Clark Churchill (June 17, 1836April 4, 1896) was an attorney and politician in the American territory of

Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...

. He is best remembered for having served as the

Attorney General of Arizona The Arizona Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of Arizona, in the United States. This state officer is the head of the Arizona Department of Law, more commonly known as the Arizona Attorney General's Office. The state attorne ...

from 1883 to 1885.

Biography

Early years

Clark Churchill was born on June 17, 1836, in

Tioga County, Pennsylvania Tioga County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 41,045. Its county seat is Wellsboro. The county was created on March 26, 1804, from part of Lycoming County and later organized in 1812. ...

to Dr. Charles Churchill and the former Elizabeth Butler.John S. Goff, ''Arizona Territorial Officials, Volume V: The Adjutants General, Attorneys General, Auditors, Superintendents of Public Instruction, and Treasurers, 1863-1912.'' Cave Creek, AZ: Black Mountain Press, 1991; p. 32. All record of his early years and education is lost.

Career

Churchill became an attorney in San Francisco in 1861, but his interests soon turned to mining affairs. An interest in the Comstock lode prompted his move to

Virginia City, Nevada Virginia City is a census-designated place (CDP) that is the county seat of Storey County, Nevada, and the largest community in the county. The city is a part of the Reno– Sparks Metropolitan Statistical Area. Virginia City developed as a boom ...

. He married Margaretha on October 12, 1864.Goff, ''Arizona Territorial Officials, Volume V,'' p. 33. Churchill's interest in mining affairs proved short-lived and in 1865 he was named Virginia City’s city attorney. He would remain in the post through 1866. In 1878, Churchill moved to Prescott, where he went into legal practice with Thomas Finch. He would remain with Finch until February 1880. Churchill was named Adjutant General in Fall 1880. He took an active interest in territorial politics, serving as the chairman of Republican Territorial Committee in 1884. Governor Frederick A. Tritle signed a bill restoring the office of Attorney General on March 7, 1883.Goff, ''Arizona Territorial Officials, Volume V,'' p. 34. Churchill was appointed to this post on March 8, 1883,Goff, ''Arizona Territorial Officials, Volume V,'' p. 64. becoming the fifth Attorney General of the Arizona Territory. He was renominated on March 5, 1885, and served until March 15, 1887, when he was succeeded by Briggs Goodrich. Churchill's time in office coincided with cowboy problems and widespread fear of Indian attacks. As a result several towns formed new militia units during his time in office. In addition to his government positions, Churchill served as President of the Arizona Canal Company from 1882 to 1887. Churchill's first wife died on August 28, 1890. He married Virginia Goodrich on December 30, 1891.Goff, ''Arizona Territorial Officials, Volume V,'' p. 65.

Death and legacy

Clark Churchill died in Phoenix at 7:40 in the morning of April 4, 1896 of a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may tr ...

."Phoenix Lawyer's Death: Sudden Passing of Ex-Attorney General Churchill from Heart Disease,"
''San Francisco Call,'' April 5, 1896, p. 5. Although doctors had warned of his heart ailment, he appeared to friends to be in excellent health and his sudden death came as a shock to friends and associates. Churchill was 59 years old at the time of his death.

Biography

Early years

Career

Death and legacy

Footnotes

Further reading