James Wallace Christy1,2,3,4,5

Family Chart
ID# 16692, (1837 - btn 1915 - 1920)
FatherChurchill G. Christy6,7,8 (23 Mar 1812 - 20 Oct 1901)
MotherMaria Cobb6,7,8 (5 Jun 1812 - 25 Jun 1896)

Key Events:

Birth: Aug 1837, Indiana9,10,11
Marriage: 4 Sep 1860, Dearborn Co., Indiana, Mary Langtree (21 Jul 1841 - 27 Feb 1914)12,13
Death: between 1915 and 192014
ChartsDescendants of Gideon Cobb
AncestryThe Cobbs of Pawlet, Vermont

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     James Wallace Christy was born in Aug 1837 in Indiana.9,10,11
     He was probably one of the three males under age 5 listed in the household of his father, Churchill G. Christy, in the 1840 Federal Census of Decatur Co., Indiana.15
     He moved to Dearborn Co. with his parents by 1850. He appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Center Twp., Dearborn Co., Indiana, in the household of his parents, Churchill G. Christy and Maria Cobb.16
     He returned to Decatur Co. with his parents by 1855. He appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Marion Twp., Decatur Co., Indiana, in the household of his parents.17
     James married Mary Langtree, daughter of James H. Langtree and Mary Jane White, on 4 Sep 1860 in Dearborn Co., Indiana, with Richard C. Bond, Baptist Minister, offciating.12,13
     He was working on the river in 1860, but in what role is unclear.18
     By 1862 James was representing the firm of Cobb, Williams & Co., commission merchants, a partnership of his uncle, Oliver Perry Cobb and P. W. Williams, both of Aurora, at its offices at 35 Water St., in Cincinnati. By 1864 his brother Henry had joined the firm as a clerk.19
     James registered for the draft for the Civil War, appearing on the register dated in Jun 1863, while living at 401 W. 8th St, Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., Ohio, reporting he was employed as merchant. His brother Henry as listed at the same address, shown as a clerk.20
     About 1865 Williams left the firm, and it was briefly known as O. P. Cobb, Christy & Co. By the next year their uncle was no longer involved. James and his brother John became principals and the firm became Christy Bros. & Co.21
James W. Christy and daughter Jessie
courtesy Norman Jones
James apparently separated from the firm about 1868 for a time, but continued to work as a commissioner merchant, or grain dealer.22,23
     James and Mary appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., Ohio, enumerated 20 Jul 1870, reporting no real estate but personal estate of $300. Their daughter Jessie was listed as living with them.24
     James rejoined his brothers' firm, now called Christy, Cobb, and Co., about 1873, as clerk at the Indianapolis & Cincinnati Elevator which they were then operating. By 1875 he was superintendent there, apparently leaving the firm after that.25 He does not appear in the Cincinnati city directory after that, but did report his occupation as grain dealer in the 1880 census.26
     James and Mary appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Home City, Hamilton Co., Ohio, enumerated 30 Jun 1880. Their daughter Jessie was listed as living with them.27
     James and Mary moved to Pennsylvania before 1900. They appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Scranton, Lackawanna Co., Pennsylvania, in the household of his daughter Jessie and her husband, Manley Donaldson.28
     James and Mary moved to New York with their daughter after the death of her husband in 1907.29 They appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Queens, Queens Co., New York, in the household of his daughter Jessie.29
     His wife died on 27 Feb 1914 in New York City, Queens Co., New York.30
     James moved to New Jersey before 1915. He appeared on the 1915 State Census of 702 Broad St., Westfield, Union Co., New Jersey, enumerated 17 Jun 1915, with his daughter Jessie, in the household of her son Andrew W. Donaldson and his wife, Edith Wetherill, and their 3-year-old son.31
     James apparently died between 1915 and 1920, as he does not appear with his daughter and her son in the 1920 census, nor has he been found elsewhere. But no record of his death or burial has been found.14

Children:
     Child with Mary Langtree:

  • Jessie Christy32,27,33 (17 Aug 1861 - 9 Mar 1949)

Citations

  1. [S1122] Churchill J. Christie household, 1850 U.S. Census, Dearborn Co., Indiana, shows name as James W. Christie.
  2. [S1117] C. G. Christy household, 1860 U.S. Census, Decatur Co., Indiana, shows name as Jacob W. Christy.
  3. [S6369] Marriage Records, Dearborn Co., Indiana, 10:106, James W. Christy and Mary Langtree.
  4. [S11453] Manley Donaldson household, 1900 U.S. Census, Lackawanna Co., Pennsylvania, shows name as Wallace Christy.
  5. [S11454] Jessie Donaldson household, 1910 U.S. Census, Queens Co., New York, shows name as Wallace Christy.
  6. [S1166] Kennedy, "Re: The Joshua Cobb Family," e-mail to author, 29 Jan 2007.
  7. [S1122] Churchill J. Christie household, 1850 U.S. Census, Dearborn Co., Indiana, shows them apparently living as parent and child.
  8. [S1117] C. G. Christy household, 1860 U.S. Census, Decatur Co., Indiana, shows them apparently living as parent and child.
  9. [S1122] Churchill J. Christie household, 1850 U.S. Census, Dearborn Co., Indiana, shows age 12 and state.
  10. [S1117] C. G. Christy household, 1860 U.S. Census, Decatur Co., Indiana, shows age 22 and state.
  11. [S11453] Manley Donaldson household, 1900 U.S. Census, Lackawanna Co., Pennsylvania, shows month, year, as 1836, age 63, and state.
  12. [S6369] Marriage Records, Dearborn Co., Indiana, 10:106, James W. Christy and Mary Langtree, shows date, county, state, and officiant.
  13. [S11449] James W. Christa household, 1870 U.S. Census, Hamilton Co., Ohio, shows them apparently living as husband and wife.
  14. [S11470] Jessie Donaldson household, 1920 U.S. Census, Union Co., New Jersey, shows only Jessie and Donald in the household.
  15. [S1103] C. G. Christy household, 1840 U.S. Census, Decatur Co., Indiana.
  16. [S1122] Churchill J. Christie household, 1850 U.S. Census, Dearborn Co., Indiana.
  17. [S1117] C. G. Christy household, 1860 U.S. Census, Decatur Co., Indiana.
  18. [S1117] C. G. Christy household, 1860 U.S. Census, Decatur Co., Indiana, show occupation as "on river."
  19. [S10413] William's Cincinnati Directory, 1862 pg 102, shows James with firm of Cobb, Williams & Co., pg 104, shows firm, address, and O P in Aurora, and pg 337, shows Williams in Aurora; 1864 pg 83, shows H. N. Christy as clk at 35 Water.
  20. [S11451] James W Christy and Henry N Christy, Civil War Draft Registrations Records.
  21. [S10413] William's Cincinnati Directory, 1865 pg 99, shows firm as O. P. Cobb, Christy & Co. and address; 1866 pg 111 shows firm as Christy Bros. & Co. with James and John as principals, same address.
  22. [S10413] William's Cincinnati Directory, 1868 pg 127, shows James as a com. mer., not part of firm of Christy, Cobb & Co. operated by his brothers.
  23. [S11449] James W. Christa household, 1870 U.S. Census, Hamilton Co., Ohio, shows occupation as commissioner business.
  24. [S11449] James W. Christa household, 1870 U.S. Census, Hamilton Co., Ohio.
  25. [S10413] William's Cincinnati Directory, 1873 pg 195, shows firm as proprietors of I & C Elevator and address, and J. Wallace Christy as clk at that address; pg 442 shows elevator co; 1875 pg 201, shows James as supt.
  26. [S11450] James W. Christy household, 1880 U.S. Census, Hamilton Co., Ohio, shows occupation as grain dealer.
  27. [S11450] James W. Christy household, 1880 U.S. Census, Hamilton Co., Ohio.
  28. [S11453] Manley Donaldson household, 1900 U.S. Census, Lackawanna Co., Pennsylvania.
  29. [S11454] Jessie Donaldson household, 1910 U.S. Census, Queens Co., New York.
  30. [S7609] "New York, New York, U.S., Extracted Death Index, 1862-1948," Ancestry.com, record for Mary Christy, citing cert. no. 777, shows date, city, county, and state.
  31. [S11456] Andrew W. Donaldson household, 1915 New Jersey State Census, Union Co., New Jersey, Westfield.
  32. [S11449] James W. Christa household, 1870 U.S. Census, Hamilton Co., Ohio, shows them apparently living as parent and child.
  33. [S11452] Jessie Christy Donaldson, Certificate of Death.