PUBLIC "-//Mary Riley Styles Public Library//TEXT (US::VaFcSPL::VaFcSPL00011::Merton Elbridge Church Family, 1858-1995)//EN" "VaFcSPL00011.xml" A Guide to the Merton Elbridge Church Family, 1858-1995 Merton Elbridge Church Family Record Group 6-6 Mary Riley Styles Public Library 2024 (CC0 1.0)

Conditions of Use

This finding aid was produced using a form and manually entry 2024-09-23 Description is in English Merton Elbridge Church Family, 1858-1995 A Collection in Mary Riley Styles Public Library Record Group 6-6

Mary Riley Styles Public Library 2024 Mary Riley Styles Public Library Mary Riley Styles Public Library Descriptive Summary Falls Church History Room, Mary Riley Styles Public Library Merton Elbridge Church Family, 1858-1995 Record Group 6-6 3 boxes; 2 linear feet Materials in this collection are in English. Administrative Information Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use.

 Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

There are no restrictions on the files.

 Immediate Source of Acquisition

The records at the Falls Church History Room were donated by Melvin Steadman. The two scrapbooks of (Merton) Elbridge Church were donated by Henry Douglas.

M. E. Church's records were donated to the University of Virginia Library in 1988 by Beverley T. Steadman. This is the link to the guide to the papers at UVA: https://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=uva-sc/viu02223.xml

 Biographical Note

Merton Elbridge Church (M.E. Church) trained as a pharmacist and ran a drugstore in Falls Church for 12 years. He helped start the first telephone company in the area which was later absorbed by the Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Company. He also organized the Arlington and Fairfax Railway Company. He entered the real estate and insurance business and helped develop the Sherwood Subdivision. These are just a few of the many accomplishments and community services he was involved in throughout his life.

Merton Elbridge Church was born in Derby Line, Vermont, on February 14, 1858. He moved to Virginia in 1879 and settled in Falls Church in 1886. He married Carrie Bell Northrup in 1884, and they had two children, Guy Northrup Church and Maybelle Amelia Church. M.E. Church died on September 16, 1931 in Falls Church; Carrie Church died on May 31, 1935.

Guy N. Church, Sr., was born July 26, 1889 and died April 7, 1964. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. He married Mary Emilie Torryson on September 28, 1909. They had two children: Merton Elbridge Church (known as Elbridge and Guy Northrup Church, Jr. (went by Northrup).

Maybelle Amelia Church, born on January 26, 1900, married Kenneth Norman Mills in 1923. There are no files for her, but she is mentioned in correspondence with both her father and brother.

[Merton] Elbridge Church II was born January 5, 1912 in Falls Church, and died August 26, 1992. He is also buried in Arlington National Cemetery. He served in the Army for twenty years and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Guy Northrup Church, Jr., was born April 3, 1914 in Falls Church. He was married to Mary Ann Redington on March 29, 1939. Guy died on December 30, 1995, in Evans, Georgia; Mary Ann died on March 26, 2004.

 Scope and Content

Most of the records involve the real estate business of Merton Elbridge (M.E.) Church, the bulk of which include copies of deeds in which M.E. Church was the trustee, buyer and/or seller. There are also files on his interests in local railways and the Falls Church Telephone and Telegraph Company. Also includes files for son and grandsons.

Most of the records involve the real estate business of M.E. Church, the bulk of which include copies of deeds in which M.E. Church was the trustee, buyer and/or seller. There are also files on his interests in local railways and the Falls Church Telephone and Telegraph Company.

Of special interest are the abstracts of title in the deed series, especially File 10 in Series 2 which shows the disposition of the property that became the Sherwood subdivision. There are also some copies of deeds concerning the Sherwood Subdivision in File 6-6-1-27.

 Arrangement

The files were divided into five series, two for Merton Elbridge Church, one for his son (Guy Northrup Church, Sr.) and two for his grandsons. Series one is organized alphabetically. The deeds in M.E. Church's files were placed in a separate series (Series 2) and organized by date. Many of them involve the Sherwood Subdivision of houses in Falls Church. This new arrangement was thought to be more useful to the researcher.

The files on Guy Church, Sr., are arranged alphabetically. Pages from a scrapbook make up the bulk of the Merton Elbridge Church (grandson) files; there is only one file for Guy Church, Jr.

 Contents List Box 1 Series 1: Merton Elbridge Church, 1858-1935 Biographical information, 1889-1931 1 Estate 2 Atwell [Gertrude] vs Crossman [Anne F.], Legal Documents, 1895-1896 3 Correspondence, 1922-1930 4 County Recording Fees, 1920, 1922, 1927 5 Falls Church Telephone and Telegraph Company, 1901, 1916-1917 6 Grandison, Caroline, Insurance Policies and receipts, 1913-1919 7 "Group of Business Buildings for M.E. Church" (publication), [n.d.] 8 Henrietta Clewes Estate, Settlement, [1908] 9 Invoices, 1910 10 Invoices, 1920-1922 11 License Applications, 1894-1895 12 Membership cards and drivers' licenses, 1903, 1920, 1928 13 Myers, Charlotte E., Property Sale, 1893-1894 14 Pharmaceutical business, 1920-1922 15 Photograph, M.E. Church, Inc., Realtor, [1924?] 16 Railroads – Arlington and Fairfax Railway, 1928-1929 17 Railroads – Fairfax, Potomac and Washington Electric Railway, 1902-1903 18 Railroads – Falls Church and Potomac Railroad Company, 1896-1903 19 Railroads – Right of Way, 1877-1900 (includes complaint of trespass against Church & others) 20 Railroads – Washington and Marlboro Electric Railway Company, 1895 21 Railroads – Washington, Arlington and Fairfax Railway, 1896-1903 22 Railroads – Washington, Fairfax and Alexandria Railway Company, 1892 23 Railroads – Washington-Virginia Railway Company, 1882, 1920-1929 24 Real Estate – Inquiries, 1908-1918 25 Real Estate – Trustee Sale, 1922 26 Sherwood Subdivision, 1891-1922 27 Sherwood Subdivision, Lot owners, Transfer fee and taxes, 1893 28 Tax Receipts, 1885-1894 29 Tax Receipts, 1895-1900 30 Tax Receipts, 1901-1910 31 Tax Receipts, 1911-1916 32 Tax Receipts, 1917-1919 33 Tax Receipts, 1920-1921 34 Taxes, 1903-1928 35 Tripp Correspondence (see also Library of Virginia papers), 1917-1918 36 Box 2 Series 2: Merton Elbridge Church, Deeds, 1858-1935 Deed, R. G. Walrad and Margaret A. Walrad to Spencer A. Coe, March 10, 1875 1 Deed of Release, George B. Ives, Trustee, J. C. DePutron, Administrator of Rexford Hatch (deceased), and Spencer A. Coe, March 15, 1875 2 Indenture, Cassius Carter, Special Commissioner, to John S. Garrison, September 26, 1881 3 Deed, Spencer A. Coe and J.H. Gray, Trustee, to William H. Torreyson, October 6, 1882 and Deed of Release, April 30, 1886 4 Deed, Spencer A. Coe and Katharine W. Coe to Seth Osborn, May 4, 1886 5 Deed of Trust (Indenture), John S. Garrison and Annie T. Garrison and E.J. Northrup, Trustee, for Seth Osborn, October 22, 1887 6 Deed, John S. Garrison and Annie T. Garrison to S.V. Proudfit, April 9, 1889 7 Deed, Seth Osborn and Mary E. Osborn, to Sarah E. Bell; and Deed of Trust (Indenture), Sarah E. Bell and William S. Bell; N.F. Graham and Geo. B. Ives, Trustees, for Seth Osborn, October 18, 1889 8 Deeds and Articles of Agreement, Charles Bendhiem [sic], Jacob C. DePutron, Mary E. DePutron, Schuyler Duryee, A. A. Freeman, and Merton E. Church, June 24, 1890 9 Abstract of Title, Sherwood tract, (120 acres), 1828-1890, held by J.C. DePutron, Trustee, April 25, 1891 10 Article of Agreement between Myron Brinkerhoof and E.E. Reed, and J.C. DePutron, Schuyler Duryee, A.A. Freeman and M.E. Church, May 16, 1891 11 Statement of Title, 1847-1891, for Harry D. Gordon and Fulton R. Gordon, May 26, 1891, and September 22, 1891 12 Deed of Trust (Indenture) and Promissory note, Henry D. Gordon, Isabel J. Gordon, and Fulton R. Gordon; William McPyncheon and George A.L. Merrifield, Trustees, for Clara Isabella Merrifield, May 29, 1891; Bond and Deed of Release, Henry D. Gordon, Isabel J. Gordon, Fulton R. Gordon, and Le Geneva Gordon to Clara Isabella Merrifield, October 16, 1891 and December 15, 1894 13 Deed of Sale, Jacob C. DePutron, Trustee for Mary E. DePutron and Merton E. Church, to Sarah Lloyd, June 15, 1891 14 Deed (Indenture), A.A. Freeman and Martha E. Freeman, to Merton E. Church, June 24, 1891 15 Indenture (Joint Deed), Jacob C. DePutron, Trustee for Mary E. DePutron and Merton E. Church, and Jos. S. Riley and Mary E. Riley, July 20, 1891 16 Deed, Schuyler Duryee and Margaret A. Duryee to Jacob C. DePutron, October 8, 1891 17 Receipts, Geo. B. Ives and M.E. Church, October 31, 1891 and November 30, 1891 18 Survey for M.E. Church, for land adjoining the Sherwood Subdivision, November 13, 1891 19 Deed, Jacob C. DePutron, Trustee, and Schuyler Duryee and Margaret A. Duryee, to Mary E. DePutron, March 3, 1892 20 Deed, John Hammond and Addie L. Hammond, and Jacob C. DePutron, Trustee for Mary E. DePutron and Merton E. Church, April 1, 1892, and Cancelled Deed, John Hammond, Jacob C. DePutron, Mary E. DePutron and Merton E. Church, April 1, 1892 21 Abstract of Title, 1840-1892, and drawing, John Hammond to J.C. DePutron, April 12, 1892 22 Deed of Exchange, Jacob C. DePutron, Trustee, and Joseph S. Riley and Mary E. Riley, September 16, 1892 23 Abstract of Title. 1850-1889, Edmond C. Bittenger Estate, April 1, 1893 24 Articles of Agreement, Merton E. Church acting for Mary E. DePutron and Jacob C. DePutron and Daniel O. Monson, Agent for A. A. Freeman, February 24, 1894; and Articles of Agreement, Daniel O. Monson Acting for A.A. Freeman and Martha E. Freeman, and Mary E. DePutron, Jacob C. DePutron and Merton E. Church, February 24, 1894 25 Report of Survey, A.A. Freeman's portion of the Sherwood Subdivision, March 8, 1894; and Deed of Partition, A.A. Freeman and Martha E. Freeman by Daniel O. Monson, and Mary E. DePutron, Jacob C. DePutron and Merton E. Church, March 20, 1894 26 Deed of Trust (Indenture), Walter H. Magruder and Minnie Magruder to T. M. Talbott and J. C. DePutron, Trustees, October 6, 1894, and letter to Walter H. Magruder from M. E. Church, November 12, 1919 27 Deed of Exchange, Jacob C. DePutron and Mary E. DePutron, Merton E. Church and Carrie B. Church, Schuyler Duryee and Margaret A. Duryee, A.A. Freeman and Martha E. Freeman, and Daniel O. Monson, Attorney; Deed of Exchange, Jacob C. DePutron, Trustee, Mary E. DePutron, Merton E. Church, and Carrie B. Church; and Articles of Agreement, Merton E. Church, Mary E. DePutron and Jacob C. DePutron, December 12, 1894 28 Deed of Trust (Indenture), William S. Bell and Sarah E. Bell, N.F. Graham, Trustee, for George B. Ives, October 12, 1895 29 Deed of Trust (Indenture), Merton E. Church and Carrie B. Church, George W. Mankin, Trustee, for William H. Nowlan; Receipt, April 1, 1896; Deed of Release, George W. Rankin, Trustee and William H. Nowlan, Beneficiary, to Merton E. Church, May 25, 1903 30 Deed of Trust (Indenture), Annie E. Webb and J.W. Webb and Merton E. Church, Trustee, for M.J. Laughlin and H.M. Newcomb, May 1, 1897 31 Deed Fee Simple, Jacob C. DePutron and Mary E. DePutron to Merton E. Church, November 21, 1898 32 Deed of Trust (Indenture), S.V. Proudfit, Merton E. Church, Trustee, to Charlotte E.D. Swigett, February 13, 1899; Deed of Release, December 15, 1899 33 Receipt, M.E. Church on deed from J.C. DePutron, March 23, 1899 34 Deed Fee Simple, S.V. Proudfit and Amy W. Proudfit to Mary G. Sims and Merton E. Church, November 1, 1899 35 Deed of Trust (Indenture), S.V. Proudfit and Amy W. Proudfit, Merton E. Church, Trustee, to Lyman Ballard, December 15, 1899; Receipt, December 15, 1899 36 Deed Fee Simple, Bird M. Robinson and Randolph Barton, Receivers, and Baltimore Building and Loan Association to Merton E. Church, November 2, 1900 37 Deed of Trust, Sarah E. Bell and W.S. Bell and William M. Ellison, Trustee, for Mary E. Osborn and Julia Osborn, October 18, 1904; Receipt, October 18, 1904 38 Deed, William S. Bell to Sarah E. Bell, October 28, 1905 39 Deed Fee Simple, Mary E. DePutron, Merton E. Church and Carrie B. Church to George L. Erwin, November 14, 1905; includes Survey of Erwin Lot in the Sherwood Subdivision by Henry Crocker, Surveyor, October 7, 1905; Receipt, October 18, 1905 40 Deed, Merton E. Church and Carrie B. Church to Joseph C. Murray, March 31, 1906 41 Deed Fee Simple, Annie E. Webb and J.W. Webb, and William M. Shafer, Trustee, for Fred E. Parker, April 16, 1906; Deed of Release, May 1, 1907 42 Deed Fee Simple, Mary E. DePutron, Merton E. Church and Carrie B. Church, to R.C. Lowe, October 24, 1906; Quit Claim Deed, Jacob C. DePutron, Trustee, Mary E. DePutron and Merton E. Church, October 24, 1906 43 Deed Fee Simple, Fred E. Parker and Marcia C. Parker to Elizabeth S. Fox, May 1, 1907 44 Deed Fee Simple, Sarah E. Bell and Eli J. Northrup, August 31, 1907 45 Deed of Trust (Indenture), Fred E. Parker and Marcia C. Parker and C.E. Gay, Trustee, for Bertha M. Parker, December 2, 1907; later for Amanda B. Fisk, May 1, 1909; Deed of Release, C.E. Gay, Trustee, to Fred E. Parker and Marcia C. Parker, October 14, 1918 46 Deed Fee Simple, Fred E. Parker to Marcia C. Parker, February 20, 1908 47 Deed Fee Simple, Eli J. Northrup to Rose I. Thompson, and Deed of Release from N.F. Graham, Trustee, November 1, 1910; Survey for E.J. Northrup, November 2, 1910 48 Deed Fee Simple, Mary E. DePutron, Merton E. Church and Carrie B. Church, to Townson O. Marr, November 25, 1910 49 Drawing, Lots outlined by the Falls Church and Georgetown Road, Mount Olivet Rd, Sommers Tract and Greenough's Rd, June 14, 1913 50 Article of Agreement (Sale Contract), Merton E. Church to Georgiana Taylor, January 2, 1914 51 Deed of Trust (Indenture), Solomon H. Lomax and Merton E. Church, Trustee, for A.M. Hess, May 1, 1915 52 Deed Fee Simple, Merton E. Church and Carrie B. Church to Solomon H. Lomax, May 1, 1915; Notice of Cancellation, May 31, 1918 53 Article of Agreement, M.E. Church and George Thomas, June 1, 1918 54 Abstract of Title, 1851-1918, Prepared for Merton E. Church for land conveyed to Fred E. Parker from Annie E. Webb, October 23, 1918; Continuation of Abstract of Title, Fred E. Parker and Marcia C. Parker to Gordon Maury Kingman and Frances Wingate Kingman, February 26, 1921 55 Deed of Trust (Indenture), Gordon Maury Kingman and Frances Wingate Kingman; Merton E. Church, Trustee, for Marcia C. Parker, October 25, 1918 56 Article of Agreement (Sale Contract), Carrie B. Church and Merton E. Church to Gilmer Nickell, May 1, 1919 57 Deed of Trust and Installment Note, Marion Smith and Elmira J. Smith; Dr. James B. Gould, Trustee, and Falls Church Bank, Inc., August 25, 1919 58 Deed, Charles H. Buxton and Helen L. Buxton to Ernest E. Oswald, November 4, 1919; Deed, Ernest E. Oswald and Gladys B. Oswald and F.S. McCandlish, Trustee, for Atlantic Life Insurance Company, July 15, 1920; Contract for house construction, Ernest E. Oswald and Mack Smarr, August 24, 1920; Title, 1869-1919; Release Deed, A.D. Christian and F.S. McCandlish, Trustees, Ernest E. Oswald and Gladys B. Oswald, and Atlantic Life Insurance Company, July 22, 1922 59 Deed of Release, William M. Ellison and Joseph L. Shockey, Trustees to H.A. Shockey, February 19, 1920 60 Deed, Merton E. Church and Carrie B. Church to Marion Smith, October 9, 1920 61 Deed of Trust (Indenture), Gilmer Nickell and Mary V. Nickell; Merton E. Church, Trustee, for Carrie B. Church, January 1, 1921 62 Letter, J.C. DePutron to Merton E. Church, January 24, 1921 63 Deed of Trust (Indenture), R.C. Staebner and Estelle E. Staebner; Merton E. Church, Trustee, for Etta F. Emerson, March 1, 1921; Receipts, March 21, 1921 and May 26, 1922 64 Deed of Trust (Indenture), R.A. Cushman to Merton E. Church, Trustee, for J.C.M. Valentine, April 2, 1921; Deed Fee Simple, J.C.M. Valentine and Isabel M. Valentine to R.A. Cushman, April 2, 1921 65 Deed and Letter, Merton E. Church and Carrie B. Church to Jacob C. DePutron, July 28, 1921 66 Deed, Mary E. DePutron, Merton E. Church, and Carrie B. Church to Mary E. DePutron, October 1, 1921 67 Deed of Trust, Gilmer Nickell and Mary V. Nickel to Merton E. Church, Trustee, for Falls Church Bank, May 2, 1922 68 Deed Fee Simple, Estelle E. Staebner and Ralph C. Staebner to William F. Moses and Moffett W. Moses, May 18, 1922 69 Abstract of Title, 1865-1922, Prepared for land conveyed to Robert A. Cushman and Emma K. MCL. Cushman from Thomas M. Jones, July 25, 1922 70 Deed Fee Simple, Gilmer Nickell and Virginia Nickell to Carrie B. Church, November 8, 1923 71 Deed of Trust (Indenture), Martin I. Cook and Elizabeth H. Cook to Merton E. Church, Trustee, for Wilmer H. Case, August 1, 1924 72 Box 3 (Continued) Series 2: Merton Elbridge Church, Deeds, 1858-1935 Deed of Trust (Indenture), William F. Moses and Moffett W. Moses to Merton E. Church, Trustee, for W. S. Hoge, Jr., January 29, 1925 73 Deed of Trust, Lee D. Hall and Bertha C. Hall to Charles W. Steer and Charles S. Muir, Trustees, for Birdella R. Roberts; Deed of Trust Note, Charles S. Muir and Charles W. Steers to Birdella R. Roberts, January 22, 1926; Statement dated October 4, 1927 74 Certificate of Title, 1924, Issued to Birdilla R. Roberts for property owned by Lee D. Hall, October 3, 1927 75 Deed Fee Simple, James E. Scott and Dolores M. Scott to Nettie E. Bowden, June 15, 1928; Deed of Trust (Indenture), Nettie E. Bowden to Merton E. Church, Trustee, for James E. Scott, June 15, 1928 76 Deed of Trust (Indenture), Ann Bryan and Ethel Reid to Merton E. Church, Trustee, for James E. Scott, July 3, 1928 77 Deed of Trust (Indenture), Evan T. Davis and Louise D. Davis to Merton E. Church, Trustee, for Lester D. Seymour, August 15, 1928 78 Deed of Release, William F. Columbus, Trustee, for Harry E. Besley, Beneficiary, to Lee D. Hall, August 21, 1928 79 Deed of Trust (Indenture), Katherine B. Curry to Merton E. Church, Trustee, for W.S. Hoge III, November 1, 1928 80 Deed of Trust (Indenture), Evan T. Davis and Louise D. Davis to Merton E. Church, Trustee, for Lester D. Seymour, July 1, 1930 81 Notes of deeds on card advertising Union Revival Services at Crossman Methodist Episcopal Church, June 12, 1922; Notes of deed on membership card for the Lincoln-Lee Legion, September 18, 1925 82 Box 3 Series 3: Guy Northrup Church, Sr., 1889-1964 Bank Statements of Condition, Invoices, Correspondence, 1920-1928, 1937 1 Civil Defense, 1950 2 Correspondence, Maybelle C. Mills (sister), 1946-1956 3 Correspondence and other papers, 1941-1947 4 Correspondence and other papers, 1950-1959 5 Correspondence and other papers, 1960-1961 6 Deeds, 1933-1935 7 Deposition, Brush Tract, [n.d.] 8 Invoices, 1950-1959 9 Newspaper clippings, Obituary, 1957-1964 10 Photographs of houses and people, several of Church, others unidentified and undated 11 Box 3 Series 4: Merton Elbridge Church, 1912-1992 Scouting certificates and awards, spelling awards, membership cards, 1928-1939 1 Scrapbook, Part One, 1925-1937 2 Scrapbook, Part Two, 1937-1939 3 Box 3 Series 5: Guy Northrup Church, Jr., 1914-1995 Deed of Gift, (copy, not signed) 1990 1 Paperweight with photograph of Merton E. Church advertising the Falls Church Telephone & Telegraph Co. 2