CORNELIUS CHRISTY

CHRISTY, MCCOY, CALDWELL, OSBORNE

Posted By: Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert (email)
Date: 1/25/2002 at 19:06:59

Decatur County Journal
November 4, l909

CORNELIOUS CHRISTY was born in Bridgeport,
Conn., Nov. l2, l8l4, and
died in Leon, Nov. l, l909, aged 94 years, ll
months and l9 days. He
was of Irish ancestry, his parents JOHN and
MARY CHRISTY, having come
from Ireland but a short time before his
birth. He was married to
PRISCILLA MCCOY, June 6th, l843. They lived
to celebrate their 60th
anniversary, June 6th, l903. To this union
seven children were born, 3
sons and 4 daughters, all of whom have passed
away except two daughters,
MRS. JENNIE CALDWELL, of Des Moines, and MRS.
EMMA OSBORNE, of Leon.
His wife, the companion of more than 60 years
was called to her eternal
home July l8th, l903. Besides the two
daughters, there are living 2l
grandchildren and l4 great grandchildren. In
l868 he left the State of
New York and located at Muscatine, Iowa. The
family lived there for a
while then moved to Decatur County. In l874
they sold the farm and
moved to Leon, where he has since resided.
Hence for 32 years FATHER
CHRISTY has been a resident of this town. A
time so long as to give him
a wide acquaintance with the older citizens,
and to closely identify him
with the affairs of the community. And this
long residence has given
ample opportunity for the community to form a
fairly correct opinion of
his character.

My own acquaintance with him has been but
little more than three years.
A time when he was in age and feebleness
extreme. But his faith was
strong, his habits of prayer and Bible
reading unabating--showing a most
devout life. How could it be otherwise? For
nearly 75 years he had
been in the service of God. In earlier life
he was a member of the
United Brethren Church. When he moved to
Leon he united with Methodist
Church and remained a faithful member until
called to the church in the
skies. Those who knew him longest and most
intimately testify to his
sterling Christian character. This is true
both of those in the church
and those who are not members.

His was a long life. In his time, the
greatest progress the world ever
knew was made. Practically every great
invention tht had bettered the
conditions of the race was made in his day.
And the church of Jesus
Christ made greater gain in that time than in
all the centuries
preceeding. So God's promise to him has been
fulfilled. "With long
life will I satisfy him and show him my
salvation."

After the death of his wife he aged rapidly,
and the strong man became
as a little child. But receiving his second
eyesight he read his Bible
almost continuously, living in the constant
expectation of the summons
home. During the latter years of his life he
made his home with his
daughter, MRS. OSBORNE, who gave to him the
tenderest care and
attention, and again and again he would thank
God for such a good
daughter. During the last few weeks, MRS.
CALDWELL has shared in the
sacred but heavy task of ministering to his
needs. When the end came it
was sweet release to the aged worn body, and
upon the authority of God's
Book of Life we can but believe that it was
Heaven for the released
spirit. For him rest, and we will say "Thy
will be done." A large
circle of friends will extend the family
their tenderest sympathy.

The funeral was held from the Methodist
Church Tuesday at 2 p.m., Rev.
J.L. Boyd, Pastor of the church preaching the
sermon from the text:
"Mark the perfect man and behold the upright,
for the end of that man is
peace." Rev. Charles Arthur Coakwell of the
Christian Church assisted
in the services. Interment in Leon Cemetery.

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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
November 8, 200l