Alameda county lost one of its public-spirited and progressive citizens and successful and prominent business men and California one of its pioneer settlers when August M. Church died at his home in Oakland, September 1, 1889. He was a conspicuous figure in the early development of the state and was for many years associated with the interests of the bay country, his activities extending to many fields and touching closely business, political and social progress.
Mr. Church was born in Allen's Hill, Ontario county, New York, June 19, 1816, and was a son of Lovett and Sally (Boyd) Church. He spent the first fifteen years of his life in Richmond, New York, and then began his business career, finding employment in a hardware store in Canadaigua. He held this position for about one year and then entered the postoffice as clerk. He afterward became postmaster in Lockport, Niagara county, New York, and he discharged the duties of that position until 1834, when he became identified with the banking business through his connection with the bank conducted by L. A. Spaulding. After two years in this capacity he became clerk in the canal collector's office of Judge McKane and in the winter of 1837-38 went to Chicago, where he sold out a stock of goods for the Bank of Washtenaw, Ann Arbor, Michigan. When this work was accomplished he went to Ottawa, Illinois, and there became interested in the construction of the Illinois & Michigan canal and also in the general mercantile business. In the same year he removed to Berrien county, Michigan, and in the following autumn to Bellevue, Iowa, where he embarked in a mercantile enterprise, in which he met with gratifying success, becoming one of the most prominent business men of the community. From Bellevue Mr. Church removed to Whitmanville, in Cass county, and conducted a hotel there until 1842, when he moved to St. Joseph, Michigan, and managed a hotel for a number of years, during which time he also engaged in trading. In 1845 he removed to St. Mary's Rapids, where for eighteen months he conducted a hotel, after which he returned to St. Joseph, Michigan, resuming his former business.
In the year 1849, attracted by the reports of the wonderful gold discoveries on the Pacific coast and of the quick fortunes to be made in the mines, Mr. Church joined a number of companions and equipped an outfit for the journey across the plains. On the 13th of August, 1849, the party arrived at Bear river and there called a halt for a brief rest, after which they proceeded to the mines on the Yuba river and Deer creek. In October Mr. Church and his comrades removed to the north fork of the Yuba and mined for a time at Goodyear and Michigan bars. During this month three of the party proceeded to the point where the town of Downieville, Sierra county, now stands. There in an incredibly short time they took out five hundred dollars worth of gold and with elated spirits returned to their companions on Goodyear's bar, having decided to locate there for the winter. They were prevented from doing any more work at their mine by the rain and snow which set in and accordingly returned to Sacramento to pass the rainy season. In the spring they returned to the location only to find that every vestige of gold was gone and there were no prospects either for the present or the future. Mr. Church then decided to return home and after disposing of all his effects found himself with eighteen hundred dollars more than when he first came to California. This, however, was later stolen from him, and eventually he returned to Michigan no better off than when he left the state
After his return Mr. Church remained at home until the spring of 1851, when in company with Socrates Huff of San Leandro, with whom he had made the first trip, he again came to California. In the following winter with others he hunted in the hills back of Mission San Jose and from this expedition each of the party cleared three hundred dollars. In the following spring Mr. Church located a trading point at New Haven, now Alvarado, in partnership with Henry C. Smith, and while a resident of this locality was elected to membership on the board of supervisors, serving in 1852 and 1853, when Washington township was a portion of Santa Clara county. It was during Mr. Church's residence in New Haven that Alameda county was created out of portions of the counties of Contra Costa and Santa Clara, and he was elected the first county clerk and recorder of the new county. He was connected with these offices as chief and as deputy for nine years, and his able service was followed in 1867 by his election to the state legislature as representative from Alameda county. He served with the late John W. Dwinelle and during the period of his activity as a member of the assembly gave his influence always to measures of reform and advancement. In 1870 he again turned his attention to business, establishing a mercantile enterprise at Healdsburg, when he then believed would be the terminus of the San Francisco & North Pacific Railroad. However, upon the granting of the franchise for the continuation of the line to Cloverdale, the commercial prospects of Healdsburg were shattered, and Mr. Church returned to his ranch in Murray township, where he succeeded his former partner, Henry C. Smith, as justice of the peace, holding that office for four years at Livermore. Mr. Church sold his estate in 1877 and took up his residence in the city of Oakland, where in the following year he was elected justice of the peace for Oakland township, an office in which he served with marked ability as he did in all others which he was called upon to fill.
In Berrian county, Michigan, in 1838, Mr. Church was united in marriage to Miss Ellen Cronkhite, a native of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Church became the parents of the following children: Helen White, deceased; Sarah, now Mrs. Gill, of Santa Barbara; William H., residing in Oakland; Rod W., of Piedmont, Alameda county, and Lincoln S., of Oakland. Mr. Church was well known in the Masonic fraternity and belonged also to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Society of California Pioneers. He died in Oakland, September 1, 1889, and was sincerely mourned by a wide circle of friends. His life was characterized by unfaltering loyalty in all of its important relations, and his honorable standards, his stanch honesty and his singleness of purpose, influenced the history of California in many of its most important chapters.
Past and Present of Alameda County California, Vol. II
Published in Chicago by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1914
Pages 199-201
Transcribed by Linda Jackson 6/04/2008
Alameda County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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