John Calvin Christy, one of the leading members of the San Bernardino Bar, and Court Commissioner of the County, was born in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, January 1, 1839. He was educated in his native State, attending college from 1855 to 1859. Coming west to Illinois, in 1859, he located in the southern part of the State, known as Egypt, read law during 1859-’60th and in the spring of 1861 was admitted to the bar. He soon afterward entered the army as a member of Company B, Eighteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served nearly four years, two years of the time as a scout and sharpshooter. He participated in eleven hard-fought battles. Then, being mustered out of service, he returned to Pennsylvania, and commenced the practice of law, having been married December 13, 1864, to Miss Patterson, whose childhood’s home was just eighty rods from his own, and who had been his playmate and associate from infancy.
His health being somewhat impaired, Mr. Christy moved to Washington, Iowa, and a few months later to Wooster, Ohio, and practiced his profession about two years in that place, then removed to Lincoln, Nebraska, where he entered into a law partnership with Hon. James A. Caldwell, an eminent lawyer and a distinguished figure in the history of that State. In October 1886, Mr. Christy came to California, and settled in San Bernardino. A few months after engaging practice here he was appointed Court Commissioner of San Bernardino County, which office he still fills with ability. The function of his office is to hear and decide by the code such civil cases as require an accounting, and are referred to him by the Superior Courts. He is also authorized to perform all duties of a notary public. In addition to his official labors he enjoys a prosperous private law practice. Notwithstanding the fact that Mr. Christy was noted in earlier days for his physical prowess and as an expert in the art of hunting and fishing, he is an affable and companionable gentleman, and a worthy representative of the old Quaker stock from which he is descended. His ancestors were among the early settlers of Pennsylvania, his father having been born in Beaver County, in 1800, and died in Armstrong County, at the ripe age of eighty-seven. His widow still lives upon the old homestead.