, 1870-07-29
OBITUARY.
Lawrence 3. Church,

From tA< Eaodstoek IN, Sentinel, Ja,s 81
J lED-1n Woodstock, on Thursday, JHy q,
80, lawrence S Church, aged 50 years, months
Lawrence Smith Churcl, was born in the
town OF Nunda, New York, in the year 1870.
His carly life Taa spent on farm, but, show
ing disposition to read law, and losrous OF
inptovlug himself, like many others then and
now, he taught school in the winter AMI real
law in the summer. In the spring Of 1873.
beng then 3 Tea1s old, he determined to
strike ont for himself aud started West. Hav-
ms two married sisters in McHenry Cuun:y
Illinois, be directed his footsteps to thus pla'e.
and arrived at MclIenry village, then the
county seat, in June, 1918, Wien he reached
McHenrr, he ras without money, auI
a stranger in a strange pla4,e Ii.
paid the expenses Of his journey from Ne.s
York to the West, riding by stage when lm
did not make 1t on foot, by delivering At vii
lagos along the route lecture on the Con.
stitutlon Of the Cnited States," thus early
showing the bent Of his mind Nr. Church
married soon after his ARRIVAL At McHensv
and about that time Was admitted to the b..
making "trip to Springfield for the pnr;y~r.
aud beng examined By the Hon. :. u: Eaas.
now United States Judge for the so.shstn
District OF Illinois. On entering the 4"s:i!ee
Of law, 3fr. C. At once took leading lso-'iion
hs member OF the bar, which he aeId until
his deee.se: In 1s4s, 1.,.ttss,o.t e e04,;,y "
NNQ1Cu ltu0fE0 4elc dlttOr TAN 49, 49,
house, whe1e he Laa ever si4ce resided, AMI
where be died on Thurs.',y mornmf 'a3t
Until the passage OF tb. kansas-SebrAska
bill, and the organization, ot tne Nepuaicau
party, Northern linois aud NcHenrs County
were hopclees]y Democratic, and Ns. Church,
Of political nrotpoton, aud received none. In
1856. however. the Republican party 1's-
Ing organized, and John C.. Fremont
nominated f.s President, Mr. Church ssve
in his af.beeion to the movement. and
Republiean candidate 1oz the Le5,sla-
tuIe. He was triumphAntly elected aus, i'm
medufe1y on taking lis seat, became recoS-
ni7ed as one Of the leading members Of that
body. In 1850 he w.s re-eiectad. and, when
las and defeat OF Lincoln, albeit by minority
Of the people, attempted to etntarrass the
State Government by revolutionary meAt ures.
and tie Republican members deemed It their
duty to break up the quorum necessary to
:ransact business, Messrs. Church. Hurlbut,
and Sweet were ap:ointed q committee to JUS
tify their action blfore tho people. The
speech made By sE. Church on this occasion
was complete sindicatioa OF the action Of
the Republican members.
In 1eGl', at tho earnest solicita:ion OF hi.
friel.tla aud neighLors, Mr. Church consented
C~ns;s:s. He carried his own county without
se,ius opposition, hut tue Hon. E, +. Wa,l,-
turne. having secured q majority CT the dele-
gates to the District Convention. was 1e,.on,-
mated Tho same fall, io spite Of his repeated
declinatione, he was third time ciasen to
represent McIIenry County in tho State Lc:is-
laturc. On arriving at Springfield, be- ss'lsLd.
for the dEet time, majority of the members
Of his own political opinion 1secognizri At
the leader Of the House. hs was appointed, by
Speaker cullom. Chairman Of the Jud:eiIry
Committee. aud Gnei the responsible post
with great ability: aud received marked
attention from the lato lan,cEte,t Lin
coin, then President elect. On tue h.cakin..
ont Of the war, Mr. c. exertci himself to the
utmost to help to fill up the ranks Of tile
pie. And finally, io 1852. having aided largely
TO recruit the Sinety-ftth Illinois Infantry. b..
resolved. notwithstanding his family Ito whom
be was devoutly attaclied) and his large law
practice to Leave all and go himself to /: Q
'front.' He was elected Colonel Of the Si1cty-
Rockford, But his health failed him; he
could not stand camp lfe; and, when the 1e,i-
ment reached columtus, ky-, he wa-
stricken with one Of those 70 iolic
fearful attacks Of cholora morbus to
which he Wsa subject, ard one Of which ha,
Just terminated his existence, md was com
PEELED to return. He fingered all the winter
OF 1862 : III a prccasious condition, aud Las
never since then enjoyed so good health a.
before. In 1866, on the death OF his law-part-
utIy tI6 lOFcl SHu cSttGmEA N1l1tAIu hGrT.
County Judge, 3lr. Chn.c!, performed tho du.
ties Of that office for the une1pi1ed term
Colonel Church took no further active part il,
politics until the fall OF 1863, when tho ,~o-
pie Of McHenry County, in def.ncs OF his
repeated declination sent hlm to the Cons:l-
tutional Convention. His record there i. 10,
fresh in the minds Of the people to bo neces-
sa1y for Us toEeitesase here. SuEce to say it
is one which Lis constituents, his ehiid-e,,
and his children's children can always poiLt 20
With pride. Az the Hon. CLas IIitcl.ro.s.
President Of the convention, said short t,us
eince: Il Colonel chu' ch was the able=t and
most logical debater, ard the best judge uf
constitutional law, in the convention" This,
too. in body containing the abfe3t men in
Illinois. 1t needed great occasion to aro,,se
Colonel Churcl''s energies and talents to their
fullest capacity, and, a. has Sse,a often re-
marked BY those who have seen him amo:,g
the greatest minds Ut the count y, he al
Nays rose equal to every emergency, at,t
proved himself tie peer VI the mosi t4ien..,l."
i Brother shoots nnd Kills AnnIhrr
for n TitIr+
Efrr~, r. Fn4.L ~.