William Oscar Creger

BARGER, CREGER, MOFFITT, PORTER, QUEEN, REED, WHITE, WORTHING

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 10/10/2005 at 21:35:11

“History of Madison County Iowa and Its People”
Herman A. Mueller, Supervising Editor
Chicago, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1915

William Oscar Creger, one of the most prominent farmers and stockmen of Ohio township, is a native of this county and has thoroughly identified his interests with those of the community in which he resides. His birth occurred on the farm which he now owns and on which he makes his home, on the 31st of August, 1866. His parents, Samuel M. and Rebecca J. (Reed) Creger, were born, respectively, in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, April 18, 1831, and in Carroll county, that state, on the 15th of September, 1840. His paternal grandparents, John and Mahala (Moffitt) Creger, were both born in the east, the grandfather's birth occurring in Pennsylvania in July, 1801, and the grandmother's in Maine, on the 18th of April, 1811. A number of years after their marriage they located in Ohio township, Madison county, Iowa where the grandfather entered land. Their son, Samuel M. Creger, also took up a claim, proving up on the farm on section 10, Ohio township, where our subject now lives. In 1894 Mr. and Mrs. Samuel M. Creger removed to Truro, where they lived retired until called to the home beyond, the father dying in 1903 and the mother eight years later.

He enlisted on the 17th of August, 1862, in Company F, Thirty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and rose to the rank of sergeant. He served for almost three years, being mustered out on the 24th of June, 1865, with a military record distinctly creditable to his courage and loyalty. His wife was a daughter of William and Susanna (Porter) Reed, the former born in Ireland in 1795 and the latter born in Pennsylvania in 1818, of Irish descent. In 1855 they became residents of Madison county, locating on Hoosier Prairie in Scott township, where the father farmed until his death on the 31st of December of that year. The mother subsequently married Reuben A. Kale, and following his demise became the wife of John D. White. She passed away in Truro on the 15th of February, 1902. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel M. Creger were the parents of four children, as follows: James Theodore is the subject of a sketch which appears elsewhere in this work. Amanda E., who was born on the 12th of January, 1861, was married on the20th of November, 1878, to T. H. Oueen, and passed away on the l0th of February, 1894, leaving five children, Ora, Vernon, Glendon, Denzil, and Roxie who died on the 28th of March, 1896. W. O. of this review, is the next in order of birth. Bradie J., who was born on the 28th of May, 1882, is also mentioned on another page of this volume. Samuel M. Creger was a republican and held all of the local offices, and fraternally was connected with the Masons and the Grand Army of the Republic. He was a man who took an active part in everything that related to his community, and was most highly esteemed by all who knew him.

William O. Creger attended the district schools in Ohio township and assisted his father in the cultivation of the land which he had entered from the government. As his strength increased he was given more and more of the farm work to do, and by the time that he was grown he was a very efficient agriculturist. He has continued to devote his time to farming and stock-raising throughout his entire active life, and now owns and operates four hundred and seventy acres of valuable land in Ohio township. His home farm, which comprises a quarter section, is one of the best improved places in the township, and his residence is a commodious and attractive structure, provided with the conveniences of the twentieth century. He buys and sells both cattle and hogs, being one of the most extensive stockmen in the county, and does his own shipping, using the Chicago markets. He is an excellent judge of the value of stock and is seldom mistaken in his purchases. He also watches the market carefully, so as to sell to the best advantage, and his operations in that field of activity bring him a handsome income.

He is one of the representative and substantial men of his county and has been connected with its development along many lines. He was one of the organizers of the Truro Savings Bank, and is a stockholder and director of that institution.

On the 17th of December, 1890, Mr. Creger was married by the Rev. W. W. Williams, of St. Charles, to Miss Ida Penelope Worthing, a daughter of John and Julia (Bargar) Worthing. Her father, who was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, on the 16th of October, 1845, was a son of Richard and Sarah (Ingram) Worthing, and came of Welsh descent. His wife was born in Harrison county, Ohio, on the 14th of November, 1846, and her parents, Abraham and Mary (Welch) Bargar, were of German and Irish stock, respectively. The marriage of John Worthing and Julia Bargar was solemnized on the 22d of January, 1867, in Guernsey county, Ohio, by Rev. J. G. Whittaker. In 1881 they came west and located in Ohio township, this county, where the father engaged in farming two miles northeast of Truro. Subsequently a removal was made to Monroe township, where he farmed for six years, after which he located in Winterset and turned his attention to the hotel business, conducting for twelve years the Worthing House, which is now known as the Arlington Hotel. At the end of that time he and his wife removed to Des Moines, where he was employed in Davidson's wholesale house.

In 1914 they took up their abode in Truro, where they are now living. Mr. Worthing is a veteran of the Civil war, having served at the front in Company A, One Hundred and Seventy-second Ohio Volunteer. Infantry. To him and his wife have been born nine children, all of whom survive: Ida Penelope, who was born on the 14th of December, 1867, and is now the wife of our subject; Mary Belle, born October 17, 1870; Sarah A., whose birth occurred on the 26th of October, 1872; Alta E., whose natal day was the 30th of October, 1874; Jennie M., born February 27, 1877; Abraham Bargar, born March 10, 1879; Richard Seth, whose birth occurred on the 23rd of August, 1881; John Welch, born October 10, 1884; and Blanch Agnes, born January 15, 1889.

Mr. and Mrs. Creger have had two children: Samuel Merrill, who was born on the 13th of August, 1895, and who, after attending the schools of Truro, completed the two years' agricultural course at the State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, graduating with the class of 1914, is now bookkeeper in the Truro Savings Bank; and John Theodore, born December 13, 1904, died April 28, 1912.

Mr. Creger is a Republican and is now serving as township trustee, proving an able and conscientious official. Both he and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal church of Truro and both take an active part in its work. He is in the tenth year of his service as trustee and his wife is a leading member of the Ladies Aid Society. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias lodge at Truro and his wife belongs to the Woman's Relief Corps, the Order of Eastern Star and the Pythian Sisters. Their lives are well rounded and well balanced, as they have never allowed material interests to monopolize their time and energy but have realized that the development of the community along moral, civic and social lines is a matter that should be of great concern to every citizen and have cooperated gladly with many movements that have sought the general welfare.

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