The History of Cayuga County 1789-1879 page 307
Town of Montezuma / Early Settlements

his labors January 1st, 1868 and closed them April 1st, 1872. He was succeeded by Elder Chas. Berry who served the church from May, 1872, till May, 1874; Elder Sigford supplied the pulpit three months during the summer of 1874, and Adelbert Coates, a student from Rochester for six months during the summer of 1875. Till October 1st, '76, when Ross Matthews, of Port Byron was called, the pulpit was supplied by students from Rochester and Hamilton. When it was decided to call Elder Matthews, it was also decided to raise $200 toward his salary and to ask the State Convention to add thereto such sum as they in their wisdom saw fit. April 10th,1878, an invitation was extended to Elder L. R. Reynolds to again become their pastor for one year from April 28th. The Church has a present membership of thirty-six.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, MONTEZUMA, ----In the year 1823, the first meetings under the auspices of the M. E. Society, were held at the school house in the old village. Robert Whaling was the first class-leader. The original members of his class were Benoni Harris and wife, Robert Whaling and wife, Walter Thorp and wife, Thos. Fenlon and wife, Ezra Buckingham and wife, Eneas Cherry and sons, Sallie Austin, Maria Clarke, and Mary Barnes. In the year 1825, the Mentz Church was erected. The first minister was Rev. John Kimberling, who was succeeded by Vincent M. Corriel, Dana Fox, Isaac Puffer, Roswell Parker, John Watson, John Whitcomb, Loren L. Adkins, Philo Bennett, Rev. Mr. Morton, Alonzo Wood, Wm. Newell Cobb, Jas. Aylsworth, Ward W. White, Aaron Cross, Samuel B. Porter, C. H. Hall, Wm. Dean, David Davis, Lansing Benjamin, A. Hamilton, Asa Benham, J. S. Foster, Albert Ensign, John M. Searles, Thos. D. Wire, Wm. C. Bowen, F. M. Warner, Walter Jerome, S. Miner, Elias Hoxie, David Davis, D. W. Beadle, David Stone, Royal Houghton, S. H. Aldridge, Charles L. Dunning, John R. Pendell, and W. F. Butman, the present pastor.

The present M. E. Church on Auburn street, was dedicated January 1st, 1848, Rev. Elias Bowen, Presiding Elder. Cost about $2,000. Present number of members 100.

Average attendance at Sabbath School, 35. Average attendance at Class-meetings, 45. Average attendance at Prayer-meetings, 30.

While none of the members of the church have been called to the missionary field of labor, yet the church has had at all times active and zealous members, who have always stood firm and true for the Master, and has been blessed with an active and pious ministry, and many are safe in the promised land as the reward of their labors. Rev. Wm. C. Bowen, A. M., a former pastor of the church, is now Professor and Principal of the Bordentown Seminary, Bordentown, N. J.

THE OLD MENTZ CHURCH (M. E.) located in the south-east part of the town, was organized prior to 1825, in which year their present church edifice was erected. Meetings were held previous to the erection of the house in the barn of John Gilmore. Rev. Samuel Bibbins of Weedsport, officiated as their pastor when the church was erected. The present pastor is Rev. Seth Mattison, who has served them two years. The present membership is about thirty; and the attendance at Sabbath school forty.

The first Methodist minister known to have preached in Montezuma was Benoni Harris.

ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH, (Catholic). at Montezum village, was organized about 1865, with some fourteen families, among whom were John M. Daley, John Nolan, Michael Maroney, Thos. Connolly and Thos. McGuire. Previous to the organization occasional meetings were held in private houses and conducted by priests from the neighboring villages. The church, the one now occupied, was built in 1865, at a cost of $1,400, the money having been contributed by individuals in this, Seneca and Wayne counties. The first pastor was Rev. James Leddy, who commenced his ministrations in the fall of 1865, and came once a month to Weedsport, where he was settled. After about a year Father Patrick Burns, commenced his ministry here, continuing about two years. He was succeeded by two German priest, one of whom was Rev. Father Joseph, who also served them about two years. Father Michael Purcell came next, continuing his pastoral relations about three years, and was followed by Anthony Vei Cici, an Italian, and after two years, by Joh C. Kenney, who also served them three years. Father Kenney was succeeded by Father Chas. Horan, whose ministrations they now enjoy, and who, like his predecessors, being stationed in Weedsport, filled the pulpit there as well as Port Byron. The church never

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