The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-09-26

Mrs. Churchs maiden name was Jane
A. Fowler. Her birthplace was Oris-
kany Falls, Oneida county, n. y, of
which place her father, Elisha Fowler,
was one of the earliest settlers. The
date of her birth was Dec. 10, 1922. She
was married in 1913 to Samuel d.
Church On the death of her husband
and onlychild in 1852 she turned her life
into the channel of her natural tastes
| the educational profession. After spend
ing two years in the Clinton, n. Y,
Female Seminary in the pursuance of
special studies. and as teacher she left
her home in Oriskany Falls and went to
Adrian, this state, and there established
young ladies school.
This school was more than mere in
| tellectual educator. 1t was a moral
power, widespread in the impress made
upon minds, free from the ironclad rou-
tine of the public school system. The
studies pursued were optional, affording
pupils who did not desire long course,
choice of study, and the school became
center for young ladies from all parts
of the country, preparing to become
| teachers. But far above the formal in
struction given, Mrs. Church rated her
personal influence over the minds of her
pupils. There was a remarkable bond
of love and confidence between teacher
and pupil, which was a controlling
power in the school room. The govern
ment was on the eleyating principle of
1.-The Fatherhood of God and the Broth
erhood Of Man" The cultivation of a
high standard of character as founda-
tion for usefulness in life ran side by
side in Importance with text book in
struction. The idea of fitting young
ladies to fulfill well the duties of life in
whatsoever position it should please God
to call them was never lost sight of, and
in later years loving TESTIMONIALS came
to Mrs. Church from former pupils, now
in middle life, of the benefcent influ-
ence of those school room days in shap
ing their later years. The following
written to her neice is characteristic of
Mrs. Church, and doubtless many other
young ladies received the same helpful
advice
Il want to impress you not to look for
quick results but keep doing the best
you can and in the meanwhile do not let
such work interfere with your regular
school improvement. If you ever be-
come a successful writer you have got to
compress all kinds of knowledge. The
day has gone by when genius for writing
is sufficient to ensure successful author
ship. Get your music, shorthand and
| typewriting, study the languages, COM
plete good school education, Course of
study in fact, get what comes in the
way at your age and do not bother your
head as TO the use you are going to put
it to. All will come in play if you are
disposed to turn your requirements to
account, and generally it is the unex-
pected that finally comes to one. This
is great age for women, and capable
| women have only to improve the oppor-
tunity that comes in their way for i'm
provement to be tolerably successful
Make all you can of the present without
overtaxing yourself and take advantages
as they come along-the future will
shape itself for you"
In 1861, owing to impaired health,
Mrs. Church discontinued the open
school; but private classes were con-
tinued until 1885, when she removed to
this city, and the following year entered
into partnership with her brother-in-
law, J. H. Champion, as joint editor and
proprietor of The OwossoJ Press. Here
her field of labor was changed, but she
never lost her hold upon young minds to
encourage and elevate them, and aid
young persons individually to ster
higher into honorable positions in life
At the period in which Mrs. Church
became joint editor of The Owossc
Press woman in the management of a
newspaper was rare in Michigan. Thi:
position she held until September, 1890
nearly twenty four years, during which
time her paper attained and held a higl
reputation as one of the standard week
ly papers of the State 1t always main
tanned conservative tone; truth ant
high principle were never sacrificed foi
sensationalisin, and 1.-THE old reliabl,
Press" as il was called, although demo
cratic in politics, had the confidence anC