Walter H. Churchill was born at Batavia, Genesee County, N.Y., April 27, 1838. His parents were Samuel and Eliza Churchill. His early life was spent upon his father's farm and the log school house was a feature of that life. He continued to reside upon the farm until arriving at the age of manhood, when he determined to start out in life for himself. Believing that the West offered advantages not possessed by the East, he decided that in the West he would seek his future home. He arrived in Oceana County on Feb.14, 1864, locating at once in the township of Shelby. At that time the county was a wilderness and he became one of its earliest pioneers. After coming here he enlisted in Co. G 15th Mich. Inf., and took up his line of march for the front. At the close of the war he returned to his home in this county and has since resided in Shelby and vicinity. When the Shelby Post Office was established in 1866 Mr. Churchill was appointed Postmaster, which position he continued to hold for nineteen years and nine months. He has held positions of trust in his township since its organization, among them being Township Clerk seven years, Treasurer one year, Justice twenty years. Supervisor two years, and in 1888 was elected Judge of Probate of the county, which position he now holds. He has also been
Secretary and Treasurer of the Oceana Co. Veteran Association. In business matters Mr. Churchill has exercised great shrewdness and tact and from the small start made in 1864 he has become the possessor of considerable means. By an honorable, upright course he has won the respect and esteem not only of those associated with him, but also of those with whom he has had business transactions. His business relations have been varied. He was engaged in the hardware business in 1872 with Mr. A. Neff. He afterwards was engaged in the boot and shoe business. In 1883 the banking house of Churchill, Oakes and Co. was formed in which he became President and still holds the position. In 1886 the Benona Lumber Co. was formed with Mr. Churchill as its Secretary, and in 1888 he also became the Secretary of the Shelby Improvement Co. To dwell upon his social and personal qualities is useless in this connection as he is well known in all parts of the county.
His residence and grounds are among the finest in the village, a view of which appears elsewhere in this book. Mr. Churchill has been three times married. In 1859 he married Miss Jane Green. In 1869 he was married to Lucada A. Carter, and in 1874 to Sarah A. Hamlin. He has had five children, three sons and two daughters, only one of whom is now living, Charles L. His present wife is a lady of refinement and exerts herself to make home pleasant and its occupants happy. They have an adopted daughter, Mamie, who is the pet of the household.


Taken from pages 283 and 284 of the book "Oceana County Pioneers and Businessmen of Today" by L.M. Hartwick and W.H. Tuller. 1890. Pentwater, Michigan. Pentwater News Steam Print.

...