The History of Cayuga County 1789-1879 page 386
OWASCO VILLAGE/ TOWN OF OWASCO

ed by David Tompkins, who held it from 1860 to '66. Bowers H. Leonard succeeded him and held the office till March, 1874, when Ellis Meaker, the present incumbent, was appointed.

PHYSICIANS.--Dr. VanHarling was probably the first physician who practiced in this town. He lived at the foot of the lake, and was here about, or soon after, the beginning of the century. Jacob Bogart, who was licensed to practice by the county judge, in July, 1802, and Josiah Bevier, who was licensed by a master in chancery, in March, 1805, both joined the County Medical Society, while residing in this town, August 7th, 1806; but we have been unable to learn anything further in regard to them, except that Dr. Bevier pursued his medical studies with Dr. VanHarling, and died here about 1839.

Abel Baker was born June 17th, 1789. He studied medicine in New York, and attended medical lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Fairfield, N. Y. He was licensed by the Censors of the Medical Society of Onondaga county, May 19th, 1815, and came to Owasco in September of the following year. He resided and practiced here till his death, March 22d, 1862, with the exception of seven years, from 1821 to '28, spent in medical practice at Kelloggsville. He was a skillful physician, and a man of great energy, perseverance and high Christian worth. He died literally with the harness on. He was out to see a patient at eleven o'clock P.M., and died the following morning.

Benjamin Devoe, son of Elijah Devoe, who was an early settler in Owasco, and a Member of Assembly in 1819, and again in 1825, joined the County Medical Society, June 2d, 1842, and practiced a few years in the central part of the town, when he removed to Owasco village and practiced there till his death. Hoyt Hunsiker commenced practice soon after Dr. Devoe, one and a quarter miles north of Owasco village, where he still resides and practices. Joel R. Gore became a member of the County Medical Society January 3d, 1839, and practiced here until 1856, when he removed to Chicago. Dr. Baker hired him one year, when he formed a partnership with him, which lasted several years. Daniel Bevier practiced here a short time from about 1842, and removed to Richland county, Ohio, and died there. D. O. K. Strong, son of Walter Strong, an early settler on the site of the village, bought out Dr. Gore in 1856, and practiced here till about 1872, when he removed to Delaware. Moses M. Fry, now residing in Auburn, practiced here about two years soon after the close of the war. Dr. Truman, now in Allegany county, practiced here about two years from 1873.

Matthew Bevier, son of Dr. Josiah Bevier, and Archibald McNeil Bevier, son of Dr. Daniel Bevier, are the present physicians. The former joined the County Medical Society January 11th, 1865; the latter commenced practice here about 1872.

THE REFORMED CHURCH OF OWASCO was organized as the Reformed Dutch Church of Owasco, in 1798, by Rev. Abram Brokaw; but the earliest record we find relating to it is September 15th, 1810, when, at a meeting of the consistory, attended by James Brinkerhoff, Jacob Brinkerhoff, Thomas Johnson, Jr., and Cornelius D. DeWitt, elders, and Samuel Hoornbeck, Isaac Selover, Levi Bodley and Abraham Selover, Jr., deacons, "it was decided that the meeting-house be between Samuel Bevier's corners and Cornelius M. Bevier's house, on the land of Martin Cuykendall," which is the location now occupied, and the church building then contemplated, which was begun in 1813 and finished in 1815, is the one now in use. It was also decided at this meeting, "that the society prayer meetings be again established in three places in the congregation, viz: at James Brinkerhoff's, the first Thursday in October next, at one o'clock, P. M., at Elijah Devoe's, the second Thursday in October next, at one o'clock, P. M., and at Cornelius D. DeWitt's, the third Thursday in October next, at each place, at one o'clock of said day, and continue successively." This meeting was presided over by George G. Brinkerhoff, and Levi Bodley was clerk.

At a meeting of the united congregations of the Owasco and Sand Beach churches, held at the log meeting-house on Saturday, September 29th, 1810, it was decided, "that the consistories of the united congregations write to Rev. Ralph A. Westervelt to come and preach the gospel as soon as convenient," but the call was declined.

A meeting was held at the house of Dr. J. Bevier, October 6th, 1810, "to prize the seats of the meeting-house and revise the articles of sale of said meeting-house." A meeting of the consistory was held at the same place November 9th,

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