Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Churchill, James H. 1916 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Sandy Heintzelman sheintz@iserv.net May 18, 2011, 11:24 am Portland Observer, 20 Apr 1916 J. H. Churchill Dies Suddenly At Home Here Senior Member of Old Mercantile Firm Is Victim of Cerebral Hemorrhage. Began Business Career Here As Mere Lad of 16. Was Widely Known at Uncle Jimmie and Will Be Universally Missed; Was Friend of Children. Apparently in his usual health and good humor when he arose Monday morning and dressed for a little family gathering at the home of his neighbors, Dr. and Mrs. S. A. Horning, James H. Churchill, universally known throughout village and countryside as “Uncle Jimmy” Churchill, passed away scarcely without warning at 4:00 o’clock Monday afternoon of cerebral hemorrhage. Shortly after breakfast Mr. Churchill was seized with violent vomiting. This continued until about noon, and the patient fell asleep. When he awakened a couple of hour later, it was evident that some great change had taken place. The end followed shortly. Mr. Churchill had not been absent from his store a single day on account of illness and his death naturally occasioned great surprise. Ever since he was a lad of 16 Mr. Churchill has been connected with the mercantile life of the village, either as a clerk for other employers or as proprietor of his own store, and will be greatly missed by many of the town’s inhabitants with whom, in all those years, he has had many dealings. So will he also be greatly missed by the children, especially those from the rural districts who come here to attend school, for “Jimmy’s” store was always their headquarters. It was invariably selected as a meeting place, too, for sleighride parties and other social functions requiring a place to get together. Every morning and afternoon during the school year the store was invariably thronged with students who came there because they knew they were welcome. “Jimmy” always liked the “kids,” as he called them, and his happiest hours were when they occupied every chair and counter within his place of business. Mr. Churchill was born August 27, 1844, in a building occupying the site upon which the present Maynard Allen State Bank now stands which his father, the late Wm. R. Churchill, used for both residence and store purposes. When “Jimmy” was two years of age his mother died and from that time until he reached his middle ‘teens the entire care of bringing him up devolved upon his sister, Frances, who in later years married Chas. H. Maynard. Mrs. Maynard died 12 years ago. Mr. Churchill obtained his education here and the first job he ever held was in Chas. H. Maynard’s general store as clerk. He was then only a lad – not more than 16. He clerked for Mr. Maynard for about 10 years. At about that time Mr. Maynard formed a co-partnership with John D. Woodbury and Mr. Churchill remained in their employ until the fire of 1879, which destroyed the store – a wooden structure – and most of its contents. After the fire Messrs. Maynard and Woodbury dissolved partnership. This incident proved to be the parting of the ways for “Jimmy,” for it meant the end of his work for others and marked the beginning of his own business career. After the fire Mr. Maynard put up a two-story brick block on the site of the burned structure and by the time the building was completed the firm of Churchill, Savage & Woodbury had obtained a long term lease of it. F. R. Savage, one of the members, severed his connection with the business two years later. Since that time Mr. Churchill and Erastus D. Woodbury have been the sole owners. Mr. Churchill took pride in telling his friends that he had been engaged in business in the same location for a period of 35 years. He applied himself to his store closely and never took a vacation unless forced to by illness. Rarely did he ever leave town. It was only a few years ago that he visited the city of Detroit for the first time in his life. He had many peculiar characteristics, notable among which was his old-fashioned way of doing business. Chas. H. Maynard, who was probably as familiar with his manners and customs as any individual in the place, says he never, to his knowledge, discounted a single merchandise bill in his life even though he had plenty of money on hand with which to pay. This peculiarity cost the man many dollars but no amount of suasion it is said, could have induced him to break away from the old methods. January 1, 1871, Mr. Churchill was married to Miss Clara Whitlock at the latter’s home just north of the village. Mr. and Mrs. Oscar N. Jenkins, both of whom are now dead, were married on the same day and the two couples went on their honeymoon trip together. Many anniversaries of the happy occasion have been pleasantly celebrated since. Mr. Churchill’s twin daughters, Mrs. Herbert L. Schaeffer and Mrs. Frances Reynolds, both of Portland, were born on the sixteenth of April. The birthday of Mrs. S. A. Horning, a neighbor, also falls on the same date. The ladies were planning to celebrate their birthdays collectively Monday evening and it was for this occasion that Mr. Churchill dressed upon arising that day. He never lived to attend the happy event, though his two daughters took luncheon with him only the evening previous and found him in his usual health and happy mood. Sunday evening he attended services at the Baptist church. Mr. Churchill is survived by two granddaughters and one grandson- children of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert L. Schaeffer, of this village. He also leaves two half sisters. Banks and all down-town business places were closed during the funeral hour Wednesday afternoon as a mark of respect. The services were held at the house. Rev. John H. Stewart officiated. Burial took place in Portland cemetery. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/c/churchil11997nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 6.3 Kb