Churchill, Charles B. bio

Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County, Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States, and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890; page 619–620; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Charles B. Churchill. This gentleman, whose portrait appears on the opposite page, is one of the oldest settlers in Canton Township, where he owns a fine property. His farm consists of five hundred and fifty acres, upon which stands a complete line of substantial commodious and well-arranged farm buildings. It is favorably located on section 32, and under efficient management produces abundantly of the various crops for which this county is noted.
The owner of this fine estate was born in Booneville, Oneida County, N. Y., April 25, 1813, and spent his early years in his native village. After he had entered his teens, he spent about three years in Niagara County in the employ of his uncle, although he received no money for his labors. He then returned to his former home and two years later, in company with a younger brother, William, went to Hartford, Conn., to seek his fortune. For nearly two years he was employed on a farm in that vicinity. His next enterprise was to become a book agent in the State of Georgia, which he began working in the fall of 1835, during the next two years traveling over the entire State. While there he sent his father the requisite means to remove the family, which included several children, to Portage County, Ohio, where, on the conclusion of his work in the South, our subject met them.
Purchasing a pair of three-year-old colts Mr. Churchill loaded the earthly possessions of the family into a wagon and the party of eight started for Fulton County, Ill. The trip consumed several weeks, and although unmarked by any eventful incident, is fruitful in recollections of pioneer scenes and experiences. The family located on rented land not far from Canton, tilling the tract several years before our subject was able to purchase. The first real estate he owned was one hundred and sixty acres for which he obtained the deed in 1842. He continued to take care of his parents as long as they lived and also did much toward the care and training of the younger members of the family.
Mr. Churchill erected a good house upon his farm, the extent of which he added as circumstances would permit. Since 1850 he has practically resided upon it, but prior to that time it was left in the care of his parents for several years, during which time he traveled in the South. He was employed by Mr. Ford as a traveling salesman and with a team carried dry-goods throughout the country. In disposing of his stock he was as successful as he had been in whatever else he has undertaken, and after about five years spent on the road he felt at liberty to establish a home and settle down. On his return from the South he hither by the way of his former homes in Connecticut and New York.
On November 26, 1850, in Lewistown, the rites of wedlock were celebrated between our subject and Miss Louisa E. Hurlburt. The lady was born in Booneville, N. Y., Christmas day, 1820. Mr. Churchill had known her almost from the day of her birth and thoroughly appreciated her estimable qualities of mind and heart. The happy couple are the parents of three daughters and one son. Sarah J. is now the wife of Fred Palmer, Abigail, of Frank Marr and Elizabeth, of Norton Churchill. Franklin s. married Miss Olive Campbell.
Since 1850 Mr. Churchill has been actively engaged in farming, his labors in that line being conducted with great energy and intelligence and crowned with success. In 1875 he built the Churchill House in Canton. In politics he give his suffrage to the candidates of the Democratic party in the principles of which he firmly believes. He is liberal in his religious views. Personally he is one of he most genial of men, found of neighborly intercourse, well informed regarding that which is going on in the world, and manifesting a determination to enjoy life and aid others to do so.
The father of our subject was Charles b. Churchill, Sr., who was born in New England Paris, Hartford County, Conn., in 1784. He died in Canton Township in 1877 at the extreme age of ninety-three years. The mother of our subject was a native of the same parish as her husband and was known in her maidenhood as Elizabeth Hubbard. She also died in this township, the date of her demise being in 1867. She was then eighty years old, having been born in 1787. The worthy couple had nine children of whom our subject was the third in order of birth.