The History of Cayuga County 1789-1879 page 271
TOWN OF VICTORY/ CHURCHES

Cayuga Association. Mr. Dudley closed his labors with this church in 1836, and was succeeded by Rev. David McFarland, who was called to the pastorate in February, 1837, and was ordained on the 15th of June following. In their letter to the Association for this year occurs the following:

"Although we are not blessed, like most of our sister churches, with an abundance of this world's goods, yet, through the blessing of God and our own exertions, we have been enabled to sustain the administration of the word and ordinances, which have received the approbation of Heaven's High King. We now find that our place of worship is too strait for us, and have felt called on to make an extra effort to rent a room in the Academy building which is now being completed. Ours is a missionary field, and we doubtless have claims equal with many of our sister Churches, who receive aid from the Convention. But we feel no disposition to draw from, if we cannot largely aid in replenishing, an almost exhausted treasury."

The first and second years of Elder Mc Farland's ministry were greatly blessed.

"The Church seemed to emerge from its polar winter into the genial clime of Christian activity and union, and as the fruits of the two revivals enjoyed, 58 were added to their numbers. * * The Church thus aroused, became warmly engaged in the great moral enterprises of the day; the temperance reformation, the Bible cause and other kindred causes being warmly supported by their influence and contributions."

Elder McFarland closed his labors with this Church in February, 1840, and was succeeded by Rev. Allen R. Beach, who remained about one year, and was succeeded by Rev. J. S. Everingham, who continued about a year, and was succeeded by J. C. Moore, a licentiate, who remained about two years. Under the labors of these pastors, two seasons of revivals were enjoyed, which resulted in the addition of about twenty-five to their number. Their next pastor was Rev. A. Haskell, who began his ministrations September 22d, 1846, and closed them May 7th, 1848. In 1845 they begun the erection of a house of worship which was finished June 24th, 1846. The society being small they were obliged to incur a debt, which somewhat crippled their action, but which was fully cancelled in 1850. Their house underwent somewhat extensive repairs about three years ago.

The next pastor was Rev. E. Marshall, who begun his pastoral labors in 1849 and closed them in the fall of 1850. Since then the following pastors have officiated, viz: Revs. Trow, David Mc Farland, John Everingham, the two latter during a second term, Lee, Thos. Siegford and Collins, the latter of whom resides at Red Creek, and was obliged to close his labors with the Church on account of failing health, the present year. Previous to the erection of their house of worship the meetings of the Church were held in school-houses, and for several years in the house now occupied by Alonzo Woodford. The Church is at present without a pastor, meetings, or a Sabbath school. It is in a somewhat feeble condition, having only about twenty-five members.

During its existence the church has called six brethren to ordination, viz: Roswell Osburn, John M. Bartlett, John M. Dudley, David Mc Farland, -----Lee, and Thomas Siegford.

THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF VICTORY was organized as the Second Presbyterian Church of the town of Cato, at the house of Thomas Coleman, November 30th, 1820, by Revs. Eastman and Dunning. Darius Chittenden and Annis, his wife, Thomas Coleman, Hannah, wife of Henry Quilhart, and the wives of Peter Van Pelt and Christopher Ostrander, were among the first members.

Their first pastor was Rev. Mr. Powell, who commenced his labors in 1827, and was succeeded in 1830 by Rev. Wm. Williams, who remained two years. The next pastor was Rev. Daniel Washburn, in 1835. The fourth was Rev. Daniel Waldo, during whose pastorate from 1841-'3, the first and present house of worship was erected. Rev. Lemuel Dada was the next pastor, in 1845. He was succeeded in 1847 by Rev. Ebenezer Everett; by Rev. Edward Hall, in the winter of 1851-'2; by Rev. Levi Griswold, who assumed their pastoral care May 1st, 1852; and by Rev. Beufort Ladd, who commenced his labors in the fall of 1859 and continued them several years. At the close of his labors he settled in the village, where he died in March, 1877. Thomas Watson, who resided in Cato, and belonged to the Reformed church, next supplied the pulpit for three years. Rev. Ephraim Kellogg, who lived at Red Creek, became their pastor in 1871, but remained only one year. The next pastor was Rev. Ezra D. Shaw, who was installed in February, 1873, and remained two years, when he removed to Moravia, where he died in 1877.

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