David Church was born April 8, 1841 in Allen County, Ohio. He was the oldest son of Reuben Whipple and Mary (Reece) Church. He is first found in public records in the 1850 Census of Jackson Twp., Allen County, Ohio, where he is listed as a nine year old along with his parents, his sisters, Hannah (11), Mary (4) and brothers, William (6), and James (2). The first-born sibling, Rebecca Jane died in 1844 at the age of seven. His youngest sister, Nancy Ann, was born in 1851.

The 1860 Census shows David as a 19-year-old farm hand living on the farm of his uncle, Elias N. Church, in Davis County, Kansas.

October 7, 1861, David enlisted in the army at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, as a private for a period of 3 years and was assigned to Company F of the 6th Regiment of Kansas Volunteer Cavalry. He is described as being 21 years old, 5’ 6” in height, with dark complexion, black eyes, and black hair and his occupation at the time of his enlistment was “farmer”. There is no record of his activities until August 24, 1862 when he was wounded in a skirmish at Coon Creek, near Lamar, Missouri.

The battle at Coon Creek is documented and I have found three reports to date. One, is from a history of The 6th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry , and the other two were written by field officers on both sides of the battle. The reports are given in a series of books known as “The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies” that was published by the War Department in 1885.

First, from the history of the 6th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry: “ On the following day, Colonel Cloud returned, with a part of his command, to Fort Scott, leaving about four hundred (400) men, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Bassett, to rest a day, with orders to return to Fort Scott on the 24th. On the morning of the 24th, Lieutenant Colonel Bassett started with the detachment of the Second Kansas, leaving the detachment of the Sixth, under command of Major Campbell, to follow in the rear. The advance had proceeded but a short distance, when a rebel force, of about one thousand two hundred, (1,200) under command of Shelby, was discovered moving south. Colonel Bassett at once united his forces and started in pursuit of the enemy, who, upon observing the movements of the Federal troops, turned aside, and took position on Coon Creek, to the right of the road. The position of the enemy was naturally strong. Adjoining the timber were two cornfields, with a lane running between them and the timber. The advanced guard, in attempting to force a passage through the lane, were encountered by heavy fire from the enemy, which resulted in a loss of three or four men wounded. Colonel Bassett then formed a line on the north side of the field on the prairie, and ordered Captain Green, with twenty-six (26) men, to deploy to the right as skimishers, and pass through the cornfield, dismounted, and at the same time sent Lieutenant Gordon, with a detachment, to the left, for the purpose of ascertaining the strength of the enemy, and bring on a general engagement. As Lieutenant Gordon approached the timber, the enemy poured in a heavy fire upon his men, wounding the Lieutenant in the head, and several of his men, and compelled him to fall back. Captain Greeno, with his detachment, at once crossed the fence and entered the timber, and advanced a few rods, when about three hundred (300) of the enemy suddenly raised from a ravine, and sent a volley into the line of skirmishers and charged them. The men raised from the ground, where they had been lying down to escape the enemy’s fire and repulsed the charge with their revolvers. In the meantime Captain Greeno was wounded in the right hand and left arm. Two (2) of his men were killed and a number of them severely wounded. The Captain, finding that he could not contend against so large a force of the enemy, ordered his men to fall back.

Colonel Bassett, finding that the enemy outnumbered his force, and posted in a strong natural position, withdrew his troops, and marched in the direction of Fort Scott. The following day, August 25th, 1862, the detachments of the Second and Sixth Kansas rejoined the main command at Fort Scott.”

The next two paragraphs are excerpts from the two field commanders. First, the report of rebel commander, Colonel John O. Shelby: “My men were well mounted, being on as good horses as the country afforded. We traveled south in the rear of the Federals that were following Cockrell till we reached Coon Creek, about 12 miles northeast of Carthage; there we came in contact with the Federals under Colonel Cloud, consisting of the Sixth Kansas (mounted) and the Third Wisconsin Infantry. After three hours’ fighting, we succeeded in driving them back.”

Next, the report of Union commander, Brig, General James G. Blunt: “About 300 of my advance of cavalry, while returning from Carthage to this place, by easy marches, on the 24th instant, suddenly encountered , 8 miles south of Lamar, the forces of Quantrill, Hays, and one Colonel Shelby, from Lexington, with a force estimated at from 800 to 1200. After a short skirmish our troops were compelled to retire, with the loss of 5 men killed and 15 wounded. On learning of the affair, I immediately sent out re-enforcements, but the rebels had moved rapidly south.”

David Church was one of the Union men wounded. A form entitled “Officer’s Certificate of Disability” states “That on or about the 12 day of August 1862 at Coon Creek, State of Missouri said David Church was disabled in the line of his duty by being shot by the rebels in the face, in the arms, through the third finger of the left hand, and through the abdomen, all buckshot wounds. Also said David Church contracted small pox at or near Newtonia, Mo. and had to be left in a log cabin in the enemy’s country.”
“This occurred under the following circumstances or causes, to wit: By order of Col. Campbell, myself and 30 men to drive the rebels out of a corn field into the timber at Coon Creek, Mo. David Church being one of the 30 men was wounded at that time.”
This document was signed by Captain William Gordon.
A “Certificate of Disability For Discharge” was issued by the Assistant Surgeon of the camp at Elm Springs, Washington County, Arkansas and David Church was discharged from the Army on January 9, 1863.

May 6,1864, in Junction City, Kansas, David married Susan Lavina Conner who was born January 4, 1847 in Woodstock, Champaign, Ohio. Three years later, the family moved by covered wagon to Augusta, Butler County, Kansas and homesteaded a piece of land seven miles southeast of town. They built a stone house on the property that became a local landmark. Years later, when David’s son, Will, raised a barn on his own property, he used some of the stones from the old house as foundation stones for the barn. One of the stones had the year 1874 chiseled into its’ face and can still be seen.

David and Susan had 4 children.
Francis Eben (Frank) Church b. Aug. 19,1866 d. Jun 5,1946
William Robert Church b. Jan. 14,1869 d. Jul. 1,1950
Minnie Belle Church b. Feb. 16,1871 d. Feb. 21,1857
George Benjamin Church b. Jun 8, \1873 d. May 11,1950

The U.S. Census of 1870, shows David, Susan, Francis E. and William R. living in Walnut Township, Butler County, Kansas.

In late December, 1875 or early January, 1876, the family left home by wagon for Junction City, Kansas. I’ve heard two stories regarding the reason for this trip. The first, was that David was so sick that he was going to seek medical care at Fort Riley. The second, was that he was going to try and find work with one of the relatives in the area. Whatever the reason, David’s condition became worse and he died on January 4th, before they arrived at Junction City.

In 1852, David’s family had moved from Allen County, Ohio to Troy Mills, Linn County, Iowa. David’s father, Reuben W. Church, became the owner of the National Hotel in Troy Mills. I mention this relocation because David was buried in Spring Grove Cemetery, Spring Grove Twp, Linn County, Iowa and that is the final resting place of his parents, brother, and sister. The records show them as follows:

William W. Church Feb. 15,1899-55 years 5m 12d G.A,R. marker
Co. H 14th Iowa Inf. Co. K 6th Iowa Vol.

R.W. Church died Feb. 4, 1894 73 years 5 months

Mary, his wife died Aug. 29, 1852 age 33 yrs 9m 5d

David, died Jan. 4, 1876 age 34 yrs 9 months

Hannah, dau. of R.W. & M., died Aug. 23, 1856 age 17y 2m 6d

Susan married Lewis Baum February 24, 1878. They had four children:

Pearl Emmitt Baum b. Aug 27, 1879 d, Feb, 4, 1968

Abigail Antonette Baum b. Nov. 24, 1881 d. Sept. 11, 1955

Peter Earl Baum b. Feb. 12, 1883 d. Feb. 9, 1960

Melissa Mae Baum b. Mar. 6, 1886 d. Sept. 8,1832

Susan filed for a widow’s pension July 2, 1877. She filed again as Susan Baum after she and Lewis were married. Apparently, this pension required continual updates as July 9, 1888, Lewis Baum filed an affidavit in which he testifies to the health of David Church. The affidavit looks to have been written by N.A. Yeager, the Notary Public, and then signed by Lewis Baum. It reads: “That he knew David Church personally from June 1870, he lived about one & ½ miles from affiant from that date up to December 1875. I saw him and worked for and with him a great deal during that time; he complained a great deal of his side and had a constant hacking cough; and was physically unable to do any heavy manual labor and only able to perform the lightest kind of labor a fraction of the time.”

Lewis Baum died January 30, 1907. Susan, who was known as “Grandma Baum” died February 13, 1930.

References:

U.S. Census, 1850, Jackson Twp., Allen County, Ohio.
Family history provided by Vivian (Church) Wilson, Cora (Tague) Walters, and Arletta Wilson.
U.S. Census, 1860, Davis County, Kansas
Army of the United States, Certificate Of Disability For Discharge, January 9, 1863, signed by Wm. L. Campbell, Lieut. Col.
MUSEUM OF THE KANSAS NATIONAL GUARD, Historic Units, “The 6th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry”, pp. 5,6. This is a 22 page document that can be downloaded from the Internet at:
http://skyways.lib.ks.us/museums/kng/6ksvls.html
WAR OF THE REBELLION, A Compilation Of The Official Records Of The Union and Confederate Armies, Chapter XXV, pp. 978,979,980. Published by the War Department, 1885.
WAR OF THE REBELLION, A Compilation Of The Official Records Of The Union and Confederate Armies, Chapter XXVI, pp. 257,258. Published by the War Department, 1885
OFFICER’S CERTIFICATE OF DISABILITY, signed October 25, 1881 by William Gordon, Capt.
Family history provided by Vivian (Church) Wilson, Cora (Tague) Walters, and Arletta Wilson. Family History gives the marriage year as 1864 but on request for pension given in a later year, Susan L. Baum states that she and David Church were married May 6th, 1865.
Obituary, Susan L. Baum.
Conversation in 1997 with Will’s daughter, Vivian (Church) Wilson.
Family history provided by Vivian (Church) Wilson, Cora (Tague) Walters, and Arletta Wilson.
U.S. Census, 1870, Walnut Township, Butler County, Kansas.
Notes from a 1968 conversation with David’s grandson, David S. Peebler,
Notes from a 1997 conversation with David’s grand-daughter, Vivian (Church) Wilson.
The Records of Spring Grove Cemetery, Spring Grove Township, Linn County, Iowa. Compiled August 19, 1965, by Linn County Heritage Committee, Lois W. Cronbaugh and Phyllis W. Wannermark. This is LDS Family History Center Microfilm Number 850410.
Family history provided by Vivian (Church) Wilson, Cora (Tague) Walters, and Arletta Wilson
Affidavit signed by Lewis Baum, July 9, 1888.
Family history provided by Vivian (Church) Wilson, Cora (Tague) Walters, and Arletta Wilson.
Family history provided by Vivian (Church) Wilson, Cora (Tague) Walters, and Arletta Wilson and obituary of Susan L. Baum.

 

Dave Thomas

1997