Christy, Robert 1833-1906

CHRISTY, PORTER

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/19/2014 at 15:09:56

DIED
CHRISTY—At his home in Akron, Iowa, at 12?25 p.m., Monday, January 8, 1906, Robert Christy, aged 72 years, 9 months and 13 days.

Only one week previous Mr. Christy was seized with that insidious disease, lung fever, and for several days was able to make a strong fight against its progress; but his advanced age left him without the resources for a continuance of the conflict, despite the best of medical attention and the ceaseless ministrations of loved ones.

Robert Christy was born in Alleghany county, Pennsylvania, March 26, 1833, and moved with his parents to Youngstown, Ohio, at an early age, where he spent his boyhood days. In April, 1853, he took up residence at Moline, Illinois, where he married Mary A. Porter on the 30th of August, 1856, who, after almost a half century of faithful companionship, survives him. Soon after their marriage, they came west to Wright county, Iowa, where he built and operated the first grist and saw mill in that county. In 1858 he made a trip to Pike’s Peak, Colorado, and return with an ox team, the journey being filled with danger from hostile Indians. He came to Akron (then Portlandville) with his family in 1876 and for two years drove the stage between here and LeMars. He then moved on to what is now the Walt. Ross farm, north of town, but was compelled to vacate in haste by the high water in the Spring of 1881. He was also engaged in the real estate business with A. H. Smith in an early day. With the exception of a brief residence at Rogers, Arkansas, and Fairbury, Nebraska, Akron has been his home. In late years he has followed the painter’s trade. Whatever there might have been of roughness in Robert Christy’s nature was entirely on the surface, for beneath his breast there beat a heart as generous, sympathetic and loyal in friendship as one could wish to know. Whatever errors his life’s record may show were only those to which the best are prone. Besides the wife, there are left to mourn his departure two sons, Walter C. of Sioux Falls, S.D., and A. L., of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; three daughters, Mrs. Nate Hampton, of Ponca City, Oklahoma; Mrs. C. L. Chamberlin and Mrs. G. H. Wooton, of Akron, all of whom were at the funeral except A. L., who is just recovering from a similar serious illness. One brother, Thos. Christy, of Hot Springs, S.D., and his daughter, Mrs. Sturges, of Charter Oak, Iowa, came here Tuesday; but another brother, J. M. Christy, of Des Moines, was unable to come on account of a serious injury to his foot. The community offers its sympathy to the sorrowing family. All who knew deceased feel a personal loss in the demise of this kind friend and neighbor.

The funeral was held in the Akron M. E. church this (Thursday) afternoon at 2 o’clock and was largely attended. Elder J. M. Baker of the Sioux City Latter Day Saints’ Church, delivered the sermon, and was assisted by Rev. F. L. Moore, the local M. E. pastor. Interment was made in Riverside cemetery.

Source: Akron Register-Tribune, January 11, 1906