San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 1523-1524
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 10/27/2009
GEORGE J. CHRISTY
A representative rancher of San Joaquin County is George J. Christy, who resides on the hill to the south of Clements. He was born in San Joaquin County, on the old Christy ranch, one mile east of Clements, on January 22, 1870, the son of James Christy, who was born near Dublin, Ireland, and married Miss Mary Carroll, a native of Louth, also in Ireland.
James Christy left home at the age of fourteen, came out to America, and settled for a while in New Jersey. When the news of the discovery of gold in California electrified the world he was among the first to sail around the Horn to San Francisco, in 1849, and almost immediately went into Amador County, near Volcano, and later removed to Property Bar and Lancha Plana. He had odd and interesting associations, and for a while was thrown in with James Fair, afterwards Senator, as a fellow-miner. In 1855 he came to the Clements district and bought 160 acres of land, and later he added to his holdings. He bought out Thomas Wylie, and in all had 560 acres, where he raised grain and stock. James Christy sent East for his fiancee, and they were married on her arrival at Lancha Plana. She and the wife of Captain Messenger were the only white women in the mines. With James Christy, Joseph and Thomas Burns came to California from Ireland; and they also left New York for California together. Mr. Christy died at the age of seventy-four, and Mrs. Christy in her fifty-fourth year. William, the eldest of their children, was born in Lancha Plana, and died ten years ago; James passed away when he was young; Eliza is a Sister at Notre Dame, in Iowa; Philip was named after Gen. Phil Sheridan, under whom two uncles, his father's and mother's brothers, fought in the Civil War; Mary died at the age of twelve; George J. is the subject of this review; Celia has become Mrs. Freidburger, of Madera; Martha died in 1920; she enlisted as a Red Cross nurse for service in the World War, was vaccinated, and after four years of suffering died from the effect of the serum used.
George J. Christy farmed with his father on the 560-acre grain farm; they also leased 400 acres of grain and grazing land, for they used to have 100 head of cattle. At Lodi, on December 27, 1900, Mr. Christy was married to Miss Jennie Brandt, born at French Camp, the daughter of Louis R. Brandt, whose life-story is elsewhere given in this work. She had attended the Brandt school, so called in honor of her family. After their marriage they lived at Clements and helped to run the old Christy home farm. In 1902 they came into possession of 110 acres of the old Dougherty-Gillies ranch. There they built a fine home and otherwise improved the place, erecting the best of farm buildings. This property adjoins Clements on the south and is a sightly place, located on a height of land known as Christy Hill. He also bought a quarter-section of road land, three miles south of Clements, where he engaged in farming and stockraising. Two sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Christy: Carroll E. and George Darroll.
History of
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
With A
Biographical Review
of
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been
Identified with Its Growth and Development
from the Early Days to the Present
HISTORY BY
George H. Tinkham
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1923
San Joaquin County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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