The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1866-08-22
The Mndarn Monte Christ1.

For some weeks past the interest of .ho whole
country has been excited by paragraph 10 Che papers
relating to fortune of S35, ,000000 il England, said
to have fallen to Mr. Halsey Church, oi SoesbridEa
Mass and by him been turned over O. hs daughter
and her husband, mechanic named Ei Walker, re-
siding in Hartford, Conn. We shall probably assonsi
our readers this morning by informing them that tue
claims of Mr.. Halsey Church and of his daughter Mrs
Eli Walker have been comparatively overturned, and
the real heir to this vast piece Of property aa oa
resident Of Erie county who for thirty yeas ha5 been
living upon a modest farm within sixteen mHes oil
Buffalo The Monte Christie thus suddenly elevated
rank among the Rothschilds and Astors is Ir John
Church, of Westphaa, in the township o. Aurora.
week ago Saturday last, Mr. Church was reat
ing the Christian Advocate, to which he pousIy su5-
sarbeS, lis eye fell upon Of the paragraphs 10
which we have alluded, and his system, suppose.
must have been slowly electrified by the Intelligence
bore to him. Ia the name OF Mr. Halsey Church, Hs
recognised that of younger brother for forty years
neither heard from Forty years ago, it seems
this John Church, nearly eighty years of age lett
his family in East Eaddam Mass, under some crcum-
stances Of disagreement which prevented communiea.
ton and emigraed to the then far vest of western
New ! 2rk. Never afterwards heard from by hs
Younger brother Halsey the latter long ago resigned
himself 10 the conviction that death he'd left him
llaIscy alone, the solitary representative Of the fam
lily Of Church. Thus persuaded, he very naturally
assumed hinsef the English inheritance which
turned up last fall as awaiting the heirs Of his de-
ceased father Thomas Church. and being too feeble
wJhal undertake the acquisition OF the property,
turned it TO his daughter and her husband, with
power of attorney to proceed III his name, The
latter employed Gov. Gh0mas Seymour, of Connect
cut their legal adviser had satisfied the.Aselves
to the existence OF the estate and the surenesS OF
their title and were just the point Of proceeding
10 England, assisted by subscription Of means FROM
their friends ana nei8hbors, when their hopes anG
their plans we're ruefully frustrated last week
For thirty years, we have said MIR. John Church
has Laou tfvips at VnstDbaIa an littlp farm pE
twenty-five thirty acres, worth, at the utmost, no
more than $1,000 or $4,000, contented doubt with
his possessions and never dreaming of wealth. beyond
the little to be gathered from his scanty acres. His
first glimpse OF the gorgeous vision which such fig
ares as S35 100000 summon up, caught,
have said wceIz ago last Saturday. The Monday
following, advised and prompted by Of his neigh
b0rs Church to the city and that evening took
passage upon the cars, bound for Massachusetts.
Four days ago his family received letters from hIE
announcing the comp plete success of his mission. Mr.
Hascy Church had recognised him his elder broth
err ard the cghtful heir to these thrty-fve millions,
And the Walker family had abandoned their pro-
posed visit to England after fruitless attempt,
through governor Seymour 10 obtain power of attor
nev from him What his next steD viii be we cannot
say. The age Of Mr.. Church will undoubtedly pre-
vent his visiting England in person, but of his
family may be expected to make the journey soon
Mr.. Church las two sons and five daughters living,
all married except one OF the latter. The eldest son
J0hh CAurch, Jr, LFlHG at Nflthn s MUS mas Two
young children. The youngest son, Chauncey Church,
whose wife is the daughter of Dr. Bishop, of Golden,
lives at Westphaia and has young son.
Of the daughters, the youngest Lucy is the wife of
Nr. Gilbert Brown, Of Aurora. The next Oldest
daughter, Miss Apgcliue, is the unmarried heiress,
The third daughter is Mr.. L. Il. Mcneil of this city,
formerly of Lancaster; andeone of the remaining
daughters is also, believe, resident of Buffalo
Of tie fifth daughter we can give no information,
The great fortune of MIR Church consists, ii the
main, understand, Of BRITISH government securi-
ties but includes two large estates the Thames not
very distant from London. 1t deseends from great
grandfather of Mr.. Church, aud has been held for
many years past by elder brother Of Thos. Church.
his father, who came to this country some time in the
last century The late possessor died without heirs
and his Se5, 100000 nave been patiently waiting for
several months for the American descendants of Thos
Church 10 present themselves.
Mr.. John Church has our best and most dsinter-
ested wishes. May he bring away the whole pile out
Of John Bulls reluctant clutches, barring the few
millions which the lawyers must of course cut up be
tween them, and, like sensible man and patriotic
citizen, may lie plant the undivided whole Of it III
Erie county Buffalo On. Y y paper