Edwin L. Church

1843-1897
Hometown: Bath, Steuben County, NY

Friend of Charles Brother from Bath.

Ed was buried in Grove Cemetery, Bath, New York with Augusta Ellen Bull, his first wife and daughter of Col. William Howell Bull, a pioneer of Steuben County who was the best man at the wedding of Henry Brother and Mary Ann Pratt, the parents of Charley Brother.

In 1891 Church was listed in the Steuben County Business Directory as partner merchant with Church & Obert and shows his house on Liberty St.

There was also another person - an Uncle - who has this same name and is a merchant in Bath and Member of New York state assembly from Steuben County 1st District, 1850.

His father was Lawrence Valkenburg Church and an early pioneer of Bath.

Edwin’s sister Martha married a Robie boy, another prominent family.

After the Civil War, Edwin went into business with W.W. Willson, another friend of Charley Brother and later, with Casin Obert, a friend of the Brother Family. Obert later moved to Iowa to partner with Civil War Marine P.S. Towle. Obert also marries Charles Brother’s niece.

Edwin’s daughter married into the family that also served as former business partner of the Brother Family’s Belfast Mill – Parkhurst Fish. Edwin and Augusta had 3 children.

Edwin L. Church’s Obituary

Died at his residence on Liberty Street, in Bath, Tuesday morning, Nov 21, 1897. He was the youngest son of Lawrence and Rachel Church and was born in Morris, Otsego County, NY, Nov. 28, 1843. His parents removed to Bath about 1847, his father engaging in the hardware business, succeeding the firm of D. Lord & Co. Edwin was a student and graduated from the Poughkeepsie Business College, and returning to Bath became a clerk in the dry goods store of Warren W. Willson. In due time he entered into business on his own behalf, and has for the past thirty years been one of the leading dry goods merchants in Bath. Having spent nearly all his life among us, his death from a six week’s illness with typhoid fever, has spread great sorrow in the homes of our village. Mr. Church was devoted to his business, and gave it the closest attention. The news of his death will be a source of regret among the many patrons who always found him a reliable business man and his word never to be questioned.

In 1868 he married Miss Augusta Bull, daughter of the late Col. William H. Bull, with whom he passed thirteen years of married life – her death occurring in September, 1881. Three children were born to them: William H. Church of New York, Lawrence and Mrs. William P. Fish of Bath.

He also leaves one sister, Mrs. D.C. Alden, of this village, the only surviving member of this father’s family, to mourn his death.

On Jan 23, 1895, Mr. Church marriage Miss Louise Brundage of this village, who, with his three children above named, survive him.

Mr. Church was a vestryman of St. Thomas church, and his funeral will be held from the church tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon at three o’clock, Rev. B.S. Sanderson officiating.

The Advocate, Nov 23, 1897

Charles Brother Esq.

New Orleans or Elsewhere.

June 30, 1864

Dear Sir - Enclosed please find amt of interest due you from Miss Jennie Barnes which please acknowledge by receipt of same and oblige. Yours resfly, E. L. Church Collector & Atty at Law, West side of Liberty St., Bath, NY

[Some text cut out with scissors]

But she said the within would be enough for you to keep to remember her by. Don’t you think I would make a good pettiforger from the style of the above. I ask a thoughs and pardons for my negligence in writing you but it has been impossible for me to do so, not because I was to busy, but I was indisposed I suppose. I know of nothing else but however I will try to do better in the future. I cannot give you a detailed account of matters and things since I last wrote you but will commence later. I suppose you have heard of Judge Barnes death. Jennie was home to his funeral and stayed about one week. Then was the time I did my dinning for you. Lid Rumsey, Lizzie Ogden and Sarah McCay are all home from the City at present. Rob Campbell and Will Dutcher are having some great times about Lizzie Odgen. Lizzie’s and Rob’s mother’s would rather Rob would be her “gallant”. She likes Will the best and so they have it. That is the only excitement of the kind that is going on now days. I suppose… [text cut out]

… Glee Club but I will suppose you have not and tell you a little about it. Will Dutcher, Carter Robie and myself are the soprano singers. Louis Boardsman – Tenor – Will Howell – Bass – from the Club we have been singing about two months. We (the Club) are going to give a picnic on the Fourth if the weather admits. We expect to have one good time. I have wished you were here hundreds of times so as to go in with us. Charlie I cannot write all I would like to in one letter (for I am writing in business hours) and I cannot think of all I would like to say but will try to write more in my next answer to you. Don’t you wait 6 months to answer this because I did for I will try answer promptly after this. With many wishes for you good luck I remain as ever.

Your friend, E. L. Church, Bath, NY

PS. I shall not read this over and correct it for it would tempt me not to send it. It looks so bad I written in such a hurry. Yours truly, E.L.C.

Note on the back side of the letter shows Charley Brother wrote: “Rec’d July 20, 1864 and responded on July 24th”.

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