Biography of Cyrus Church Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Christy (Hall) Thompson < blondie2jt@aol.com > USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogy information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than as stated above, must contact the submitter or the listed USGenWeb archivist. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Cyrus Church Cyrus Church has longer been a resident of Walworth County than any other of it’s citizens, and this history would be incomplete without the record of his life. He resides on section 21, Walworth Twsp, and there expects to spend his remaining days. He was born near New Haven, Connecticut on July 27, 1817 and was the eldest in a family of four children, but with the exception of himself, all are now deceased. His parents were Elijah and Violet (Holcomb) Church. His father was also a native of Connecticut, and about 1842 came to Wisconsin, locating on the farm, which adjoins that belonging to our subject. From there he moved to Woodstock, Illinois; then came again to Walworth County, where he spent his remaining days. His death occurring on May 31, 1877 at the age of eighty-four. The family is of English extraction, but at an early day in the history of the country was founded in America. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Uriah Church, was one of the heroes of the Revolution. Mrs. Church, mother of our subject was born in Massachusetts and died at the early age of twenty-eight years. She was also of English descent. When Cyrus was four years of age his parents moved to Broome County, New York, and then when he was sixteen moved from there to Trumbull County, Ohio. He early became familiar with all the duties of farm life and to his father gave the benefit of his services until twenty years of age. At that time he came to the West, and making his way on foot, journeyed to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin then known as Big Foot Lake. Reaching his destination after fifteen days of travel. He followed the Indian trail from Chicago, and made his way across the prairie and through the Timber to Walworth County. At that time Chicago was a mere Hamlet, and there were only three cabins between that place and Lake Geneva. Jacob Sanders and James Van Slyke were the only residents of this part of the county, the latter being the first white settler of this locality. Mr. Church made a claim upon the land which he yet owns, and for a time lived in the family of Mr. Van Slyke. Chicago was the nearest post office for two years, but as the county became more thickly settled and an office was established at Delevan Lake. He often went to the office and paid twenty-five cents postage on letters received. Some of these old letters he still retains. In 1838, Mr. Church built a small farmhouse, the second in the township, and began improving his land. Mr. Sanders and his family lived with his family until the 17th of December, 1843, when our subject was united in marriage with Miss Emeline Russell, who was born in Ohio, June 25, 1826, and came with her brother to the territory of Wisconsin. She died June 25, 1854 leaving a family of five children. Delia, now the wife of J.D. Clark, resides in Illinois. Leonard owns the greater part of the old homestead, which his father purchased from the Government. He enlisted in Company L, Third Wisconsin Calvary, in October 1871. Although only sixteen years of age, and continues in the service for three years and five months. He was very fortunate, in that he was never wounded or taken prisoner. He then returned home and engaged in the operation of the farm until 1870, when he embarked in the commission business, in Chicago, continuing in the same for three years. From 1873 until 1886 he again carried on agricultural pursuits in ticket, filling the office for three terms of two years each. He was married November 21, 1872, to Miss Adelina M. Porter, daughter of D.C. Porter, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work, and unto them has been born five children: Wells D., Nannie I., Grace A., Hattie E. and Emeline A. The son and eldest daughter are both school teachers. Leonard Church formerly served as Secretary of the dairy business. Hiram, the second son of the Church family, is a prominent farmer and stock-dealer of Idaho. Eugene, who invented the Church Hay Carrier at the age of fifteen years, is a man of much genius, and resides in Harvard, Illinois. David is associated in business with his brother Hiram, of Idaho. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Church was again married, the lady of his choice being Miss Mary Boorman, who was born June 5, 1828, in Maidstone, England. During her girlhood she Came to America with her parents, who were first settled in New York, and in the spring of 1838 came to Wisconsin. Her Father died at the age of fifty-two, while his wife passed away at the age of eighty-five. By the second marriage have been born three children: Merlin H., a resident of Austin, Illinois, Henry, who is in a store in Sumner, Washington. Millie, a highly educated lady now engaged in teaching in Rockford, Illinois. Reference-Wisconsin W 2a Portraits and Biographies of Walworth County, Wisconsin