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Henry Church Sr. (1806-1878) was born in Amherst, MA in 1805. He was one of the first settlers to come to Chagrin arriving, in 1834 with his wife Clarissa and two daughters, Jerusha and Jane. Henry was a blacksmith by trade, and he was highly respected by the citizenry serving as the Justice of the Peace for many years. C. T. Blakeslee, in his History of Chagrin Falls and Vicinity written in 1874, always refers to him as Squire Church.

Henry was one of many abolitionists in Chagrin prior to the Civil War. Henry was actively involved in the Underground Railroad helping fugitive slaves make their way to Canada. When he died at age 73, he was the last survivor of the original settlers. It was said in his obituary “that it is doubtful if today could be found one person who was his enemy. Honesty, integrity, kindness, generosity, charity, all these were his”

Photo for Henry Church, Sr.
Henry Church, Sr. was born in 1805 and died in 1878. He moved from Amherst, Massachusetts to Chagrin Falls in 1833 or 1834 and was the 3rd settler in the village.
Photo for Henry Church, Sr.
Henry Church, Sr.’s wife, Clarissa Sanderson Church.
Photo for Henry Church, Sr.
Henry Church, Sr. and Clarissa Church’s home on West Orange Street. It was in this home that the Church family sheltered slaves making their way to Canada.
Photo for Henry Church, Sr.
Royal and Austin Church in front of the Church Blacksmith shop on River Street.

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