Deacon Elijah's grandfather, Giles Churchill, settled about 1751, on the Delaware river in what is now Cochecton, N.Y., though he may have chosen the west bank, as that was was within the boundary of William Penn's grant. Here, in an unbroken wilderness, he built a small log-cabin, and thither, in a short time, brought his wife, and his chidren were born, and his cleared farm began to give back goodly harvests, while other families were settling around him. Here, in 1757, Stephen, the father of Deacon Elijah, was born. When Stephen was only seven years old, the family was driven out by Indians. The family escaped, but was still within sight when the Indians set their house on fire. The family, with only one horse for the mother and younger children to ride, and a cow that carried a precious sack of meal for food, made their way back to the border of Massachusetts.
Elijah's father Stephen, now grown, reappeared about 1785, in Harpersfield, Delaware County with his small family. Here Deacon Elijah was born. He suffered the great privations of frontier farm-life in his early years; but despite his limited means for schooling, he obtained a better than the ordinary education, and began to teach school at an early age, working on the farm except in the winter, when he was teaching.
His father died when he was about fifteen years of age, and his older brother carried on the farm for some years. When his younger brother, Joseph, married and took the farm for a while, then, at his mother's desire, Elijah bought out the interests of his brothers and sisters and settled down on the homestead farm.
On May 12, 1830, he married Sarah Ann Benedict, in Andes, Delaware County. The had seven known children: Calvin, Epenetus, Sarah, Stephen, Frances, Esther, and Addie.
He was a strong and able man, and a good citizen. He was a leading influence in public affairs, a consistent Christian, and an earnest promoter of education. He was popular in the community. In his younger days was captain of the local militia. He was an ardent Whig, and became an earnest Republican. He knew how to be a good father without repressing or punishing his children, and also knew how to make a Christian home and a Christian life pleasant and attractive.
He joined the First Presbyterian Church in Stamford, with many others from Harpersfield, June, 1834, at its organization, and was then elected elder, or deacon, an office which he held during his life. His funeral sermon was and preached in the the Presbyterian Church in Stamford, by his pastor, Rev. L. E. Richards, March 24 1878.
Elijah's father Stephen, now grown, reappeared about 1785, in Harpersfield, Delaware County with his small family. Here Deacon Elijah was born. He suffered the great privations of frontier farm-life in his early years; but despite his limited means for schooling, he obtained a better than the ordinary education, and began to teach school at an early age, working on the farm except in the winter, when he was teaching.
His father died when he was about fifteen years of age, and his older brother carried on the farm for some years. When his younger brother, Joseph, married and took the farm for a while, then, at his mother's desire, Elijah bought out the interests of his brothers and sisters and settled down on the homestead farm.
On May 12, 1830, he married Sarah Ann Benedict, in Andes, Delaware County. The had seven known children: Calvin, Epenetus, Sarah, Stephen, Frances, Esther, and Addie.
He was a strong and able man, and a good citizen. He was a leading influence in public affairs, a consistent Christian, and an earnest promoter of education. He was popular in the community. In his younger days was captain of the local militia. He was an ardent Whig, and became an earnest Republican. He knew how to be a good father without repressing or punishing his children, and also knew how to make a Christian home and a Christian life pleasant and attractive.
He joined the First Presbyterian Church in Stamford, with many others from Harpersfield, June, 1834, at its organization, and was then elected elder, or deacon, an office which he held during his life. His funeral sermon was and preached in the the Presbyterian Church in Stamford, by his pastor, Rev. L. E. Richards, March 24 1878.
Deacon Elijah's grandfather, Giles Churchill, settled about 1751, on the Delaware river in what is now Cochecton, N.Y., though he may have chosen the west bank, as that was was within the boundary of William Penn's grant. Here, in an unbroken wilderness, he built a small log-cabin, and thither, in a short time, brought his wife, and his chidren were born, and his cleared farm began to give back goodly harvests, while other families were settling around him. Here, in 1757, Stephen, the father of Deacon Elijah, was born. When Stephen was only seven years old, the family was driven out by Indians. The family escaped, but was still within sight when the Indians set their house on fire. The family, with only one horse for the mother and younger children to ride, and a cow that carried a precious sack of meal for food, made their way back to the border of Massachusetts.
Elijah's father Stephen, now grown, reappeared about 1785, in Harpersfield, Delaware County with his small family. Here Deacon Elijah was born. He suffered the great privations of frontier farm-life in his early years; but despite his limited means for schooling, he obtained a better than the ordinary education, and began to teach school at an early age, working on the farm except in the winter, when he was teaching.
His father died when he was about fifteen years of age, and his older brother carried on the farm for some years. When his younger brother, Joseph, married and took the farm for a while, then, at his mother's desire, Elijah bought out the interests of his brothers and sisters and settled down on the homestead farm.
On May 12, 1830, he married Sarah Ann Benedict, in Andes, Delaware County. The had seven known children: Calvin, Epenetus, Sarah, Stephen, Frances, Esther, and Addie.
He was a strong and able man, and a good citizen. He was a leading influence in public affairs, a consistent Christian, and an earnest promoter of education. He was popular in the community. In his younger days was captain of the local militia. He was an ardent Whig, and became an earnest Republican. He knew how to be a good father without repressing or punishing his children, and also knew how to make a Christian home and a Christian life pleasant and attractive.
He joined the First Presbyterian Church in Stamford, with many others from Harpersfield, June, 1834, at its organization, and was then elected elder, or deacon, an office which he held during his life. His funeral sermon was and preached in the the Presbyterian Church in Stamford, by his pastor, Rev. L. E. Richards, March 24 1878.
Elijah's father Stephen, now grown, reappeared about 1785, in Harpersfield, Delaware County with his small family. Here Deacon Elijah was born. He suffered the great privations of frontier farm-life in his early years; but despite his limited means for schooling, he obtained a better than the ordinary education, and began to teach school at an early age, working on the farm except in the winter, when he was teaching.
His father died when he was about fifteen years of age, and his older brother carried on the farm for some years. When his younger brother, Joseph, married and took the farm for a while, then, at his mother's desire, Elijah bought out the interests of his brothers and sisters and settled down on the homestead farm.
On May 12, 1830, he married Sarah Ann Benedict, in Andes, Delaware County. The had seven known children: Calvin, Epenetus, Sarah, Stephen, Frances, Esther, and Addie.
He was a strong and able man, and a good citizen. He was a leading influence in public affairs, a consistent Christian, and an earnest promoter of education. He was popular in the community. In his younger days was captain of the local militia. He was an ardent Whig, and became an earnest Republican. He knew how to be a good father without repressing or punishing his children, and also knew how to make a Christian home and a Christian life pleasant and attractive.
He joined the First Presbyterian Church in Stamford, with many others from Harpersfield, June, 1834, at its organization, and was then elected elder, or deacon, an office which he held during his life. His funeral sermon was and preached in the the Presbyterian Church in Stamford, by his pastor, Rev. L. E. Richards, March 24 1878.
Family Members
Siblings
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
