Edgar A. Churchill, a prominent resident of Cornish, was born in this town, August 29, 1847. His parents were Barker B. Churchill, son of Lewis Churchill and Mary (Angier) Churchill, of Cornish. The latter, who was Barker’s first wife, had eight children, of whom Edgar A., Mary E., and Jennie reached maturity. Mary is now Mrs. Lovell B. George, of Newport, and has two children-Jennie and Albert. Jennie Churchill, who married William F. Waite, a pattern maker of Hubbardston, Mass., is now deceased. The father, a carpenter by trade, was in the late war, having enlisted at West Lebanon in the First New Hampshire Heavy Artillery for three years. He had served about thirteen months when the war ended, and he was honorably discharged. Shortly after he contracted a second marriage with Mary (Westgate) Britton, a widow of Plainfield, who bore him one child, Nettie B., now Mrs. Marvin B. Lindsey, of Cornish.
In his boyhood Edgar A. Churchill was Cornish and to Kimball Union Academy at Plainfield. After finishing his education, he taught school for a while, and then learned the trade of a carpenter with his father. In August, 1864, he enlisted for service in the war, with his father, in the First New Hampshire Heavy Artillery. After serving thirteen months, he came home and began work at his trade, carrying on, also, general farming. Mr. Churchill is a loyal member of the Democratic party, and has served his native town in numerous positions in the public service. He has been Highway Surveyor and Measurer of Wood and Lumber, Selectman of the town for the past four years, and Chairman of the Board of Selectmen for the last two years of that time. Upright and public-spirited, his support is always assured for any measure he believes to be for the general well-being of the community, even though it may conflict with his personal interests. His estate, situated on Davis Hill in the northern part of the town, commands a fine view of the country for miles around. His domestic circle includes a little girl, whom he has benevolently undertaken to rear. He is largely interested in stock-raising and grazing; and he has a large number of pet animals, including canary birds, cats, and dogs, the care of which affords him much pleasure. He is a member of William H. Bryant Post, No. 63. G. A. R., of Cornish, and of the local grange.
For years Mr. Churchill has made his home with Miss Georgiana and Mrs. Henrietta Davis, who are daughters of the late John and Hannah (Brown) Davis. Mr. Davis, born June 11, 1792, died February 20, 1867. His wife, who was born at Epsom, November 13, 1793, died December 27, 1847. Their five children were David, John H., Mary Ann, and the ladies already named. David died in infancy. John H., born March 9, 1820, is now living with his third wife in Illinois. Of his three children two are living. Mary Ann, born September 7, 1821, married James Winn, of Vermont, and died September 20, 1891. Mrs. Henrietta Davis, born January 13, 1824, who married Henry W. Davis, July 5, 1854, had two children, of whom Winfield Scott Davis is living, and resides in Cornish. While serving in the Civil War, her husband was exposed to so much hardship that his health was destroyed; and he died in a few days after reaching home. Miss Georgiana Davis, who was born January 14, 1828, and was educated in the town schools, has always made her home at the old homestead, which was her birthplace. Both she and her sister are very charitable. Their great-grandfather, John Davis, was born in Wales, England. The grandfather, David Davis, was born at Greenland, N.H., December 25, 1758. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and thereafter drew a pension from the government as long as he lived. An earnest Christian, he was a daily reader of the Scriptures. He died at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. As his grand-daughters, Mrs. Davis and her sister are qualified to become members of the organization called the “Daughters of the Revolution.”