Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Churchill, William Rumsey 1888
************************************************
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 January 5, 2010, 2:02 pm

Portland Observer, 19 Dec 1888

Last week we made a brief mention of the death of our fellow townsman, Wm. R. 
Churchill, but for want of time, it was then impossible to give an extended 
obituary: 

William Rumsey Churchill was born in Batavia, N.Y., December 22, 1808, so that 
he would have been 80 years of age had he lived till the 22d inst.  In the 
spring of 1837 he came to Jackson, with his wife and one child (now Mrs. Chas. 
Maynard) where they resided but a short time, in the summer of that same year 
coming to Portland, where he had ever since resided.  The journey from Jackson 
to Portland was made by way of Grand river in a canoe, purchased of the 
Indians.  Soon after coming to Portland Mr. Churchill purchased a farm near 
Portland, but did not do much farming, but soon after opened a store and traded 
with the Indians and the few white people who were in here.  Philo Bouge had 
the first store here and Mr. Churchill’s was the second one.  He continued in 
business for many years, and accumulated quite a competency for those days.  
Mr. Churchill had been in poor health for many years previous to his death, and 
while it was expected at any time, when death did come it was so sudden that he 
died while sitting in his easy chair.

Mr. Churchill was a member of the old Presbyterian church of Portland; but when 
the church consolidated with the Congregational church he became a member of 
that society and continued such up to the time of his death.  Mr. Churchill had 
very few intimate friends, but he was a sociable man in his home, a warm 
friend, a kind and indulgent father and loving husband.

The funeral services were held at his late residence on Thursday afternoon 
last, the house being filled with relatives of the family, many old residents 
being present.  The services were conducted by the Rev. Keyes, assisted by the 
Rev. Hallenbeck.  Mr. Churchill leaves a wife and four children – Mrs. C. H. 
Maynard, J. H. Churchill, and Mrs. Frank Sprout of Portland, and Mrs. Carrie 
Woolworth of Indianapolis.

The older settlers of this vicinity are rapidly passing to their last home and 
it is a matter of but a few years when those who cut out homes in the dense 
forests about Portland will all be numbered with the dead.


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/c/churchil2170nob.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/

File size: 2.8 Kb