Bio: Churchill, Benjamin (1831 - 1914)

Contact: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Churchill, Johnson, Culver, Pratt

----Source: History of Eau Claire County Wisconsin (1914) pages 673-674

Benjamin J. Churchill, deceased, for over half a century a resident of Eau Claire, was a native of Champlain, Clinton county, New York, where he was born February 22, 1831, the son of William and Isabella (Johnson) Churchill. His paternal grandfather, also named William Churchill, was born in Rutland, Vermont, February 10, 1763. He was a pioneer of Clinton county, New York, and by occupation a farmer. In religious belief he was a Presbyterian, and was prominently identified with affairs of eastern New York. He died May 24, 1828. His wife was Eunice Culver, born December 31, 1762, and died October 3, 1839. They had a family of ten children of whom William, father of our subject, was born in Champlain, New York, March 27, 1795, and died in 1868. He was also a farmer. His wife, Isabella, was the daughter of John and Margaret (Ellwood) Johnson, natives of England, and she was the mother of Washington, Eleanor, Clarissa, Benjamin J. and William H. Churchill. She died in 1858.

Benjamin J. Churchill received an academic education in his native town, and for several years followed the trade of carpenter and joiner. In 1853 he located at Columbus, Wisconsin, where he married October 25, 1856, Hannah E. Pratt. She was born in Michigan, January 25, 1839. Their children who grew to maturity were: Charles W., Jennie E., Cora E. and Homer. Mrs. Churchill died August 10, 1905. In 1857 Mr. Churchill came to Eau Claire and soon after settled in the town of Brunswick, where he took an active part in all public affairs pertaining to the town and county, being a member of the county board, and for some time its chairman. He was constantly in office from 1858 to 1879, holding the positions of treasurer and town superintendent of schools, and from 1901 had continuously been a member of the county board, and since 1869 he was a continuous resident of Eau Claire. He was appointed by the county board to examine the accounts of the county treasurer and county clerk from the organization of the county until 1870, a task he fulfilled to the satisfaction of all. In 1871 he was elected county treasurer, and re-elected by the Republican party three consecutive times. Later he dealt in grain and bought and sold real estate. Being an expert accountant, he was often consulted on important financial matters. In religious belief he was a Presbyterian and for many years was an elder in the church. His death occurred January 10, 1914.