The History of Cayuga County 1789-1879 page 430
Town of Scipio/Sherwood

September 13th, 1872, by Deacon Uriah Benedict, assisted by his son Rev. Edwin Benedict. The society met previous to the completion of the church, in the school-house. The first pastor was Robert C. Allison, who lived at the Square and supplied the church there as well. His pastorate continued until January, 1876, when he accepted a call from the church in Otisco. During the summer of 1876, the pulpit was supplied by students from Auburn Theological Seminary. In May, 1877, Rev. Charles Ray, editor and publisher of the Moravia Citizen, took the pastoral charge, and still continues it. The present membership is twenty-six. The first trustees were Lemuel Allen, A. Q. Watkins and Nathan Webster. The present trustees are Dr. Denison R. Pearl, James Ross, A. Q. Watkins, Wm. Hawley and Benj. Gould. The attendance at Sabbath School and Bible Class is forty-seven.

SHERWOOD.

Sherwood is situated on the Poplar Ridge, in the south-west corner of the town, one mile south of Scipioville, and about five miles east of Aurora. It contains a district school, a select school, with some thirty-six pupils, established in 1872, Hepsibeth C. Hussey, Principal, and Dorcas Gardner, Assistant, two stores, a broom manufactory, employing two hands in the winter, (Benj. Myers, proprietor,) one harness shop, (kept by Charles F. Cumstock,) blacksmith and wagon shop, (kept by Henry S. Nye,) a shoe shop, (kept by George Rider,) a blacksmith shop, (kept by John D. Hudson,) and a population of 167.

Henry Koon's apple jell and cider-mill was erected in 1871; contains four presses; employs four men during the season. About seven tons of jelly are made per annum.

MERCHANTS.-The first merchants were Joseph Barnes and Melvin Brown, who opened a store about 1808, on the site of the house now owned by Abby Jane Mastin, and did business about two years. They also carried on the potash business, and paid in goods for ashes. Humphrey Howland and Thomas Alsop opened a store in about 1817, where John S. Smith's store now stands. In the spring of 1819, Slocum Howland bought the interest of his brother Humphrey, and carried on the business in company with Alsop two years, when he bought the latter's interest. In 1831, he admitted Ledra Heazlett to partnership, and did business with him till shortly before Mr. Heazlett's death in 1841. In 1847, his son William became his partner, and the firm then became and has since remained S. Howland & Son.

A man named King opened a store about 1812, in a building erected that year by Samuel Phelps, and continued three years, when he was succeeded by a man named Parsons, who remained three or four years, and moved west, taking a portion of his goods with him. David P. Johnson bought a portion of Parson's goods, and did business about a year, when he sold to Josiah Bowen, father of Sayles Bowen, who continued it a year or two. Allen Thomas, who came with his father-in-law, Seth Allen, from Washington county, about 1806 or'7, and settled at Aurora, and a year or two after bought the farm now owned by Thomas Collins, one-half mile west of Sherwood, opened a store in 1820, and after two or three years, admitted to partnership George Thomas, a cousin's son, with whom he did business about two years, when George Thomas sold to Arthur Phelps, whose interest Allen Thomas bought after two or three years. Allen Thomas continued the business until his death, in March, 1862. John S. Smith has been engaged some six years in buying and selling poultry, eggs and fruit, which are sent to the New York Market. Alexander Robinson keeps a small grocery, which he recently started.

POSTMASTERS.-The post-office was removed from Poplar Ridge and established at Sherwood March 4th, 1822, with J. Winter Branch as postmaster. Branch held the office till about April 15, 1827, when Allen Thomas was appointed and held it till within a few days of his death, till February 24th, 1862, when S. W. Green was appointed , and held it till the winter of 1864. He was succeeded by Sylvanus G. Reynolds, who received the appointment January 1st, 1865, and held the office about a year. S. W. Green was reappointed January 15th, 1866, and still holds the office.

PHYSICIANS.-The first physician at Sherwood was Dr. Rude, who came in prior to 1800, and after practicing several years removed from the town. Parley Kinney came from Connecticut about 1800, and practiced till his death in 1819. He was licensed to practice by a County Judge

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

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