20th Century History of New Castle and
Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens

SILAS U. CHRISTIE,

[p. 406] who fills the important position of poor warden of the New Castle City Home, which is located in Shenango Township, has proven himself a very efficient public official. He was born in Butler County, Pennsylvania, July 8, 1874, and is a son of Williamson and Mary (Parks) Christie.

The father of Mr. Christie was a veteran of the Civil War. He was seriously wounded at the battle of Gettysburg and the son preserves the bullet which had caused the wound, it entering at the hip and being extracted at the knee. Williamson Christie served his country faithfully. In peaceful days he engaged in farming in Butler County. He married Mary Parks and they had twelve children born to them, eleven of whom reached maturity.

Silas U. Christie was the third youngest of his parents' family, and he was trained as a farmer on the home estate. In 1895 he came to New Castle and worked in the mills until the spring of 1908, when he was appointed to his present position by the city council. His early training has proved to be of great use to Mr. Christie in operating the seventy-five acres of land which is attached to the Home. He has the larger part of this under cultivation, and with the assistance of one man and one woman, inmates of the institution, Mr. Christie is endeavoring to produce all the supplies needed. He has already greatly reduced running expenses, without increasing the demands on the inmates and already produces not only all the fine butter needed, but a surplus, which is sold in New Castle. It seems as if the city council could have selected no more efficient man for the position, for he not only has shown the effects of intelligent management, but he has won the confidence of the city's wards by the kind consideration he has shown them, while doing his full duty also to the public. In his efforts he is ably assisted by his estimable wife. He married Elizabeth Workley, who was born in Perry Township, Lawrence County.

In politics, Mr. Christie is a Republican. Formerly he was connected with the New Castle Fire Department and served for some five years as one of the drivers.


20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908

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