Welker G. Christy

As printed in 1910

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 History of Wayne County Ohio (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.