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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY 261
tern." It would seem that this was not satisfactory to the ultra abolitionists,
for just one month and one day later nineteen members of the
church asked for letters to "Any evangelical church Avith which they
might choose to unite themselves." Judging from the names of those
present and voting for the resolutions, and the names of those who
asked for letters, it seems that the resolutions were passed to content, if
possible, those who felt most deeply on the subject. If that was the
purpose, it failed; for something over tAA'enty withdmv and finally
organized what they called the Free Congregational Churchy They
erected the frame building later occupied by the Baptists. This church
seems to have prospered in spite of the defection. It called Rev. N. W.
Fisher, October 25, 1847, to be its pastor, and during the year ending
September 1, 1848, there AA'ere receh'ed by letter fifty-five members and
seven on profession. The salary then paid by the church was $800
and its membership 191, benevolences, $707.
' September 1, 1849, the membership of the church Avas 208. This
Avas the great year of the cholera. The pastor of the church, Rev. N. W.
Fisher, "Avas so faithful to his duty," to use the language of another,
"that Avhen death stalked abroad in {foe city, and fifty uncovered coffins
lay in the streets, he staid right at his post and died." It seems almost
pathetic that the only notice of his death to be found in our church
records is contained in an almost illegible line, Avritten in "pencil, near
the bottom of the page, in such small characters as to almost escape
attention, in the folloAving words: "Rev. N. W. Fisher died July 31."
The next page contains a notice to the effect that the "church from July
to September lost eleven members by cholera, giving their names.
The church has had a number of able men as pastors, men of even
national reputation, but it never had a better or more able man than
Rev. J. B. Walker. The minister of the church had resigned at the
prayer meeting, and everybody AA'as broken up. The next morning
Deacons Parish and Hitchcock, AVIIO lived side by side, AA'ere out at their
back doors talking to each other over the back fence, and they did not
knoAv what to do. Parish said he had a mind to go doAvn to Mansfield
and see Brother Walker. Finally he said to Hitchcock, "Bring your
Avife over to tea this evening and Ave will talk it over." Some time during
the clay Mr. Walker presented himself at Deacon Parish's door.
"Surely," says Deacon Parish, "the Lord has sent you. Our minister
has resigned and Ave Avere talking about going down to Mansfield
to consult Avith you. Can't you recommend some one to us?" "Well,"
ansAvered the minister, "I guess I haVe done all the good at Mansfield
that I can; I will come myself." He did come. The church had just
enlarged its house of Avorship; the hard times had come on, and they
Avere $10,000 in debt. Mr. Walker AA'as just the man tounite a distracted
church, and he AA'as an excellent financier. He demanded no guaranty
for his salary, but said he Avanted only enpugh to live on without
trouble. Under bis pastorate the society mostly paid off its indebtedness,
and the church greatly increased in numbers. He Avas the author
of a number of Avorks, chief among them the "Philosophy of the Plan