Lafayette Church, writing from Roots Web
St Louis Area Historical society
LAFAYETTE CHURCH, a leading agriculturist of Section 2, Arcada township, was born in July, 1816, in Wayne county, New York, son of Willard and Sally (Davis) Church. Willard Church, who was descended from the old Puritan stock, served through the Revolutionary war and his cousin, Captain Church, was one of the leaders on the side of the Colonists in King Philip's war. Our subject's mother was of English parentage, her family coming from the other side of the water some time later than the Churches.
All of the nine children of the parents of our subject grew to maturity, were married and had families around them. Lafayette was the youngest of this family, and his educational advantages were decidedly limited, he beginning work on the home farm at an early age. He left the parental roof when sixteen years of age to seek a living, and was first employed in a drug store at Providence, Rhode Island, for about three years, during which time he attended school to a certain extent, and being ambitious put in his spare time in study, acquiring thereby the education that had been previously denied him. He returned home for one year, and in 1836 came to Michigan, spending the following winter in Oakland county. The next spring he went to Ionia, which was then a mere village of a hundred inhabitants, and was afterward employed in Clinton county, and again in Ionia.
Mr. Church was married January 29, 1840, at Lyons, Ionia county, to Sophronia, daughter of Nathan and Chloe (Tyler) Benjamin, both of whom were born in New York, of English and Irish extraction. Mrs. Church was born October 26, 1823, in Wayne county, Ohio, and came with her parents to Oakland county, Michigan, when a year and a half old. From Oakland county the Benjamins removed to Ionia county, where Mrs. Church resided until her marriage. Mr. Benjamin drove the first wagon over East Plains, and the first wagon into Maple Rapids. Our subject and his wife lived at Lyons for a period of seven years, and from there went to Wheatland township, Hillsdale county, remaining there until 1854, in the winter of which year they came to Gratiot county, purchasing land from the Government. This eighty-acre tract was located in what is now Arcada township. Since that time Mr. Church has added 120 acres to this farm, but having divided it up among his family, now owns sixty acres, which is finely cultivated.
Lafayette Church assisted to start the town of Ithaca, building a house and saw and grist mill with Francis Nelson and John Jeffrey. Mr. Church was chosen county treasurer at the first general election held in Gratiot county, and this position he held for four years, also being the first treasurer of Arcada township. He organized the first Sunday school started in Gratiot county, in May, 1855, meeting at the home of F. Way, midway between Alma and St. Louis. He received a commission from the Governor of the State, July 19, 1862, as second lieutenant, with authority to raise a company of volunteers, and when a sufficient number had been raised they were mustered in as Company D, Twenty-sixth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, Lieutenant Church being immediately made captain of the company. He held that rank for eighteen months, and on recommendation of the principal officers of the regiment, was then commissioned regimental chaplain. He continued to hold that position until the surrender of Lee, which historical event our subject witnessed. He distinguished himself on numerous occasions and was at the head of his company at Mine Run. His son, Nathan, held the rank of first lieutenant in the same company, the two remaining together until June, 1865, when they were honorably discharged. Since the war Captain Church has lived a quiet and retired life at his home in Arcada township, highly respected by his numerous friends. His long residence and gallant services have won him a place in the front rank of Gratiot county's representative citizens. In his political sympathies he is a Republican, and has always been influential in local matters.
Mr. and Mrs. Church had ten children, two of whom are now deceased. Those who still survive are as follows: Nathan, born November 22, 1840; Susan, August 22, 1849; Marie E., October 9, 1851; Avolin, December 22, 1853; Julia, September 7, 1856; Flora, March 25, 1860; Willard, May 19, 1861; and Fred, June 2, 1863; S. Cornelia was born August 3, 1842, and died March 23, 1878, and Frances A., born August 5, 1844, died September 17, 1865.
At the present writing Mr. and Mrs. Church have been married sixty-six years, and Mr. Church, although he is approaching the age of the patriarchs, is still an alert citizen, with all his faculties unimpaired, and apparently in the full enjoyment of mental and physical life.
St Louis Area Historical society
LAFAYETTE CHURCH, a leading agriculturist of Section 2, Arcada township, was born in July, 1816, in Wayne county, New York, son of Willard and Sally (Davis) Church. Willard Church, who was descended from the old Puritan stock, served through the Revolutionary war and his cousin, Captain Church, was one of the leaders on the side of the Colonists in King Philip's war. Our subject's mother was of English parentage, her family coming from the other side of the water some time later than the Churches.
All of the nine children of the parents of our subject grew to maturity, were married and had families around them. Lafayette was the youngest of this family, and his educational advantages were decidedly limited, he beginning work on the home farm at an early age. He left the parental roof when sixteen years of age to seek a living, and was first employed in a drug store at Providence, Rhode Island, for about three years, during which time he attended school to a certain extent, and being ambitious put in his spare time in study, acquiring thereby the education that had been previously denied him. He returned home for one year, and in 1836 came to Michigan, spending the following winter in Oakland county. The next spring he went to Ionia, which was then a mere village of a hundred inhabitants, and was afterward employed in Clinton county, and again in Ionia.
Mr. Church was married January 29, 1840, at Lyons, Ionia county, to Sophronia, daughter of Nathan and Chloe (Tyler) Benjamin, both of whom were born in New York, of English and Irish extraction. Mrs. Church was born October 26, 1823, in Wayne county, Ohio, and came with her parents to Oakland county, Michigan, when a year and a half old. From Oakland county the Benjamins removed to Ionia county, where Mrs. Church resided until her marriage. Mr. Benjamin drove the first wagon over East Plains, and the first wagon into Maple Rapids. Our subject and his wife lived at Lyons for a period of seven years, and from there went to Wheatland township, Hillsdale county, remaining there until 1854, in the winter of which year they came to Gratiot county, purchasing land from the Government. This eighty-acre tract was located in what is now Arcada township. Since that time Mr. Church has added 120 acres to this farm, but having divided it up among his family, now owns sixty acres, which is finely cultivated.
Lafayette Church assisted to start the town of Ithaca, building a house and saw and grist mill with Francis Nelson and John Jeffrey. Mr. Church was chosen county treasurer at the first general election held in Gratiot county, and this position he held for four years, also being the first treasurer of Arcada township. He organized the first Sunday school started in Gratiot county, in May, 1855, meeting at the home of F. Way, midway between Alma and St. Louis. He received a commission from the Governor of the State, July 19, 1862, as second lieutenant, with authority to raise a company of volunteers, and when a sufficient number had been raised they were mustered in as Company D, Twenty-sixth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, Lieutenant Church being immediately made captain of the company. He held that rank for eighteen months, and on recommendation of the principal officers of the regiment, was then commissioned regimental chaplain. He continued to hold that position until the surrender of Lee, which historical event our subject witnessed. He distinguished himself on numerous occasions and was at the head of his company at Mine Run. His son, Nathan, held the rank of first lieutenant in the same company, the two remaining together until June, 1865, when they were honorably discharged. Since the war Captain Church has lived a quiet and retired life at his home in Arcada township, highly respected by his numerous friends. His long residence and gallant services have won him a place in the front rank of Gratiot county's representative citizens. In his political sympathies he is a Republican, and has always been influential in local matters.
Mr. and Mrs. Church had ten children, two of whom are now deceased. Those who still survive are as follows: Nathan, born November 22, 1840; Susan, August 22, 1849; Marie E., October 9, 1851; Avolin, December 22, 1853; Julia, September 7, 1856; Flora, March 25, 1860; Willard, May 19, 1861; and Fred, June 2, 1863; S. Cornelia was born August 3, 1842, and died March 23, 1878, and Frances A., born August 5, 1844, died September 17, 1865.
At the present writing Mr. and Mrs. Church have been married sixty-six years, and Mr. Church, although he is approaching the age of the patriarchs, is still an alert citizen, with all his faculties unimpaired, and apparently in the full enjoyment of mental and physical life.
Lafayette Church, writing from Roots Web
St Louis Area Historical society
LAFAYETTE CHURCH, a leading agriculturist of Section 2, Arcada township, was born in July, 1816, in Wayne county, New York, son of Willard and Sally (Davis) Church. Willard Church, who was descended from the old Puritan stock, served through the Revolutionary war and his cousin, Captain Church, was one of the leaders on the side of the Colonists in King Philip's war. Our subject's mother was of English parentage, her family coming from the other side of the water some time later than the Churches.
All of the nine children of the parents of our subject grew to maturity, were married and had families around them. Lafayette was the youngest of this family, and his educational advantages were decidedly limited, he beginning work on the home farm at an early age. He left the parental roof when sixteen years of age to seek a living, and was first employed in a drug store at Providence, Rhode Island, for about three years, during which time he attended school to a certain extent, and being ambitious put in his spare time in study, acquiring thereby the education that had been previously denied him. He returned home for one year, and in 1836 came to Michigan, spending the following winter in Oakland county. The next spring he went to Ionia, which was then a mere village of a hundred inhabitants, and was afterward employed in Clinton county, and again in Ionia.
Mr. Church was married January 29, 1840, at Lyons, Ionia county, to Sophronia, daughter of Nathan and Chloe (Tyler) Benjamin, both of whom were born in New York, of English and Irish extraction. Mrs. Church was born October 26, 1823, in Wayne county, Ohio, and came with her parents to Oakland county, Michigan, when a year and a half old. From Oakland county the Benjamins removed to Ionia county, where Mrs. Church resided until her marriage. Mr. Benjamin drove the first wagon over East Plains, and the first wagon into Maple Rapids. Our subject and his wife lived at Lyons for a period of seven years, and from there went to Wheatland township, Hillsdale county, remaining there until 1854, in the winter of which year they came to Gratiot county, purchasing land from the Government. This eighty-acre tract was located in what is now Arcada township. Since that time Mr. Church has added 120 acres to this farm, but having divided it up among his family, now owns sixty acres, which is finely cultivated.
Lafayette Church assisted to start the town of Ithaca, building a house and saw and grist mill with Francis Nelson and John Jeffrey. Mr. Church was chosen county treasurer at the first general election held in Gratiot county, and this position he held for four years, also being the first treasurer of Arcada township. He organized the first Sunday school started in Gratiot county, in May, 1855, meeting at the home of F. Way, midway between Alma and St. Louis. He received a commission from the Governor of the State, July 19, 1862, as second lieutenant, with authority to raise a company of volunteers, and when a sufficient number had been raised they were mustered in as Company D, Twenty-sixth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, Lieutenant Church being immediately made captain of the company. He held that rank for eighteen months, and on recommendation of the principal officers of the regiment, was then commissioned regimental chaplain. He continued to hold that position until the surrender of Lee, which historical event our subject witnessed. He distinguished himself on numerous occasions and was at the head of his company at Mine Run. His son, Nathan, held the rank of first lieutenant in the same company, the two remaining together until June, 1865, when they were honorably discharged. Since the war Captain Church has lived a quiet and retired life at his home in Arcada township, highly respected by his numerous friends. His long residence and gallant services have won him a place in the front rank of Gratiot county's representative citizens. In his political sympathies he is a Republican, and has always been influential in local matters.
Mr. and Mrs. Church had ten children, two of whom are now deceased. Those who still survive are as follows: Nathan, born November 22, 1840; Susan, August 22, 1849; Marie E., October 9, 1851; Avolin, December 22, 1853; Julia, September 7, 1856; Flora, March 25, 1860; Willard, May 19, 1861; and Fred, June 2, 1863; S. Cornelia was born August 3, 1842, and died March 23, 1878, and Frances A., born August 5, 1844, died September 17, 1865.
At the present writing Mr. and Mrs. Church have been married sixty-six years, and Mr. Church, although he is approaching the age of the patriarchs, is still an alert citizen, with all his faculties unimpaired, and apparently in the full enjoyment of mental and physical life.
St Louis Area Historical society
LAFAYETTE CHURCH, a leading agriculturist of Section 2, Arcada township, was born in July, 1816, in Wayne county, New York, son of Willard and Sally (Davis) Church. Willard Church, who was descended from the old Puritan stock, served through the Revolutionary war and his cousin, Captain Church, was one of the leaders on the side of the Colonists in King Philip's war. Our subject's mother was of English parentage, her family coming from the other side of the water some time later than the Churches.
All of the nine children of the parents of our subject grew to maturity, were married and had families around them. Lafayette was the youngest of this family, and his educational advantages were decidedly limited, he beginning work on the home farm at an early age. He left the parental roof when sixteen years of age to seek a living, and was first employed in a drug store at Providence, Rhode Island, for about three years, during which time he attended school to a certain extent, and being ambitious put in his spare time in study, acquiring thereby the education that had been previously denied him. He returned home for one year, and in 1836 came to Michigan, spending the following winter in Oakland county. The next spring he went to Ionia, which was then a mere village of a hundred inhabitants, and was afterward employed in Clinton county, and again in Ionia.
Mr. Church was married January 29, 1840, at Lyons, Ionia county, to Sophronia, daughter of Nathan and Chloe (Tyler) Benjamin, both of whom were born in New York, of English and Irish extraction. Mrs. Church was born October 26, 1823, in Wayne county, Ohio, and came with her parents to Oakland county, Michigan, when a year and a half old. From Oakland county the Benjamins removed to Ionia county, where Mrs. Church resided until her marriage. Mr. Benjamin drove the first wagon over East Plains, and the first wagon into Maple Rapids. Our subject and his wife lived at Lyons for a period of seven years, and from there went to Wheatland township, Hillsdale county, remaining there until 1854, in the winter of which year they came to Gratiot county, purchasing land from the Government. This eighty-acre tract was located in what is now Arcada township. Since that time Mr. Church has added 120 acres to this farm, but having divided it up among his family, now owns sixty acres, which is finely cultivated.
Lafayette Church assisted to start the town of Ithaca, building a house and saw and grist mill with Francis Nelson and John Jeffrey. Mr. Church was chosen county treasurer at the first general election held in Gratiot county, and this position he held for four years, also being the first treasurer of Arcada township. He organized the first Sunday school started in Gratiot county, in May, 1855, meeting at the home of F. Way, midway between Alma and St. Louis. He received a commission from the Governor of the State, July 19, 1862, as second lieutenant, with authority to raise a company of volunteers, and when a sufficient number had been raised they were mustered in as Company D, Twenty-sixth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, Lieutenant Church being immediately made captain of the company. He held that rank for eighteen months, and on recommendation of the principal officers of the regiment, was then commissioned regimental chaplain. He continued to hold that position until the surrender of Lee, which historical event our subject witnessed. He distinguished himself on numerous occasions and was at the head of his company at Mine Run. His son, Nathan, held the rank of first lieutenant in the same company, the two remaining together until June, 1865, when they were honorably discharged. Since the war Captain Church has lived a quiet and retired life at his home in Arcada township, highly respected by his numerous friends. His long residence and gallant services have won him a place in the front rank of Gratiot county's representative citizens. In his political sympathies he is a Republican, and has always been influential in local matters.
Mr. and Mrs. Church had ten children, two of whom are now deceased. Those who still survive are as follows: Nathan, born November 22, 1840; Susan, August 22, 1849; Marie E., October 9, 1851; Avolin, December 22, 1853; Julia, September 7, 1856; Flora, March 25, 1860; Willard, May 19, 1861; and Fred, June 2, 1863; S. Cornelia was born August 3, 1842, and died March 23, 1878, and Frances A., born August 5, 1844, died September 17, 1865.
At the present writing Mr. and Mrs. Church have been married sixty-six years, and Mr. Church, although he is approaching the age of the patriarchs, is still an alert citizen, with all his faculties unimpaired, and apparently in the full enjoyment of mental and physical life.
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