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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY 89
election was as follows: John P. Worstell, senior warden; Hamilton
Colton, junior warden; Alexander McClure, treasurer; Joseph P. Williams,
John Stevens and Dr. W. F. Dean as the other members.
At the organization of the parish there Avere ten communicants. The
visitation of Bishop Mcllvain Avas on June 20, 1847, when the corner
stone of the first church was laid and a class of five were confirmed.
Since 1873 church services have been conducted by lay-readers or by
the neighboring clergy from Norwalk, Monroeville, Sandusky and Huron.
There is a German Reformed Lutheran Church at Union Corners,
in the northwestern part of the township. This church has a very large
congregation.
The Friends-, or Quakers, have a little church at Homer Page's
Corners, above Fries Landing, which accommodates quite a number of
the people in that vicinity. This church was erected largely through the
efforts of Peter and Dorexa Hathaway, Peter Hathaway, Jr., Mr. and
Mrs. T. B. Eddy, John Everingham, the Rosekelleys,fV. Fries, Homer
Page and wife, John Baleam, the Rickards, A. Paul, A. Ruggles, Benjamin
Wilcox, Calvin Gwin, C. Parker, Mrs. George Eddy, Mr. and Mrs.
W. II. Eddy, Mrs. Carleton Bailey and others to whom the church and
community stand indebted. Mrs. Alida Romick, an eloquent evangelist
from Southeastern Ohio, preached the dedication sermon. Revs. George
Bartlett, Charles Sweet and William Nicholson, able, earnest Christian
ministers, have from time to time given their services to this congregation.
Popular education received early attention. A private school Avas
supported in the Abbott neighborhood at a very early day. Miss Gilbert,
from Newburg, AVIIS the teacher. She later married Doctor GoodAvin.
In 1817 a schoolhouse Avas built at Spear's Corners, and Marshall
Miller was the first teacher.
At Milan Village, tAvo years later, Miss Susie Williams opened the
first school taught there, in a neAV barn OAvned by Squire Merry. The
second schoolhouse in the toAvnship AA'as erected on the Eagle Tavern
corner (East Church Street and Public Square), AA'here the toAA'n hall
noAV stands. In 1824 the old yelloAV schoolhouse was built on West
Church Street, afterAvards removed to Center Street, and finally, with
the other small school buildings, eom'erted into the Cooper Business Block
at the top of the hill.
When the present public school system Avas inaugurated, in 1849, ,
Milan vyas prompt to avail herself of its privileges, but Avith considerable
debate and excitement. The members of the first school board and.
Alien Bartow AA'ere strong advocates of the cause of general education.
The latter was a young mechanic at the time and made his first public
speech defending it in reply to a then moneyed citizen, Avho afterAvards
became an ardent friend of free educational institutions.
The old brick school building on South Center Street Avas erected the
year after the enabling law Avas passed, and at that time was one of
the most substantial and convenient public school buildings in the state.
A fine and beautiful structure of brick, trimmed in sand-stone, Avas