Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-06-15

cd that some accident had befallen them.
The next day all the white settlers as
sembled at Major Spafford's and armed
for hight with the Indians. They
iourncyed up the river and at the foot
of Turkey Foot Hill opposite the river
to where the men had lived, they found
their dead bodies, hacked by tomhawks
and perforated by balls. Tho ground
around them for some distance WIS
covered with blood. showing that they
had a severe fight with the Indians.
A few days after this, Levi Hull, one
of the settlers, went out for his COW aud
shortly after the port of n gun was
heard. This, at first, was regarded as
unimportant, as the noise of fire arms
was of frequent occurrence. Some OF
the inhabitants, however, had their fears
aroused, and going on the line from
whence the sound came, they discovered
the body of Hull, who had been scalped
and the war-club left sticking in his
skull.
THE FIRST APPOINTMENT AND CLASS,
In 1920 the Rev. John F. Kent, of the
Genncscc Conference, and connected
with the Upper Canada District, of
which at that time the Rev. w. Case
was presiding elder, was stationed on
the Detroit circuit, which extended
from Lake st. Clair 10 the Maumec
Rapids. We learn from mother Perrin.
who is yet living, and the Oldest pem-
Der of the church, that the Rev. John
p. Kent was the first regular preacher
and that he organized the first class in
Perrysburg, or rather in the locality,
with Aurora Spafford as leader and Sa-
rah Wilkinson and Bros. Knowles and
Kelley as members, Shortly after this
organization had been effected, the Rev.
Jamas b. Finlay, of the Ohio Confer
encc, was appointed to the Lebanon
District, which at that time was bound
ed by the Ohio river on the south, on
the north by the lakes, and included the
whole Of the Michigan territory. VIM
Fimlay employed young local preacher
by the name of Putt b. Morcy to take
| charge of the Detroit Mission, his cir
cult extending from the Nlaumre Rap
ids TO Lake st. Clair. lie contracted
chills and fever in his labors ON the Mau-
nee, which from his condition of weak
ness arising from excessive labors and
the hardships which he endured in the
performance of his duty proved fatal to
him. His useful life was ended in De-
troit at the early age of twenty-six
years.
The Rev. NJ. P. Gaddis in a work, en-
titled "Recollections of the Rev. G. w.
| Walker" one of the early itenenants
that preached at Fort NIeigs, remarks
MS follows of the early preachers "The
pioneer preachers in the North not only
endured cruel mockings from the French
lnfidels, but suffered also from cold,
and hunger, and often like their Mas
ter they had no place upon which to
lay their heads. They very frequently
could get nothing to eat, till they caught
fish or wild game and then had to cook
j. themselves. The Row j. p. Kent who
established the first class in Perrysburg
which formed part of the Detroit Mis-
sim, of which he had the charge, often
ate nothing all day but broiled fish.
After fishing for men with the Gospel
Net, before getting his own dinner, or
supper, he had 10 20 to some stream and
literally catch fish and broil them on
the GOALS, that he might satisfy the
cravings of hunger" 1t was by men of
this character that Methodism has been
introduced into the Maumee Valley.
The year 1886 was memorable in Per-
rysburg as being the stage ON which the
farce of war was played between the
Territory of Mich. and the State of Ohio
The Michigan Militia were encamped at
| Sylvania in Lucas Co, and ON the Stick
ney farm, Toledo. Perrysburg became
the headquarters of the Ohio troops,
with Governor Lucas IN command. At
that time there was no meeting house
in the village and the school house
which then was located opposite to the
! location where the NJ, T.. church now is,
had become very inconvenicnt. The
Rev. l.. d. Gurley was then presiling ell
der, and with the minister in charge.
Orin Mitchell, was holding quarterly
meeting. The Governor was well known
to Bro. Gurley rs an earnest chris tian
worker and he determined to make his
services available towards starting a
subscription TO build new church. On
closing an impressive sermon, he called
ON the Governor to close the exercises
with prayer and he added, there is an
other hing | want you to dot ia to
bring before this congregation our need
of a new church, and also to head tn,
subscription list towards raising the
money to build one. The Governor
acted faithfully and well in the perform
arce of this duty and funds were col
lected by which the church Was erected
and il now continues as credit to tn,
village, and medium of usefulness I,
the society and citizens. In 1853 it be.
came necessary to place it under con
dition for general repairs, and durin,
the interval meetings We're held in tn,
old Court House.
In 1866, during the pastorate of Rev
i. w. Barkdull, the church was recon.
structed, and bell put into the bcllfry
the cost being about 81, 800. In 1887 i
was aga in repaired, papered and paint
cd, and new shingles put on the roof
These improvements were made at al
expense of about 5000.
During the pastorate of the Rev. N.
G, Love, neat and convenient parson
age was erected at the cost of 81 ,50I
The church and parsonage stand on
lot in the center of Perrysburg,or ncarl
so, COMPRISING half nm acrc The nrou