Samuel Merrill Creger (1903)

BROWN, CREGER, QUEEN, REED

Posted By: Cay Merryman
Date: 7/25/2004 at 18:52:11

Newspaper Unknown
March 1903

Samuel M. Creger was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, 18 April 1831 and died at Truro 1 March 1903. He came to Powsheik county, Iowa for one year and in the spring of 1854 to Ohio township.

On 2 April 1857 he married Rebecca J. Reed. To this union were born four children, two sons and two daughters, three of whom survive along with the wife and mother. Also, brothers, Theodore and Oscar and his sister, Mrs. H. D. Brown. Mrs. T. H. Queen preceded him in death. He was a Civil war veteran, 39th infantry.
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Winterset Reporter
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, March 5, 1903
Page 15

Died, Sunday afternoon March 1st, S. M. Creger, of Truro, at the home of his son, T. J. Creger, whom he was visiting, having left home the day previous in his usual health. While reading after dinner Sunday he complained of being very warm and in a moment he was dead. His wife and three grown children survive him.

The funeral was held Tuesday from the M.E. church at Truro, conducted by Rev. Boyd, under the auspices of the Masonic fraternity and G.A.R. post. Interment took place at the cemetery east of the village.

Mr. Creger was one of the pioneers of Madison county having settled in Ohio township in 1853 and lived there ever since. He served three years in the civil war, most of the time in the signal service. He was a member of the board of supervisors of this county when the present courthouse was built.
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Unknown Source
March 1903

Obituary.

Samuel M. Creger was born in Tawcarawas county, Ohio, April 18th, 1831. Died in Truro, Madison county, Iowa, March 1, 1903 aged seventy one years, ten months and thirteen days.

Briefly we are to survey this life history of nearly seventy two year. Passing over the earlier years of his life, we come to the time when he left his native state and turned his face toward the west, this was in the year of 1853 when he was twenty two years of age. He came to Powsheik county, Iowa where he remained one year. In the spring of 1854 he came to Ohio township where for forty nine years he made his home.

April 2, 1857 he was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca J. Reed, to them were born four children, two sons and two daughters, three of whom with the wife and mother survive. They are Theodore and Oscar Creger and Mrs. H. D. Brown, T. H. queen preceded her beloved father to the spirit world about nine years ago.

In 1858 when Bro. Creger was in the strength of his young manhood, he gave his heart to God and united with the Methodist Episcopal church, this was the crowning act of his life and I have no doubt but the good record of life’s work well done, which he has left as a blessed heritage to the family and friends, is the fruitage of that act whereby he chose life and God. In the light of after years we can see how fortunate it was that he made that decision at that time.

In a few short years the war cloud that had been gathering fell as a mighty pall upon the nation. Sumter was fired upon just three years after his conversion, in August 1862, he answered to his country’s call and went forth to fight the battles of the Union. How much that meant his comrades and his companions well know. It meant leaving behind and perhaps forever all that life holds dearest, it meant going forth to such hardships as is almost inconceivable to one who has not been called upon to pass through it, and for many a brave boy it meant going to death. Brother Creger enlisted as a private, in the Thirty Ninth Iowa Infantry. Within three months after enlistment was commissioned a Corporal and in a short time thereafter was transferred to the signal service, here he remained until the close of the war, receiving an honorable discharge in June 1865. I do not know the complete record of his service, but he took part in one of the greatest movements of the war or any war as for that matter he marched with Sherman “From Atlanta to the Sea”.

In civil and business life he was honored and respected by all. He served for two years 1876 and 1877 as a member of the board of supervisors of Madison county, he was member of the G. A. R. and also a member of the Masonic order and was held in high esteem by that fraternity. But in regard to his relation to the church of Jesus Christ I can speak most clearly for it was in the councils of the church, and in the place of worship that I met him most requently, I had not been long on the charge till I decerned that his brethern placed great confidence in him being associated with him for a year and a half as his pastor explained it. He was loyal to his church because he was loyal to his God. A spirit of brotherly kindness characterized his actions. His advice was always good and was a friend of humanity. He believed that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. Hence he was willing to give of his means for the furtherance of the cause that was his salvation and life. For thirty years he was steward and trustee at the time of his death.

But I need not say more for nearly fifty years his home has been in this community. Besides a life that has been so consistant and faithful words seem as empty things, you know that life, know it far better that I. “He being dead yet speaketh”. You will forget the words written here but you will remember him as one that was true. His place will be vacant and he shall be missed, but we confidently believe that our loss is his eternal gain and that for him to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
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The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, March 5, 1903
Page 1, Column 2

Old Citizen of Ohio Township Dies.

S. M. Creger died Sunday afternoon, March 1st, at the home of his son. J. T. Creger.

He went over to his son’s home Friday morning to visit him. After arriving there he complained of a pain in his face and breast. On Saturday he was better and on Sunday at dinner he was at the table with the family. After eating he read a little from the paper to the family; then lay down on the lounge. He got up and went to the stove and was asked by his wife if he was cold. He replied that he was, and lay down again, but soon got up again, complained of a pain in his side, started to walk across the room and fell, was caught by his son and wife and he expired in a few minutes.

S. M. Creger came to Iowa in 1853 and had lived in Madison county ever since, but the first winter he lived in Montezuma, Poweshiek county. He was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, April 18, 1831. He was married to Rebecca J. Reed, of Madison county, April 2, 1857. He leaves a wife, three children, four sisters and one brother.

He was a member of the Methodist church since the year 1858—forty-four years.

He was a soldier in the war of 1861-5, 39th regiment, was a member of the United States signal corps and was with Sherman’s army on “The March to the Sea.” He served three years, lacking two months.

He was a member of the board of supervisors of Madison county in the years 1876-7. He had no enemies, but many friends, and was highly respected wherever he was known. He was noted for his sterling honesty and integrity.

The funeral was held from the Methodist church Tuesday, March 3d.
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The Winterset News
Winterset, Iowa
Friday, March 6, 1903
Page 4, Column 3

TRURO

Died, March 1, Sammy Creger, at the home of his son, Theodore. He had been complaining for some time, but felt well enough to visit his son Friday. He ate dinner Sunday and complained of his throat, and dropped dead.

The funeral was preached by Rev. Boyd at the M. E. church, Tuesday. He was laid to rest in the Young cemetery.

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