No, I could not find John Church in the 1880 census either so he may have been in Canada at that time since he was a railroad engineer and visited back and forth. Here is his marriage info, obits and the 1900 Census.

Thanks for posting a reply. Hopefully someone else of the family will see this. Recently a picture of John's father and mother and their homestead in Burford, Brant County, Ontario, Canada was sent to me by a descendant of Philip and Mary (Johnson) Church.

MARRIAGE: I Have copy of marriage cert from Clairmont/Burford Burford Twp Brant Co Ontario. Witness:Stephen Parnall & Permellia Estell, signed Claudius Byrne Minister of the W. M. Church in Canada

CENSUS: 1900, Michigan, Charlotte, Carmel Twp, Eaton Co MI SD Vol.19, ED 65, sheet 6, pg 72, 604 Cherry St. Church, John Head White b:Sep 1843 age:56 Marr BP:New York, Church, Caroline Wife, White B:July 1844 age:55 Mar BP:Mich.

OBITUARY: The Charlotte Republican-Thurs. Apr 30, 1903. Mr John Church, who has made his home in Charlotte and this vicinity the past 20 years, passed away at the home on Cherry St. Friday morning last about 10 O'Clock, after an illness of more than a years duration. Mr Church was born in the State of New York Sept 25, 1843. He removed to Canada with his parents when a boy comming from there to Eaton Co about 20 years ago. He was twice married, his first wife dying about 12 years ago and 4 years later he was united in marriage with Mrs. Carrie Fisher, of Charlotte. He leaves a wife and 5 children as follows, Mrs. M. D. Whitney of West Bay City, James Church of Charlotte, Fred of Battle Creek, Will of Lansing and Miss Mary Church of this city. Funeral services were held at the house Sunday afternoon at 2:00 conducted by Dr. D. F. Barnes. The funeral offering were many and beautiful. Interned at Maple Hill Cemetery.