(NOTE: Of the 992 men who served in the 86th Illinois, Andrew G. Church was the last living veteran from the 86th Illinois. When he died on April 4, 1938, the 86th was no more.
Andrew Gray Church probably never had his portrait taken prior to the Civil War. However, during the 10 month period that the 86th Illinois was in the Nashville, Tennessee area in 1862-63, Andrew, like most of the Union soldiers in the Nashville area, probably took the time to sit for a portrait to send home to the loved ones that he left behind. These portraits were most often printed in the form of what was called a "Tin type" or in the form of what was called a CDV, a paper picture glued to a heavier card stock about the size of a modern day baseball card, and the soldiers didn't just have one or two copies made. Most of the time, they had a dozen or more made, so they could swap pictures with their tentmates, messmates and to send to their friends and family back home.
Andrew Gray Church then survived the war and lived well into the 20th century. During his life, Andrew, probably had his picture taken dozens of times, if not hundreds of times. I would dearly love to see a copy of that CDV added to his Find A Grave site for all with an interest to see. However, at this point, I would be thrilled just to see ANY pictures of him added to his Find A Grave Memorial, even ones of him as an old man. Can anyone help me? Thanks, Baxter)
Private ANDREW GRAY CHURCH, Co. H, 86th Illinois
Andrew Gray Church was born c. January 13, 1844 at or near Brimfield, Peoria County, Illinois, the son of William Warren Church and Jane Blair (Irwin) Church. William Warren Church was born c. August 6, 1804/05 in Oatslands House, Myroe, County Londonderry, North Ireland and died on January 30, 1892 near Brimfield, Peoria County, Illinois, though his tombstone says he was born in 1814. Jane Blair (Irwin) Church was born c. 1805 in County Londonderry, North Ireland and died on March 25, 1867 near Brimfield, Peoria County, Illinois. William and Jane were married in Northern Ireland on August 31, 1823 and came to America about 1828/29, first settling in New Brunswick, Canada. They brought their growing family to the United States about 1840/41, settling in or near Brimfield, Peoria County, Illinois.
They are believed to have been the parents of 12 children. They include;
1. Elizabeth Orr Church, born May 10, 1825, mostlikely in Northern Ireland; died on February 7, 1849 in Peoria County, Illinois at the age of 24 and her mortal remains were laid in the Brimfield Cemetery in Brimfield, Peoria County, Illinois.
2. John Albert Church, born c. November 26, 1827 in either Ireland or in New Brunswick, Canada; John was married to Mary E. Holmes (1831 - 1910) on ___________ __, 18__ at ; John died on January 29, 1905 in Peoria County, Illinois and his mortal remains were laid in the Brimfield Cemetery in Brimfield, Peoria County, Illinois; See his Find A Grave site for more information about his family.
3. William Warren Church Jr., born c. January 10, 1829 in Saint-John, New Brunswick, Canada; William was married to Mary ___________ c. 1860 and they had four children, Louisa D., Andrew C., Jane "Jennie" and Mary; William Warren Church Jr. died on Feb. 4, 1932 in Brimfield, Peoria County, Illinois and his mortal remains were laid in the Brimfield Cemetery in Brimfield, Peoria County, Illinois; See his Find A Grave site.
4. Mary Jane Church, born c. 1829/30 in New Brumswick.
5. Douglas Church, born c. June 23, 1831 in New Brunswick; died c. 1910's.
6. Sarah Jessica Church, born c. 1832/33 in New Brunswick.
7. Samuel B. E. (possibly Brown) Church, born c. 1835/36 in New Brunswick
8. Victoria B. Church, born c. 1837/38 in New Brunswick
9. Susannah E. Church, born c. 1838/39 in New Brunswick
10. James Work Church, born c. 1841/42 in Peoria County, Illinois.
11. Andrew Gray Church, born c. January 13, 1844 in Peoria County, Illinois; See his biography below.
At the time of the 1850 census, the Church family is found in Peoria County;
1792 Church William 46 M Farmer 5,300 Holland
1792 Church Jane 45 F Holland
1792 Church John 22 M Farmer Holland
1792 Church Wm. W. 21 M Wagon maker New Brunswick
1792 Church Mary 20 F New Brumswick
1792 Church Douglas 19 M Farmer New Brunswick
1792 Church Jessica 17 F New Brunswick
1792 Church Samuel E. 14 M New Brunswick
1792 Church Victoria 12 F New Brunswick
1792 Church Susannah E.11 F New Brunswick
1792 Church James W. 8 M Ill
1792 Church Andrew 6 M Ill
At the time of the 1860 census, the Church family is found in Jubilee Township of Peoria County, Illinois;
5 Church William W. 54 M farmer 6,000 1,232 Ireland
5 Church Jane 54 F Ireland
5 Church Samuel 23 M breaking prairie 490 PA
5 Church Victoria 21 F PA
5 Church Hannah 20 F PA
5 Church Andrew 15 M farmhand IL
5 Daugherty William 25 M farmhand Ireland
Obituary of William W. Church as found in the Brimfield News edition of Thursday, Feb. 4, 1892;
"Wm. W. Church died on Saturday January 31, 1892, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Dr. Wilkins, Tiskilwa, Ill., after a long illness. Mr. Church was a pioneer of this county and for many years a resident of this place, living on his farm north east of town in Jubilee township, He was born in County Derry, Ireland, and was 88 years of age. He came to Illinois in 1838 and settled in Jubilee township. For several years past he has made his home with his daughter at Tiskilwa and frequently visited this place, the guest of his daughter, Mrs. Corcoran, but his visits gradually grew less frequent and finally ceased as his last illness over took him. He was well educated and remarkably active for one of his age. Three daughters and six sons survive him; Mrs. Dr. Wilkins of Tiskilwa, Mrs. Capt. S. A. Law, of Peoria, and Mrs. Dr. Corcoran of this place; Mr. John Church of this place, Samuel Church of Fairbury, Ill., Wm. Church of Monmouth, Ill., Douglas and James Church of California and Andrew Church of Fairmont, Neb. the remains were brought to Brimfield and the funeral services held at the M. E. church on Tuesday, conducted by Rev. Chamberlain the Episcopal clergyman from Jubilee, after which they were laid to rest in the cemetery west of town.
Capt. S. A. Law and wife of Peoria, Mr. and Mrs. Dr. Wilkins and son of Tiskilwa, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Chruch of Fairbury, Ill. and Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Church of Fairmont, Neb. attended the funeral services of Mr. W. W. Church at this place Tuesday."
Now to continue with the biography of Andrew Gray Church;
On August 13, 1862, Andrew G. Church volunteered in Jubilee Township of Peoria County, Illinois to serve in a company which was being raised in the Peoria, Illinois area by David W. Magee, a veteran of the Mexican War, for service in the Union Army during the Civil War. At the time he enlisted, he did list Jubilee Township as his place of residence.
ILLINOIS STATE ARCHIVES
Illinois Civil War Detail Report
Name CHURCH, ANDREW G Rank PVT
Company H Unit 86 IL US INF
Personal Characteristics
Residence JUBILEE, PEORIA CO, IL
Age 19 Height 5' 11 1/2
Hair BROWN Eyes BLUE
Complexion LIGHT
Marital Status SINGLE
Occupation FARMER
Nativity PEORIA CO, IL
Service Record
Joined When AUG 13, 1862
Joined Where JUBILEE, IL
Joined By Whom D H MAGEE
Period 3 YRS
Muster In AUG 27, 1862
Muster In Where PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom
Muster Out JUN 6, 1865
Muster Out Where WASHINGTON, DC
Muster Out By Whom LT SCROGGS
When Magee had about 100 volunteers he assembled his company at Camp Lyons, located near present day Glen Oak Park in Peoria, where they remained in camp until they were mustered into service. On August 27, 1862 Magee and 89 of his volunteers, including now Private Andrew G. Church, were mustered into service as Co. H of the 86th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Initially, the men of Co. H elected Magee to be their Captain. Magee, however, because of his past military experiences, was selected and promoted to the rank of Lt. Colonel of the entire regiment. After this John H. Hall, was elected by the men of Co. H to be their Captain.
On September 7, 1862, the men of the 86th Illinois marched out of the gates of Camp Lyon, through the streets of Peoria, with much fanfare, down to the train station. There they were joined by the men of the 85th Illinois, who had been mustered into service at Camp Peoria. There the men of the 85th and 86th boarded trains bound for Camp Joe Holt, Jeffersonville, Indiana, which was located across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. Three weeks later, the men of the 85th & 86th were in the field in Kentucky as part of Col. Daniel McCook's Brigade in the Union army commanded by General Buell, in pursuit of Confederate troops. On Oct. 8, 1862, the men of McCook's Brigade were engaged with those troops in the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, the 86th Illinois suffering their first casualties. There would be many more in the next three years. After the Battle of Perryville, the Confederate troops withdrew from Kentucky, while the men of McCook's Brigade marched on to Nashville, Tennessee, where they would go into winter camp and spend much of the next 10 months.
During the next three years, Private Andrew G. Church would serve faithfully in Co. H as the men of the 86th served in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and North Carolina. During this time, Andrew was witness to and a participant in numerous battles and skirmishes, some of the bloodiest fighting in the Western Theatre of the war, including the Battles of Chickamauga, Georgia; Resaca, Georgia; Rome, Georgia, Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia; Peach Tree Creek, Georgia; Jonesboro, Georgia; Averysboro, North Carolina; and Bentonville, North Carolina, to name a few and would march with Sherman to the Sea.
In the fall of 1863, while the 86th was traveling alone through Northern Alabama and it's way to the Chattanooga area, Kinnear, in his History of the 86th, write of an incident involving Andrew G. Chruch. As they were travelling alone, the 86th was having trouble with "bushwackers." Kinnear writes, that "Early on the morning of the 10th of September, the 86th took up the line of march for Stevenson, Alabama, where it expected it would certainly join the brigade. It had not marched from Huntsville more than three miles when a soldier from Company H, Mr. Church by name, while walking in the woods near the road, espied a squad of concealed bushwhackers, whereupon he fired at them, and killed one. The dead body was brought to the road and left in plain view, being labeled with these words: "A bushwhacker.""
After the war came to an end, the men of McCook's Brigade marched on to Washington, D.C., where they would march down Pennsylvania Avenue with the army of General Sherman on the 2nd day of the Grand Review. On June 6, 1865, Private Andrew G. Church was still there with the surviving members of the 86th Illinois when they were mustered out of service at Washington, D.C. They then were sent by train to Chicago, Illinois where received their final pay and were discharged. By the end of June of 1865, Private Andrew G. Church was back home with his family in Central Illinois.
At the time of the 1870 census, Andrew G. Church is found living alone and farming in Jubilee Township of Peoria County. His post office is listed as Robins Nest;
126 Church Andrew 26 M farmer 1,000 Illinois
On February 1, 1871, Andrew Gray Church was married to Susanna A. "Susan" O'Hara in Peoria County, Illinois. Susan was born May 9, 1851 in New York State, the daughter of __________ O'Hara and __________(__________) O'Hara.
Shortly after they were married Andrew and Susan moved west to Nebraska, where at the time of the 1880 census, they are found in West Blue, Fillmore County, Nebraska, where Andrew is farming the land;
Andrew Church Self M 36 Illinois
Susan A Church Wife F 29 New York
Sarah J Church Daughter F 7 Nebraska
Andrew O Church Son M 6 Nebraska
Samuel F Church Son M 1 Nebraska
Six children are known to have been born to Andrew and Susan, including;
1. Sarah Jane "Sadie" Church, born October 11, 1871/72 in Nebraska; At the time of the 1930 census, Sarah Jane Church is still unmarried and living and taking care of her father in Lincoln, Nebraska; In the 1940 census seen below, Sarah is living, still unmarried, with her brother, William, in Lincoln, Nebraska. Sarah Jane Church died on 16 May 1966 and her mortal remains were laid in the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska. See her Find A Grave Memorial #69100487.
2. Andrew O'Hara Church, born Jan. 24, 1873/74 in Nebraska; Andrew O'Harra Church was married to Fanny Gertrude Sterns on February 21, 1907 in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, Iowa; Fanny was born on ___________ __, 18__ at ___________, Nebraska, the daughter of Benjamin Sterns and Mary (Harmen) Sterns; At the time of the 1910 census, Andrew and Fanny are found residing with her parents in Ward 6 of the City of Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska;
Benjamin Stearns Head M 66 Canada
Myrtle M Stearns Daughter F 25 Nebraska
Orrie E Stearns Son M 27
Fannie G Church Daughter F 21 Nebraska
Andrew O Church Son-in-law M 35 Nebraska
Mary L Maloney Lodger F 27 Iowa
Andrew O'Hara Church died on July 24, 1956 and his mortal remains were laid in Section 18 of the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska; See his Find A Grave site.
3. Samuel F. Church, born May 18, 1879 in Nebraska; Samuel F. Church is believed to be the Samuel F. Church, who is found in San Francisco Assembly District 37, San Francisco County, California at the time of the 1910 census. His father and mother are listed as having been born in Illinois and New York, respectively, which is, of course, correct;
Frank H Mattern Head M 40 California
Mae I Mattern Wife F 32 California
Bernice R Mattern Daughter F 10 California
Verna M Mattern Daughter F 6 California
Sam F Church Cousin M 30 Nebraska
Samuel F. Church may never have been married. Samuel died on March 18, 1917 at ___________, ___________ and his mortal remains were laid in Section 15 in the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska.
4. Susanna Victoria "Susan" Church, born May 22, 1881/82 in Nebraska; Victoria was married to R. C. Strickler on June 14, 1915 in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, Iowa; R. C. Strickler was born in Nebraska, the son of Samuel Strickler and Nancy J. (Rice) Strickler; Susanna Victoria (Church) Strickler died on February 22, 1921 and her mortal remains were laid in Section 18 of the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska; See her Find A Grave Memorial #74741590.
5. William T. Church, born October 12, 1883 in Nebraska; At the time of the 1940 census, William is still apparently unmarried and living in Ward 4 of the City of Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska with two of his sisters;
W T Church Head M 58 Nebraska
Sarah Church Sister F 67 Nebraska
Ellen Wellington Sister F 51 Nebraska
Sarah Perry Niece F 38 Nebraska
James Wellington Cousin M 10 Nebraska
William T. Church died on May 10, 1963 at ___________, ___________ and his mortal remains were laid in Section 15 of the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska; See his Find A Grave site.
6. Ellen L. "Nell" Church, born December 7, 1888 in Nebraska; Ellen was married to ____________ Wellington on ____________ __, 19__; At the time of the 1940 census, seen above, Ellen is found living with her brother, William, in Lincoln, Nebraska; Ellen L. (Church) Wellington died on February 17, 1964 and her mortal remains were laid in Section 15 of the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska; See her Find A Grave site.
(Note: At this time, none of these six children are known to have had children.)
At the time of the 1885 Nebraska census, the Church family is found in Fairmont, Fillmore County, Nebraska;
Andrew Church M 41
Susan Church Wife F 34
Sadie Church Daughter F 12
Ohara Church Son M 11
Samuel Church Son M 6
Susan Church Daughter F 4
William Church Son M 1
Josaphine Ohara Sister-in-law F 23
Peter Myers Boarder M 24
In 1887, some of the men of the 86th Illinois organized and held a reunion for the old 86h in Peoria during the week of August 27, 1887, the 25th anniversary of their being mustered into service in Peoria back in 1862. The reunion was attended by some 130 veterans of the 86th and their families and was such a hit, that it was decided that they would continue to hold them every year on the anniversary as long as the veterans could attend. The reunions continued to grow for several years as more and more veterans of the 86th were located and they continued to hold them through the year 1923, when it was tearfully decided by the 20 aged veterans of the 86th who were able to attend that last reunion, that they were getting too old and too few to continue them after that 1923 reunion.
Andrew Grey Church stayed in touch with some of his comrades back in Illinois, but was only able to attend three reunions through the years, the great distance to be traveled and difficulty and cost of making that trip in the late 1800's and early 1900's undoubtedly playing a part. Andrew Grey Church attended the reunions of 1908, 1917 and 1919. The 1919 proved to be the last reunion that he would be able to attend.
At the time of the 1900 census, the Church family is found in Ward 1-2 in the City of Fairmont, Fairmont Township, Fillmore County, Nebraska;
Andrew G Church Head M 56 Jan 1844 Illinois
Susanna A Church Wife F 49 May 1851 New York
Sarah J Church Daughter F 28 Oct 1872 Nebraska
Samuel F Church Son M 21 May 1879 Nebraska
Susanna V Church Daughter F 18 May 1882 Nebraska
William T Church Son M 17 Oct 1883 Nebraska
Ellen L Church Daughter F 12 Nov 1888 Nebraska
In the early 1900's Andrew and Susan moved the family to Lincoln, Nebraska, where at the time of the time of the 1910 census, they are found in Ward 4 of the City of Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska;
Andrew G Church Head M 66 Illinois
Susanna Church Wife F 58 New York
Sarah Jane Church Daughter F 37 Nebraska
William Church Son M 25 Nebraska
Ellen Church Daughter F 21 Nebraska
Susanna A. "Susan" Church died on June 10, 1918 at Lincoln, Nebraska. Her mortal remains were laid in Section 15 of the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska.
At the time of the 1920 census, Andrew G. Church is found in Ward 4 of the City of Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska. He is listed as widowed;
Andrew Church Head M 75 Illinois
Sara Church Daughter F 47 Nebraska
Ellen Church Daughter F 30 Nebraska
William Church Son M 36 Nebraska
At the time of the 1930 census, Andrew G. Church is found residing in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska. He is listed as widowed and his parents as having been born in Northern Ireland;
Andrew Church Head M 86 Illinois
Sarah Church Daughter F 58 Illinois
Andrew Gray Church died in Lincoln, Nebraska on April 4, 1838 and his mortal remains were laid in the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska.
The following obituary appeared in the Tuesday, April 5, 1938 edition of the The Lincoln Star, of Lincoln, Nebraska;
"ANDREW CHURCH RITES TO BE WEDNESDAY
Former Commander Farragut Post of the G. A. R., Dies At Age Of 94
Funeral services for Andrew Gray Church, Civil war veteran and former commander of Farragut post of the G. A. R., will be held at 1:30 o'clock Wednesday at Castle, Roper & Matthews chapel. The G. A. R. will be in charge, assisted by Rev. Frank Mills, and interment will be in Wyuka. Pallbearers will be members of the Sons of Veterans.
Mr. Church, who was 94 years old, died at his home, 1910 G street at 8 o;clock, Monday night.
Born in Springfield, Ill., he came to Nebraska in 1871 and took up a homestead in Fillmore county. He had been a member of the 86th regiment, company H, Illinois volunteer infantry in the Civil war. He had lived in Lincoln for the past 32 years. In 1929 he was elected commander of Farragut post of the G. A. R.
He is survived by two sons, Andrew O'Hara and Will T., both of Lincoln; two daughters, Sarah and Nell, both at home; and one grandchild."
The April 14, 1938 edition of THE BRIMFIELD NEWS newspaper, of Brimfield, Illinois, carried the following obituary;
"ANDREW GRAY CHURCH
Andrew Gray Church, aged 94, died at this home in Lincoln, Nebraska, Monday afternoon. He had lived in Lincoln 32 years and had been a resident of Nebraska since 1871, when he came to Fillmore county to take up a homestead. He was member of the 86th regiment, Co. H, Illinois volunteer infantry in the Civil War.
He is survived by two sons, Andrew and Will, of Lincoln, two daughters, Sarah and Nell, both at home, and two grandchildren. Mr. Church, in 1929, was elected president of Farragut post of G. A. R. Funeral service was held at 1:30 Wednesday afternoon, April 6, Farragut post G. A. R. in charge, assisted by Rev. Frank Mills. Sons of Union Veterans were pall bearers and burial was in the Wyuka cemetery.
The above account is taken from the Lincoln Evening Journal, sent by J. F. Clute, of that city to his brother, John.
Mr. Church is the last of a pioneer family of this region, being a member of the William Church family, who were among the earliest settlers of Brimfield and played an important part of the religious and social development of our community."
by Baxter B. Fite III, who can be contacted at [email protected], and [email protected], Find A Grave Contributor #48118705, who can be contacted at [email protected].
(Baxter would love to hear from anyone, especially descendants of the Church, if there are any, who might be able to add to the biographical material that we have on Andrew Gray Church and the Church family. Baxter would also love to see any photographs, which may have survived the years, of Andrew Gray Church, or of his wife, Susan, added to their Find A Grave sites for all to see.)
Andrew Gray Church probably never had his portrait taken prior to the Civil War. However, during the 10 month period that the 86th Illinois was in the Nashville, Tennessee area in 1862-63, Andrew, like most of the Union soldiers in the Nashville area, probably took the time to sit for a portrait to send home to the loved ones that he left behind. These portraits were most often printed in the form of what was called a "Tin type" or in the form of what was called a CDV, a paper picture glued to a heavier card stock about the size of a modern day baseball card, and the soldiers didn't just have one or two copies made. Most of the time, they had a dozen or more made, so they could swap pictures with their tentmates, messmates and to send to their friends and family back home.
Andrew Gray Church then survived the war and lived well into the 20th century. During his life, Andrew, probably had his picture taken dozens of times, if not hundreds of times. I would dearly love to see a copy of that CDV added to his Find A Grave site for all with an interest to see. However, at this point, I would be thrilled just to see ANY pictures of him added to his Find A Grave Memorial, even ones of him as an old man. Can anyone help me? Thanks, Baxter)
Private ANDREW GRAY CHURCH, Co. H, 86th Illinois
Andrew Gray Church was born c. January 13, 1844 at or near Brimfield, Peoria County, Illinois, the son of William Warren Church and Jane Blair (Irwin) Church. William Warren Church was born c. August 6, 1804/05 in Oatslands House, Myroe, County Londonderry, North Ireland and died on January 30, 1892 near Brimfield, Peoria County, Illinois, though his tombstone says he was born in 1814. Jane Blair (Irwin) Church was born c. 1805 in County Londonderry, North Ireland and died on March 25, 1867 near Brimfield, Peoria County, Illinois. William and Jane were married in Northern Ireland on August 31, 1823 and came to America about 1828/29, first settling in New Brunswick, Canada. They brought their growing family to the United States about 1840/41, settling in or near Brimfield, Peoria County, Illinois.
They are believed to have been the parents of 12 children. They include;
1. Elizabeth Orr Church, born May 10, 1825, mostlikely in Northern Ireland; died on February 7, 1849 in Peoria County, Illinois at the age of 24 and her mortal remains were laid in the Brimfield Cemetery in Brimfield, Peoria County, Illinois.
2. John Albert Church, born c. November 26, 1827 in either Ireland or in New Brunswick, Canada; John was married to Mary E. Holmes (1831 - 1910) on ___________ __, 18__ at ; John died on January 29, 1905 in Peoria County, Illinois and his mortal remains were laid in the Brimfield Cemetery in Brimfield, Peoria County, Illinois; See his Find A Grave site for more information about his family.
3. William Warren Church Jr., born c. January 10, 1829 in Saint-John, New Brunswick, Canada; William was married to Mary ___________ c. 1860 and they had four children, Louisa D., Andrew C., Jane "Jennie" and Mary; William Warren Church Jr. died on Feb. 4, 1932 in Brimfield, Peoria County, Illinois and his mortal remains were laid in the Brimfield Cemetery in Brimfield, Peoria County, Illinois; See his Find A Grave site.
4. Mary Jane Church, born c. 1829/30 in New Brumswick.
5. Douglas Church, born c. June 23, 1831 in New Brunswick; died c. 1910's.
6. Sarah Jessica Church, born c. 1832/33 in New Brunswick.
7. Samuel B. E. (possibly Brown) Church, born c. 1835/36 in New Brunswick
8. Victoria B. Church, born c. 1837/38 in New Brunswick
9. Susannah E. Church, born c. 1838/39 in New Brunswick
10. James Work Church, born c. 1841/42 in Peoria County, Illinois.
11. Andrew Gray Church, born c. January 13, 1844 in Peoria County, Illinois; See his biography below.
At the time of the 1850 census, the Church family is found in Peoria County;
1792 Church William 46 M Farmer 5,300 Holland
1792 Church Jane 45 F Holland
1792 Church John 22 M Farmer Holland
1792 Church Wm. W. 21 M Wagon maker New Brunswick
1792 Church Mary 20 F New Brumswick
1792 Church Douglas 19 M Farmer New Brunswick
1792 Church Jessica 17 F New Brunswick
1792 Church Samuel E. 14 M New Brunswick
1792 Church Victoria 12 F New Brunswick
1792 Church Susannah E.11 F New Brunswick
1792 Church James W. 8 M Ill
1792 Church Andrew 6 M Ill
At the time of the 1860 census, the Church family is found in Jubilee Township of Peoria County, Illinois;
5 Church William W. 54 M farmer 6,000 1,232 Ireland
5 Church Jane 54 F Ireland
5 Church Samuel 23 M breaking prairie 490 PA
5 Church Victoria 21 F PA
5 Church Hannah 20 F PA
5 Church Andrew 15 M farmhand IL
5 Daugherty William 25 M farmhand Ireland
Obituary of William W. Church as found in the Brimfield News edition of Thursday, Feb. 4, 1892;
"Wm. W. Church died on Saturday January 31, 1892, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Dr. Wilkins, Tiskilwa, Ill., after a long illness. Mr. Church was a pioneer of this county and for many years a resident of this place, living on his farm north east of town in Jubilee township, He was born in County Derry, Ireland, and was 88 years of age. He came to Illinois in 1838 and settled in Jubilee township. For several years past he has made his home with his daughter at Tiskilwa and frequently visited this place, the guest of his daughter, Mrs. Corcoran, but his visits gradually grew less frequent and finally ceased as his last illness over took him. He was well educated and remarkably active for one of his age. Three daughters and six sons survive him; Mrs. Dr. Wilkins of Tiskilwa, Mrs. Capt. S. A. Law, of Peoria, and Mrs. Dr. Corcoran of this place; Mr. John Church of this place, Samuel Church of Fairbury, Ill., Wm. Church of Monmouth, Ill., Douglas and James Church of California and Andrew Church of Fairmont, Neb. the remains were brought to Brimfield and the funeral services held at the M. E. church on Tuesday, conducted by Rev. Chamberlain the Episcopal clergyman from Jubilee, after which they were laid to rest in the cemetery west of town.
Capt. S. A. Law and wife of Peoria, Mr. and Mrs. Dr. Wilkins and son of Tiskilwa, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Chruch of Fairbury, Ill. and Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Church of Fairmont, Neb. attended the funeral services of Mr. W. W. Church at this place Tuesday."
Now to continue with the biography of Andrew Gray Church;
On August 13, 1862, Andrew G. Church volunteered in Jubilee Township of Peoria County, Illinois to serve in a company which was being raised in the Peoria, Illinois area by David W. Magee, a veteran of the Mexican War, for service in the Union Army during the Civil War. At the time he enlisted, he did list Jubilee Township as his place of residence.
ILLINOIS STATE ARCHIVES
Illinois Civil War Detail Report
Name CHURCH, ANDREW G Rank PVT
Company H Unit 86 IL US INF
Personal Characteristics
Residence JUBILEE, PEORIA CO, IL
Age 19 Height 5' 11 1/2
Hair BROWN Eyes BLUE
Complexion LIGHT
Marital Status SINGLE
Occupation FARMER
Nativity PEORIA CO, IL
Service Record
Joined When AUG 13, 1862
Joined Where JUBILEE, IL
Joined By Whom D H MAGEE
Period 3 YRS
Muster In AUG 27, 1862
Muster In Where PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom
Muster Out JUN 6, 1865
Muster Out Where WASHINGTON, DC
Muster Out By Whom LT SCROGGS
When Magee had about 100 volunteers he assembled his company at Camp Lyons, located near present day Glen Oak Park in Peoria, where they remained in camp until they were mustered into service. On August 27, 1862 Magee and 89 of his volunteers, including now Private Andrew G. Church, were mustered into service as Co. H of the 86th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Initially, the men of Co. H elected Magee to be their Captain. Magee, however, because of his past military experiences, was selected and promoted to the rank of Lt. Colonel of the entire regiment. After this John H. Hall, was elected by the men of Co. H to be their Captain.
On September 7, 1862, the men of the 86th Illinois marched out of the gates of Camp Lyon, through the streets of Peoria, with much fanfare, down to the train station. There they were joined by the men of the 85th Illinois, who had been mustered into service at Camp Peoria. There the men of the 85th and 86th boarded trains bound for Camp Joe Holt, Jeffersonville, Indiana, which was located across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. Three weeks later, the men of the 85th & 86th were in the field in Kentucky as part of Col. Daniel McCook's Brigade in the Union army commanded by General Buell, in pursuit of Confederate troops. On Oct. 8, 1862, the men of McCook's Brigade were engaged with those troops in the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, the 86th Illinois suffering their first casualties. There would be many more in the next three years. After the Battle of Perryville, the Confederate troops withdrew from Kentucky, while the men of McCook's Brigade marched on to Nashville, Tennessee, where they would go into winter camp and spend much of the next 10 months.
During the next three years, Private Andrew G. Church would serve faithfully in Co. H as the men of the 86th served in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and North Carolina. During this time, Andrew was witness to and a participant in numerous battles and skirmishes, some of the bloodiest fighting in the Western Theatre of the war, including the Battles of Chickamauga, Georgia; Resaca, Georgia; Rome, Georgia, Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia; Peach Tree Creek, Georgia; Jonesboro, Georgia; Averysboro, North Carolina; and Bentonville, North Carolina, to name a few and would march with Sherman to the Sea.
In the fall of 1863, while the 86th was traveling alone through Northern Alabama and it's way to the Chattanooga area, Kinnear, in his History of the 86th, write of an incident involving Andrew G. Chruch. As they were travelling alone, the 86th was having trouble with "bushwackers." Kinnear writes, that "Early on the morning of the 10th of September, the 86th took up the line of march for Stevenson, Alabama, where it expected it would certainly join the brigade. It had not marched from Huntsville more than three miles when a soldier from Company H, Mr. Church by name, while walking in the woods near the road, espied a squad of concealed bushwhackers, whereupon he fired at them, and killed one. The dead body was brought to the road and left in plain view, being labeled with these words: "A bushwhacker.""
After the war came to an end, the men of McCook's Brigade marched on to Washington, D.C., where they would march down Pennsylvania Avenue with the army of General Sherman on the 2nd day of the Grand Review. On June 6, 1865, Private Andrew G. Church was still there with the surviving members of the 86th Illinois when they were mustered out of service at Washington, D.C. They then were sent by train to Chicago, Illinois where received their final pay and were discharged. By the end of June of 1865, Private Andrew G. Church was back home with his family in Central Illinois.
At the time of the 1870 census, Andrew G. Church is found living alone and farming in Jubilee Township of Peoria County. His post office is listed as Robins Nest;
126 Church Andrew 26 M farmer 1,000 Illinois
On February 1, 1871, Andrew Gray Church was married to Susanna A. "Susan" O'Hara in Peoria County, Illinois. Susan was born May 9, 1851 in New York State, the daughter of __________ O'Hara and __________(__________) O'Hara.
Shortly after they were married Andrew and Susan moved west to Nebraska, where at the time of the 1880 census, they are found in West Blue, Fillmore County, Nebraska, where Andrew is farming the land;
Andrew Church Self M 36 Illinois
Susan A Church Wife F 29 New York
Sarah J Church Daughter F 7 Nebraska
Andrew O Church Son M 6 Nebraska
Samuel F Church Son M 1 Nebraska
Six children are known to have been born to Andrew and Susan, including;
1. Sarah Jane "Sadie" Church, born October 11, 1871/72 in Nebraska; At the time of the 1930 census, Sarah Jane Church is still unmarried and living and taking care of her father in Lincoln, Nebraska; In the 1940 census seen below, Sarah is living, still unmarried, with her brother, William, in Lincoln, Nebraska. Sarah Jane Church died on 16 May 1966 and her mortal remains were laid in the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska. See her Find A Grave Memorial #69100487.
2. Andrew O'Hara Church, born Jan. 24, 1873/74 in Nebraska; Andrew O'Harra Church was married to Fanny Gertrude Sterns on February 21, 1907 in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, Iowa; Fanny was born on ___________ __, 18__ at ___________, Nebraska, the daughter of Benjamin Sterns and Mary (Harmen) Sterns; At the time of the 1910 census, Andrew and Fanny are found residing with her parents in Ward 6 of the City of Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska;
Benjamin Stearns Head M 66 Canada
Myrtle M Stearns Daughter F 25 Nebraska
Orrie E Stearns Son M 27
Fannie G Church Daughter F 21 Nebraska
Andrew O Church Son-in-law M 35 Nebraska
Mary L Maloney Lodger F 27 Iowa
Andrew O'Hara Church died on July 24, 1956 and his mortal remains were laid in Section 18 of the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska; See his Find A Grave site.
3. Samuel F. Church, born May 18, 1879 in Nebraska; Samuel F. Church is believed to be the Samuel F. Church, who is found in San Francisco Assembly District 37, San Francisco County, California at the time of the 1910 census. His father and mother are listed as having been born in Illinois and New York, respectively, which is, of course, correct;
Frank H Mattern Head M 40 California
Mae I Mattern Wife F 32 California
Bernice R Mattern Daughter F 10 California
Verna M Mattern Daughter F 6 California
Sam F Church Cousin M 30 Nebraska
Samuel F. Church may never have been married. Samuel died on March 18, 1917 at ___________, ___________ and his mortal remains were laid in Section 15 in the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska.
4. Susanna Victoria "Susan" Church, born May 22, 1881/82 in Nebraska; Victoria was married to R. C. Strickler on June 14, 1915 in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, Iowa; R. C. Strickler was born in Nebraska, the son of Samuel Strickler and Nancy J. (Rice) Strickler; Susanna Victoria (Church) Strickler died on February 22, 1921 and her mortal remains were laid in Section 18 of the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska; See her Find A Grave Memorial #74741590.
5. William T. Church, born October 12, 1883 in Nebraska; At the time of the 1940 census, William is still apparently unmarried and living in Ward 4 of the City of Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska with two of his sisters;
W T Church Head M 58 Nebraska
Sarah Church Sister F 67 Nebraska
Ellen Wellington Sister F 51 Nebraska
Sarah Perry Niece F 38 Nebraska
James Wellington Cousin M 10 Nebraska
William T. Church died on May 10, 1963 at ___________, ___________ and his mortal remains were laid in Section 15 of the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska; See his Find A Grave site.
6. Ellen L. "Nell" Church, born December 7, 1888 in Nebraska; Ellen was married to ____________ Wellington on ____________ __, 19__; At the time of the 1940 census, seen above, Ellen is found living with her brother, William, in Lincoln, Nebraska; Ellen L. (Church) Wellington died on February 17, 1964 and her mortal remains were laid in Section 15 of the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska; See her Find A Grave site.
(Note: At this time, none of these six children are known to have had children.)
At the time of the 1885 Nebraska census, the Church family is found in Fairmont, Fillmore County, Nebraska;
Andrew Church M 41
Susan Church Wife F 34
Sadie Church Daughter F 12
Ohara Church Son M 11
Samuel Church Son M 6
Susan Church Daughter F 4
William Church Son M 1
Josaphine Ohara Sister-in-law F 23
Peter Myers Boarder M 24
In 1887, some of the men of the 86th Illinois organized and held a reunion for the old 86h in Peoria during the week of August 27, 1887, the 25th anniversary of their being mustered into service in Peoria back in 1862. The reunion was attended by some 130 veterans of the 86th and their families and was such a hit, that it was decided that they would continue to hold them every year on the anniversary as long as the veterans could attend. The reunions continued to grow for several years as more and more veterans of the 86th were located and they continued to hold them through the year 1923, when it was tearfully decided by the 20 aged veterans of the 86th who were able to attend that last reunion, that they were getting too old and too few to continue them after that 1923 reunion.
Andrew Grey Church stayed in touch with some of his comrades back in Illinois, but was only able to attend three reunions through the years, the great distance to be traveled and difficulty and cost of making that trip in the late 1800's and early 1900's undoubtedly playing a part. Andrew Grey Church attended the reunions of 1908, 1917 and 1919. The 1919 proved to be the last reunion that he would be able to attend.
At the time of the 1900 census, the Church family is found in Ward 1-2 in the City of Fairmont, Fairmont Township, Fillmore County, Nebraska;
Andrew G Church Head M 56 Jan 1844 Illinois
Susanna A Church Wife F 49 May 1851 New York
Sarah J Church Daughter F 28 Oct 1872 Nebraska
Samuel F Church Son M 21 May 1879 Nebraska
Susanna V Church Daughter F 18 May 1882 Nebraska
William T Church Son M 17 Oct 1883 Nebraska
Ellen L Church Daughter F 12 Nov 1888 Nebraska
In the early 1900's Andrew and Susan moved the family to Lincoln, Nebraska, where at the time of the time of the 1910 census, they are found in Ward 4 of the City of Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska;
Andrew G Church Head M 66 Illinois
Susanna Church Wife F 58 New York
Sarah Jane Church Daughter F 37 Nebraska
William Church Son M 25 Nebraska
Ellen Church Daughter F 21 Nebraska
Susanna A. "Susan" Church died on June 10, 1918 at Lincoln, Nebraska. Her mortal remains were laid in Section 15 of the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska.
At the time of the 1920 census, Andrew G. Church is found in Ward 4 of the City of Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska. He is listed as widowed;
Andrew Church Head M 75 Illinois
Sara Church Daughter F 47 Nebraska
Ellen Church Daughter F 30 Nebraska
William Church Son M 36 Nebraska
At the time of the 1930 census, Andrew G. Church is found residing in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska. He is listed as widowed and his parents as having been born in Northern Ireland;
Andrew Church Head M 86 Illinois
Sarah Church Daughter F 58 Illinois
Andrew Gray Church died in Lincoln, Nebraska on April 4, 1838 and his mortal remains were laid in the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska.
The following obituary appeared in the Tuesday, April 5, 1938 edition of the The Lincoln Star, of Lincoln, Nebraska;
"ANDREW CHURCH RITES TO BE WEDNESDAY
Former Commander Farragut Post of the G. A. R., Dies At Age Of 94
Funeral services for Andrew Gray Church, Civil war veteran and former commander of Farragut post of the G. A. R., will be held at 1:30 o'clock Wednesday at Castle, Roper & Matthews chapel. The G. A. R. will be in charge, assisted by Rev. Frank Mills, and interment will be in Wyuka. Pallbearers will be members of the Sons of Veterans.
Mr. Church, who was 94 years old, died at his home, 1910 G street at 8 o;clock, Monday night.
Born in Springfield, Ill., he came to Nebraska in 1871 and took up a homestead in Fillmore county. He had been a member of the 86th regiment, company H, Illinois volunteer infantry in the Civil war. He had lived in Lincoln for the past 32 years. In 1929 he was elected commander of Farragut post of the G. A. R.
He is survived by two sons, Andrew O'Hara and Will T., both of Lincoln; two daughters, Sarah and Nell, both at home; and one grandchild."
The April 14, 1938 edition of THE BRIMFIELD NEWS newspaper, of Brimfield, Illinois, carried the following obituary;
"ANDREW GRAY CHURCH
Andrew Gray Church, aged 94, died at this home in Lincoln, Nebraska, Monday afternoon. He had lived in Lincoln 32 years and had been a resident of Nebraska since 1871, when he came to Fillmore county to take up a homestead. He was member of the 86th regiment, Co. H, Illinois volunteer infantry in the Civil War.
He is survived by two sons, Andrew and Will, of Lincoln, two daughters, Sarah and Nell, both at home, and two grandchildren. Mr. Church, in 1929, was elected president of Farragut post of G. A. R. Funeral service was held at 1:30 Wednesday afternoon, April 6, Farragut post G. A. R. in charge, assisted by Rev. Frank Mills. Sons of Union Veterans were pall bearers and burial was in the Wyuka cemetery.
The above account is taken from the Lincoln Evening Journal, sent by J. F. Clute, of that city to his brother, John.
Mr. Church is the last of a pioneer family of this region, being a member of the William Church family, who were among the earliest settlers of Brimfield and played an important part of the religious and social development of our community."
by Baxter B. Fite III, who can be contacted at [email protected], and [email protected], Find A Grave Contributor #48118705, who can be contacted at [email protected].
(Baxter would love to hear from anyone, especially descendants of the Church, if there are any, who might be able to add to the biographical material that we have on Andrew Gray Church and the Church family. Baxter would also love to see any photographs, which may have survived the years, of Andrew Gray Church, or of his wife, Susan, added to their Find A Grave sites for all to see.)
(NOTE: Of the 992 men who served in the 86th Illinois, Andrew G. Church was the last living veteran from the 86th Illinois. When he died on April 4, 1938, the 86th was no more.
Andrew Gray Church probably never had his portrait taken prior to the Civil War. However, during the 10 month period that the 86th Illinois was in the Nashville, Tennessee area in 1862-63, Andrew, like most of the Union soldiers in the Nashville area, probably took the time to sit for a portrait to send home to the loved ones that he left behind. These portraits were most often printed in the form of what was called a "Tin type" or in the form of what was called a CDV, a paper picture glued to a heavier card stock about the size of a modern day baseball card, and the soldiers didn't just have one or two copies made. Most of the time, they had a dozen or more made, so they could swap pictures with their tentmates, messmates and to send to their friends and family back home.
Andrew Gray Church then survived the war and lived well into the 20th century. During his life, Andrew, probably had his picture taken dozens of times, if not hundreds of times. I would dearly love to see a copy of that CDV added to his Find A Grave site for all with an interest to see. However, at this point, I would be thrilled just to see ANY pictures of him added to his Find A Grave Memorial, even ones of him as an old man. Can anyone help me? Thanks, Baxter)
Private ANDREW GRAY CHURCH, Co. H, 86th Illinois
Andrew Gray Church was born c. January 13, 1844 at or near Brimfield, Peoria County, Illinois, the son of William Warren Church and Jane Blair (Irwin) Church. William Warren Church was born c. August 6, 1804/05 in Oatslands House, Myroe, County Londonderry, North Ireland and died on January 30, 1892 near Brimfield, Peoria County, Illinois, though his tombstone says he was born in 1814. Jane Blair (Irwin) Church was born c. 1805 in County Londonderry, North Ireland and died on March 25, 1867 near Brimfield, Peoria County, Illinois. William and Jane were married in Northern Ireland on August 31, 1823 and came to America about 1828/29, first settling in New Brunswick, Canada. They brought their growing family to the United States about 1840/41, settling in or near Brimfield, Peoria County, Illinois.
They are believed to have been the parents of 12 children. They include;
1. Elizabeth Orr Church, born May 10, 1825, mostlikely in Northern Ireland; died on February 7, 1849 in Peoria County, Illinois at the age of 24 and her mortal remains were laid in the Brimfield Cemetery in Brimfield, Peoria County, Illinois.
2. John Albert Church, born c. November 26, 1827 in either Ireland or in New Brunswick, Canada; John was married to Mary E. Holmes (1831 - 1910) on ___________ __, 18__ at ; John died on January 29, 1905 in Peoria County, Illinois and his mortal remains were laid in the Brimfield Cemetery in Brimfield, Peoria County, Illinois; See his Find A Grave site for more information about his family.
3. William Warren Church Jr., born c. January 10, 1829 in Saint-John, New Brunswick, Canada; William was married to Mary ___________ c. 1860 and they had four children, Louisa D., Andrew C., Jane "Jennie" and Mary; William Warren Church Jr. died on Feb. 4, 1932 in Brimfield, Peoria County, Illinois and his mortal remains were laid in the Brimfield Cemetery in Brimfield, Peoria County, Illinois; See his Find A Grave site.
4. Mary Jane Church, born c. 1829/30 in New Brumswick.
5. Douglas Church, born c. June 23, 1831 in New Brunswick; died c. 1910's.
6. Sarah Jessica Church, born c. 1832/33 in New Brunswick.
7. Samuel B. E. (possibly Brown) Church, born c. 1835/36 in New Brunswick
8. Victoria B. Church, born c. 1837/38 in New Brunswick
9. Susannah E. Church, born c. 1838/39 in New Brunswick
10. James Work Church, born c. 1841/42 in Peoria County, Illinois.
11. Andrew Gray Church, born c. January 13, 1844 in Peoria County, Illinois; See his biography below.
At the time of the 1850 census, the Church family is found in Peoria County;
1792 Church William 46 M Farmer 5,300 Holland
1792 Church Jane 45 F Holland
1792 Church John 22 M Farmer Holland
1792 Church Wm. W. 21 M Wagon maker New Brunswick
1792 Church Mary 20 F New Brumswick
1792 Church Douglas 19 M Farmer New Brunswick
1792 Church Jessica 17 F New Brunswick
1792 Church Samuel E. 14 M New Brunswick
1792 Church Victoria 12 F New Brunswick
1792 Church Susannah E.11 F New Brunswick
1792 Church James W. 8 M Ill
1792 Church Andrew 6 M Ill
At the time of the 1860 census, the Church family is found in Jubilee Township of Peoria County, Illinois;
5 Church William W. 54 M farmer 6,000 1,232 Ireland
5 Church Jane 54 F Ireland
5 Church Samuel 23 M breaking prairie 490 PA
5 Church Victoria 21 F PA
5 Church Hannah 20 F PA
5 Church Andrew 15 M farmhand IL
5 Daugherty William 25 M farmhand Ireland
Obituary of William W. Church as found in the Brimfield News edition of Thursday, Feb. 4, 1892;
"Wm. W. Church died on Saturday January 31, 1892, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Dr. Wilkins, Tiskilwa, Ill., after a long illness. Mr. Church was a pioneer of this county and for many years a resident of this place, living on his farm north east of town in Jubilee township, He was born in County Derry, Ireland, and was 88 years of age. He came to Illinois in 1838 and settled in Jubilee township. For several years past he has made his home with his daughter at Tiskilwa and frequently visited this place, the guest of his daughter, Mrs. Corcoran, but his visits gradually grew less frequent and finally ceased as his last illness over took him. He was well educated and remarkably active for one of his age. Three daughters and six sons survive him; Mrs. Dr. Wilkins of Tiskilwa, Mrs. Capt. S. A. Law, of Peoria, and Mrs. Dr. Corcoran of this place; Mr. John Church of this place, Samuel Church of Fairbury, Ill., Wm. Church of Monmouth, Ill., Douglas and James Church of California and Andrew Church of Fairmont, Neb. the remains were brought to Brimfield and the funeral services held at the M. E. church on Tuesday, conducted by Rev. Chamberlain the Episcopal clergyman from Jubilee, after which they were laid to rest in the cemetery west of town.
Capt. S. A. Law and wife of Peoria, Mr. and Mrs. Dr. Wilkins and son of Tiskilwa, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Chruch of Fairbury, Ill. and Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Church of Fairmont, Neb. attended the funeral services of Mr. W. W. Church at this place Tuesday."
Now to continue with the biography of Andrew Gray Church;
On August 13, 1862, Andrew G. Church volunteered in Jubilee Township of Peoria County, Illinois to serve in a company which was being raised in the Peoria, Illinois area by David W. Magee, a veteran of the Mexican War, for service in the Union Army during the Civil War. At the time he enlisted, he did list Jubilee Township as his place of residence.
ILLINOIS STATE ARCHIVES
Illinois Civil War Detail Report
Name CHURCH, ANDREW G Rank PVT
Company H Unit 86 IL US INF
Personal Characteristics
Residence JUBILEE, PEORIA CO, IL
Age 19 Height 5' 11 1/2
Hair BROWN Eyes BLUE
Complexion LIGHT
Marital Status SINGLE
Occupation FARMER
Nativity PEORIA CO, IL
Service Record
Joined When AUG 13, 1862
Joined Where JUBILEE, IL
Joined By Whom D H MAGEE
Period 3 YRS
Muster In AUG 27, 1862
Muster In Where PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom
Muster Out JUN 6, 1865
Muster Out Where WASHINGTON, DC
Muster Out By Whom LT SCROGGS
When Magee had about 100 volunteers he assembled his company at Camp Lyons, located near present day Glen Oak Park in Peoria, where they remained in camp until they were mustered into service. On August 27, 1862 Magee and 89 of his volunteers, including now Private Andrew G. Church, were mustered into service as Co. H of the 86th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Initially, the men of Co. H elected Magee to be their Captain. Magee, however, because of his past military experiences, was selected and promoted to the rank of Lt. Colonel of the entire regiment. After this John H. Hall, was elected by the men of Co. H to be their Captain.
On September 7, 1862, the men of the 86th Illinois marched out of the gates of Camp Lyon, through the streets of Peoria, with much fanfare, down to the train station. There they were joined by the men of the 85th Illinois, who had been mustered into service at Camp Peoria. There the men of the 85th and 86th boarded trains bound for Camp Joe Holt, Jeffersonville, Indiana, which was located across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. Three weeks later, the men of the 85th & 86th were in the field in Kentucky as part of Col. Daniel McCook's Brigade in the Union army commanded by General Buell, in pursuit of Confederate troops. On Oct. 8, 1862, the men of McCook's Brigade were engaged with those troops in the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, the 86th Illinois suffering their first casualties. There would be many more in the next three years. After the Battle of Perryville, the Confederate troops withdrew from Kentucky, while the men of McCook's Brigade marched on to Nashville, Tennessee, where they would go into winter camp and spend much of the next 10 months.
During the next three years, Private Andrew G. Church would serve faithfully in Co. H as the men of the 86th served in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and North Carolina. During this time, Andrew was witness to and a participant in numerous battles and skirmishes, some of the bloodiest fighting in the Western Theatre of the war, including the Battles of Chickamauga, Georgia; Resaca, Georgia; Rome, Georgia, Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia; Peach Tree Creek, Georgia; Jonesboro, Georgia; Averysboro, North Carolina; and Bentonville, North Carolina, to name a few and would march with Sherman to the Sea.
In the fall of 1863, while the 86th was traveling alone through Northern Alabama and it's way to the Chattanooga area, Kinnear, in his History of the 86th, write of an incident involving Andrew G. Chruch. As they were travelling alone, the 86th was having trouble with "bushwackers." Kinnear writes, that "Early on the morning of the 10th of September, the 86th took up the line of march for Stevenson, Alabama, where it expected it would certainly join the brigade. It had not marched from Huntsville more than three miles when a soldier from Company H, Mr. Church by name, while walking in the woods near the road, espied a squad of concealed bushwhackers, whereupon he fired at them, and killed one. The dead body was brought to the road and left in plain view, being labeled with these words: "A bushwhacker.""
After the war came to an end, the men of McCook's Brigade marched on to Washington, D.C., where they would march down Pennsylvania Avenue with the army of General Sherman on the 2nd day of the Grand Review. On June 6, 1865, Private Andrew G. Church was still there with the surviving members of the 86th Illinois when they were mustered out of service at Washington, D.C. They then were sent by train to Chicago, Illinois where received their final pay and were discharged. By the end of June of 1865, Private Andrew G. Church was back home with his family in Central Illinois.
At the time of the 1870 census, Andrew G. Church is found living alone and farming in Jubilee Township of Peoria County. His post office is listed as Robins Nest;
126 Church Andrew 26 M farmer 1,000 Illinois
On February 1, 1871, Andrew Gray Church was married to Susanna A. "Susan" O'Hara in Peoria County, Illinois. Susan was born May 9, 1851 in New York State, the daughter of __________ O'Hara and __________(__________) O'Hara.
Shortly after they were married Andrew and Susan moved west to Nebraska, where at the time of the 1880 census, they are found in West Blue, Fillmore County, Nebraska, where Andrew is farming the land;
Andrew Church Self M 36 Illinois
Susan A Church Wife F 29 New York
Sarah J Church Daughter F 7 Nebraska
Andrew O Church Son M 6 Nebraska
Samuel F Church Son M 1 Nebraska
Six children are known to have been born to Andrew and Susan, including;
1. Sarah Jane "Sadie" Church, born October 11, 1871/72 in Nebraska; At the time of the 1930 census, Sarah Jane Church is still unmarried and living and taking care of her father in Lincoln, Nebraska; In the 1940 census seen below, Sarah is living, still unmarried, with her brother, William, in Lincoln, Nebraska. Sarah Jane Church died on 16 May 1966 and her mortal remains were laid in the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska. See her Find A Grave Memorial #69100487.
2. Andrew O'Hara Church, born Jan. 24, 1873/74 in Nebraska; Andrew O'Harra Church was married to Fanny Gertrude Sterns on February 21, 1907 in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, Iowa; Fanny was born on ___________ __, 18__ at ___________, Nebraska, the daughter of Benjamin Sterns and Mary (Harmen) Sterns; At the time of the 1910 census, Andrew and Fanny are found residing with her parents in Ward 6 of the City of Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska;
Benjamin Stearns Head M 66 Canada
Myrtle M Stearns Daughter F 25 Nebraska
Orrie E Stearns Son M 27
Fannie G Church Daughter F 21 Nebraska
Andrew O Church Son-in-law M 35 Nebraska
Mary L Maloney Lodger F 27 Iowa
Andrew O'Hara Church died on July 24, 1956 and his mortal remains were laid in Section 18 of the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska; See his Find A Grave site.
3. Samuel F. Church, born May 18, 1879 in Nebraska; Samuel F. Church is believed to be the Samuel F. Church, who is found in San Francisco Assembly District 37, San Francisco County, California at the time of the 1910 census. His father and mother are listed as having been born in Illinois and New York, respectively, which is, of course, correct;
Frank H Mattern Head M 40 California
Mae I Mattern Wife F 32 California
Bernice R Mattern Daughter F 10 California
Verna M Mattern Daughter F 6 California
Sam F Church Cousin M 30 Nebraska
Samuel F. Church may never have been married. Samuel died on March 18, 1917 at ___________, ___________ and his mortal remains were laid in Section 15 in the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska.
4. Susanna Victoria "Susan" Church, born May 22, 1881/82 in Nebraska; Victoria was married to R. C. Strickler on June 14, 1915 in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, Iowa; R. C. Strickler was born in Nebraska, the son of Samuel Strickler and Nancy J. (Rice) Strickler; Susanna Victoria (Church) Strickler died on February 22, 1921 and her mortal remains were laid in Section 18 of the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska; See her Find A Grave Memorial #74741590.
5. William T. Church, born October 12, 1883 in Nebraska; At the time of the 1940 census, William is still apparently unmarried and living in Ward 4 of the City of Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska with two of his sisters;
W T Church Head M 58 Nebraska
Sarah Church Sister F 67 Nebraska
Ellen Wellington Sister F 51 Nebraska
Sarah Perry Niece F 38 Nebraska
James Wellington Cousin M 10 Nebraska
William T. Church died on May 10, 1963 at ___________, ___________ and his mortal remains were laid in Section 15 of the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska; See his Find A Grave site.
6. Ellen L. "Nell" Church, born December 7, 1888 in Nebraska; Ellen was married to ____________ Wellington on ____________ __, 19__; At the time of the 1940 census, seen above, Ellen is found living with her brother, William, in Lincoln, Nebraska; Ellen L. (Church) Wellington died on February 17, 1964 and her mortal remains were laid in Section 15 of the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska; See her Find A Grave site.
(Note: At this time, none of these six children are known to have had children.)
At the time of the 1885 Nebraska census, the Church family is found in Fairmont, Fillmore County, Nebraska;
Andrew Church M 41
Susan Church Wife F 34
Sadie Church Daughter F 12
Ohara Church Son M 11
Samuel Church Son M 6
Susan Church Daughter F 4
William Church Son M 1
Josaphine Ohara Sister-in-law F 23
Peter Myers Boarder M 24
In 1887, some of the men of the 86th Illinois organized and held a reunion for the old 86h in Peoria during the week of August 27, 1887, the 25th anniversary of their being mustered into service in Peoria back in 1862. The reunion was attended by some 130 veterans of the 86th and their families and was such a hit, that it was decided that they would continue to hold them every year on the anniversary as long as the veterans could attend. The reunions continued to grow for several years as more and more veterans of the 86th were located and they continued to hold them through the year 1923, when it was tearfully decided by the 20 aged veterans of the 86th who were able to attend that last reunion, that they were getting too old and too few to continue them after that 1923 reunion.
Andrew Grey Church stayed in touch with some of his comrades back in Illinois, but was only able to attend three reunions through the years, the great distance to be traveled and difficulty and cost of making that trip in the late 1800's and early 1900's undoubtedly playing a part. Andrew Grey Church attended the reunions of 1908, 1917 and 1919. The 1919 proved to be the last reunion that he would be able to attend.
At the time of the 1900 census, the Church family is found in Ward 1-2 in the City of Fairmont, Fairmont Township, Fillmore County, Nebraska;
Andrew G Church Head M 56 Jan 1844 Illinois
Susanna A Church Wife F 49 May 1851 New York
Sarah J Church Daughter F 28 Oct 1872 Nebraska
Samuel F Church Son M 21 May 1879 Nebraska
Susanna V Church Daughter F 18 May 1882 Nebraska
William T Church Son M 17 Oct 1883 Nebraska
Ellen L Church Daughter F 12 Nov 1888 Nebraska
In the early 1900's Andrew and Susan moved the family to Lincoln, Nebraska, where at the time of the time of the 1910 census, they are found in Ward 4 of the City of Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska;
Andrew G Church Head M 66 Illinois
Susanna Church Wife F 58 New York
Sarah Jane Church Daughter F 37 Nebraska
William Church Son M 25 Nebraska
Ellen Church Daughter F 21 Nebraska
Susanna A. "Susan" Church died on June 10, 1918 at Lincoln, Nebraska. Her mortal remains were laid in Section 15 of the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska.
At the time of the 1920 census, Andrew G. Church is found in Ward 4 of the City of Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska. He is listed as widowed;
Andrew Church Head M 75 Illinois
Sara Church Daughter F 47 Nebraska
Ellen Church Daughter F 30 Nebraska
William Church Son M 36 Nebraska
At the time of the 1930 census, Andrew G. Church is found residing in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska. He is listed as widowed and his parents as having been born in Northern Ireland;
Andrew Church Head M 86 Illinois
Sarah Church Daughter F 58 Illinois
Andrew Gray Church died in Lincoln, Nebraska on April 4, 1838 and his mortal remains were laid in the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska.
The following obituary appeared in the Tuesday, April 5, 1938 edition of the The Lincoln Star, of Lincoln, Nebraska;
"ANDREW CHURCH RITES TO BE WEDNESDAY
Former Commander Farragut Post of the G. A. R., Dies At Age Of 94
Funeral services for Andrew Gray Church, Civil war veteran and former commander of Farragut post of the G. A. R., will be held at 1:30 o'clock Wednesday at Castle, Roper & Matthews chapel. The G. A. R. will be in charge, assisted by Rev. Frank Mills, and interment will be in Wyuka. Pallbearers will be members of the Sons of Veterans.
Mr. Church, who was 94 years old, died at his home, 1910 G street at 8 o;clock, Monday night.
Born in Springfield, Ill., he came to Nebraska in 1871 and took up a homestead in Fillmore county. He had been a member of the 86th regiment, company H, Illinois volunteer infantry in the Civil war. He had lived in Lincoln for the past 32 years. In 1929 he was elected commander of Farragut post of the G. A. R.
He is survived by two sons, Andrew O'Hara and Will T., both of Lincoln; two daughters, Sarah and Nell, both at home; and one grandchild."
The April 14, 1938 edition of THE BRIMFIELD NEWS newspaper, of Brimfield, Illinois, carried the following obituary;
"ANDREW GRAY CHURCH
Andrew Gray Church, aged 94, died at this home in Lincoln, Nebraska, Monday afternoon. He had lived in Lincoln 32 years and had been a resident of Nebraska since 1871, when he came to Fillmore county to take up a homestead. He was member of the 86th regiment, Co. H, Illinois volunteer infantry in the Civil War.
He is survived by two sons, Andrew and Will, of Lincoln, two daughters, Sarah and Nell, both at home, and two grandchildren. Mr. Church, in 1929, was elected president of Farragut post of G. A. R. Funeral service was held at 1:30 Wednesday afternoon, April 6, Farragut post G. A. R. in charge, assisted by Rev. Frank Mills. Sons of Union Veterans were pall bearers and burial was in the Wyuka cemetery.
The above account is taken from the Lincoln Evening Journal, sent by J. F. Clute, of that city to his brother, John.
Mr. Church is the last of a pioneer family of this region, being a member of the William Church family, who were among the earliest settlers of Brimfield and played an important part of the religious and social development of our community."
by Baxter B. Fite III, who can be contacted at [email protected], and [email protected], Find A Grave Contributor #48118705, who can be contacted at [email protected].
(Baxter would love to hear from anyone, especially descendants of the Church, if there are any, who might be able to add to the biographical material that we have on Andrew Gray Church and the Church family. Baxter would also love to see any photographs, which may have survived the years, of Andrew Gray Church, or of his wife, Susan, added to their Find A Grave sites for all to see.)
Andrew Gray Church probably never had his portrait taken prior to the Civil War. However, during the 10 month period that the 86th Illinois was in the Nashville, Tennessee area in 1862-63, Andrew, like most of the Union soldiers in the Nashville area, probably took the time to sit for a portrait to send home to the loved ones that he left behind. These portraits were most often printed in the form of what was called a "Tin type" or in the form of what was called a CDV, a paper picture glued to a heavier card stock about the size of a modern day baseball card, and the soldiers didn't just have one or two copies made. Most of the time, they had a dozen or more made, so they could swap pictures with their tentmates, messmates and to send to their friends and family back home.
Andrew Gray Church then survived the war and lived well into the 20th century. During his life, Andrew, probably had his picture taken dozens of times, if not hundreds of times. I would dearly love to see a copy of that CDV added to his Find A Grave site for all with an interest to see. However, at this point, I would be thrilled just to see ANY pictures of him added to his Find A Grave Memorial, even ones of him as an old man. Can anyone help me? Thanks, Baxter)
Private ANDREW GRAY CHURCH, Co. H, 86th Illinois
Andrew Gray Church was born c. January 13, 1844 at or near Brimfield, Peoria County, Illinois, the son of William Warren Church and Jane Blair (Irwin) Church. William Warren Church was born c. August 6, 1804/05 in Oatslands House, Myroe, County Londonderry, North Ireland and died on January 30, 1892 near Brimfield, Peoria County, Illinois, though his tombstone says he was born in 1814. Jane Blair (Irwin) Church was born c. 1805 in County Londonderry, North Ireland and died on March 25, 1867 near Brimfield, Peoria County, Illinois. William and Jane were married in Northern Ireland on August 31, 1823 and came to America about 1828/29, first settling in New Brunswick, Canada. They brought their growing family to the United States about 1840/41, settling in or near Brimfield, Peoria County, Illinois.
They are believed to have been the parents of 12 children. They include;
1. Elizabeth Orr Church, born May 10, 1825, mostlikely in Northern Ireland; died on February 7, 1849 in Peoria County, Illinois at the age of 24 and her mortal remains were laid in the Brimfield Cemetery in Brimfield, Peoria County, Illinois.
2. John Albert Church, born c. November 26, 1827 in either Ireland or in New Brunswick, Canada; John was married to Mary E. Holmes (1831 - 1910) on ___________ __, 18__ at ; John died on January 29, 1905 in Peoria County, Illinois and his mortal remains were laid in the Brimfield Cemetery in Brimfield, Peoria County, Illinois; See his Find A Grave site for more information about his family.
3. William Warren Church Jr., born c. January 10, 1829 in Saint-John, New Brunswick, Canada; William was married to Mary ___________ c. 1860 and they had four children, Louisa D., Andrew C., Jane "Jennie" and Mary; William Warren Church Jr. died on Feb. 4, 1932 in Brimfield, Peoria County, Illinois and his mortal remains were laid in the Brimfield Cemetery in Brimfield, Peoria County, Illinois; See his Find A Grave site.
4. Mary Jane Church, born c. 1829/30 in New Brumswick.
5. Douglas Church, born c. June 23, 1831 in New Brunswick; died c. 1910's.
6. Sarah Jessica Church, born c. 1832/33 in New Brunswick.
7. Samuel B. E. (possibly Brown) Church, born c. 1835/36 in New Brunswick
8. Victoria B. Church, born c. 1837/38 in New Brunswick
9. Susannah E. Church, born c. 1838/39 in New Brunswick
10. James Work Church, born c. 1841/42 in Peoria County, Illinois.
11. Andrew Gray Church, born c. January 13, 1844 in Peoria County, Illinois; See his biography below.
At the time of the 1850 census, the Church family is found in Peoria County;
1792 Church William 46 M Farmer 5,300 Holland
1792 Church Jane 45 F Holland
1792 Church John 22 M Farmer Holland
1792 Church Wm. W. 21 M Wagon maker New Brunswick
1792 Church Mary 20 F New Brumswick
1792 Church Douglas 19 M Farmer New Brunswick
1792 Church Jessica 17 F New Brunswick
1792 Church Samuel E. 14 M New Brunswick
1792 Church Victoria 12 F New Brunswick
1792 Church Susannah E.11 F New Brunswick
1792 Church James W. 8 M Ill
1792 Church Andrew 6 M Ill
At the time of the 1860 census, the Church family is found in Jubilee Township of Peoria County, Illinois;
5 Church William W. 54 M farmer 6,000 1,232 Ireland
5 Church Jane 54 F Ireland
5 Church Samuel 23 M breaking prairie 490 PA
5 Church Victoria 21 F PA
5 Church Hannah 20 F PA
5 Church Andrew 15 M farmhand IL
5 Daugherty William 25 M farmhand Ireland
Obituary of William W. Church as found in the Brimfield News edition of Thursday, Feb. 4, 1892;
"Wm. W. Church died on Saturday January 31, 1892, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Dr. Wilkins, Tiskilwa, Ill., after a long illness. Mr. Church was a pioneer of this county and for many years a resident of this place, living on his farm north east of town in Jubilee township, He was born in County Derry, Ireland, and was 88 years of age. He came to Illinois in 1838 and settled in Jubilee township. For several years past he has made his home with his daughter at Tiskilwa and frequently visited this place, the guest of his daughter, Mrs. Corcoran, but his visits gradually grew less frequent and finally ceased as his last illness over took him. He was well educated and remarkably active for one of his age. Three daughters and six sons survive him; Mrs. Dr. Wilkins of Tiskilwa, Mrs. Capt. S. A. Law, of Peoria, and Mrs. Dr. Corcoran of this place; Mr. John Church of this place, Samuel Church of Fairbury, Ill., Wm. Church of Monmouth, Ill., Douglas and James Church of California and Andrew Church of Fairmont, Neb. the remains were brought to Brimfield and the funeral services held at the M. E. church on Tuesday, conducted by Rev. Chamberlain the Episcopal clergyman from Jubilee, after which they were laid to rest in the cemetery west of town.
Capt. S. A. Law and wife of Peoria, Mr. and Mrs. Dr. Wilkins and son of Tiskilwa, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Chruch of Fairbury, Ill. and Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Church of Fairmont, Neb. attended the funeral services of Mr. W. W. Church at this place Tuesday."
Now to continue with the biography of Andrew Gray Church;
On August 13, 1862, Andrew G. Church volunteered in Jubilee Township of Peoria County, Illinois to serve in a company which was being raised in the Peoria, Illinois area by David W. Magee, a veteran of the Mexican War, for service in the Union Army during the Civil War. At the time he enlisted, he did list Jubilee Township as his place of residence.
ILLINOIS STATE ARCHIVES
Illinois Civil War Detail Report
Name CHURCH, ANDREW G Rank PVT
Company H Unit 86 IL US INF
Personal Characteristics
Residence JUBILEE, PEORIA CO, IL
Age 19 Height 5' 11 1/2
Hair BROWN Eyes BLUE
Complexion LIGHT
Marital Status SINGLE
Occupation FARMER
Nativity PEORIA CO, IL
Service Record
Joined When AUG 13, 1862
Joined Where JUBILEE, IL
Joined By Whom D H MAGEE
Period 3 YRS
Muster In AUG 27, 1862
Muster In Where PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom
Muster Out JUN 6, 1865
Muster Out Where WASHINGTON, DC
Muster Out By Whom LT SCROGGS
When Magee had about 100 volunteers he assembled his company at Camp Lyons, located near present day Glen Oak Park in Peoria, where they remained in camp until they were mustered into service. On August 27, 1862 Magee and 89 of his volunteers, including now Private Andrew G. Church, were mustered into service as Co. H of the 86th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Initially, the men of Co. H elected Magee to be their Captain. Magee, however, because of his past military experiences, was selected and promoted to the rank of Lt. Colonel of the entire regiment. After this John H. Hall, was elected by the men of Co. H to be their Captain.
On September 7, 1862, the men of the 86th Illinois marched out of the gates of Camp Lyon, through the streets of Peoria, with much fanfare, down to the train station. There they were joined by the men of the 85th Illinois, who had been mustered into service at Camp Peoria. There the men of the 85th and 86th boarded trains bound for Camp Joe Holt, Jeffersonville, Indiana, which was located across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. Three weeks later, the men of the 85th & 86th were in the field in Kentucky as part of Col. Daniel McCook's Brigade in the Union army commanded by General Buell, in pursuit of Confederate troops. On Oct. 8, 1862, the men of McCook's Brigade were engaged with those troops in the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, the 86th Illinois suffering their first casualties. There would be many more in the next three years. After the Battle of Perryville, the Confederate troops withdrew from Kentucky, while the men of McCook's Brigade marched on to Nashville, Tennessee, where they would go into winter camp and spend much of the next 10 months.
During the next three years, Private Andrew G. Church would serve faithfully in Co. H as the men of the 86th served in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and North Carolina. During this time, Andrew was witness to and a participant in numerous battles and skirmishes, some of the bloodiest fighting in the Western Theatre of the war, including the Battles of Chickamauga, Georgia; Resaca, Georgia; Rome, Georgia, Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia; Peach Tree Creek, Georgia; Jonesboro, Georgia; Averysboro, North Carolina; and Bentonville, North Carolina, to name a few and would march with Sherman to the Sea.
In the fall of 1863, while the 86th was traveling alone through Northern Alabama and it's way to the Chattanooga area, Kinnear, in his History of the 86th, write of an incident involving Andrew G. Chruch. As they were travelling alone, the 86th was having trouble with "bushwackers." Kinnear writes, that "Early on the morning of the 10th of September, the 86th took up the line of march for Stevenson, Alabama, where it expected it would certainly join the brigade. It had not marched from Huntsville more than three miles when a soldier from Company H, Mr. Church by name, while walking in the woods near the road, espied a squad of concealed bushwhackers, whereupon he fired at them, and killed one. The dead body was brought to the road and left in plain view, being labeled with these words: "A bushwhacker.""
After the war came to an end, the men of McCook's Brigade marched on to Washington, D.C., where they would march down Pennsylvania Avenue with the army of General Sherman on the 2nd day of the Grand Review. On June 6, 1865, Private Andrew G. Church was still there with the surviving members of the 86th Illinois when they were mustered out of service at Washington, D.C. They then were sent by train to Chicago, Illinois where received their final pay and were discharged. By the end of June of 1865, Private Andrew G. Church was back home with his family in Central Illinois.
At the time of the 1870 census, Andrew G. Church is found living alone and farming in Jubilee Township of Peoria County. His post office is listed as Robins Nest;
126 Church Andrew 26 M farmer 1,000 Illinois
On February 1, 1871, Andrew Gray Church was married to Susanna A. "Susan" O'Hara in Peoria County, Illinois. Susan was born May 9, 1851 in New York State, the daughter of __________ O'Hara and __________(__________) O'Hara.
Shortly after they were married Andrew and Susan moved west to Nebraska, where at the time of the 1880 census, they are found in West Blue, Fillmore County, Nebraska, where Andrew is farming the land;
Andrew Church Self M 36 Illinois
Susan A Church Wife F 29 New York
Sarah J Church Daughter F 7 Nebraska
Andrew O Church Son M 6 Nebraska
Samuel F Church Son M 1 Nebraska
Six children are known to have been born to Andrew and Susan, including;
1. Sarah Jane "Sadie" Church, born October 11, 1871/72 in Nebraska; At the time of the 1930 census, Sarah Jane Church is still unmarried and living and taking care of her father in Lincoln, Nebraska; In the 1940 census seen below, Sarah is living, still unmarried, with her brother, William, in Lincoln, Nebraska. Sarah Jane Church died on 16 May 1966 and her mortal remains were laid in the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska. See her Find A Grave Memorial #69100487.
2. Andrew O'Hara Church, born Jan. 24, 1873/74 in Nebraska; Andrew O'Harra Church was married to Fanny Gertrude Sterns on February 21, 1907 in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, Iowa; Fanny was born on ___________ __, 18__ at ___________, Nebraska, the daughter of Benjamin Sterns and Mary (Harmen) Sterns; At the time of the 1910 census, Andrew and Fanny are found residing with her parents in Ward 6 of the City of Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska;
Benjamin Stearns Head M 66 Canada
Myrtle M Stearns Daughter F 25 Nebraska
Orrie E Stearns Son M 27
Fannie G Church Daughter F 21 Nebraska
Andrew O Church Son-in-law M 35 Nebraska
Mary L Maloney Lodger F 27 Iowa
Andrew O'Hara Church died on July 24, 1956 and his mortal remains were laid in Section 18 of the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska; See his Find A Grave site.
3. Samuel F. Church, born May 18, 1879 in Nebraska; Samuel F. Church is believed to be the Samuel F. Church, who is found in San Francisco Assembly District 37, San Francisco County, California at the time of the 1910 census. His father and mother are listed as having been born in Illinois and New York, respectively, which is, of course, correct;
Frank H Mattern Head M 40 California
Mae I Mattern Wife F 32 California
Bernice R Mattern Daughter F 10 California
Verna M Mattern Daughter F 6 California
Sam F Church Cousin M 30 Nebraska
Samuel F. Church may never have been married. Samuel died on March 18, 1917 at ___________, ___________ and his mortal remains were laid in Section 15 in the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska.
4. Susanna Victoria "Susan" Church, born May 22, 1881/82 in Nebraska; Victoria was married to R. C. Strickler on June 14, 1915 in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, Iowa; R. C. Strickler was born in Nebraska, the son of Samuel Strickler and Nancy J. (Rice) Strickler; Susanna Victoria (Church) Strickler died on February 22, 1921 and her mortal remains were laid in Section 18 of the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska; See her Find A Grave Memorial #74741590.
5. William T. Church, born October 12, 1883 in Nebraska; At the time of the 1940 census, William is still apparently unmarried and living in Ward 4 of the City of Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska with two of his sisters;
W T Church Head M 58 Nebraska
Sarah Church Sister F 67 Nebraska
Ellen Wellington Sister F 51 Nebraska
Sarah Perry Niece F 38 Nebraska
James Wellington Cousin M 10 Nebraska
William T. Church died on May 10, 1963 at ___________, ___________ and his mortal remains were laid in Section 15 of the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska; See his Find A Grave site.
6. Ellen L. "Nell" Church, born December 7, 1888 in Nebraska; Ellen was married to ____________ Wellington on ____________ __, 19__; At the time of the 1940 census, seen above, Ellen is found living with her brother, William, in Lincoln, Nebraska; Ellen L. (Church) Wellington died on February 17, 1964 and her mortal remains were laid in Section 15 of the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska; See her Find A Grave site.
(Note: At this time, none of these six children are known to have had children.)
At the time of the 1885 Nebraska census, the Church family is found in Fairmont, Fillmore County, Nebraska;
Andrew Church M 41
Susan Church Wife F 34
Sadie Church Daughter F 12
Ohara Church Son M 11
Samuel Church Son M 6
Susan Church Daughter F 4
William Church Son M 1
Josaphine Ohara Sister-in-law F 23
Peter Myers Boarder M 24
In 1887, some of the men of the 86th Illinois organized and held a reunion for the old 86h in Peoria during the week of August 27, 1887, the 25th anniversary of their being mustered into service in Peoria back in 1862. The reunion was attended by some 130 veterans of the 86th and their families and was such a hit, that it was decided that they would continue to hold them every year on the anniversary as long as the veterans could attend. The reunions continued to grow for several years as more and more veterans of the 86th were located and they continued to hold them through the year 1923, when it was tearfully decided by the 20 aged veterans of the 86th who were able to attend that last reunion, that they were getting too old and too few to continue them after that 1923 reunion.
Andrew Grey Church stayed in touch with some of his comrades back in Illinois, but was only able to attend three reunions through the years, the great distance to be traveled and difficulty and cost of making that trip in the late 1800's and early 1900's undoubtedly playing a part. Andrew Grey Church attended the reunions of 1908, 1917 and 1919. The 1919 proved to be the last reunion that he would be able to attend.
At the time of the 1900 census, the Church family is found in Ward 1-2 in the City of Fairmont, Fairmont Township, Fillmore County, Nebraska;
Andrew G Church Head M 56 Jan 1844 Illinois
Susanna A Church Wife F 49 May 1851 New York
Sarah J Church Daughter F 28 Oct 1872 Nebraska
Samuel F Church Son M 21 May 1879 Nebraska
Susanna V Church Daughter F 18 May 1882 Nebraska
William T Church Son M 17 Oct 1883 Nebraska
Ellen L Church Daughter F 12 Nov 1888 Nebraska
In the early 1900's Andrew and Susan moved the family to Lincoln, Nebraska, where at the time of the time of the 1910 census, they are found in Ward 4 of the City of Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska;
Andrew G Church Head M 66 Illinois
Susanna Church Wife F 58 New York
Sarah Jane Church Daughter F 37 Nebraska
William Church Son M 25 Nebraska
Ellen Church Daughter F 21 Nebraska
Susanna A. "Susan" Church died on June 10, 1918 at Lincoln, Nebraska. Her mortal remains were laid in Section 15 of the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska.
At the time of the 1920 census, Andrew G. Church is found in Ward 4 of the City of Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska. He is listed as widowed;
Andrew Church Head M 75 Illinois
Sara Church Daughter F 47 Nebraska
Ellen Church Daughter F 30 Nebraska
William Church Son M 36 Nebraska
At the time of the 1930 census, Andrew G. Church is found residing in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska. He is listed as widowed and his parents as having been born in Northern Ireland;
Andrew Church Head M 86 Illinois
Sarah Church Daughter F 58 Illinois
Andrew Gray Church died in Lincoln, Nebraska on April 4, 1838 and his mortal remains were laid in the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska.
The following obituary appeared in the Tuesday, April 5, 1938 edition of the The Lincoln Star, of Lincoln, Nebraska;
"ANDREW CHURCH RITES TO BE WEDNESDAY
Former Commander Farragut Post of the G. A. R., Dies At Age Of 94
Funeral services for Andrew Gray Church, Civil war veteran and former commander of Farragut post of the G. A. R., will be held at 1:30 o'clock Wednesday at Castle, Roper & Matthews chapel. The G. A. R. will be in charge, assisted by Rev. Frank Mills, and interment will be in Wyuka. Pallbearers will be members of the Sons of Veterans.
Mr. Church, who was 94 years old, died at his home, 1910 G street at 8 o;clock, Monday night.
Born in Springfield, Ill., he came to Nebraska in 1871 and took up a homestead in Fillmore county. He had been a member of the 86th regiment, company H, Illinois volunteer infantry in the Civil war. He had lived in Lincoln for the past 32 years. In 1929 he was elected commander of Farragut post of the G. A. R.
He is survived by two sons, Andrew O'Hara and Will T., both of Lincoln; two daughters, Sarah and Nell, both at home; and one grandchild."
The April 14, 1938 edition of THE BRIMFIELD NEWS newspaper, of Brimfield, Illinois, carried the following obituary;
"ANDREW GRAY CHURCH
Andrew Gray Church, aged 94, died at this home in Lincoln, Nebraska, Monday afternoon. He had lived in Lincoln 32 years and had been a resident of Nebraska since 1871, when he came to Fillmore county to take up a homestead. He was member of the 86th regiment, Co. H, Illinois volunteer infantry in the Civil War.
He is survived by two sons, Andrew and Will, of Lincoln, two daughters, Sarah and Nell, both at home, and two grandchildren. Mr. Church, in 1929, was elected president of Farragut post of G. A. R. Funeral service was held at 1:30 Wednesday afternoon, April 6, Farragut post G. A. R. in charge, assisted by Rev. Frank Mills. Sons of Union Veterans were pall bearers and burial was in the Wyuka cemetery.
The above account is taken from the Lincoln Evening Journal, sent by J. F. Clute, of that city to his brother, John.
Mr. Church is the last of a pioneer family of this region, being a member of the William Church family, who were among the earliest settlers of Brimfield and played an important part of the religious and social development of our community."
by Baxter B. Fite III, who can be contacted at [email protected], and [email protected], Find A Grave Contributor #48118705, who can be contacted at [email protected].
(Baxter would love to hear from anyone, especially descendants of the Church, if there are any, who might be able to add to the biographical material that we have on Andrew Gray Church and the Church family. Baxter would also love to see any photographs, which may have survived the years, of Andrew Gray Church, or of his wife, Susan, added to their Find A Grave sites for all to see.)
Inscription
86 IL Infantry Co. H
1844 - 1938
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