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Catalog Number
2020.9.174
Description
Black and white photograph showing Nellie Churchford standing, horn in hand, behind two musicians.  The two musicians, both seated, are Samuel and Emma Evans. 
 
History
Nellie Churchford was born on 10-4-1874 in the Netherlands to Gerrit Churchford and Lavina Dieleman. While still very young, the Churchford family moved to west Michigan. Nellie and her parents appear in the Grand Rapids city directories from 1894, 1895 and 1896. Nellie's occupation is listed as "laundress".

By 1900, Nellie was living in Holland, MI where she began the Holland Rescue Mission ca. 1902. On Saturday evenings she would set up a tent meeting on 8th Street and preach the gospel.

Nellie passed away on 12-6-1931 and was buried in Holland's Pilgrim Home Cemetery.

Samuel and Emma Evans were living in Grand Rapids, MI as early as 1880 (US Census). They later became boarders with Nellie in Grand Rapids, MI (1894, 1898 GR city directories). They were also the boarders with Nellie in Holland, MI, at at 244 River Ave (1906, 1908 Holland City Directory). Samuel was born on 12-27-1833 in Kentucky and passed away in Holland, MI on 1-30-1909. Emma was born in 1846 in Virginia.
Samuel was buried in Holland's Pilgrim Home Cemetery.
Gift of
Vande Water, Randy