James Theodore Creger

ARNOLD, CREGER, KALE, LIKENS, MOFFITT, PORTER, QUEEN, REED, ROBINSON, SWEARINGEN

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 10/14/2005 at 21:15:36

James Theodore Creger, a prominent citizen of Ohio township, who is engaged in farming and stock-raising on an extensive scale, was born upon the family homestead in that township on the 11th of August, 1858. His father, Samuel M. Creger, was born on the 18th of April, 1831, in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, of the marriage of John and Mahala (Moffitt) Creger. John Creger was born in Pennsylvania in July, 1801, of Pennsylvania Dutch stock and was a farmer by occupation. His wife, a native of Maine and of Yankee parentage, was born on the 18th of April, 1811, and their marriage was solemnized in October, 1827. The year 1853 witnessed their emigration to the west and they located in Ohio township, this county, one mile north of Truro. The father entered land and gave the remainder of his life to its cultivation. He passed away on the 31st of January, 1870, and his wife was called to her reward on the 29th of March, 1859.

Samuel M. Creger, the father of our subject, was a young man at the time of the removal of the family to this county, and he entered from the government the land on section 10, Ohio township, where his son William O. now resides. He continued to cultivate his property until 1894, when he and his wife retired from active life and removed to Truro, where they were living when called to the great beyond. His demise occurred on the 1st of March, 1903, and that of his wife on the 3d of January, 1911. On the 17th of August, 1862, he enlisted at St. Charles, Iowa, in Company F, Thirty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and within three months of that time was promoted to the rank of corporal. On the 1st of May, 1863, he was further advanced, being made sergeant. On the 13th of July, 1863, he was detailed to the signal corps and remained at the front until June 24, 1865, when he was mustered out at Louisville and honorably discharged. On the 2d of April, 1857, he was married to Miss Rebecca Reed, who was born in Carroll county, Ohio, on the i5th of September, 1840, of the union of William and Susanna (Porter) Reed. Her father was a native of Ireland, born in 1795, and her mother's birth occurred on the 19th of May 1818 in Pennsylvania, although she was of Irish descent. They were married in Ohio on the 22d of October, 1839, and remained in that state until 1854, when they removed to Poweshiek county, Iowa. One year later they took up their residence on Hoosier Prairie in Scott township, this county, where the father purchased land, which he farmed until called to the home beyond on the 31st of December 1855. His widow married Reuben A. Kale in February, 1858, and they took up their residence upon a farm northwest of Winterset. Some time later they removed to Old Peru, and there Mr. Kale died in 1879. His widow was again married, becoming the wife of John D. White, and they resided upon his farm north of Truro, until he retired and took up his residence in that town, where both passed away, he on the 9th of March, 1898, and she on the 15th of February 1902. To Samuel M. and Rebecca J. Creger were born four children, of whom James Theodore is the eldest. Amanda E., born on the 12th of January, 1861 gave her hand in marriage to T. H. Queen on the 20th of November, 1878 and passed away at Truro on the l0th of February, 1894. She was the mother of five children: Ora, Vernon, Glendon, Denzil, and Roxie, who died March 28, 1896. W. O., a well known and substantial farmer of Ohio township, is represented elsewhere in this work. Bradie J., who was born on the 28th of May, 1882, is also represented elsewhere in this work.

Samuel M. Creger was a republican and held the offices of assessor and township clerk in Ohio township, served as county supervisor and was a member of the town council of Truro. His wife belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church of that town and he could always be depended upon to further the moral progress of his community. Fraternally he was connected with the Masonic blue lodge and the Grand Army of the Republic. He was one of the leading men of his locality and was honored by all who knew him. James T. Creger attended the district schools of Ohio township and remained upon the home farm until he attained his majority. He then rented land from his father and began farming on his own account. After his marriage, however, he removed to Phillips county, Kansas, where he bought a quarter section of land, to the cultivation of which he devoted two years. He then returned to Ohio township, this county, and for three years rented a part of the homestead from his father. In August, 1884, he bought eighty acres of land on section 23, Ohio township, which is still his home. As prosperity has come to him he has purchased additional land and has accumulated three hundred and five acres, which constitutes as fine a farm as can be found in Ohio township. The buildings are all well designed and well constructed and his residence is commodious and modern. He is one of the most successful and most progressive farmers of his township and buys, feeds and sells many head of stock annually.

On the 16th of October, 1879, Mr. Creger married Miss Mary A. Swearingen, a daughter of Thomas B. and Sarah J. (Arnold) Swearingen. Her father, who was born in Virginia in 1831, of German ancestry, first located near Eddyville, Iowa, upon removing westward, but subsequently bought land in Ohio township, Madison county, and resided there until 1880. He then went to the Pacific coast and passed away on the 12th of January, 1906, in the state of Washington. His wife, who was born in Ohio in 1837, and was of Yankee and German descent, is still living in Bellingham Bay, that state. For three years he fought in defense of the Union as a member of a regiment of Iowa volunteer infantry. Mr. and Mrs. Creger have become the parents of three children: Euphemia Jane, who was born on the 23d of September, 1882, gave her hand in marriage to J. W. Robinson, a farmer of Ohio township, and they have had three children, but only one, a daughter, Mary Edith, is living. Mona Ellen, born on the 15th of November, 1890, married Charles Kale, of Truro, who is a clerk in the store owned by J. W. Likens, and they have a son, Charles Carman. Honora Amanda, who was born on the 3d of February, 1898, is a student in the St. Charles high school in the class of 1916.

Mr. Creger is a republican and was for ten years trustee of Ohio township and for five years was road supervisor. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church of Truro, of which he has been a steward for many years, and his wife is a prominent member of the Ladies Aid Society. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias of Truro, and his wife was a member of the Woman's Relief Corps of that town as long as the organization was kept up there. In addition to his extensive interests as a farmer and stockman, he is a stockholder and director of the Truro Savings Bank, of which he was one of the organizers. In all that he does he is enterprising, alert and progressive, and the success that has crowned his efforts is richly deserved.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915,” by Herman Mueller.