The Christy Families of Wayne County, Ohio

WELKER G. CHRISTY.

The popular citizen and enterprising business man whose name furnishes the heading of this review needs no formal introduction to the people of Wooster and Wayne county. Identified with the commercial interests of the city and taking an active part in promoting the material advancement of the community, he has forged rapidly to the front in business circles, besides earning an honorable reputation as one of the county’s progressive men of affairs. Welker G. Christy is a worthy descendant of an old and respected family that had its origin in Ireland, of which country his great-grandfather, James Christy, was a native. This ancestor came to America many years ago and is supposed to have settled in Pennsylvania where his son, Robert. Christy, the subject's grandfather, was born and reared. Robert Christy grew to manhood in his native commonwealth and in the prime of life migrated to Wayne county, Ohio, where he followed farming and milling and where he spent the remainder of his days, dying sometime in the eighties, at the age of seventy-two years.

James W. Christy, father of the subject, was born in the county of Wayne and is still a citizen of the same, residing at this time in a beautiful home a short distance north of Wooster and devoting his attention to agricultural pursuits. For a number of years he carried on a successful lumber business at the county seat, but after accumulating a comfortable competency retired to the country where he is now enjoying some of the blessings earned during his active business career. He served in the One Hundred Twentieth Regiment Ohio Infantry during the late Civil war and participated in many of the bloodiest battles of that historic struggle, in one of which he received a slight though painful wound. He was over three years at the front, during which time he discharged his duties faithfully and courageously and at the expiration of his term of service retired from the army with an honorable record as a brave and gallant soldier.

In his young manhood James W. Christy married Mary Troutman, of Wayne county, who is still living, the union resulting in the birth of two children, viz: Mrs. A. W. Smvser. of Overton. Ohio, and Welker G.. of this sketch.

Welker G. Christy, to a brief review of whose career the following lines are devoted, is a native of Wayne county, Ohio, and dates his birth from the 19th of December, 1874. His early life, devoid of any incident or event of especial interest and pretty much like that of the majority of lads, was spent under the parental roof, where he received the training and bent of mind which in due time led him to plan for the future so as to become more than a mere passive agent in the affairs of men. After completing the common school course, he attended for some time the Northern Ohio University at Ada, following which he remained two years at home assisting his father in the cultivating of the farm. Possessing a practical mind and manifesting while still a mere lad a decided preference for business pursuits, he bent all his energies in the direction of the world of trade, fully determined to carry out his well defined purposes and achieve success in the calling which he should select. With this object in view, he left home in the year 1900 and entered the Wooster Hardware Company as an employe for a period of three years, during which time he not only became familiar with every detail of the business, but also acquired a practical knowledge of the basic principles upon which the world of trade is founded.

By diligence and faithfulness Mr. Christy won the confidence of his employers and at the expiration of the time indicated he purchased the interest of I. N. McKinney and became one of the proprietors. Since 1903 he has devoted his attention very closely to the interests of the firm and to him belongs not a little of the credit of building up and greatly extending the business until the establishment is now the largest and most successful af the kind in the city and one of the best known in the northern part of the state. Mr. Christy is a clear-headed, far-seeing business man whose methods have ever been progressive and successful and whose name stands for fair and honorable dealing in all the terms imply. Although younger than the majority of his contemporaries in Wooster, he has won distinctive prestige in commercial circles and by adhering to the straightforward course he has heretofore pursued he bids fair to fill a still larger and more conspicuous place in the business world as the years go by. With a clear-cut, eminently sane and practical character and a forceful, attractive personality, he has come to the front in other than his own business interests, being a director of the Citizens National Bank of Wooster, besides giving a free and generous support to all enterprises having for their object the advancement of the city along material lines.

Mr. Christy is a Republican in politics and as a member of the county executive committee he has rendered his party valuable service by his judicious counsel and effective campaign work. Although a recognized leader and ready at all times to make sacrifice for the good of the party, he is not an office seeker nor aspirant for any kind of public renown, preferring the plain, satisfactory life which he now leads and the simple title of citizen to any honors or emoluments within the gift of his fellowmen. His fraternal relations are represented by the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and its various branches, in all of which he has been honored from time to time with important official positions. As a member of the First Presbyterian church of Wooster his life has been influential for good and the doctrines and teachings to which he yields assent he endeavors to exemplify in his relations with his fellow men.

Mr. Christy has never assumed the duties or responsibilities of the marriage relation and his present manner of living is becoming his position and high social standing in the community. All of his business life has been spent in Wooster, and his personal history presents no pages blotted by unworthy or dishonorable conduct. Few men are as well and favorably known, and none enjoy higher standing as a generous, obliging, large-hearted friend. His hand is ever open to accommodate the poor and needy, no worthy object appeals to him in vain and his popularity is only limited by the bounds of his acquaintance.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

RAYMOND F. CHRISTY.

The life history of him whose name introduces this review was for many years identified with the history of Wayne county, of which he was a native son and honored citizen. His business career was begun in this county, and throughout the years in which he was identified with her commercial interests he was closely allied with her growth and upbuilding. His life was one of untiring activity and was crowned with a degree of success attained by comparatively few. He was of the highest type of business man. and none more than he deserves representation in a work of this nature. His business career furnishes a splendid example of what may he accomplished through determined purpose, laudable ambition and well-directed effort, for the position that he attained in life was won entirely through his own efforts.

Raymond F. Christy was a native son of the old Buckeye state, having been born in Canaan township. Wayne county, on the 20th of March, 1852, and his death occurred on the 9th of April, 1909, in the fifty-eighth year of his age. In his veins flowed Irish and Norwegian blood, his father, James Christy, having been a native of the Emerald Isle, while his mother, whose maiden name was Roxanna Severcool, was born in Norway. The subject was reared under the parental roof and attended the common schools. This education he supplemented by attendance at Smithville Academy and the old Canaan Academy. He engaged in teaching school, which vocation he followed about four years. At the age of twenty-two years, in 1874, he engaged in the clothing business at Orrville, and in this enterprise he met with success from the start, and for many years up to the time of his death he was the leading clothier in that city. He also had stores at Wooster, Dovlestown and Cleveland, his store on Euclid avenue, in the latter city, being one of the fine stores of that city. He took a keen interest in his home town and erected the Christy block, one of the best business blocks in the city. He was also a valued member of the Board of Industry of Orrville, a very practical and efficient organization of the business men for the purpose of aiding the commercial and industrial development of the city. He also for seven years conducted a very successful shoe business in connection with his clothing store in Orrville. He sold the shoe business, however, in 1907, and in 1908 he disposed of the clothing business. Mr. Christy, during his commercial life, suffered a number of severe losses, through fire, robbery and other causes, but in spite of these reverses, he forged ahead and acquired a comfortable competency. Though highly regarded because of his business ability and success, his high standing in the community was attained because of higher qualities than mere commercial ability. He possessed those sterling qualities of character which enabled him to exercise a sympathy and generosity of spirit which endeared him to all who enjoyed his acquaintance. Broadminded and straightforward, he allowed nothing to serve him from what he considered the right and he occupied a high position in the hearts and minds of those who knew him best. His death was considered a distinct loss to the city in which so many of the best years of his life were spent.

Mr. Christy was thrice married, first to Anna Hoy, of Wooster township, of a well-known family in Wayne county. Her death occurred two years after their marriage, and subsequently Mr. Christy married Elizabeth

Gavner, who died five years later. On June 4, 1900, he.wedded Florence May Geyer, the daughter of Samuel and Lydia* (Lehman) Geyer, of Wooster, where she was born and reared. A sister is Mrs. William Caskey, of Wooster, where other relatives also reside. Mrs. Christy was a successful teacher for six years prior to her marriage. She is well educated, having supplemented her public school education by attendance at Smithville Academy, Wadsworth Academy, Wooster University and Bixler’s Business College at Wooster. She is a lady of rare culture and attainments and possesses a business ability above that of the average woman.

Mr. Christy was a valued member of the Presbyterian church, of which he was an active and generous supporter. He readily gave his endorsement and support to every movement having for its object the moral, educational or material advancement of the community and because of his faultless honor, fearless conduct and stainless integrity he commanded uniform regard and the love and esteem of his friends.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

W. CHRISTY, farmer, Chester Township, is the eldest of the six children of Peter and Margaret (Hardy) Christy, the others being named as follows: Lydia J., Sarah A., David O., Lyman R. and Alexander H. Sarah A. and Alexander H. are deceased. Peter

Christy was a farmer by occupation, and was one of the most successful men of the township. He began life a poor boy, but by industry, perseverance and uprightness became one of the well-to-do citizens of Chester Township, owning at the time of his death 300 acres of valuable laud. He died October 21, 1886.

S. W. Christy was born in Chester Township in 1 841, and received his education in the public schools of his native township. In his boyhood he began to assist his father in the duties of the farm, and of him learned the practical lessons that have been of benefit to him in his later life. He now owns a fine farm of 200 acres, all of which was formerly owned by his father. Mr. Christy enlisted in the defense of his country in 1862, and was assigned to Company D, One Hundred and Twentieth Ohio Infantry. He sers'ed nine months, when, on account of sickness, he was obliged to leave the field of battle, and returned home, where he again took up the more peaceful pursuit of agriculture. Mr. Christy was married in 1869 to Elizabeth J. Wills, daughter of James Wills, of Wayne County, and they have had a family of five children: Herman (deceased). Homer (deceased). Myrtle, Mary and Laura. In politics Mr. Christy is a Republican. He and Lis family are members of the Presbyterian Church.

dfOHN C. WELKEE. Of the representative farmers of Chippewa Township, Wayne County, none stand higher in the respect and confidence of the public than this gentleman. His industry has won him a competency, and his integrity the respect of all with whom he has come in contact. He was born in Birkenfeld, Oldenburg, Germany, December 25, 1823, and is a son of Jacob and Louisa (Ault) Welker. He was reared and educated in his native country, and served six years and five months in the German army immer the Grand Duke of Oldenburg. He learned the blacksmith's trade under his father and brother, and came to America in 1851, stopping eight months in Philadelphia, and in February, 1852, he located in Litchfield, Medina Co., Ohio, where he worked as a journeyman five years.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.