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86 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
some of Bull's soldiers that they had captured at Detroit. In the morning
part of the croAvd went on to Mansfield, and the rest returned, picked
up what they could, and then passed doAvn the lake to Black River and
other points. The men then organized a militia company, with -Joseph
(jjuigley, of Black River, captain, and David Barrett, of Milan, lieutenant,
and returned to Huron.
After the arrival of several other companies and the main army.
General Perkins established Camp Avery on the east side of the Huron
River, on lands OAvned by Ebenezer Merry. Those among the soldiers
who lived in the immediate vicinity AA'ere then disbanded that they might
attend to their Avork, subject to call in case of need.
The soldiers remained at this camp until the folloAving Avinter, a
company of rangers also being stationed at a block house that Avas built
in section 4, of Milan ToAvnship, upon the farm of Charles Parker.
Their duty Avas to protect the vicinity from British soldiers and from
bands of marauding Indians AVIIO had formerly lived in the neighborhood.
Many times the settlers had to abandon their homes and take shelter in
the fort. Once a portion of the army Avas dispatched after the enemy
to the peninsula. They found and attacked them there. In this skirmish
Alexander Mason Avas killed Avith Mr. Rainsdell and Daniel Mingus.
TAVO men, Seymour and Pixley, AVIIO Avent out from Parker's Blockhouse
one morning to cut doAvn a bee tree, Avere set upon by Indians. Seymour
AVIIS killed and Pixley taken prisoner. Indians Avere constantly lurking
about, and the settlers Avere in a state of constant anxiety. Every
unusual sound AVIIS feared to be the signal for a massacre. Fortunately
there AVIIS no such general attack, and when peace came the settlers
who had gone aAvay began to return; many HCAV people came in, and the
settlement began to groAv and prosper..
There is reason to believe thai the first white child born to any of
the permanent settlers of Milan AVIIS a daughter of Lazarus Young, afterwards
the Avife of Amherst Milliman, of ToAvnsend. Huron County.
The first physicians Avere Doctors (ioodAvin and (iuthrie. Before
their arrival in the settlement people in need of medical attention Avere
obliged to send to Cleveland, from which place a Doctor Long frequently
came to Milan.
The first military company upon the fire-lands AVIIS formed in the fall
of 1811 and met for its first muster on April 1st folloAving at .John B.
Fleiii()iid"s. David Barrett, of Milan, AVIIS elected captain.
The first log house AVIIS built by a party of young men. Barrett.
Nathaniel Olines. Sell) Hayes, Ebenezer Hayes. F. W. Fowler. Stephen
"Worthington and L. Durand, in 1810. and AVIIS located in section 2. This
AA'as the second improvement by Avhite inhabitants, the first being Injured
Ward on the opposite side of the river.
The first framed buildings Avere a barn and bouse built by David
Abbott.
Until 1820 this toAvnship Avas included in Huron ToAvnship, and the
first election was held at John B. Flemond's, on the east bank of the river.
and about tAvo miles from the lake. Jabez Wright and David Abbott