From p. 403 of "The Churchill Family in America," by Gardner Asaph Churchill, Nathaniel Wiley Churchill & Rev. George M. Bodge.
"He was only 4 years old when his father, William, removed with his family to Champlain, Clinton, NY, then a small hamlet surrounded by an almost unbroken wilderness. William Churchill, his father, bought 100 acres of woodland and cleared a farm, known in late years as the old "Junior Churchill Place," situated on the road to Chazy, Clinton, NY. The father was a large athletic man, and a great worker, as were his 6 sons. They were all able men physically and mentally. Dr. Julius stayed at home working on the farm, and attending school in the winter, until the age of 21, and then against the wishes and advice of his father he started out alone to acquire a medical education. He chopped wood and taught school to get money to pursue his studies. He studied with Dr. Miles Stevenson, of Chazy, and Dr. Benjamin Moore, of Champlain, Clinton, NY. In 1826-27 he attended lecture courses at the Medical University at Castleton, Rutland, VT, and on 28 Aug 1828. received a diploma from the Clinton County Medical Society to practise (sic) "Physic and Surgery," and soon began practice in Champlain Village. In those days of wretched roads and sparse settlements, his practice soon extended over a wide range, which had to be traversed on horseback with saddlebags holding his stock of medicines. He was strong, enthusiastic, and skilful, and soon became popular, and had a very large clientage (sic). He was fond of fine horses, and had the best in the country round. For some 10 years, and up to 1840, he was postmaster of Champlain. He was an exceedingly active man, and fond of using tools, and about 1840 built himself an office with his own hands, and used this same office in his practice till his death. He was somewhat eccentric, a great collector of curiosities of all sorts, pictures, ancient arms and armor, minerals, fossils, and in one addition to his office, a sort of greenhouse, he had a wonderful variety of flowering plants, cactus-plants one of which at his death was 38 years old, and 10 feet in height. In this greenhouse he kept, also, a lot of singing birds. Dr. Churchill was versatile, was a lover of music, and played well on the violin, cornet and clarionet. He was intensely interested in physical science, especially geology and mineralogy, and when Sir Charles Lyell, the eminent English geologist, visited America, Dr. Churchill accompanied him in his exploration of the Mississippi Valley and was of great help to him, and they were always afterwards warm friends. How he found time for all his work and his extensive reading and valuable collection of books was a wonder to his friends, who knew he never neglected any of his home or professional duties. He was always up in the morning at 4 o'clock, and never idle. He was active and influential in public matters, and a popular and honored member of the County Medical Association. His scientific studies led him to very advanced convictions in regard to religion. He was indeed a very pronounced advocate of free thought. He was opposed and denounced by many as an atheist, and some of the more bigoted church-people honestly sought to ostracize him socially as well as to boycott his practice; but the more they persecuted and railed, the firmer he became in his convictions about religion. Theodore Parker lectured in Champlain, and the doctor found that he was in accord with the great preacher's liberal thought, and they became friends, and continued for some years to correspond. He was one of the first thinking men in America, to accept the theory of evolution. The unreasoning and ignorant bigotry of many of his friends, who, as Christian believers, turned against him, made him somewhat bitter at times, though not for long. The limits of this sketch will not admit of a full account of a very wonderful man, one of the ablest and best of all who have borne the name of Churchill.
An essay on the "Life of Dr. Julius Churchill, Physician, Philosopher, and Pioneer in Rational Thought," was read before the Association for Moral and Spiritual Education, at Brooklyn, Kings, NY, Mar 1884, by Edward J. Moore, and later published in pamphlet form.
"He was only 4 years old when his father, William, removed with his family to Champlain, Clinton, NY, then a small hamlet surrounded by an almost unbroken wilderness. William Churchill, his father, bought 100 acres of woodland and cleared a farm, known in late years as the old "Junior Churchill Place," situated on the road to Chazy, Clinton, NY. The father was a large athletic man, and a great worker, as were his 6 sons. They were all able men physically and mentally. Dr. Julius stayed at home working on the farm, and attending school in the winter, until the age of 21, and then against the wishes and advice of his father he started out alone to acquire a medical education. He chopped wood and taught school to get money to pursue his studies. He studied with Dr. Miles Stevenson, of Chazy, and Dr. Benjamin Moore, of Champlain, Clinton, NY. In 1826-27 he attended lecture courses at the Medical University at Castleton, Rutland, VT, and on 28 Aug 1828. received a diploma from the Clinton County Medical Society to practise (sic) "Physic and Surgery," and soon began practice in Champlain Village. In those days of wretched roads and sparse settlements, his practice soon extended over a wide range, which had to be traversed on horseback with saddlebags holding his stock of medicines. He was strong, enthusiastic, and skilful, and soon became popular, and had a very large clientage (sic). He was fond of fine horses, and had the best in the country round. For some 10 years, and up to 1840, he was postmaster of Champlain. He was an exceedingly active man, and fond of using tools, and about 1840 built himself an office with his own hands, and used this same office in his practice till his death. He was somewhat eccentric, a great collector of curiosities of all sorts, pictures, ancient arms and armor, minerals, fossils, and in one addition to his office, a sort of greenhouse, he had a wonderful variety of flowering plants, cactus-plants one of which at his death was 38 years old, and 10 feet in height. In this greenhouse he kept, also, a lot of singing birds. Dr. Churchill was versatile, was a lover of music, and played well on the violin, cornet and clarionet. He was intensely interested in physical science, especially geology and mineralogy, and when Sir Charles Lyell, the eminent English geologist, visited America, Dr. Churchill accompanied him in his exploration of the Mississippi Valley and was of great help to him, and they were always afterwards warm friends. How he found time for all his work and his extensive reading and valuable collection of books was a wonder to his friends, who knew he never neglected any of his home or professional duties. He was always up in the morning at 4 o'clock, and never idle. He was active and influential in public matters, and a popular and honored member of the County Medical Association. His scientific studies led him to very advanced convictions in regard to religion. He was indeed a very pronounced advocate of free thought. He was opposed and denounced by many as an atheist, and some of the more bigoted church-people honestly sought to ostracize him socially as well as to boycott his practice; but the more they persecuted and railed, the firmer he became in his convictions about religion. Theodore Parker lectured in Champlain, and the doctor found that he was in accord with the great preacher's liberal thought, and they became friends, and continued for some years to correspond. He was one of the first thinking men in America, to accept the theory of evolution. The unreasoning and ignorant bigotry of many of his friends, who, as Christian believers, turned against him, made him somewhat bitter at times, though not for long. The limits of this sketch will not admit of a full account of a very wonderful man, one of the ablest and best of all who have borne the name of Churchill.
An essay on the "Life of Dr. Julius Churchill, Physician, Philosopher, and Pioneer in Rational Thought," was read before the Association for Moral and Spiritual Education, at Brooklyn, Kings, NY, Mar 1884, by Edward J. Moore, and later published in pamphlet form.
From p. 403 of "The Churchill Family in America," by Gardner Asaph Churchill, Nathaniel Wiley Churchill & Rev. George M. Bodge.
"He was only 4 years old when his father, William, removed with his family to Champlain, Clinton, NY, then a small hamlet surrounded by an almost unbroken wilderness. William Churchill, his father, bought 100 acres of woodland and cleared a farm, known in late years as the old "Junior Churchill Place," situated on the road to Chazy, Clinton, NY. The father was a large athletic man, and a great worker, as were his 6 sons. They were all able men physically and mentally. Dr. Julius stayed at home working on the farm, and attending school in the winter, until the age of 21, and then against the wishes and advice of his father he started out alone to acquire a medical education. He chopped wood and taught school to get money to pursue his studies. He studied with Dr. Miles Stevenson, of Chazy, and Dr. Benjamin Moore, of Champlain, Clinton, NY. In 1826-27 he attended lecture courses at the Medical University at Castleton, Rutland, VT, and on 28 Aug 1828. received a diploma from the Clinton County Medical Society to practise (sic) "Physic and Surgery," and soon began practice in Champlain Village. In those days of wretched roads and sparse settlements, his practice soon extended over a wide range, which had to be traversed on horseback with saddlebags holding his stock of medicines. He was strong, enthusiastic, and skilful, and soon became popular, and had a very large clientage (sic). He was fond of fine horses, and had the best in the country round. For some 10 years, and up to 1840, he was postmaster of Champlain. He was an exceedingly active man, and fond of using tools, and about 1840 built himself an office with his own hands, and used this same office in his practice till his death. He was somewhat eccentric, a great collector of curiosities of all sorts, pictures, ancient arms and armor, minerals, fossils, and in one addition to his office, a sort of greenhouse, he had a wonderful variety of flowering plants, cactus-plants one of which at his death was 38 years old, and 10 feet in height. In this greenhouse he kept, also, a lot of singing birds. Dr. Churchill was versatile, was a lover of music, and played well on the violin, cornet and clarionet. He was intensely interested in physical science, especially geology and mineralogy, and when Sir Charles Lyell, the eminent English geologist, visited America, Dr. Churchill accompanied him in his exploration of the Mississippi Valley and was of great help to him, and they were always afterwards warm friends. How he found time for all his work and his extensive reading and valuable collection of books was a wonder to his friends, who knew he never neglected any of his home or professional duties. He was always up in the morning at 4 o'clock, and never idle. He was active and influential in public matters, and a popular and honored member of the County Medical Association. His scientific studies led him to very advanced convictions in regard to religion. He was indeed a very pronounced advocate of free thought. He was opposed and denounced by many as an atheist, and some of the more bigoted church-people honestly sought to ostracize him socially as well as to boycott his practice; but the more they persecuted and railed, the firmer he became in his convictions about religion. Theodore Parker lectured in Champlain, and the doctor found that he was in accord with the great preacher's liberal thought, and they became friends, and continued for some years to correspond. He was one of the first thinking men in America, to accept the theory of evolution. The unreasoning and ignorant bigotry of many of his friends, who, as Christian believers, turned against him, made him somewhat bitter at times, though not for long. The limits of this sketch will not admit of a full account of a very wonderful man, one of the ablest and best of all who have borne the name of Churchill.
An essay on the "Life of Dr. Julius Churchill, Physician, Philosopher, and Pioneer in Rational Thought," was read before the Association for Moral and Spiritual Education, at Brooklyn, Kings, NY, Mar 1884, by Edward J. Moore, and later published in pamphlet form.
"He was only 4 years old when his father, William, removed with his family to Champlain, Clinton, NY, then a small hamlet surrounded by an almost unbroken wilderness. William Churchill, his father, bought 100 acres of woodland and cleared a farm, known in late years as the old "Junior Churchill Place," situated on the road to Chazy, Clinton, NY. The father was a large athletic man, and a great worker, as were his 6 sons. They were all able men physically and mentally. Dr. Julius stayed at home working on the farm, and attending school in the winter, until the age of 21, and then against the wishes and advice of his father he started out alone to acquire a medical education. He chopped wood and taught school to get money to pursue his studies. He studied with Dr. Miles Stevenson, of Chazy, and Dr. Benjamin Moore, of Champlain, Clinton, NY. In 1826-27 he attended lecture courses at the Medical University at Castleton, Rutland, VT, and on 28 Aug 1828. received a diploma from the Clinton County Medical Society to practise (sic) "Physic and Surgery," and soon began practice in Champlain Village. In those days of wretched roads and sparse settlements, his practice soon extended over a wide range, which had to be traversed on horseback with saddlebags holding his stock of medicines. He was strong, enthusiastic, and skilful, and soon became popular, and had a very large clientage (sic). He was fond of fine horses, and had the best in the country round. For some 10 years, and up to 1840, he was postmaster of Champlain. He was an exceedingly active man, and fond of using tools, and about 1840 built himself an office with his own hands, and used this same office in his practice till his death. He was somewhat eccentric, a great collector of curiosities of all sorts, pictures, ancient arms and armor, minerals, fossils, and in one addition to his office, a sort of greenhouse, he had a wonderful variety of flowering plants, cactus-plants one of which at his death was 38 years old, and 10 feet in height. In this greenhouse he kept, also, a lot of singing birds. Dr. Churchill was versatile, was a lover of music, and played well on the violin, cornet and clarionet. He was intensely interested in physical science, especially geology and mineralogy, and when Sir Charles Lyell, the eminent English geologist, visited America, Dr. Churchill accompanied him in his exploration of the Mississippi Valley and was of great help to him, and they were always afterwards warm friends. How he found time for all his work and his extensive reading and valuable collection of books was a wonder to his friends, who knew he never neglected any of his home or professional duties. He was always up in the morning at 4 o'clock, and never idle. He was active and influential in public matters, and a popular and honored member of the County Medical Association. His scientific studies led him to very advanced convictions in regard to religion. He was indeed a very pronounced advocate of free thought. He was opposed and denounced by many as an atheist, and some of the more bigoted church-people honestly sought to ostracize him socially as well as to boycott his practice; but the more they persecuted and railed, the firmer he became in his convictions about religion. Theodore Parker lectured in Champlain, and the doctor found that he was in accord with the great preacher's liberal thought, and they became friends, and continued for some years to correspond. He was one of the first thinking men in America, to accept the theory of evolution. The unreasoning and ignorant bigotry of many of his friends, who, as Christian believers, turned against him, made him somewhat bitter at times, though not for long. The limits of this sketch will not admit of a full account of a very wonderful man, one of the ablest and best of all who have borne the name of Churchill.
An essay on the "Life of Dr. Julius Churchill, Physician, Philosopher, and Pioneer in Rational Thought," was read before the Association for Moral and Spiritual Education, at Brooklyn, Kings, NY, Mar 1884, by Edward J. Moore, and later published in pamphlet form.
Inscription
Aged 79 Years
He has passed the mystic bounds
and solved the great problem
over which he so often
pondered and talked of.
Family Members
Siblings
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
