Thomas James CHURCHILL
(1824-1905)

Thomas J. Churchill was born in Jefferson County, Kentucky and was educated at St. Mary's College and Transylvania University, where he studied law. After the Mexican War, in which he served as a 1st lieutenant of the 1st Kentucky Rifles, he settled in Little Rock, Arkansas, where he was the postmaster in 1861. In 1861, Churchill raised a company of volunteer cavalry in Little Rock, and led this unit in the state militia's expedition to seize the federal arsenal at Fort Smith. Upon the State's formal secession from the Union in May, 1861, Churchill recruited and was elected the colonel of the 1st Arkansas Mounted Rifles, and rendered notable service with this regiment at the battles of Wilson's Creek and Pea Ridge. Churchill was commissioned as a brigadier general to rank from March 4, 1862. After fighting at Richmond, Kentucky under General Kirby Smith, General Churchill was assigned to command the defense of Arkansas Post, which he was finally forced to surrender after being overwhelmed in one of the most one-sided battles of the War. Following his parole and exchange, General Churchill served briefly as a brigade commander in Cleburne's Division of the Army of Tennessee, but was soon transferred back to the Trans-Mississippi where he commanded the "Arkansas Division" in the Red River Campaign against Union General Nathaniel Banks. After defeating Banks in northwest Louisiana, Churchill marched his division north to unite with General Sterling Price's Division and participate in the attack against Union General Frederick Steele at Jenkins' Ferry. Churchill was promoted to Major General on March 18, 1865 while still serving in the Trans-Mississippi Department.

After the War, General Churchill returned to Little Rock. After the overthrow of the carpetbag government in 1874, he was elected State Treasurer, in which post he served from 1874 until 1880, when he was elected Governor by a huge majority. Subsequently a claim for alleged shortfalls in his accounts while treasurer was pressed by the state Attorney General, and a judgment was entered against him for a substantial sum, which he made good. The shortage was attributed to poor bookkeeping, and it appears certain that General Churchill did not profit personally.

Tom Churchill died in Little Rock on May 14, 1905, and is buried in Mount Holly Cemetery there.