The History of Cayuga County 1789-1879 page 429
SCIPIOVILLE - CHURCHES

after a short time his general stock, keeping tinware, sheet-iron and stoves, which he continued till his death, October 7th, 1852. He was one of the most prominent men here for several years. Austin B. Hale, of Moravia, is a son of his, and is the only one of his children living. Peck built and kept some five years the store now occupied by Mrs. A. B. Groom. He sold to Uriel Mosher and returned to Connecticut, whence he came, and died there. Mosher did business about three years, and sold to two brothers named Lawrence, from New York, who continued about a year and sold to Truman Wakeley and Asahel Warner, both residents of the town. After a short time Wakeley sold to Warner, who took in as partner Benjamin King, who continued a year and a half, when King withdrew and soon after removed from the town. Wm. B. Wooden then bought an interest and he and Warner did business some three years, when they sold to Edwin Akin and John Gildersleeve, both natives of the town, who, after four or five years, sold to Nicholas D. Tripp and Francis Snow, who continued from 1861-'5, when Andrew B. Groom bought them out. Green was from Romulus, Seneca county. He did business about a year, when it went into the hands of Mrs. A. B. Groom, who still carries it on.

Matthew Tallman, from Aurora, where he settled prior to 1800 opened a store in company with Roswell Beardsley, on the north-west corner, opposite Mrs. Groom's store. The building or frame, which was afterwards removed and remodeled, is now occupied by George L. Watkins. They continued till the death of Beardsley, a few years after, when Tallman carried on the business alone several years. About 1834, about which time the house was moved, he was succeeded by Seneca B. Dennis, his son-in-law, who continued six or seven years, and sold to Alvah Ward, who kept it but a short time, till 1841, when the property came into possession of Geo. L. Watkins, who has since carried on the business, having been associated from 1851 to 1853 with Wheeler Powell.

POSTMASTERS - The post-office at Scipioville was established in 1836, and Seneca B. Dennis was the first postmaster. He was succeeded by Alvah Ward, Wm. T. Dennis, Albert S. Allen and Charles D. Tallman, who filled up the period to 1845, when George L. Watkins was appointed. He held the office till 1849; Asahel Warner from 1849-'53 ; Geo. L. Watkins, from 1853-'57; Andrew Race, from 1857-'6I ; Edwin Akin and Nicholas D. Tripp, from 1861-'66; Geo. R. Kent, from 1866-'70 ; Silas Elliott, from 1870 till his death in the spring of 1878, when Geo. R. Kent, the present incumbent, was again appointed.

PHYSICIANS.-The earliest physician of whom we have any record was Matthew Tallman, who was licensed to practice by a County Judge in July, 1806, and joined the County Medical Society, while a resident of Scipioville, August 7th, of that year. He removed to Scipio Center about 1812, and after a few years practice there returned to Scipioville. He was born December 9th, 1780; and died May 28th, 1847. Phineas Hurd settled one mile north of Scipioville, in 1812, on the 5th of November of which year he joined the County Medical Society. He practiced till August 31st, 1867.

CHURCHES. - The Baptists had an organization here at an early day, and completed in 1810, a large church edifice. The church prospered for many years, but finally ran down. Elders Rathbun and Abner Wakely were among the first pastors.

THE FIRST M. E. CHURCH OF SCIPIOVILLE

was organized about sixty years ago, and a house of worship erected about the same time one mile west of Hurds Corners. The church was taken down and removed to Scipioville in 1871. The first pastor after the removal was Wm. Adams, who labored with this church three and one-half years. He was succeeded by D. D. Davis, who remained three years; when P. T. Hughston, the present pastor commenced his labors with them. The present membership is 120. They have an interesting Sabbath School, the attendance at which is eighty-five. The present trustees are Leddra W. Watkins, Wm. Manchester, Morris Reynolds, Peter Ridley, and Dixon Perry.

THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN SOCIETY OF Scipioville was organized July 29th, 1872. The first members were Mrs. Esther C. Allen, Mrs. Ann E. Watkins, Mrs. Sally Ann Watkins, J. N. Fordyce and wife, Henrietta, and daughter, Frances, Mrs. Maria Pearl, and Mrs. Mary D. Tompkins. Their church edifice was erected the same year, at a cost of $3,000, and dedicated March 19th, 1873. The corner-stone was laid

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