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Hon. Gaylord Church |
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HON. GAYLORD CHURCH (deceased), late President Judge, was among the most prominent citizens of Crawford County, Penn. He was born in Otsego, N. Y., in 1811, son of William and Wealthy (Palmer) Church. His parents, who were natives of Connecticut and of English descent, came to Pennsylvania in 1816, settled in Mercer County and there followed farming. Our subject, who was the second son in a family of six children, was reared on the farm and attended the Mercer Academy; studied law with Hon. John J. Pearson, who was afterward President Judge of the Twelfth Judicial District of Pennsylvania. He was admitted to the bar in 1834, and the same year came to Meadville, where he spent the remaining portion of his life, dying here in 1869, loved and respected by all who knew him. He was a Democrat in politics. In 1837 he was appointed Deputy Attorney-General of the district, and in 1840 was elected to the Legislature, serving two terms. In 1843 he was appointed President Judge by Gov. Porter of the Sixth Judicial District, consisting of Erie, Crawford and Venango Counties, and served till 1851, when the office became elective. He then resumed his law practice till 1858, when he was appointed a Judge of the
Supreme Court by Gov. Packer, to fill a vacancy. He was married in 1837 to Anna B. Pearson, of Mercer, Penn., a daughter of Bevan and Ann Pearson, who were members of the Society of Friends. This union was blessed with eight children, six of whom at present survive. Judge Church and wife were members of the Episcopal Church, of which he was a Vestryman many years. His widow still survives him and resides in Meadville, while the family are among the leading ones of northwestern Pennsylvania. History of Crawford County, Pennsylvania: containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc., portraits of early settlers and prominent men, biographies, history of Pennsylvania, statistical and miscellaneous matter, Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1885, page 719 . |
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