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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY 125
proprietor of a cooper shop. John Brodhead was the only carpenter. A
.tavern was kept by Holly Akins, on the location afterward occupied by
J. D. Parker's store. Mr. Bell, father of Stewart Bell, of Sandusky,
Avho died at an early day, was a ship carpenter. In the year 1817 he
built a small vessel near the lake. It required forty yoke of oxen and
a number of men to move it to the shore, which was accomplished after
much labor. It was launched a short distance west of the village of
Huron. Doctor Christopher, a graduate of Yale College and possessed
of a fine education, was without doubt the first practicing physician in
the toAvnship, his office being located at Bogart. As the pioneers manufactured
most of their wearing apparel, looms and spinning wheels were
in good demand. These were made to order by Air. Hubbard, a wheelwright.
'
In the fall of 1811 Rev. William Gurley and family arrived on the
Firelands and settled in Huron County, on the edge of the prairie, in a
log cabin near the south line of Perkins Township. At this time there
was no minister of the gospel within fifty miles. Great was the joy of
the settlers of the surrounding townships when they heard that a
preacher had arrived. The announcement Avas made that Mr. Gurley
would preach in the schoolhouse at Bloomingville on the following
Sunday. The people living within ten or twelve miles assembled at the
appointed time, and among them were several Indians who came from
curiosity. Mr. Gurley organized a class of ten members at the close,
and this was the first sermon and society on the Firelands. The surrender
of General Hull at Detroit caused a stampede among the settlers,
many of whom did not return till the close of the war. After the war a
Avide field of labor opened to Mr. Gurley, which extended nearly over the
county. As there was much sickness and many deaths, he was called
upon to attend nearly all the funerals. He often remarked, "What a
multitude I have buried, and nearly all younger than myself." He continued
his labors for tAventy-five years, preaching his last sermon at the
age of eighty-nine.
Soon after the arrival of John Beatly and his colony of settlers
from Connecticut in the fall of 1815, he, Avith others, proceeded to
organize a Methodist society, Avhich was the first in the toAvnship. Julius
House Avas chosen class leader, a position he occupied for fifty years.
Services AA'ere held at the log schoolhouse or dAA'ellings until about the
year 1830, when a large frame building Avas erected opposite where the
brick church IIOAV stands. After the society Avas formed no regular
preaching AVIIS held till February, J818, although occasional sermons.
Avere preached by John Beatty.
The Ohio Conference, in the fall of 1817, attached five appointments
to tin; Cuyahoga circuit. These appointments Avere such a distance
from the circuit that the minister in charge AA'Ould not accept them.
Rev. James B. Finley, the presiding elder, sent Reverend Bronson to
form a circuit and become pastor of the same the balance of the year.
Perkins Avas his fourth appointment. When the time arrived for his
first quarterly meeting, the presiding elder being absent, Rev. William