Robert was one of at least eight children—Joseph Church, William Henry Church, Daniel Church, Robert Church, Samuel Church, Sarah Church, Martha Church, and George Church. He also had an adopted brother named Dallaven Longwell. Robert is my husband’s great grandfather with their nearest common relative being Dessie Church, Robert’s daughter and my husband’s grandmother.
One month before Robert’s birth (October 9, 1850), the census enumerator found his parents living in the Ohio Township of Monroe County in the state of Ohio. His mother Rebecca would have been nearing the end of her pregnancy that day. There were three children living in the home at the time—Joseph (age 13), William (age 3), and Sarah (age 10 months). The Robert Longwell family lived next door. I believe this is Rebecca’s family but more research needs to be done to confirm this.
On July 30, 1860, Robert’s family lived in the Sardis community within the Ohio Township of Monroe County, Ohio. In this record, Robert’s birthplace was recorded as Ohio. Robert’s father was a farmer with a personal estate valued at $500. Three of the four children were attending school—William, Robert, and Martha.
Sometime after the 1860 census was taken, Robert’s family moved to West Virginia. When the census enumerator visited their home on August 16, 1870, they were living in the same home as Robert’s uncle Samuel Church and his wife Sarah in the Burton community of the Church Township of Wetzel County. Robert’s birthplace was recorded as Virginia by the enumerator. Robert’s father worked as a farmer. He had real estate valued at $1000 and a personal estate of $400. Coincidentally, his uncle Samuel had real estate valued at $1000. I’m not sure what that means. Were they co-owners of the house or was there another house somewhere? Samuel had a personal estate of $200. At age 17, Robert could read but not write. Neither his mother Rebecca or aunt Sarah could read or write. Martha and George were the only two in the home attending school. There was a three-year-old boy named Josiah recorded underneath Samuel (age 54) and Sarah (56). I’m not sure who Josiah’s parents were at this point in my research. Samuel was 54 and Sarah 56 so would they have a three-year-old at this stage in life? Or did he belong to someone else? This household wasn’t the only Church family in the neighborhood. A young couple named Henry and Margaret Church, ages 24 and 18 respectively, lived next door. The Richard and Eliza Church family lived next door to them. More research needs to be done here as well to determine how these people fit in.
Robert obtained a license to marry Lucinda Murphy, daughter of John Murphy and Joanna Ullom, on March 29, 1876 in Wetzel County. They were married on April 2 by G. W. Parriott at the home of Lucinda’s parents. Robert was 23 and Lucinda 18. The clerk recorded both Robert and Lucinda’s place of birth as Wetzel County, Virginia, where they both lived at the time. Thirteen children were born to this union—George Church, Samuel C. Church, James Benton Church, Jennie F. Church, Anna B. Church, Dessie Church, Charles Cleveland Church, Martha Church, William Henry Church, Donald Roy Church, Presley Church, and two unknown infants.
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Robert and Lucinda's marriage license (ca. 1876, click to enlarge) |
The newlyweds were quick to start their family and already had a three-year-old when the census was taken on June 5, 1880. Robert, Lucinda, and their son George lived in the Church District of Wetzel County. Robert worked as a farmer while Lucinda kept house. In this record, Robert’s birthplace was recorded as Ohio. They lived next door to Robert’s parents, Henry and Rebecca Church, along with brother George, and adopted brother Dallaven Longwell. Robert’s brother William and his family lived on the other side of his parents. Robert and Lucinda lived in Littleton, Wetzel County, West Virginia in 1889 when daughter Dessie was born.
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Robert and Lucinda (Murphy) Church |
On June 9, 1900, Robert and his family still lived in the Church District of Wetzel County. Robert owned the home, classified as a farm. This record shows his birthplace as West Virginia. Robert and Lucinda had been married for 22 years. During that time, Lucinda had given birth to 11 children, 10 of which were living and nine in the home that day. Robert worked as a farmer, with three of the boys—Samuel, James, and Charles—working as farm laborers. With the exception of the younger children—Martha, Henry, and (Donald) Roy—all could read and write. Robert’s father died in Wetzel County on April 16, 1904. He was buried at Thomas Chapel Cemetery in Littleton, Wetzel County, West Virginia.
On April 28, 1910, Robert and his family lived in the Clay District of Wetzel County. Robert, now 58 years old, owned the general farm he worked and lived on. Lucinda was shown as having had 13 children, 10 of which were living, however only one new child shows up on the record, Presley (age 10). Dessie worked as a servant for a private family. Henry worked as a farm laborer on the home farm. In this record, Robert’s birthplace was recorded as West Virginia. I have yet to determine when Robert’s mother died.
On January 14, 1920, Robert, Lucinda, Donald (age 20), Presley (age 18), and Charles (age 27) lived in the Clay District of Wetzel County. He was a farmer on a general farm. Robert’s birthplace was recorded as West Virginia. His daughter Dessie rented the home next door where she lived with her husband Charles H. (Homer) Murphy and son Ralph.
On April 2, 1930, the Church home was the first one the census enumerator visited in the Clay District of Wetzel County. Long gone were the sounds of children with only Robert, Lucinda, and their 30-year-old son Charles (enumerated as Charley) living in the home. Robert owned the home, valued at $1200 and classified as a farm. When Robert obtained their marriage license in 1876, his age was recorded as 23. In this census record, it was 27. Robert’s birthplace was recorded as Ohio. Robert, Lucinda, and Charles were all able to read and write.
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Robert, Lucinda, and grandson Earl Murphy (ca. 1930) |
In November 1932, Robert (age 82) became ill from an unknown (to me) illness and died at home from complicaitons on the 29th. His obituary, published in the Wetzel Democrat on December 8, noted that he “… was a lifelong resident of this community …” and that he was “… born near this city … .” Robert was buried at Thomas Chapel Cemetery following a service performed by the Rev. Elsmon held at the Thomas Chapel United Methodist Church.
When Robert’s daughter Dessie died in November 1940, the informant, her brother Presley, listed their father’s birthplace as Littleton, Wetzel County, West Virginia. As mentioned at the beginning of this sketch, you can see how the paper trail documenting Robert’s birthplace is confusing. If I had to bet on it, I would say he was born in Monroe County, Ohio since that’s where his parents lived one month before his birth. But, of course, I can’t confirm that at this time.
Robert was a descendent of Henry “Old Hundred” Church for whom the town of Hundred was named.
References
- Dessie Murphy, Certificate of Death no. 15476, West Virginia State Department of Health.
- Marriage License, Robert Church and Lucinda Murphy, March 29, 1876.
- Personal visit to Thomas Chapel Cemetery, Littleton, West Virginia.
- Robert Church obituary, Wetzel Democrat, December 8, 1932.
- Robert Church, West Virginia, Deaths Index, 1853–1973.
- U.S. Federal Census, Church District, Wetzel County, West Virginia, 1870, 1880, 1900.
- U.S. Federal Census, Clay District, Wetzel County, West Virginia, 1910, 1920, 1930.
- U.S. Federal Census, Ohio, Monroe County, Ohio, 1850, 1860.
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