Schouler, the present rector. The church edifice, which is very neat and attractive, was finished in 1870, and consecrated in the fall of 1872. A legacy of $10,000 left the church by the late Mrs. Phoebe M. Hussey, makes it self-supporting; and since Spetember, 1876, when Rev. Mr. Schouler took charge, it has thus been enabled to enjoy the undivided ministrations of a resident rector. The church members about forty communicants, and has a Sunday school, with about the same number of scholars. It is in possession, besides the fine edifice and the endowment referred to, of the rectory adjoining the church. The present vestry consists of Lorenzo N. Burgher and Daniel D. Anthony, Wardens; and Dr. G. R. Parry, D. P. Mersereau, Philip O. Yawger, Henry Eldridge and Horace T. Durkee, Vestrymen.
SOCIETIES.--Warren Lodge No. 147, F. & A. M., was chartered June 8th, 1850, and held its first meeting in Odd Fellows Hall, April 9th, 1851. The charter officers were, John Barrett,
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1789-1879 by Elliott Storke
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