Sarah Johnson Christy 1835-1933

CHRISTY, JOHNSON, MEEK, BELL, KETCHAM

Posted By: Rich Lowe (email)
Date: 10/19/2001 at 19:38:52

MRS. SARAH CHRISTY DIED AT HER HOME, BONAPARTE, FRIDAY
Mrs. Christy Had Reached The Age of Nearly Ninety-eight
Resided at Bonaparte Since 1837

Sarah Caroline Johnson, daughter of William and Nancy Crain Johnson was born June 7, 1835, at Covington, Fountain County Indiana.

The following year the Johnson family came west, stopping at Monmouth, Ill. where the mother and younger children spent the winter, while Mr. Johnson and the older sons came on to Bonaparte and made arrangements for a home. In the spring of 1837 they went back to Illinois after the family and brought them to Bonaparte, locating on a farm south of town. On the trail across the prairie from Fort Madison there was only one cabin, and that at West Point. It was indeed only people of pioneer forttude [sic] who would veature [sic] a journey like that into a new land, with the determination to stay and make for themselves a home.

Sarah was two years old when she came to this locality which has since been her home. The span of her residence here covering as it does nearly a century, parallels the history of Iowa and the middle west from the beginnings of the early settlements. At Bonaparte the famous dam and woolen mills were still things of the future. There was not even a saw mill here. No bridge across the river, no railroad through the town. Only a few houses along the river. Blackhawk and his band had a village at Iowaville. Van Buren County was a part of Des Moines County and was included in the territory of Wisconsin. A year later it was made a part of Iowa territory. Martin Van Buren was president of the United States.

The Johnson family located on a farm south of town where Sarah grew to young womanhood; and July 24, 1853, she was united in marriage to Mr. Thomas Christy.

Mr. Christy was also of a pioneer family, he having come with his parents from Ohio to Bonaparte in 1842. He was a stone mason by trade, and had charge of the building of the bridge across the river at Bonaparte. In 1850 he had gone to California on the quest of gold, and had evidently secured his share, for when he came back to Bonaparte he bought the most substantial residence in town, a veritable palace in those days; and which is now one of the most enduring houses of the community. It was build by Dr. Rufus Wyman and he and his wife, Susan Wyman, signed a bill of sale for the property May 24, 1853. On June 7th of that year, Sarah was eighteen years of age. On July 24th, she and Thomas Christy were married, and came to live in the house that he had ready for his bride. That was eighty years ago this summer and all these eighty years it has been her home.

A granddaughter wrote the following lines describing this home and gave it the appropriate title:

"You are not, oh, little grey house,
As you nestle beneath the trees,
A place where people are wont to dwell;
But a palace of Memories.
Enchantment clings within your walls,
For' tis there life's pageant has passed;
And left you beautiful more by far,
Than a splendor of wealth could cast.
You have cradled joys and sorrows,
As time steadily tread its way;
That left here and there sacred thouches,
Which enrich and bless you each day.
May you stand, oh, little grey house,
Long beneath those sheltering trees;
In peace with your store of real treasure.
A palace of memories."

In August of 1853, Mr. Christy was elected to the office of Sheriff of Van Buren county, and although he and his wife spent some time during the following two years in Keosauqua, the house in Bonaparte was his home. Mr. Christy was also a merchant and banker, being the founder of the Farmers' and Traders' State Bank of Bonaparte. He died July 11, 1887.

Mr. and Mrs. Christy were the parents of nine children, eight daughters and one son. Four daughters died in early infancy; and the oldest daughter, Gertrude Christy Meek, died in 1855 [1885]. Those living are Mrs. Hattie E. Bell, Miss J. June Christy and Harley T. Christy of Bonaparte; and Mrs. Dora E. Ketcham of Ottumwa. There are also eleven grand children and four great-grandchildren.

As a girl Mrs. Christy was noted for her grace and beauty which even the long years did not efface. She carried herself erect with no suggestion of stooping which old age generally brings and her mind was alert and keen of understanding to her last conscious moment. She was interested in affairs of state as well as things that went on about her. A Democrat through all the years, of the true, unswerving type, she rejoiced over the success of the party in the last general election, cast her ballot Nov. 8ty for the present administration, and has watched national events since with the greatest of interest.

Her home and family came first, always, but she had time for her neighbors and others who needed her. A real mother in Israel as the name implies. She was a charter member of the first organization of Easter Star in Bonaparte; and she was a member of the Bonaparte Presbyterian church.

In February of this year Mrs. Christy suffered a serious illness from which she did not fully recover, and has been confine to her bed most of the time since. She was gaining, however, and was hopeful of being able to enjoy the out of doors as soon as summer came. About 2 o'clock Friday afternoon, May 19, she was taken suddenly worse, and the end came about six o'clock. Had she been spare3d to live this life nineteen days longer, she would have attained the age of ninety-eight years. Year that were filled with helpfulness and devotion: A priceless heritage to her posterity.
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Source Unknown: Most likely the Bonaparte Bee newspaper.

Sarah was a sister of my g-grandfather, Joseph A. Johnson.