The History of Cayuga County 1789-1879 page 427
Town of Scipio/Scipio Center - Churches

winter of 1841-'2. After the close of Elder Eddy's pastorate, they were supplied by Brother W. F. Purrington and others until the summer of 1843, at which time Brother J. W. Osborn commenced his labors as a licentiate, but was subsequently ordained pastor. During the fourth year of his pastorate twenty-six were added by baptism, and eleven by letter. During that year also their house of worship, which was erected in 1831, was repaired and newly furnished. Elder Osborn's resignation was accepted with great reluctance in the fall of 1849."

Elder C. Sharman became the pastor in the winter of 1849, and continued his labors with them till 1851, when he was succeeded by B. McLouth, who remained till 1853, in which year George H. Brigham, who served them three years was ordained. In the winter of 1854, he was assisted by Reverends Dennison and Baldwin, ministers from the vicinity, in a series of revival meetings, which resulted in the addition of twenty-one to the membership. The next pastor was W. H. Delano, who served them two years, till 1859, and was succeeded by L. Hall, who after a brief pastorate was followed by P. Conrad, who remained two years. They next enjoyed the ministrations of J. R. Burdick, who revived the Sabbath School, which had fallen into decay, and instituted a Bible Class, which was conducted by Deacon John Daniels, who, though eighty-six years of age, never failed to attend. In 1862 the church raised $162.25 for bounties to soldiers. Elder Burdick resigned the pastorate in 1864, and was succeeded by Bishop Ames, who remained but a part of a year. Geo. N. Sears became the pastor in 1865, and was ordained in January, 1866. He resigned in 1868, and was succeeded by Wm. L. Goodspeed, who resigned in 1870, and was followed by Geo. Lewis, who remained one year. Geo. C. Downey was called to the pastorate in 1871, and served them nearly two years. He was succeeded in 1873, by L. Braisted, now of Fleming, whose pastorate covered a period of four years.

The pulpit was supplied during most of the summer of 1877; and in September of that year E. R. Warren, the present pastor, entered upon his duties. During his pastorate the church has been rebuilt, at a cost of $4,000, and was dedicated November 7th, 1878. The edifice is a neat wooden structure, and does credit to the town. It is 36 by 60 feet, with a tower on the north-west corner rising to a height of 125 feet above the ground. It contains a lecture room and auditorium, each having a seating capacity for 300 persons, and a baptistery. Upon the lower floor is a kitchen and parlor. It is richly furnished with carpets, cushioned pews, and gothic chairs in its pulpit. It has a memorial window put in by the church, commemorating the services of Deacon Isaac Akin, who was for twenty-five years a Deacon of the church, which was carried on almost entirely by his individual effort. Other memorial windows have been put in by individuals, complimentary to Mrs. Phebe Akin, wife, and Mrs. H. B. Brayton, of Chicago, and Mrs. H. C. Slocum, daughters of Deacon Isaac Akin; Mrs. R. E. Eaker, wife of Deacon Robert Eaker; and Mrs. Louisa Fordyce, widow of John H. Fordyce. The church has a membership of 75. It has an interesting Sabbath School and Bible Class, the attendance at the former being about 100.

THE FIRST UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY IN THE TOWN OF SCIPIO was organized May 22d, 1836, with fifty-six members, thirty of whom were males, at the school-house near Bishop's tavern at Scipio Center. Worden Babcock was chosen chairman of the meeting and F. Boughton, secretary. The trustees then chosen were Asa Way, Jacob Morgan, Worden Babcook [sic?], William Taber and Lyman Birch. Thomas Cushman was chosen treasurer; Jesse Babcock, clerk; and Elisha Marsh, collector. The first pastor was Rev. Harvey Boughton, who preached some three years previous to the organization of the society. November 11th, 1837, it was decided to build a meeting house of wood, and Worden Babcock, Titus Fisk, J. E. Beardsley, D. P. Van Liew and A. T. Wilber were appointed a committee to raise funds to build with. December 23d, 1837, Worden Babcock, Henry Snyder, Christopher Roffee, William Taber and D. P. Van Liew were appointed a building committee. The building does not appear to have been finished before 1839. The records of the society are very incomplete and give very little clue to the pastors who have officiated in this church; we have been unable to find any one able to supply the deficiency. Mr. Boughton seems to have been the pastor as late as June 7th, 1840. Alfred Peck was pastor May 1st, 1842, and as late

The information on this page was transcribed to a digital format by Roger A. Post

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