Son of F.M. Churchill. Husband of Daisy Shane, m. Nov 4, 1901,
Peoria. Shot and killed by Martin Brophy.
All that was mortal of Floyd M. Churchill was laid to rest last Sunday in our
beautiful little city of the dead, where he sleeps the last long sleep. And all
that a community could do to pay a last tribute of respect and honor to one who
had sacrificed his life for the common good was done by the people of this
community.
Few occasions have ever awakened more general and sincere sorrow and regret
than the tragic death which so abruptly ended this young man’s life. Standing
as he was in defense of civil law and order, being called from his home for
that purpose, and cruelly shot down by cowardly knaves while thus performing
the duty of a brave and patriotic citizen and dying a tragic and untimely
death.
This was the fate of poor Churchill-our friend the friend of everybody, as good
and loyal citizens, a lover of his home, kind companionable, fond of the chase
and all field sports, a lover of nature, ready ever to do a kind act,
charitable always in speech, with enmity toward none, honest, trustworthy, a
man always ready to support any worthy public enterprise, a man in whom the
business men of Princeville always found a loyal and true citizen.
His was the most largely attended funeral in the history of the village. Nine
hundred reviewed the remains and there were perhaps close to two thousand
present. The Masons, Odd Fellows and Woodman, of which orders Mr. Churchill was
a member, attended in a body, not only the membership of the local orders but a
large delegation from Dunlap, Edelstein, Monica and Duncan. There was also a
considerable number from Wyoming, and the sheriff of Peoria County, Mr. Hines,
and his three deputies, Messrs. Darnell, Rhoades and Thompson, who effected the
speedy capture of the murderers, honored the dead by their presence. The
citizens of the town and surrounding community turned out enmasse to pay
tribute to the man and the tragic circumstance attending his death. It was an occasion
when everybody felt keenly the sorrow that hung like a shroud over the
community.
The six pallbearers were chosen from the membership of the orders to which the
deceased belonged as follows Masons, M.L. Sniff, J.V. Christian; Woodmen, Fred
Brutcher, James C. Byrnes; Odd Fellows, Walter Coburn, Ed Albertson. There were
also six honorary pallbearers: Masons, W.M. Hoag, Fred Bliss; Woodmen, J.D.
Rathbun, J.B. Weber; Odd Fellows, George Coburn, Floyd Parker.
A profusion of beautiful floral tributes covered the bier and chancel of the
Methodist church where the service was held. The business men and citizens of
the town contributed a large floral blanket; there was a floral cross from
Father O’Neill; a Masonic emblem of flowers from the Mason; a pillar from the
MWA; a broken wheel, from the baseball team; a wreath, from Carl Potter and Sam
Swift, employees of Mr. Churchill; a bouquet of red roses from his partner,
Walter Byrnes; a pillar from the IOOF; a bouquet of white roses from the
Sheelor sisters, Miss Ethel Coburn and Mrs. Susie Renegar; a floral piece from
Malcomb and George Biggs; a spray of flowers from Brainerd & Miller. These
beautiful flowers mutely but eloquently told something of the universal regret
and sympathy that was felt by friends of the deceased.
Floyd Marion Churchill was born in Woodhull, Ill, Feb. 11, 1879, and died in
Galesburg, Ill., at 7:10 p.m. in the hospital where he had been hastily taken
in the vain hope of saving his life, at the age of 27 years, 7 months and 29
days. While yet an infant his father moved with him to Nebraska where he lived
about 12 years during which time his mother died. He then moved with his father
to Alexis, Ill., lived in Galesburg for a couple of years and finally settled
in Princeville about 7 years ago. He worked in the barber shop of Goodman &
Harrington for a time, then bought out a business and started up for himself
about 5 years ago.
Nov. 4, 1901, he was married in Peoria to Miss Daisy Shane of this place. Mr.
Churchill was very successful in business, and easily gathered around him a
group of friends who found him genial in disposition, kind of heart and ready
to do a favor where one could be rendered and do it heartily. He was naturally
rather retiring than otherwise, and a great lover of his home. He had a good
word for everyone and he scorned nothing so much as a picking out of flaws in
others. In his business dealings he was an upright man in every way as all will
testify and his untimely death has dome not only as a great shock to the
community because of the tragic circumstances attending it, but his going will
be felt as a personal loss by a large number. He lost his life as does a
soldier upon the battlefield, standing in defense of law and right, placing his
body between the enemy and the best interests of society. His spirit was that
of a brave and patriotic citizen, and while the taking of his life seems a
needless sacrifice just as the work of the assassin always seems so, yet he
died as every true citizen must under equivalent circumstance die a martyr for
the social fabric around him of which he is a part. His death cannot be in
vain. Law is vindicated; order is upheld; evil men are made to tremble, though
behind his death lie broken hearts and personal loss and a shock that only
years will efface.
Mr. Churchill was a member of A.F. and A.M. Princeville Lodge No. 360; also of
the IOOF and of the Order of Modern Woodmen, all of whom were represented on
this occasion.
He leaves to mourn him his wife, his father, F.M. Churchill, who lives in Concordia,
Kansas, and his sister, Mrs. V.A. Lundberg of Chicago; also two half-brothers,
Paul and Calvin, ad a half-sister, Frances, living with their father.
Princeville Telephone, June 20, 1907.
Obituary transcribed and submitted by Ethel.
Gravesite Details buried
Oct 13, 1907
