Heartwell Churchill

Heartwell Churchill

HEARTWELL CHURCHILL, instructor, resident on section 34, Ashland Township, was born Feb. 2, 1845, in Somerset Co., Maine, and belongs to the Churchill family of England, one of the oldest and best sustained in the list of the better classes in that country. His father dying when he (Heartwell) was betwen three and four years old, he remained under the care of his mother until the age of six years, when he was placed under the management of John Peirce, of Embden, in his native country, with whom he continued to reside until he was about 13 years old. He then became a farm laborer, devoting himself to his work in the summers and to study winters, therby securing a good education, which enabled him to commence teaching at the age of 19 years. He was economical and prudent, and saved sufficient of his earnings to purchase 100 acres of land, where he established his mother and her children in a home, and turned his attention to farming. After eight years he experienced financial reverses to such an extent that he resumed his profession, combining the labors of a teacher with those of a minister of the gospel in the interests of the Free-Will Baptist Church. In 1879 he became connected with the United Brethren Church, and was a successful revivalist preacher. His views conflicting with the stern discipline of that denominational body in relation to secret societies, he returned to the ministry of the Church to which he originally belonged, and devotes the intervals between his terms of school to active ministerial effort.

He came to Michigan in the fall of 1872 and at first located in Kent County, and soon after came to Newaygo County, where he has since been engaged in the duties and labors of teacher, and is rated fairly and justly as a leader in his profession.

He was married Jan. 13, 1870, at Skowhegan, Somerset Co., Me., to Lydia E., daughter of Noah and Lydia (Eaton) Pratt, a native of Somerset County and born Oct. 3, 1837. Her parents were born respectively in Massachusetts and Maine. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Churchill, as follows: Bertha L., June 20, 1871; Lydia M., Nov. 6, 1873; Lula A., March 28, 1879; Lillian P., Oct. 5, 1881; and an infant yet unnamed, born Nov. 11, 1883.

Mr. Churchill is a decided Republican in political faith.

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