, 1880-10-24
WILLIAM L. CHURCH.
Death OF an Old aud Prominent Chica-
yoau-EIis Part In the City's His

.roa1,-EIfs Part In the CftysH His
tory.
Dir. William l.. Church, a prominent politician
and old-timc resident Of Chicago aud vicinity,
died yesterday morning at 12:35 O'clock at his
residence, No. s Wellington place. kcnwood.
He was confined to his bed tor many weeks by
liver coupluiut which was the cause of his
aeath Icing In III health during the summer,
he went East on pleasurc-trip, and while i'll
Canada caught u cold which led to the liver
trouble.
william L. Church was born in Lynn, Living
stone County, New York, Aug. IL, 1916 Aud c,l1slc
to this city in 1876. Since that time hc has mnde
Chicago and her suburbs his home. He was the
first School Commissioner elected by the people,
and wns one Of the earliest Republicans in this
section of the country. Oct q, 1851, he was mar
ricl to Roxauna J. Pike in settlement on tile
Fox River In 1888 he was engaged fn the dry
Foods business. the tirin being known US Church s.
Sheldon, and they occupied Il store at the corner
OF Lake and LII Snllc Streets. 4 few yeArs after
he sold out his interest in the trim and founded
the firm of Neef g. Church, tho largest dealers
in dry goods in the West at the time. In 1si8
the Legislature passed an act allowing the peo-
pie to vote Oh township organization. and Ar
Church was one Of the three men appointed by
tho County Commissioners to no iuto the couf-
try call public meetings in every six-milc tract,
and ask the opinion Of the people On the subject
~ tounshin tiryanfzntion. He served two terms
a. CITY Treasurer and two terms us County
Treasurer und cx-of1ici5 Assessor of Cook Coun-
tv. In 1850
HE WAS ELECTED SHERIFF,
,,,., ,r,a ,,Iv nro1onted from serving second
anu ",, " 1. .ha rv which nrniibifed two cousecu-
.s .G.n ta ~ ~ ~. ouo mnn n fhnr r,fttee He yns
ust ~ i,c,., y. @ ~ tha rh;rd wnr in 1N,o md
1aS:s o,;i wos rtnrmnn Of the Police Committee
It was during that time tla1 tue famous nef iagef
et ues, svar,o. an fi,a femnerance side. de was
Aent wa, WI a. ~ ~ 49, oon5;'iofn rnr Tierk nf rim
nnuu Eo,r ~ and was nn tha same ticket with
I... - Ernr,,nT IN 1SGIl he xyns elected on the
rtcsar .rjth Abraham Lincoln Us Circuit Clerk
aui e1-otiicIo RECORDER Of Deeds, and in 1854
was reelected on the same ticket For some
time he mas been employed in the Custom,
Housc. During the War be was warm friend
Of Gov Yates, and such was the confidence re-
posed in bin, by "Old Dick" that he was US
signed to perform secret service, the natu1e VI
which was never known to amy
one but Mr. Church and the Toy.
ernor. 1t was said. however. that great
deal OF nerve was required III its performance
MIR. Church organized the freight department OF
the Illinois Central Railroad and was trmsten ,e
Gettysburg Cemetery was ued1cAted each state
sent two Representatives to the ceremonies, anu
Mr.. Church and s1r: c. 2 Clnrk, OF GMlesonrg' M
Church held number OF minor pnoilc oli'ees'
and no fault WAS ever found with his adtnfnls-
trauon.
During the War Mr. GnurGh was wa gIea6 M rtier t,'r
OF lne soiotT1. t w ,i,,,n uhan ha was on n visit
to Cairo. the troops there compfained that they
bud no vegetan!es, anu We'll ~; h;,,s'If ~ tha
turned 10 ChlcAko ne lntettssteu nt.isci. AZ .. s
matter ana sn'ppeu u Gasn'u ~, " .,a1a u.'7' F9'"
toGs ~ xtr,,, ia sha yo,nyost ~ fn,1r brothers.