Oscar A. Christy

Narrative:

     Oscar A. Christy was born in Dec 1851 in Greensburg, Indiana.^5,6,7
     He appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Marion Twp., Decatur Co., Indiana, in the household of his parents, Churchill G. Christy and Maria Cobb.¹³
     Oscar appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., Ohio, in the household of his brother Henry and his wife, Mary Elizabeth Hillis.¹⁴

Joining His Brothers In Business --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Oscar joined the firm of Christy, Cobb & Co. as a clerk about 1871, and was a bookkeeper there by the following year. The principals in the firm were his older brothers John and Henry, and his cousin William Henry Cobb.^15,16 About 1873 the firm became proprietors of the Indianapolis & Cincinnati Elevator, at the Pearl and Smith Sts.. Their brother James rejoined the firm as a clerk at the elevator, becoming superintendent there by 1875, but apparently leaving the firm after that.¹⁷
     Oscar married Ida M. Conklin, daughter of William H. Conklin and Elizabeth Windling, on 5 May 1875 in Cincinnati, Ohio, at her father's home.^8,9,10
     Oscar and Ida appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Delhi Twp., Hamilton Co., Ohio, enumerated 25 Jun 1880. Their daughter Elizabeth was listed as living with them, as was Dudley Deries, age 13, a domestic servant.¹⁸

Troubles at Christy, Cobb & Co. --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Rumors circulating in the Cincinnati business community about financial difficulties at Christy, Cobb & Co. culminated in newspaper reports 30 Jun 1880 of conversations with members of the firm. They acknowledged owing money to a few local banks that they could not pay on time, and said they were asking for an extension. They said they owned no one other than these banks, and would speedily resolve the issue. They noted they had been in business nearly 20 years and the past year had done a business of over $1,500,000, handling more grain than any three houses in the city. They said they were making arrangements to bring in "fresh blood" and issued a statement that the firm "sold out their business and good will to Wm. H. Conklin" who would continue the business at the elevator under the name of Christy, Conklin & Co.¹⁹
     The following day a newspaper reported a conversation with William Cobb in which he said he had been the outside man for years, doing most of the traveling, and had no intimation of any issue until the previous week. He said the firm had done some speculation several years before and had been "urgently advised" to stop by his father, one of their heavy creditors, and he had thought they had stopped as they promised. But now he found the firm had speculated in Chicago by borrowing money secured by elevator receipts. He said his father held a note from the firm for $30,000 and was owed another $25,000 on account, but he did not know about other creditors. The paper reported that the firm owed four local banks and two out-of-state banks a total of $55,000.²⁰
     Negotiations with creditors did not go well. On 12 Jul 1880 the three principals and the bookkeeper were arrested on multiple charges, including issuing false warehouse receipts and embezzlement, from each of three banks. The banks had demanded the grain that was represented by the warehouse receipts used as security for the loans, and were told it was not there. Bonds were posted for each: $15,000 for Henry, $25,000 for John and Oscar, and $9,000 for William.²¹
     Preliminary hearings were held on all six cases, one brought by each of the three banks against the firm and the same against the bookkeeper. The hearings took several days, concluding 29 Jul 1880, and were reported in great detail by the local newspaper. There was testimony by officials of the banks and employees of the firm. After charges against William Cobb were dismissed in one of the cases, he was called as a witness by the prosecution. He testified that he had initially provided all the firm's capital, but later that was returned and the firm operated on borrowed money. He said that on 26 Jan 1880 John had told him they had been speculating and had lost $35,000. He knew the firm had been in debt for several years, and realized it would be unable to recover, with debts now totaling over $100,000. At the conclusion of the hearings all the defendants were bound over to the grand jury, and bail amounts were adjusted.^22,23
     Apparently nothing more ever came of the case. On 31 Jan 1881 a reporter asked one of the attorneys who had prosecuted at the hearings why no indictments had been made. He would only cite rumors, including that money was used in the grand jury room and that the Prosecuting Attorney's office was at fault. No further report of the case has been found.²⁴
     The firm of Christy, Conklin & Co. continued to operate the Indianapolis & Cincinnati Elevator for about two years, with John, W. H. Conklin, Henry, and Oscar as principals. On 1 Aug 1882 the business was transferred to John Henry, who announced they would continue to operate the elevator under the firm name of Christy & Co.^25,26

A New Firm, More Troubles --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Oscar and W. H. Conklin formed the firm of O. A. Christy & Co. by 1883, still dealing in grain.²⁷
     Oscar and his partner were tried by the Chamber of Commerce 13 Aug 1883 on charges of unmercantile conduct. Five of six officers found them guilty, but in a controversial interpretation of the rules, that was considered a finding of not guilty. The case was based on a complaint by W. J. Head, who had loaned Oscar $1,500 for 30 days in December. The note was not paid when due, and Head learned that Oscar had purchased a piece of property and transferred it to his wife. Head filed suit to stop the transfer, which was approved. Oscar filed a $10,000 suit for defamation of character, but offered to withdraw his suit if Head would call the note paid. Final outcome of the court suits has not been found.²⁸

Moving Out of State --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Oscar, and O. A. Christy & Co., last appear in the Cincinnati city directory in 1884. He and Ida were established in Marion, Indiana, by 1887.^29,30
     Oscar was a real estate agent in Marion. On 10 Jul 1890 George L. Mason, another agent, was conducting an auction of real estate for buyers from New York, and berated Oscar for trying to sell property to his buyers. Oscar called him a liar and a thief, unloading property at $700 to $800 per acre that had cost $100. Mason struck him in the face, and was later arrested for assault and battery.³¹
     Oscar and Ida returned to Cincinnati by 1897.³² They appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., Ohio, at 425 Riddle Road, enumerated 5 Jun 1900. Their daughter Elizabeth was listed as living with them, as were Alice Penitt, a servant, and E. Walter Brown, a coachman.³³
     He reported his occupation in the 1900 census as a grain & stock broker, and was listed as a grain broker in the city directory. He apparently operated independently until about 1900, when he was listed as with Charles J. Christie & Co.^34,35
     Oscar died on 14 Jul 1901 in Winton Place, Hamilton Co., Ohio, at age 49.¹¹ He was buried in Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., Ohio.¹²