John Willard Christy

Narrative:

     John Willard Christy was born on 23 May 1838 in Greensbrug, Indiana.^6,7,8,9
     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
     John has not been found in the 1860 census, when he would have been 22 years old.
     John enlisted in Company E, 7th Indiana Regiment, on 20 Apr 1861, in Aurora, Indiana.^17,18,19 He was discharged at the end of his term of enlistment, on 2 Aug 1861, in Indianapolis, as a sergeant.^20,21

Joining the Family Business --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     About 1866 John joined his brother James in the firm of Christy Bros. & Co., commission merchants, with offices at 35 Water St., Cincinnati, Ohio.²²
     John married Sophia Stedman, daughter of Nathan R. Stedman and Sarah Belden, on 23 Apr 1866 in Dearborn Co., Indiana, with Alex G. Wilson offciating.^10,11,12
     The Cobb-Christy business was re-formed again about 1868, still operating at 35 Water St., Cincinnati. It was then known as Christy, Cobb & Co., with John and his brother Henry in Cincinnati, and their cousin William Henry Cobb in Indiana as principals. This structure remained until about 1880.^{23,24,25,26,27,28,29}
     John and Sophia appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Delhi Twp., Hamilton Co., Ohio, enumerated 27 Jun 1870, reporting real estate valued at $2,000 and personal estate of $3,000.³⁰
     John and Henry's younger brother Oscar joined their firm as a clerk about 1871, and was a bookkeeper there by the following year.^31,32 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.³³
     John and Sophia appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Home City, Hamilton Co., Ohio, enumerated 29 Jun 1880. Their children Flora, Elmer, Abbie and Edna were listed as living with them.³⁴

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.³⁵
     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 $55,000.³⁶
     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.³⁷
     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.^38,39
     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.⁴⁰

Continuing with a New Partner --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     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.^41,42
     The firm of Christy & Co. listed as principals, in addition to John and Henry, an M. E. Christy. It seems likely he was a cousin, but efforts to identify him have been unsuccessful. The firm seems to have cut its ties with the Indianapolis & Cincinnati Elevator by 1883, and expanded its operations outside the city proper to Elizabethtown, continuing until about 1889.⁴³
     The firm of was incorporated in 1890, with John as president George M. Keeefer as vice president, Henry as treasurer, and Eckhard Amendt as secretary. By the following year only the Christys were listed, with John as president and Henry as secretary and treasurer. The firm seems to have been dissolved by 1893.⁴⁴ John was not listed in the city directory after 1892. He reported his occupation as grain dealer in 1900, but it is not clear he was actually still in business then.⁴⁵

Declining Health --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     John applied for an invalid pension based on his Civil War service on 28 Apr 1892, which was subsequently approved.⁴⁶
     John and Sophia appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Home City, Hamilton Co., Ohio, enumerated 9 Jun 1900, reporting they rented their home. Their children Elmer, Abbie, Edna, Nathan, Fannie and Winnifred were listed as living with them.⁴⁷
     John was admitted 12 Dec 1903 to the National Military Home, Jefferson Twp., Montgomery Co., Ohio.⁴⁸
     John and Sophia appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Norwood, Hamilton Co., Ohio, at 3932 Regent Ave., enumerated 18 Apr 1910, reporting they rented their home. Their children Nathan, Fannie and Winnifred were listed as living with them.⁴⁹ However it appears he was not actually living with the family, as he also appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Jeffreson Twp., Montgomery Co., Ohio, at the National Military Home, enumerated 28 May 1910, listed as an inmate.⁵⁰
     John died on 7 Sep 1916 in National Military Home, Jefferson Twp., Montgomery Co., Ohio, at age 78.^13,14 He was buried on 11 Sep 1916 in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Pleasant Ridge, Hamilton Co., Ohio.⁵