Stephen Church

I contacted the Dayton Library and they gave me the name of a lady who is a local genealogy volunteer.  Once again she got back to me within 24 hours with information about the Church family.  She told me that Angeline Cahill was Elias brother.  She is buried in the Dayton City Cemetery and this can be seen on
www.findagrave.com

This information was also incuded:

Angeline C. Cahill - Stephen Church - Herrick - Washington State Death Records
Record Series: Death Records
Collection: Washington State Death Records
County: Statewide

Da Reference Number: {24D28E25-4F05-4B4C-A15C-E88279A9E90F}
Image Number: 35
Document Number: 24
Document Reference Id: 24
Name: Angeline C. Cahill
Date Of Death: 13 Apr 1920
Age: 81
Gender: Female
Father Name: Stephen Church
Mother Name: Herrick Batch Id: 275789
Batch Locality: Washington, United States
Death Place: Dayton, Columbia, Washington
Mother Name Surname: Herrick
Source: http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/ViewRecord.aspx?RID=05784EA9AAC2F6A52B347332E23DCFCBAAC2F6A52B347332E23DCFCB
This Obituary comes from Columbia Chroncile, Dayton WA, 14 Apr 1920, Page 1. 

"ill but a short time, being stricken a few days ago with paralysis. She recovered somewhat from this stroke, but suffered another Tuesday and passed away peacefully." ...1850 moved to WI where she married William R. Cahill in 1855 (deceased Jan 1890 according to the obit; cemetery records say he was buried 18 Dec 1889)...after the War they moved to KS; 1878 moved to this area taking a homestead on Eckler Mountain...Mother of 4: Alice D., A.P., W.E., and Stanley (dec'd 1880)...

There was lots of valuable information here.  I have her death certificate which gave me the name of her parents and those happen to be Elias parents too. 

Her son Alpha Patrick Cahill (A P) was a well known figure in the area.  He is also mentioned in Ard’s obituary as being a cousin.  I was able to find an interesting article on A. P. Cahill.

History of Old Walla Walla County,
Section IV, p. 487
Alph Patrick Cahill, manager and cashier of the Broughton National Bank at Dayton, Columbia county, was born at Markesan, Green Lake county, Wisconsin, October 7, 1859, a son of William R. and Angeline C. (Church) Cahill. His paternal grandfather, Patrick Cahill, was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1800 while his maternal grandfather was one of the pioneer preachers of western Pennsylvania. William R. Cahill, the father, became one of the early settlers of the state of Wisconsin and contributed in substantial measure to the pioneer development of Green Lake county. At the time of the Civil war he responded to the country's call to arms and went to the front in defense of the Union. At the usual age Alph P. Cahill became a pupil in the public schools of his native state, passing through consecutive grades until he completed a high school course in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in 1873. He then turned his attention to the occupation of farming but afterward engaged in merchandising and subsequently took up the milling business. Step by step he progressed as the years went on and in 1909 he assisted in the organization of the Broughton National Bank of Dayton, Columbia county, Washington, and has since continued as its manager and cashier, largely shaping the policy and directing the activities of the institution. He has been most careful to safeguard the interests of stockholders and depositors alike, while the progressive methods of the bank have ever been tempered by a wise conservatism. On the 2nd of December, 1882, Mr. Cahill was united in marriage to Miss Irene M. Starr, a native of Oregon. For his second wife he chose Frankie G. King, a native of Columbia county, and a daughter of one of the pioneers of this section, William B. King, who was an old-time stage man, operating the Walla Walla-Lewiston stage and mail route in the early days. The second marriage was celebrated April 14, I915. Mr. Cahill's children are: Roy R., who is a graduate of Whitman College and also of the law school of Columbia University of New York and who married Jessie M. Criffield, a daughter of W. R. Criffield, of Walla Walla; Fred V., who is a graduate of Washington University and is now engaged in mercantile business and who married Grace J. Crossler; May, who is the wife of Frank G. Barclay, a Columbia county farmer; Patrick E., who married Ethel Johnston and is a bookkeeper in the Broughton National Bank; Mack, a graduate of the Newberg (Oregon) high school; and Burr, who is at home. Fraternally Mr. Cahill is connected with the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Masonic orders, being a Royal Arch Mason. He has always been an active worker in these different organizations and has been presiding officer in each. In politics he has ever been a stalwart republican since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and from 1892 until 1896 he filled the position of county auditor, his reelection being an acknowledgment of his excellent service during his first term. He was county commissioner from 1910 until 1912 and he has always been loyal to every cause and trust reposed in him. His military record covers three years' service with the National Guard. His fidelity to duty has never been called into question, whether in behalf of the public or in the conduct of his business Interests. There is nothing spectacular in his career but his record is that of a busy life, such as contributes to the substantial force of every community.

We learn a few things about Stephen Church who was born 17 May, 1795 in Vermont.  He married Jerusha Herrick and was a pioneer preacher in Western Pennsylvania.  I am still reasearching the family.  That will probably be my next post after I receive a package from a 3rd cousin I got in contact with by talking with my new genealogy friend from Dayton, Washington.  I am checking the mail everyday!!

OCTOGENARIAN

Sarah passed away almost exactly a year later than her husband on March 3, 1896.  From the censuses I gather that she had at least four children: 

·        Mary Ann born in Pennsylvania December 6, 1832

·        Caroline born in Pennsylvania about 1836

·        Edwin born September 22, 1841 in Illinois

·        Emma born about 1854 in Illinois  

 

Kansas State Historical Society provided me with this obituary.  It comes from the Atchison Daily Champion on March 4, 1896, on page 1

OCTOGENARIAN

Mrs. Doyle of Lancaster, Died Monday, Aged Eighty Years.

Mrs. Sarah E. Doyle, who was eighty years and six months to spare, died of heart failure at her home near Lancaster Monday.  It lacked only four days just a year since her husband died.  They were old and respected pioneer citizens of Atchison county, having lived here since 1858.  They leave a son and a daughter.  The daughter's home is in Washington, Tex(Territory), but she is now at Lancaster.  Funeral at 1:30 Thursday, from the M.E. Church at Lancaster.

Here's what I learn from Sarah's obituary.  The article mentions that Mrs. Sarah E. Doyle only had one son and one daughter living at the time.  I believe the son that was still living would be Edwin and the daughter is Mary Ann. 

We know that Mary Ann Doyle Church was living in Dayton, Washington at this time.  The article mentions that she came for her mother’s funeral.  That must have been a long train ride, but it also shows the love and respect she had for her mother.  Mary Ann only lives three more years before she passes on herself.  Also, I learned a new word!  Octogenarian means one who is between the age of 80 and 89. 

I also was able to get a copy of some burial records for Lancaster Cemetery.  Four of the Doyle family are buried here. 

·        John S. Doyle 1808-1895

·        Sarah E. Doyle 1815-1896

·        Edwin B. Doyle 1841-1915

·        Emma S. Doyle, daughter of John and Sarah Doyle, died 1888

This looks like I need to add another cemetery I want to visit!  I will just have to add it to the list.  Maybe I will win the trip that www.ancestry.com is giving away!  That would be FABULOUS!!

Irish Roots? John and Sarah Doyle

In the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day this week, I wanted to highlight Mary Ann’s parents, George and Sarah Doyle.  Doyle has got to be Irish, right?  That is something yet to be determined but I am working on.  I am hopeful that I will find the ties that connect me to Ireland! 

This past week I had the chance to contact the Kansas Historical Society http://www.kshs.org/   They provide the service of looking obituaries up for a small fee.  Since I had located death certificates for John and Sarah on http://www.familysearch.org/ I was able to give them exact death dates.  John S. Doyle was born August 6, 1808 somewhere in Connecticut.  He died 7 March 1895 in Lancaster, Kansas.  This is the obituary provided to me by the Kansas Historical Society which came from the Daily Globe and was dated March 11, 1895.

The funeral of the late J. S. Doyle, at Lancaster yesterday, was one of the very largest in the history of the county.  The deceased was an old settler of Kansas. He built the very first house of Seneca.

I have to admit I was hoping for more clues into this man’s life.  Just three short sentences.  I'm kind of sad knowing that I know so little about someone who was well known and loved in his community.  The last sentence was interesting too.  He built the very first house in Seneca.  So I googled that and this is what I found:

The first house built in Seneca was erected in the fall of 1857; it was a double log house, with a wide hall through the centre, or rather, two houses connected with a wall of logs at the rear. It was built by John S. Doyle for Finley Lappin, who immediately occupied one end of it for a hotel, while Downing & Stewart opened a grocery store in the other end. The hotel portion of the building also served as the office of register of deeds, Samuel Lappin holding that position. One end of the structure was afterward used as a dwelling; the other end as a shoe shop and carpenter shop successively. It passed from Samuel Lappin to Albert Clark, finally returning to its former owner, who demolished it to make room for what is now known as the city drug store.

information from William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas

http://www.seneca-ks.com/main_street/seneca.htm

Another source tells me that he was one of the first settlers in Nemaha county.  Here is what it says:

 Transcribed from volume II of Kansas: a cyclopedia of state history, embracing events, institutions, industries, counties, cities, towns, prominent persons, etc. ... / with a supplementary volume devoted to selected personal history and reminiscence. Standard Pub. Co. Chicago : 1912. 3 v. in 4. : front., ill., ports.; 28 cm. Vols. I-II edited by Frank W. Blackmar. Transcribed July 2002 by Carolyn Ward.

---

Nemaha County, the third west from the Missouri river in the northern tier, was one of the original 33 counties created by the first territorial legislature in 1855, and one of the 19 counties to be organized in that year. It is bounded on the north by the State of Nebraska; on the east by Brown county; on the south by Jackson and Pottawatomie counties, and on the west by Marshall county.
It is claimed by some historians that Nemaha was included in the region visited by Coronado and that he reached its northern boundary in Aug., 1851, but it is probable that the first expedition to cross the county was in 1842 when Fremont made his journey across the continent. His route entered the county on the east line, south of the present town of Sabetha, extended northwest to Baker's ford, turned south, passing near the place where Seneca now stands, thence northwest again and crossed the county line near the present village of Clear Creek. This road was used by the Mormons in the early '40s and by the California gold-seekers in 1849, later becoming the military road used by the government troops moving westward.
Nemaha county took its name from the river, which in Indian language means "no papoose," indicating the malarious character of the climate at that time. The earliest settlement was made in 1854, when W. W. Moore located near Baker's ford, 9 miles north of where Seneca now stands. In the same year, Walter D. Beeles, Greenberry Key, Thomas, John C. and Jacob B. Newton settled in the same vicinity. John O'Laughlin took a claim on Turkey creek and B. F. Hicks in Capioma township. The settlers in 1855 were James McCallister, William Barnes, Samuel Magill and Robert Rea, in Capioma township; David Locknane, in Granada township; James Thompson, John S. Doyle, Cyrus Dolman, Elias B. Newton, H. H. Lanham and wife, S. M. Lanham and Joseph Lanham, in Richmond township; William M. Berry and L. J. McGown, in Valley township; Horace M. Newton, in Richmond township; William Harris, on the creek that bears his name; Hiram Burger, George Frederick and George Goppelt, on Turkey creek. Along with these last named came a negro by the name of Moses FatIey, who took a claim which he sold the next year to Edward McCaffery for $200. He bought his own freedom, the freedom of his wife, his sister and two of her children. C. Minger and wife settled in Washington township, and Reuben Wolfley in Wetmore township.
These early claims were taken without warrant, as there were no facilities for entry and no place at which payment could be made to the government. The earliest payments were made in 1857. Preëmptions were made up to 1860 at the land office at Kickapoo, where entries were made for the district of which Nemaha county was a part. The settlement and development of the county having begun during the time when the pro-slavery element had the upper-hand in Kansas, most of the early towns started at that time do not now exist, having given away to free-state towns before 1860. Among those to disappear were Central City, laid out in 1855 by William Dodge, for Thomas Newton and sons and H. H. Lanham, which had the first postoffice in the county; Pacific City; Lincoln, the dream of J. E. Hawkes; Ash Point; Urbana, the first town in the county; Wheatland and Richmond. The last was started in 1855 by Cyrus Dolman, a pro-slavery man and a member of the territorial legislature. Richmond was made the county seat by legislative enactment at the time of the organization of Nemaha county. The town company was given a right to enter by preëmption any quantity of land up to 1,000 acres, lay off the same into lots and sell it. Richmond was 3 miles north of the present town of Seneca.

So now I’m not so sad because I have some more clues into the adventures of this man.  I know that he was born in Connecticut and that some of his children were born in Pennsylvania and others were born in Illinois.  They ended up moving to Kansas and were some of the first settlers there.  I can only imagine that this was a huge adventure full of hard work much like the times of Laura Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie.  I would love to have a journal from one of these ancestors but for now I will settle for the three sentences in the Daily Globe!

 

A REAL SHOOTOUT!

I just want to show how great Google is in helping you find more information on your ancestors.  I was curious about Ellis S Church, second son of Elias B Church and Mary Ann Doyle.  I didn’t know much about him and so I typed in his name and the state Idaho.  I automatically got a hit from the Idaho Free Press, which is the newspaper from Grangeville, Idaho!  You can only imagine my squeal of joy in finding this sweet treasure. 

http://idaho.idgenweb.org/murders/chammurder.htm

After reading this article, I felt I knew Ellis a lot better and I felt sorry for Ellis.  He was alone on Christmas, wanted to close the saloon early and had these guys come by and harass him because they were desperate to get some booze.  It sounds like he acted in self defense.  I went to the Idaho Historical Library located in Boise, Idaho to see if I could find more information.  I searched newspapers on microfilm to try to find the outcome of a trial or an arrest, but I came up empty handed. 

I learned several things about Ellis from reading this article.  The first was that he has some type of disability.  I looked back at the documentation that I had and found that on the 1880 census, it also noted that he was crippled.  In 1880, he is living in Columbia County, in the state of Washington and he was a sheep herder for a Mr. Frank Ping.  He is the first of his family to move west to Washington.  They join him by 1885 (Washington State Census, Columbia county).  The second thing I find out is that he hangs out at saloons and likes to play music for others.  The article mentions Lewiston but I have no documentation placing him there. 

Here is a rough sketch of Ellis S. Church life:

He was born September 1856 in Illinois (1900 Federal Census, Warrens, Idaho, Idaho).  Sometime before 1860 the family moves to Richmond Township in Kansas territory.  We know that Elias, Ellis father, serves in the Civil War for three years and we find everyone living together in Lancaster, Atchison, Kansas in 1865 on the state census.  The family consists of his father and mother, Elias and Mary Ann, and his older brother, John, and younger sister, Julia are all living with Mary Ann’s parent, John and Sarah Doyle. John and Sarah also have a daughter, Emma, age 12, living at home still.  In 1870, Ellis, age 14, and his sister, Julia, age 9, are listed twice on this census.  They are listed with their grandparents and also with their parents, both living in Lancaster, Kansas.  Here’s a map to give you an idea where Lancaster is located.

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=Lancaster,+kansas&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Lancaster,+Atchison,+Kansas&gl=us&ll=39.571822,-95.300903&spn=1.028925,1.760559&z=9

In 1875, Ellis is still in Lancaster helping out on the farm.  By 1880 he has gone to Washington by himself.  We see him on the 1885 State census in Columbia county living with his parents and helping out on the farm (I love that Washington had so many state censuses).  By 1900 he ends up in Warrens, Idaho and he is a saloon proprietor.   Ellis mother, Mary Ann died in 1899 and then his father died in 1904.  I have obtained records from probate court in regards to Elias estate and there it mentioned that Ellis was living in Lewiston at that time.  Maybe he went back to playing his music!

As far as I can tell, Ellis never married.  He is buried by his parents in the Dayton City Cemetery in Dayton, WA.  He doesn’t get a grand gravestone like his parents but still it is a very nice and loving gesture.  I’m guessing one of his sisters made the arrangements for that.

The coolest Headstone I have in my family!

This grave stone really showed me how much a man loved his wife and partner who toiled, traveled and walked beside him over the 47 years that they were married.

Here is a true sign of deep love and commitment. It makes me happy everytime I look at it. This headstone was erected for Mary Ann Doyle, the beloved wife of Elias B Church. Mary Ann died first in 1899 and then her husband followed in 1904. Both are buried near this grave marker in the Dayton City Cemetery, Columbia, Washington.

Mary Ann

wife of
Elias Church
married Jan 1, 1848
at Ottowa, Il.
Born in Luzerne Co., PA
Dec 6, 1832
Moved to Kan. in 1866
and to Dayton in 1882
Died Nov 2, 1899
Aged 66 years 10 mos 28 days


I’ve never seen a headstone with so many details for any of my ancestors! This was really exciting to receive all this information about where Mary Ann and Elias lived. Wouldn't it be wonderful if all of our ancestors had such great details on their gravestone? There are also some unique marks on the headstone that I’m hoping will give me some more clues to the lives of the loved mother and father. Anyone know what the tassels like the one in this picture might mean?

All of my research has come from census documents prior to finding this grave stone. It was so exciting to have someone help me out by going to the grave and posting this picture on http://www.findagrave.com/! I hope that I can find other relatives from Mary Ann and Elias that will help me know more about her.

The information that I have obtained is as follows:

Mary Ann was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania on December 6, 1832. Her parents are John and Sarah Doyle and they were both born in Connecticut. I obtained this information from the 1865 Kansas State Census. My guess is that she lived with her parents during and after the Civil War. According to the 1890 Veterans Schedule, Mary Ann’s husband, Elias B Church, served for a period of three years from November 1861 to November 1864. He belonged to the 10th regiment from Kansas.
The family traveled across the United States and landed in the small town of Dayton, Washington. Elias was a farmer and they had five children:

· John Church born about 1853 somewhere in Illinois. I don’t know much about him and the last place I have record of him residing is in Lancaster, Atchison, Kansas living with his grandparents, John and Sarah Doyle in 1875.

· Ellis S Church born in Illinois September 1856. He died in 1909 and is buried in the Dayton City Cemetery. As far as I can tell, he never married.

· Julia Church born October 1860 in Kansas. She married Frank Paul Ehl in 1882 according to the 1900 Federal census. She died 11 February 1942 in Vancouver, Clark, Washington. The children were Peter Matt Ehl, Adam John Ehl and Julia Minnie Ehl.

· Ida B Church born 18 August 1865 in Kansas. She married Lon Cahill 12 April 1885 in Dayton, Washington. She died 19 July, 1955 in Couer d’Alene, Idaho. They had two daughters, Chatty B Cahill and Pearl A Cahill.

· Ard Justin Church born July 1870 in Kansas (assumption would be Lancaster, Kansas since this where the family was during the 1870 and 1875 census). He married Estella Moyer on 29 April 1900 in Grangeville, Idaho. He died 8 April 1916 in Salt Lake City, Utah and he was buried in Dayton City Cemetery on 15 April 1916.

One of my genealogy goals for the year is to learn more about this intriguing family and hopefully visit the town of Dayton, Washington. I am hopeful that there are some living relatives that can help me out and are willing to share more information and pictures so I can learn more about my roots.