The First Congregational church of Seneca Falls, N.Y., was organized December 19th, 1869, with a membership of 80. Its officers were, at the time of organization: Pastor, Rev. W. W. Lyle; deacons, Horace Seekell, William Conkling, Abraham Failing; church committee, William Smalley, Edward Medden, L. F. Crowell, Mrs. H. Duell, Mrs. C. Smalley, Mrs. A. J. Gardner; clerk, Horace W. Knight; treasurer, William L. Bellows; trustees of ecclesiastic society - E. Medden, president; W. L. Bellows, clerk; Harvey Benham, R. C. Dunham, W. Smalley, C. Seekell, L. F. Crowell; superintendent Sunday school, Edward Medden. The corner stone of the church building was laid August 19, 1870, the Rev. T. K. Beecher of Elmira, making the address on the theme - "Why am I a Congregationalist?" The corner stone was laid by Mr. Childs and lies in the northeast corner of the tower. The church was completed at a cost of $30,000 and formally dedicated and opened for public worship, September 21, 1871. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. Edward Taylor, D. D., of Binghamton, N.Y., from the 96th Psalm, 6th verse. The first pastor of this church was Rev. W. W. Lyle, from 1869 to 1873, who resigned his pastorate because of ill health after four years of faithful service. Rev. Mr. Smith succeeded him in 1874, and then in regular line of succession, either as stated supply or as installed pastor, were the following clergymen - Rev. Mr. Minor, Rev. Mr. Bradford, Rev. A. E. Kinmonth, Rev. Mr. Bell, Rev. Peter Lindsay, Rev. G. A. Rawson, Rev. H. Margetts, Rev. A. W. Taylor.
      The following are the present officers of the church: Pastor, Rev. A. W. Taylor; deacons, William L. Bellows, L. H. Cary, Richard Please, William Littlejohn, Charles Babcock; church committee, Mrs. Edwin Medden, Mrs. Mary Littlejohn, Mrs. H. W. Knight, Mrs. Peter Troutman, Mr. George Morris, Mr. G. R. Stearns; clerk, William L. Bellows; treasurer, Horace W. Knight; trustees, William R. Walker, president; F. C. Beebe, secretary; H. W. Knight, treasurer; G. R. Stearns, Charles Knight, E. Medden and P. Troutman. The officers of the Sabbath school are: Charles Babcock, superintentent; Frank J. Howe, assistant superintentent; Miss Anna Fenn, secretary and treasurer. Officers of the Ladies Aid society: Mrs. G. R. Stearns, president; Mrs. Peter Troutman, secretary; Miss Sarah Medden, treasurer. Officers of the Missionary society: Mrs. H. W. Knight, president; Mrs. Jessie Telford, vice-president; Mrs. Charles Curtis, secretary; Mrs. Peter Troutman, treasurer. Officers of the King's Daughters: Mrs. A. W. Taylor, president; Miss Ella Drew, vice-president; Mrs. Harry Brim, secretary; Mrs. Charles Knight, treasurer. Officers of the Y. P. S. C. E.: Frank J. Howe, president; Ernest Runge, vice-president; Nellie Oatman, secretary; George Morris, treasurer. Of those holding office in the church at the time of its organization but seven remain, viz. William L. Bellows, H. W. Knight, L. Crowell, C. Seekell, Edward Medden, Nelson Seekell, and Wm. Smalley, now of Bay City, Mich. Of these, Mr. Bellows, Mr. Knight and Mr. Medden have continued in office since the church's organization and are still efficient and trusted workers. The church with its different societies is in healthy condition, free from debt and active.

List of Members in 1896