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88 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
houses addressed by various itinerant preachers. Among these was the
Rev. Milton Badger, who preached in the Abbott settlement before the
war and was chaplain at Fort Avery during the war. The Methodists
organized a class in the Jeffry neighborhood as early as 1816, and Thomas
Jeffry was its leader! The Rev. Fr. Gurley, Reverend Mr. Manger, the
earnest and eccentric James Mclntyre, Rev. Mr. Tillotson, "who spoke
under the influence of spirits—from a bottle," were among the early
preachers of this denomination.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was not organized until 1830, and
the building was erected in 1845. It has been fortunate in the pastors
assigned, and its membership, though never large, has been drawn from
a very intellectual portion of the community. In 1888, through the
efforts of Mrs. J. C. Lockwood, the building Avas remodelled and improved.
The Presbyterian Church was organized at Spears Corners in 1818,
under the name of the First Congregational. Church of Huron, Rev. W.
Williams and Alvin Coe, of Connecticut, presiding. The first members
of the church were William Spears and wife, Gilbert Sexton and wife,
Mrs. Eleanor Adams and her sons, William and Philo. Meetings were
held alternately at the residences of S. Adams and Mr. Spears for some
time, the pastor being Rev. Lot B. Sullivan. In 1823 the church removed
to Milan. The first officers—two deacons—AA'ere elected in 1824.
They AA'ere Henry Buckingham and Joseph Demond. The next year the
church changed to the Presbyterian form of government, and elected
three ruling elders: William Spears, Joseph Demond and David Everett.
At this time there Avere thirty-seven members. After the removal to
the village meetings AA'ere held in a schoolhouse which stood on the lot
IIOAV occupied by the town hall, and afterAvards in fhe yelloAV schoolhouse.
The call for service was the bloAving of a horn. Under the pastorate of
Rev. E. Judson, AVIIO came to the church in 1829, a revival AA'as experienced,
and the organization began to groAV. The church was incorporated
in 1828, and in 1837 a substantial building Avas completed by
contributions of Avork and material. For some time after the leaving
of their first pastor the church Avas without a settled minister, and the
pulpit Avas occasionally filled by supplies. The next regular pastor Avas
Rev. Thomas L. Shipman, folloAved in succession by Isaac S. Demund,
W. M. Adams, Everton Judson, NeAvton Barrett, J. M. Hayes, Alanson
Hartpence, J. II. Walters and W. L. Swan. The longest ministry was
that of Mr. Walters, who came in 1855 and labored here for thirty
years.
St. Luke's Protestant Episcopal Church, Milan.—The earliest record
of the establishment of St. Luke's Church in Milan is found in a paper
covered book, yelloAV AA'ith age, which contains the articles of association,
the records of baptism, confirmation and marriage, the list of communicants
and the minutes of the first meeting of a vestry.
The first meeting for the election of a vestry Avas held in the study
of the Rev. T. R. Taylor on the evening of January 17, 1846. James H.
Kennedy having been appointed secretary pro tern the result of the