The subject of this sketch, one of the successful financiers of Siskiyou county, was born at Elizabethtown, Essex county, New York, on the eleventh day of June, 1826.  He is a son of Jesse and Martha (McCauley) Churchill.  The family consisted of four children.  The parents were farmers, and Jerome remained at home working on the farm and attending school some in winters, as was the custom  in early days.  When he was still quite young his parents removed to Canandaigua, and in 1839 to Chicago, Illinois, where they are yet living at a ripe old age.  In 1849, Mr. Churchill crossed the plains to California, arriving at Lassen's ranch in September, going from there to Sacramento and to Auburn, where he spent the winter of 1849-50.  In the summer of 1850 he was engaged in packing from Humboldt bay to Trinity.  In May or June, of 1851, he came to Yreka, and packed from the Sacramento valley to Yreka.  In a short time he opened a store, and during the first year of his merchandising was burned out twice.  In 1859 he retired from business and has since made money-loaning his chief occupation, devoting some time to the supervising of three extensive ranches, in which he holds a controlling interest.  He married Miss Julia Patterson, daughter of Warren Patterson of Waukegan, Lake county, Illinois, and by this union there have been five children, viz.: Carrie M., deceased, two who died in infancy, and Jerome and Jesse who are living at the home in Yreka.  Mr. Churchill has never sought political honors, but public affairs have received his attention, and all movements for the benefit of the county his encouragement and support.  In politics he is a Republican.

The above picture and text are from: History of Siskiyou County, Harry L. Wells, D. J. Stewart & Co., 1881; pg. 200B

Jerome Churchill is buried in Evergreen Cemetery

Copyright February 16, 2002

Siskiyou Cemeteries Online

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