THE GENEOLOGY OF THE CREEL AND RELATED FAMILIES with explanatory notes bearing on the same.

Transcription

1 THE GENEOLOGY OF THE CREEL AND RELATED FAMILIES wi explanatory notes bearing on e same. This is preliminary to a sketch of my life, long contemplated for e information of my children, grandchildren and oer relatives directly concerned. The genealogical and explanatory notes were written by e Hon. Sydney C. Shaw, of Parkersburg, West Virginia, a careful writer, and one much interested in e pioneers of Wood County, West Virginia. These notes were kindly copied by Mrs. Henry A. Creel of Davisville, Wood County, West Virginia, who resides on e original tract of land developed by e Creels from e wilderness and adjacent to Bacon Hall plantation. (Furermore, ese notes have been re-transcribed in electronic format, in 2008, by Charles Christopher Brandt, II; who resides in Indianapolis, Indiana. Son of Calista Elizabe Creel (Brandt) who was e granddaughter of Thomas Jefferson Creel. The original hardcopy documents were kindly provided by Jane Creel who is e grand-daughter of Lorenzo Dow Creel.) This geneology begins wi David Creel, Prince William County, Virginia. I am now tracing his ancestry which will be added as a note to e present work. In 1910, I met Enrique C. Creel, ambassador to e United States from Mexico in Washington, D.C. In discussing our family relations, he informed me at he had traced e family back to e little fishing village of Creel, Scotland. Chapter I. George Creel, Sr. From e best information in our reach, Mr. George Creel, Sr., who immigrated wi his family to is county from Prince William County, Virginia in 1801, was a son of David Creel, born in Prince William County, Virginia It is reported of him at he inherited no patrimony from his faer s estate; like oers in ose years he was raised to rely upon him own energies and force of character, to improve all available means for acquiring an education under e limited opportunities of ose Colonial years. Promptness in e discharge of duty, firmness and reliability of purpose, and integrity of moral character was e foundation of his young manhood, and e streng and glory of his after years. When twenty-five years of age in 1770, he was happily married to Miss Mary Aey of Charles County in e province of Maryland. Of her parents we have no definite information. She was one of four sisters, who after eir marriage settled in is county, viz: Mrs. Eleanor Dawkins, wife of J. M. Dawkins, Sr. who raised a large family and have numerous descendants in e county; Mrs. Margaret Leach, wife of e late Bartlett Leach, who left no children: Mrs. Leach, wife of Thomas Leach, who left a family in is county. We have given e names of ese ree families who settled in e valley of e little Kanawha River from e county of Prince William about e same time at George Creel, Sr., settled on his farm. Lord Carter and oer English nobility, after e colony of Virginia was established, obtained from King George III grants for large tracts of land in e valley of e Potamac River. These tracts of land were leased out on long terms to young married people who would settle on em and make certain improvements. A lease of is character was taken by 1

2 P of P of P of George Creel, Sr.; by his energy, enterprise and business capacity Mr. Creel won e confidence of his landlord and he was made a steward in e management of some of ese estates. This position which he ably filled enabled him to accumulate a handsome property. He invested his money in land in is county and slaves which he brought wi him. He gave e name of Bacon Hall: to his homestead residence in honor of e superior bacon cured by him and always found in abundance on his table for all who might visit e Hall. After his settlement upon e tract of land he soon had a large plantation opened and in a good state of cultivation and a suitable dwelling house for his family. Here he and his wife resided, respected by all until eir dea in In closing is account of Mr. George Creel e elder, we can say from what we have heard of him, at his whole life was characterized by unswerving integrity and uprightness of character. He was endowed wi unusual prepossessing personal appearance, upwards of six feet in height, well formed and quick, possessing great activity and streng, wi a fine open and robust countenance, a full clear black eye, a well shaped head crowned wi a suit of soft, fine silky hair, whitened by age. In his old age he delighted in our door exercise upon horseback. He set upon his horse gracefully and his riding horse appeared proud of his burden, as he galloped over e road in e early morning. We will now give e names and bir of eir ten children, all of whom were born in Prince William County. First, Eleanor, born e 20P May, Died when sixteen years of age. Second, Mrs. Mary Kincheloe, wife of Major Robert Kincheloe, born e 7P September, Third, John, born e 14P August, 1776, died at e age of eighteen years. st Four, George, named in honor of himself, born December 21P P, (This was Henry s grandfaer, who built e mill and was drowned by going over e dam). Fif, Thomas, born May 20P P, 1780 (my grandfaer). Six, Mrs. Sarah Ann Saunders, (wife of Nimrod Saunders) born October 16P P, Seven, David, born June 20P P, Eigh, Alexander H. Born October 8P P, Nin, James, born February 18P P, Ten, Mrs. Frances E. Riggs, wife of Dr. James Riggs, born As most of em became heads of families in Wood County, we give a brief account of em and eir descendants. In making up a record of ese children of George Creel, Sr., and eir descendants we are compelled to be very brief for e want of more extensive information. About e year 1793, Miss Mary Creel was married to Major Robert Kincheloe of Prince William County, his broer, e late Daniel Kincheloe Sr., having purchased a large tract of land on e nor side of e Kanawha River, about five miles from its mou, in 1797, wi his young wife and two children, Robert Kincheloe settles upon it. At at time it was an unbroken wilderness. Here he opened up his home, where he resided until his dea in To em, nine children were born. First, Eleanor, who on July 24P P, 1811, was married to John Phelps, eldest son of Col. Hugh Phelps. To em six children were born, who married and had families. The oldest of ese, Mr. Robert K. Phelps, raised a large family and had numerous grandchildren. Mr. John Phelps died before his wife. She died in 1875, at an advanced age. The second child was Elias Kincheloe, who on June 6P P, 1815, was married to Miss Joyce Vandiver. To em were born twelve children. In 1831, he, wi his family, moved to e norern part of Missouri. The ird child was Elizabe, who on May 20P P, 1815, was married to Lewis Noale of Washington Bottom. To em, twelve children were born. In 1856, he moved wi his family to Lafayette County, Missouri. Here he settled his children on farms and left em in good circumstances. He died in His widow lived to pass her four score years. The four child was John Kincheloe, born October 24P P, On February 9P P, 1826, he 2

3 P of P year was married to Miss Lucy Edelen, ird daughter of Robert Edelon of Washington Bottom. To em, six children were born. In 1881, he settled at Belleville, where his wife died in His second wife was Mrs. Sarah Stephenson, Dr. William Stephenson s widow. To em, ree sons were born. In 1868, he moved to Texas. In 1874, he buried his second wife. His oldest child is e wife of John W. Mitchell. The fif child, who in e winter of 1824 was married to Henderson H. Phelps, e youngest son of Col. Hugh Phelps. Nine children were born to em. Mr. Phelps died in Claysville in e winter of His widow died in The six child was Frances who died in 1824 in girlhood. The seven child was George W. Kincheloe, born in His first wife was Lucy F. Mayberry, daughter of e Hon. J.P. Mayberry. She died e following year (1834). The 15P June, 1837 he was married a second time to Miss Hannah Pennybaker, a granddaughter of Hohn Neal, one of e first settlers in is county. He died in 1840 leaving a widow and two daughters. His oldest daughter was e wife of James M. Jackson, circuit judge of is judicial district. His second daughter was e wife of P. L. Gambrill. At e time of his dea, Mr. Kincheloe had accumulated a fine property. The eigh was Mrs. Almira, who, November 6P P, 1829 was married to Dr. Thomas M. Drake, at at time a professor in Aens College, Ohio. To em ten children were born. Dr. Drake was a man of fine culture, of great scholastic attainments. He came to his dea at Zanesville, Ohio. The nin child was Alcinda Creel, wife of Bushrod W. Creel. Of em a more complete account will be given in anoer chapter. During e years Major Kincheloe resided in is county, he was an active, influential citizen, honored and respected for his uprightness and integrity of character and social and moral wor. His wife was a consistent and zealous member of e Meodist Episcopal Church, whose daily piety and Christian example commanded her to e fellowship of e fine and good among ose who sought for a higher and holier life. Her house was a home and resting place for e itinerant minister and from ence he went for wi renewed zeal in e discharge of his duty. She lived many years after e dea of her husband and died at e residence of her daughter Alcinda s husband, Bushrod W. Creel, in e 87P of her age. Chapter II. George Creel, Jr. Among e descendants of e early pioneers, ere are few, if any, more numerous an e descendants of George Creel, Sr. Towards e close of e century, having purchased a large tract of land on e Little Kanawha River, in e spring of 1797, he fitted out his oldest son, en living, named in honor of himself, wi a few slaves and sent him to is purchase. His object was to open up and make improvements fro e future home of himself and his large family of children. This great undertaking was successfully accomplished by his son, George Creel, Jr., upon e land at a place afterwards known as Bacon Hall. In 1798 he returned to Prince William County and was married to Miss Clara Buckner, a daughter of Anony Buckner, who wi him and his family returned to Wood County and settled in is wilderness country. After his return, Mr. Creel continued e improvements he had commenced. Thus, George Jr. was a settler here before his faer and oer members of e Creel family. George Jr. was at is time in his young manhood, having acquired a good English, classical and maematical education under e instruction of Professor Knox of Frederick City, Maryland. He possessed an enterprising mind and great force of 3

4 P year P year character, practical in all its operations. After e foundation of Wood County by e division of Harrison County in 1799 and e organization of Wood County Court, March 10P P, 1800, under e laws of e state he was elected e first Commissioner of e Revenue of e County and was re-elected to at office from year to year till his dea, which occurred in e spring of In addition to is responsible position he was appointed deputy surveyor of e county, under Robert Triplett, e first surveyor. He also filled several oer minor offices in e county in e early years of its organization, ereby becoming one of its leading citizens. We have already stated at he was a man of great enterprise. For e purpose of meeting and supplying a great and growing want felt by e first settlers of e county, in 1824 he built e first mill on e Little Kanawha by damming its waters at e place known as Claysville, seven miles from e river s mou. At at time, is was a great undertaking and its completion, a great public good, which added much to e welfare of e county. It gave impetus to e settlement en, and afterward made in e valley and surrounding country. In e spring of 1807, during a rise in e Kanawha River, in assisting Mr. Joel Wolfe wi a flat boat over e dam, he became disabled and was drowned. Several weeks after, his body was recovered from e Ohio River near Buffington s Island and interred in e family burial ground at e homestead place. His sudden dea was a severe shock and deeply felt by e entire community as a great public loss. His integrity, honesty and manly bearing added to his social and domestic virtues. And had secured for his e friendship and esteem of his fellow citizens. His dea left a wide vacancy in e county. He left a widow and ree children, wi many relatives and friends to mourn his loss. His oldest child was Col. John Buckner Creel, born in As he grew up to manhood, he disclosed a character of great merit and wielded an influence for good among his fellow citizens. On January 20P P, 1825, he was married to Ann W. Kincheloe, daughter of Daniel Kincheloe, Sr. This wife died at e bir of eir first child, a son named George who died soon after reaching manhood, April 5P P, John B. Creel was married a second time to Miss Pamela Saunders, oldest daughter of Abner Saunders. By her, one daughter and ree sons were born to him, who were married and settled in is and adjoining counties. (These ree sons were Bat, Buchner and Charlie Creel. The daughter was named Laura and married a man named Rockheld). In 1837, John Creel died in e 38P of his age. His funeral obsequies were conducted by Rev. J. Newsome of e Ohio Conference before a large audience of friends and relatives whose grief was manifested on at occasion. The second child of Mr. George Creel, Jr. was his son, e late Bushrod Washington Creel. He was born in On e ird of May 1832, he was united in marriage wi Alcinda Kincheloe, daughter of Maj. Robert Kincheloe. (It was his wife, Mary Creel, to whom old Bill, e aged negro was given, and handed down by him to his daughter Alcinda, who was Henry s moer). To em six sons and six daughters were born. Two of em died in infancy. These children were settled in is and Kanawha County. After e dea of his first wife, which occurred in 1857, he was married a second time to Mrs. Rebecca Ball of Kanawha County. To em, two sons were born. After e dea of his second wife he made his home wi his son-in-law, who occupied e Creel homestead, where he died nd very suddenly in January, 1876, in e 72P of his age. During his life, he accumulated quite a large estate situated in e counties of Wood, Wirt, and Kanawha. The ird child of George Creel, Jr. was his daughter Mary Ann, who was born soon after e dea of her faer. She was married May 28P P, 1829 to Turner Boulware, who, when a you had settled in is county from Caroline County, Virginia. He served in e army of e Norwestern territory in e war of TO em four sons and four daughters were born. These children were settled in 4

5 P of P in P year P day different parts of e country and of em our information is very limited. In e fall of 1872, Mr. Boulware returned to his native county to visit relations and wi em celebrated his eightie birday. He arrived ere in his usual heal, but on e second day of October 1872 he died, two days before completing his eightie birday. This closes our account of e descendants of George Creel, Jr. as far as we are able to give em. Chapter III. Thomas Creel In following, e history of e children and descendants of George Creel, Sr., we come to his fif child, e late Thomas Creel of is county, his family and eir descendants. In his family Bible, he wrote his name Thomas Aey Creel, but during his lifetime in his business transactions, he signed his name Thomas Creel and by at name he was known as before stated. He was born in Prince William County, Virginia, on e 20P of May, 1780, and came to is county in During his you, he received a common school education, and wi William Michael, learned e saddle and harness trade, but in is county he followed e agricultural business as a vocation. On e 14P P of October 1804, he was united in marriage wi Miss Priscilla Phelps, who was born in Pennsylvania on July 17P P, 1789, To em, irteen children were born. Mrs. Creel died at eir residence, Bacon Hall, on November 28P e 67P of her age. He died May 10P P, 1872, lacking ten days of being ninety-two years of age. He will long be remembered as a wory citizen of is county, who, by industry, filled up e measure of his years. The following in an imperfect account of eir descendants. Their first child was Lavina E. Creel, born September 4P P, On September 11P P, 1834, she was married to James Robinson, Jr., who wi his faer s family emigrated to is county in A large family of children were born to em, but of eir history, we have no definite knowledge. The second child was George A. Creel, born January 18P P, He completed his education at Aens College, Ohio. On e 27P January, 1831, he was married to Miss Prudence Cook, a sister of T.J. Cook of is county. Five children were born to em. His wife died in After her dea, he was married to Mrs. Sara Banford Smi. To em were born five children. The ird child was Miss Drussilla Creel, born e 26P P of December, On e first day of May, 1834, she was married to Jesse G. Pixley, who settled in is county in Three children were born to em. young. The four child was Mara W. Creel, born October 20P P, 1814, and died while The fif child was Thomas H. Creel, born February 29P P, On February 3P 1848 he was married to Miss Mary Phelps, second daughter of John Phelps. A large family of children were born to em, some of whom are still residing in is county. rd P, 5

6 P 1785, P of young. The six child was Hannah P. Creel, born February 18P P, (1818) and died while nd The seven child was Priscilla Creel, born December 25P P, The 2P March 1841, she was married to Hugh P. Foley, a son of e late Mason Foley. He died in you. The eight child was David Monroe Creel, born Dec. 3P rd P, 1821 and died while a The nin child was Hugh P. Creel, born May 8P P, He married April 23P P, 1849 to Delila Foley, a daughter of e late Mason Foley. He died about 1884 leaving two sons who have since died. His widow later married William O. Fought of Claysville. rd The ten child was John N. Creel of is county, born February 23P P, He was married September 19P P, 1850 to Miss Calista D. Parmenter of is county. To em were born six children at present living in is county. The eleven child was Jefferson Phelps Creel, born May 30P P, He died at his faer s residence in nd The twelf child was Mary Aey Creel, born November 22P P, She was married to Barnet A. Foley on August 11P P, The em five children were born. They resided on e farm of his faer, e late Mason Foley, near Parkersburg. In e fall of 1871, after a lingering illness from consumption, she passed from ear away leaving her five young children moerless. In February 1877, he followed her to at bourne from whence ere is no return, leaving his children to e care of relatives. The irteen child was Miss Sarah E. T. Creel, born December 17P P, Se was married in 1853 to George Phelps, a son of e late John Phelps. To em, ree children were born. Thus briefly and imperfectly we have made up a sketch of e family of Thomas Creel of is county, who for upwards of seventy years was a prominent citizen, known to all of its inhabitants. Chapter IV. Sarah Ann Creel (Saunders) But he and many of his kindred have passed away and soon will be forgotten by e living of ear; us it is today we are here in e active pursuits of life, tomorrow we are gone, no more to return. In ese hastily prepared sketches of e children and eir descendents of George Creel, Sr., we have e pleasure of introducing to e reader Mrs. Sarah Ann Creel Saunders, wife of Nimrod Saunders, who was e six child. She was born in Prince William County, Virginia, on October 16P and was married to Mr. Saunders on December 7P P, Wi him in company wi her parents and e oer members of eir family, ey emigrated to and settled in is county in To em were born seven children who lived to attain eir majority. Se died at e age of eighty nine years, six mons and ree days. She united wi e Meodist Episcopal Church under e ministry of Rev. Able Robinson of Kentucky in In e division of e church in 1845, she adhered to e M.E. Sou and in its rd 6

7 P of communion she remained a wory and exemplary member until her dea. She retained in a remarkable degree, e meridian of her years and e active exercise of all her faculties of bo body and mind, regularly filling her place in e sanctuary of God, rejoicing in e praises of Zion. Long, by e congregation will her smiling, happy, cheerful countenance be remembered as she exchanged her cordial greetings and social salutations wi her numerous friends. She died at e residence of her daughter in Parkersburg on April 19P P, Her husband, Nimrod Saunders, was a native of Caroline County, Virginia. He nd was born in 1773 and died at Parkersburg on April 22P P, He was a Captain of a company and served in e war of He was honored and respected as a citizen of is county in all e walks of life. He was a broer of e late Abner Saunders, who settled in is (Wood County) in We are able to give but a brief account of e seven children and eir descendants of Mrs. Sarah Ann Saunders. The first was George Washington Saunders, born in 1802 and was married to Ellen Barrett, September 29P P, Three children were born to em. He died about e year 1850 and not many years alter his widow followed him to e grave. The second child, Cyrus Alexander Saunders was born in He married Caroline M. Vandiver and removed to norern Missouri in Eight children were ere born to em. He died in The ird child was e late Alfred Leroy Saunders; born 1806, and died in The four child was Mrs. Drusilla W. Kirby, born May, She married James Kirby in 1836 and removed to Kentucky. rd The fif child was Mrs. Ann Clementine Neale, born April 23P P, She married Alfred Neale, son of Thomas Neale of is county in October, 1834 and lived on James Island for many years. He died e 30P June, The six child was Mrs. May Jane Ryan, born July 2, She was married to James Ryan on January 29P P, The em six children were born. The seven and youngest child is our wory citizen, Thomas Elliott Saunders, born November He was married to Miss Mary Smi, e second daughter of e late rd Robert S. Smi, Sr. on October 23P P, To em, six children have been born. For many years he has been engaged in merchandizing in is city (Parkersburg). 7

8 Chapter V Autobiographical Sketch of Lorenzo Dow Creel wi extracts from personal letters, from Mrs. Henry A. Creel. I have copied e history just as written. Some of it sounds so quaint, don t you ink so? You will see it was your great uncle George Sr. (Jr.) who was in politics. I can tell you about James Creel ough I have not e printed history. He was married and lived where e old toll gate was in early times. He died from a prevailing epidemic during e year of 1837, better known as e sickly year. You will note Col. John B. Creel died e same year. My daughter Edi had an old newspaper clipping in which his (James) wife asks permission of e court to sell his estate so at she can remove her two children to e state of Missouri, which she did. None of e family seemed to keep in touch wi her. George Creel of public censorship fame or infamy (depends on your politics) was a son of Henry Clay Creel and grandson of Uncle Sandy or Alexander Creel, your grandfaer s broer. Henry Clay married his second wife in Kansas City, Missouri and ey raised ree sons, George, Harry, who is e doctor in Washington, and Willy who owns a large shoe store in St. Louis. Henry Clay was back here on a visit about 15 years ago. He hunted up Sister Pearle (whom perhaps you will recall as Lady May, a little curly head of four or five years old when you left here). Pearle took him to see Aunt Bettie and Edi. He said Edi was an old time Creel, Tall, slender wi dark hair and eyes. His wife had visited Pearle a number of times, and Pearle visited em in eir home in Kansas City before Henry Clay s dea. She had visited George and e doctor in eir homes. There was an article in e Cosmopolitan, July 1924, written by George on being e husband of Blanch Bates. You know he married quite a prominent actress. I had quite a number of clippings concerning Enrique Creel. He was in Los Angeles when I lived in California. He delivered a speech on irrigation. The Los Angeles Board of Commerce made quite a time over him. I saw in a paper recently where a large part of e Terrazzas estate had been restored to em. Hope it is true. I will finish e next chapter which deals wi your grandfaer Thomas soon. This winds up all e printed history I have. You will note it stops wi George Creel s six child. You will note at David, Sandy, James and Frances were left off. I told you of James, David and Sandy. You, no doubt remember seeing em. I do. They called on Faer Creel when I was a very small child. David was a doctor. Sandy wanted to be a Caolic priest and gave up his wife and family, but as he had been married, could not be a priest. He converted Faer Creel s oldest daughter to Caolicism, as least she told me so after I was married. As I told you before, he was e founder of St. Mary s, West Virginia, and e faer of Henry Clay Creel. David had a daughter whom your sister Hattie visited. She was married to a Dr. Stafford (I ink was e name) and lived in Chillicoe. Hardin tells me he knows for a certainty at e family came over e trail to Pittsburg, en down e river. Old Bill e slave who died at Little Hocking, aged 121, has told me several times at he was old enough to ride behind his master and did so on e trip over. The last ten years of his life he came to see us once a year. George Sr. gave him to his oldest daughter when she married Major Kincheloe, en at eir daughter s marriage to Henry s faer, he was given to em, us coming back to e Creels. My Edi has e chest which is grandmoer of Henry s brought over e mountains wi her. Aunt Bettie Bond gave it to her, and said she had heard her grandmoer tell often of having e 8

9 till filled wi silver dollars. In looking back over e papers you can see what a large party ey must have been. Now as to Aunt Nellie and Mary Phelps, ey were sisters to Henry s moer. They were daughters of is same Mary Creel (known to her descendants as Grandma Polly) and her husband, Major Kincheloe. They married broers, sons of Col. Hugh Phelps. Aunt Nellie (whose real name was Eleanor) was e moer of your Aunt Mary Tour (Harding s moer). Aunt Mary was e wife of Henderson Phelps. You see so many members of e fame families married two and ree members of e same family. Thus, ree of your grandfaer Thomas s children married Foleys, all of e same family, and so many of em had nicknames it takes a Philadelphia lawyer to get it straight. Now as to e Cooks, after George Creel, Jr. was drowned, his widow (Clara Buckner Creel) was married again to Jepa Kincheloe (son of Major, before he married Grandma Polly. By him, she raised one son and ree daughters, who of course were halfbroers and half-sisters to Bushrod (Henry s faer). Now one of ese girls, Julia, by name, married Paul Cook, son of Bennett Cook, and her sister Sophia married Paul s broer Jim Cook. It was eir daughter Bettie who was e wife of Judge McClure. His son is now city attorney, and a very brilliant speaker. Paul Cook had only one son, Henry, who was killed in e Civil War. He also had ree daughters, two of whom married Van Winkle broers. The oer married Henry Amiss and has been a widow many years. She is 89 years of age and as bright mentally and as spry physically as a woman of fifty. She could tell you a lot of interesting ings. After her marriage to Jepa Kincheloe, Grandma Clara s home was e farm which you will remember as e Lamb place joining Bacon Hall on e east. Their oer daughter married to Mayberry, eir son Robert accumulated quite a lot of property down about Huntington. Left a daughter (married) to inherit all of it. Three of eir daughters had nice homes and considerable money. Now I believe is clears up e Cook and Foley tangle. All of e family says I always took more interest in e family history an ey did. Any oer questions I can answer, I will be glad to. There are a lot of Creels in Nor Carolina, and Edi wrote to one in Alabama for a year or so. I had a letter from one in New Philadelphia, Ohio, when old Bill died. Her people had come from Maryland. She had a lot about em, ey spelled eir name Creal, but no doubt ey were related. When in Norfolk, Virginia, twenty years ago, I went out to see e famous old church wi e cannon ball imbedded in its walls, from Lord Dunsmore s bombardment in sixteen hundred and someing. In e old church yard, which covered a large space, was e grave of a Creel, a child, I ink of John Creel. I copied it, but lost e paper. I was back ere ten years ago, and went to see it again. I found at a new part had been built for Sunday School and Club rooms and many of e graves had been covered up. But a copy of e plot had been made and e names written down in a book. The name written in e place of my grave was Correll. The sexton said as so many of e stones were sandstone, a great many had worn off, until ey were very hard to read. But when I first saw it, it was very plain. I talked to Hardin by phone about e patent to Bacon Hall plantation. I had em down here several years ago, but did not copy em as e papers were made out to a man by e name of Wickliff. He had patented e land and en sold out to George Creel, Sr. I asked him 9

10 to let me send em to you, but he said he did not want to run e risk of losing e papers in e mail. But he promised to have a copy made, if you wanted it, so let me know. You guessed near my age. I was 61 last December. Henry will be 69 in March. We are bo pretty well, only I have a lot of rheumatism and can t walk far. Eric, our son, who did not marry until he was 36, lives at home here wi us. His wife is only 22. They have been married nearly two years and have a little son 7 mons old, named Henry Lee. Our youngest daughter (we have ree children) is named Eleanor Elizabe, so you see I have done my part to keep e old manes alive. We all wish you would come for a long visit. As is sketch is for e benefit of my children and grandchildren, I will confine my remarks more especially to our immediate family and state what may be gleaned from e above family history, at e original Creel family was remarkable for heal, longevity, and great tenacity of purpose. In order to conquer e forest and make a home wi such serious handicaps, ey must have been unusually energetic. Near is point, viz., what is now Parkersburg, W. Va., Marietta and Aens, Ohio, e civilizations of e Cavaliers and Puritans met. In 1798, General Rufus Putman of New England purchased a large tract of land near e mou of e Muskingum River and settled it wi New England colonists. Wi characteristic New England ideas of education, he and oers established Marietta College from e name of e settlement, Marietta. Aens College was established later on. As Marietta was only nineteen miles distant from Bacon Hall, our people should have gone ere for education, but did not do so. No college work was done until after Aens was founded, where e more enterprising of my uncles attended. The difference between e New England and Virginia colonists was very marked in eir meods of settlement. In New England everying was subordinate to e town, which included e villages and e country for several miles round about. On e contrary in Virginia, ere were few towns and e settlements were made by e pioneers on individual basis. Each plantation was run as an independent unit. Almost everying, one might say, was manufactured at home, wi e joint efforts of white and slave labor. Every plantation was, in fact, quite a village when all e various buildings were considered. The home house was e principal one; en all e industries had to have housing and e slaves also had to have comfortable homes or quarters. Great grandfaer had just such a plan in mind when he designed e plantation of Bacon Hall, and was able rough e efforts of his large family and slaves, to realize his ideal. A part of e old hall is still occupied by Thomas Hardin Creel, son of Thomas Creel, my uncle. He is 76 years of age, and am sorry to say, when he dies, e male line will be extinct. In fact, e name is now entirely extinct except rough e descendants of my faer, John Neal Creel. Dr. Thomas Jefferson Creel, who recently died, left one son, Donald, to keep alive e family name. Donald has one daughter, named for my moer, Calista. As he and his wife are bo young, it it hoped at male children will be born to keep alive e family name. It seems pitiful at such a virile family should die out after accomplishing so much. However, is has been e fate of many Virginia families. So many of e men were killed in e Civil War at it had a marked effect on e future of e families. 10

11 It was always considered noing less an a crime for Virginians to sell any land, except to a relative. It was a very serious matter to me when I was compelled to return to West Virginia and bring my faer, who was paralyzed, wi his second family, to Indiana, where ey could have my care and e medical services of my broer, Dr. Thomas J. Creel. About one hundred acres surrounding, Bacon Hall is held by Thomas Hardin Creel, but will descend to his daughters, which will extinguish e family name at at point. This will be kept alive rough e son of Henry A. Creel, who is e fif generation in e colonial home at Davisville, West Virginia. Thus is is practically e end of one of e very influential families of what is now Wood County, West Virginia, who helped to clear e forest and open up e western part of e state of West Virginia. It is to be regretted at quite a number of my aunts and uncles intermarried wi close relatives, first cousins, and is physiological error, coupled wi e scourge of tuberculosis, played a prominent part in extinguishing e family. My faer s family had planned at he should marry a lady who was somewhat related to e family, but fortunately, by accident he met my moer, which was a case of love at first sight. Alough reatened wi disinheritance and facing opposition from Grandfaer, ey were married after a short courtship. My moer was a woman of extraordinary character and remarkably fine personal appearance. She was born in Cattaraugus County, New York. She had e benefits of common school facilities at e Nor, and had taught school. This eminently fitted her for helping her children to acquire e rudiments of an English education. As soon as Grandfaer had an opportunity to make her acquaintance, she quickly won her way into his affections. When he later divided his landed estate, he deeded her and her heirs e same amount of land at his own children secured. This made e home for us for many years, and enabled us to weaer e storms of e Civil War and e afterma of reconstruction days. After living a short time at Bacon Hall, faer and moer set up housekeeping in a small log house on a part of e plantation where I was born. Later on, ey moved to e sou side of e Kanawha River into e house Grandfaer built when he was married and established a home for himself. All e land on e sou side of e Kanawha River had been divided equally between Grandfaer and Dr. David Creel, who also built a very fine home on his share, but later sold it and removed to Chilicoe, Ohio. We lived in e original house built by Grandfaer until I sold our share of e estate, about After living here a year or two, and becoming discouraged by reason of e financial depression under which e whole country suffered, my parents moved to Parkersburg, W. Va., and took a lease on a hotel. This would have been a remarkably good move, had faer been qualified to carry his share of e work as efficiently as moer did hers. The temptation of hotel life in ose days was too strong for faer s temperament. This resulted in failure, rough inefficient male help, who systematically robbed him when he should have been attending strictly to financial matters connected wi e hotel. 11

12 Moer rebelled and decided at wi Grandfaer s permission, ey would return to e old home, which ey did. This was in 1860, when e country was seeing wi e bitterness of e preliminaries to e Civil War. At is time, our family consisted of my parents, myself (Lorenzo Dow Creel), and sisters Hattie Virginia and Kate. I was over ree years older at sister Hattie, and moer relied upon me to help her in many ways. Up to is date, I had never done any work at all, but from now on, I began to play an important part in e functions of e family. At at time, ere was always plenty for a boy to do on a farm. And I can say at I did my share. For some time I had no school privileges, while in Parkersburg, I had attended two primary schools taught by young women. I do not recall at I learned anying, but suppose at I did, for I now remember at when e neighbors got togeer and fixed up a room in an abandoned log house for use as a school room, at I found I was able to read McGuffey s Four Reader. I also recall at I kept up my place in e spelling class, which used Webster s Spelling Book. For a wonder we had a very efficient young man in e neighborhood who took great interest in us. I am sure we made very substantial progress. This was previous to any free school being established. The Civil War had en broken out, and we were fortunate to have any one who was able to teach. Practically all e young men went into one army or e oer at e opening of hostilities. My aunts, who had intermarried wi e men of abolition sympaies, furnished quite a good many boys for e Yankee Army, while e majority of my relatives went into e Confederate service. Strange to say ere was never any animosity aside from heated arguments over e question. I recall very distinctly e return of my cousins after e surrender of Appomatox. A singular coincidence happened when ose who were in e Union Army were mustered out at Wheeling, W. Va. Bo parties met in e little town of Claysville on e same day. There was quite a contrast. The Union men were well cloed and had plenty of money, having just been paid off. The Souern boys were in rags. They were broken financially, having ridden eir horses from Appomatox over e mountains to Claysville, near e Ohio River. This contrast did not last very long, for e Union cousins took em into e stores and supplied em wi every want. In ose days ardent sprits flowed quite freely, and I recall visiting saloons wi faer, and notices a great deal of hilarity. All were glad at e struggle was over. I recall one family, at of Uncle Henderson Phelps, who had five boys and two girls; all five boys were in e Confederate Army. The oldest girl had married a doctor who was also in e Confederate Army. The youngest girl had seen quite active service as a spy, ough at at time only about eighteen years of age. All rough e Civil War, while we had plenty of vegetables, we lived entirely on corn bread in its various forms. Moer was an excellent cook, and now since I know so much and have heard so much about nutrition, I am sure at she fed us remarkably well balanced rations. I know we had plenty of green stuff, pork and its products; also milk. The only ing we had to sell was eggs, and ese were kept very religiously. 12

13 Every cotton rag was kept very carefully and it was a part of my business to walk to e little store at Claysville to sell em wi e eggs, to exchange for needles, read and little necessary ings for household use. We lived almost entirely wiin ourselves. On account of our having moved about so, we had disposed of e home made conveniences, such as spinning wheel, looms, etc., and also nearly all of e necessary farming implements used in at day. Therefore we had very few conveniences. It was only rough moer s ingenuity at we kept going. There is one ing at I remember very distinctly; at is my cloes were always patched wi square patches, while my schoolmates all had round patches on eir cloes. My cloing was very simple. One pair of shoes or boots had to last twelve mon. I had no undercloing; simply a hat, jacket, pants and shirt, socks and shoes or boots. The climate of West Virginia is very erratic and as I had no overcoat and had to be exposed quite a good deal to e elements, I often suffered intensely from e cold. Wi e advent of spring, just as soon as possible, for my shoes were practically worn out, I laid em aside and went barefooted till just as late in e fall as possible. This was in order at one pair of shoes would be able bridge e gap between seasons. This was all a matter of course, as my boy companions were not much better off. One of e tragedies of my life occurred as follows: One of moer s and faer s girl friend married a norern man. He was enlisted in e Union Army. She, wi two or ree children, lived wiin about a half a mile of our place. She came to moer to inquire if I would carry a sack of corn to e mill for her. My moer was glad to help her out and I made e trip. It was a long day s trip in e cold, but I ought noing of it. A few days later, she brought me a pair of wool mittens, e first and only ones I ever had for many years. They were e pride of my heart. I got em wet in e snow in doing my outdoor work. I laid em down on e hear in front of e fire to dry. When I put em on, e ends of bo mittens had been charred by e intense heat. I had an awful shock when ey all raveled out. This made a deep impression on my memory. I remember distinctly e slow recovery after e Civil War, alough I did not understand it. Faer was raer peculiar in disposition, but had many good qualities. There was no market to amount to anying for produce. He spent a great deal of time as a boatman and pilot on e river. I became quite and expert as an oarsman and also a horseman. I felt at I often had to work beyond y streng on e farm, but at present I cannot see at it was serious enough to shorten my life very materially. Wi all our hard times, I remember at my sisters and I had a great many happy days. We were not seriously annoyed by e Union troops, but ey were quite reckless in eir target practice. More an once we were seriously menaced by eir bullets. After e Civil War closed, e state of West Virginia was in running order. We had a fairly good system of free schools inaugurated. Most of our teachers came from Ohio, as we had very few trained young men and women. We made fairly good progress in elementary school work, but our terms of school were short and we had long vacations. Much of our school 13

14 work was spent going over and over e same ground. This went on until I was nineteen years of age. One day to my surprise, while in school, e teacher had a visitor in e person of James Cooper, an old resident in anoer neighborhood. Wiout my knowledge, my teacher, a nephew of his, had recommended me as one who could teach eir school, which had been broken up by unruly boys, and e teacher got discouraged and left. I remember how inefficient I felt, but I was encouraged by bo parties to make a trial. I was to receive $30.00 per mon, and my board wi e director was to be $8.00 per mon. I engaged to make e trial, and went to e county seat to pass my examinations. I did is wi much fear and trembling, and feel sure today at I was passed, as I had a private examination, more from pity an from any fine work at I did. I have my first certificate, which was Number 4, yet in my papers, in which e county superintendent had to certify at I was not a dangerous enemy to e United States. And at I might be trusted to teach e young. I suppose at I must have run an awful bluff on e school officials, but I determined to succeed, alough I have felt very sorry for e pupils since en. I had one young man of twenty-five years of age, and eight or ten, twenty, twentyone and down to my own age. I also had two or ree large girls, one of which I considered very good looking. I had sense enough to know at on account of e chaotic state of e school, peculiar tactics must be pursued. Therefore I immediately adopted e policy of playing wi e boys, and engaging in all eir sports. By is means I won eir confidence and esteem to such an extent at I taught is same school for five years. Later on some of e boys who had been started by me in eir ABC s, afterwards became quite noted, alough I take no credit for eir final success. I sometimes feel at my entire school teaching was very much of a bluff. I was only successful by my being able to put everying wi e children and by being a pretty good fellow around e neighborhood. However, I must say at in justice to myself, I was way ahead of e oer teachers in literary opportunities. I had been an earnest devotee of ose art and literary treasures know as Beadle s Dime Novels, which after many years have been finally given e recognition at ey so richly deserved. It is only recently at some noted person has made a collection of fifteen hundred of ese treasures in New York City. Also, I had access to Rollins Ancient History and some oer historical work, which I do not now recall. Whenever we had visitors at home, I was always sticking around listening to what e people were talking about. Alough our home was raer isolated, yet many of our family connections enumerated above used to visit us. I got a great deal of information by listening in. My faer, having only a grounding in e rudiments of a common school education, was a remarkable conversationalist, and had a good flow of language, some of which I recall to is day as being very uncomplimentary to myself when I failed to carry out some of his instructions. However, I have listened to his talk by e hour when entertaining strangers who often stopped wi us. As according to e custom of e country, no one was ever allowed to leave our house wiout food and lodging. 14

15 Had I been more industrious, I might have learned faster and made better progress in educational matters. But being of happy disposition and fond of society, especially where girls were concerned, I wasted a good deal of time. And yet, I am often inclined to ink it was not entirely wasted, as I acquired an easier manner at has undoubtedly helped me in later life. I was never able to have as good of cloes as most of e boys I associated wi, ose whose parents were better able to supply em. But is did not deter me from taking part in e ordinary visits and parties indulged in by us. We had very few buggies in ose days, and e wealy people only owned em. Each of e boys had a good saddle horse. When we wished to take a girl anywhere, we usually had a nice clean blanket and she rod behind us to and from e place where we visited. The temptation to sue e spur very cautiously was often indulged in. This of course enabled e young lady to take a firmer grip on whatever was nearest at hand. I went rough e usual paroxism of admiration for e girls at usually was indulged in, wiout any serious consequences eier to em or me. On e whole we had pretty good times. My sisters were now growing up and I gave em a great deal of attention, which I never regretted, as ey have been very loyal to me in later life. I had sense enough to know at marriage was out of e question wi me in my financial condition. I had no oer outlet but teaching. As soon as I was rough school, I returned to e farm and took up my duties, us being constantly employed. One day, moer and faer had been to e village store and eir attention was called to e fact at Marshall College in Huntington, W. Va., had been reopened and was bidding for pupils. I resolved at I would try to attend is college as soon as I finished my term of school. I started out early in April. Moer fixed up my cloes e best she could. I omitted to say at heretofore, I had devoted a great deal of my earnings to e family. The first money I earned in my schoolwork, I invested in a suit of cloes and an overcoat, which I had never owned until en. Also, I am glad to say at I discovered at two front tee had begun to decay slightly and I had sense enough to go to a very good dentist. This cost me two dollars for each filling and I am proud to say at I still have at original investment. In company wi anoer teacher, we fixed e date for our going to Marshall College. I was so excited and worked up over e matter wi e oughtlessness of you. When faer took my little trunk down to e boat to carry me to Claysville, moer came as far as e river. In my haste I neglected to giver her a goodbye kiss. Many times is has been a painful recollection for me. We had a pleasant trip on e steamer to Huntington, and we were well received by e principal. He was a returned Captain in e United States Army and a welleducated man. I went into e work wiout any special plan. Most of my time was spent in reviewing e common branches. 15

16 Calista D. Parmenter (Creel) - Moer Wiin two weeks after I had begun work, I received a telegram notifying me of e sudden dea of my moer. This caused me to return home at once. It was a terrible shock to me, and alough e family was very much wrecked, I ought it best to return and finish up e term, which I did. Here I received e first financial help I ever received in any of my educational work. George Peabody, an eastern philanropist, gave a great deal of his estate to educational work in e sou. I drew $18.00 of is fund after entering into a contract to teach at least four years in e state, which I did, and en some. John N. Creel - Faer I returned home and found ings in such a serious condition. My faer was not a business man and not domestic in habits. He was poorly qualified to hold e family togeer and care for my sisters, ough very loyal to em. I considered my first duty was to em and deliberately turned my back on my desire for education, and devoted myself to em. This was a very severe blow to me, for I had gotten a taste and Professor Morrow was very anxious at I should return. 16

17 I had also made some very pleasant acquaintances, even ough I had very little money to spend. Among ese was one Laura Jenkins, a niece of Confederate General Albert Jenkins. She was especially attractive. I will never forget e night of our breaking up at e close of school, which was one of e jolly occasions of my life. This was e end of a little budding romance. Less an a year afterwards, upon returning from a party, she expired in e arms of her moer from heart disease. From en on, it was noing but teach in e winters and work around in e summertime on e farm. I encouraged my sisters in eir schoolwork and home life. They were obliged to wash and iron on Saturday in order to keep in school. My oldest sister had developed quite a taste for music and had a remarkably good voice. She had advanced in education enough to be able to teach school. So we, in partnership, bought a cabinet organ. She took lessons during e summertime during vacation at home. I have e notes, cancelled in my papers at we gave for at instrument. It enabled her to get a start on a musical education. About is time, I began to feel at I should make some more money. I foolishly listened to e persuasions of a dealer in railroad cross ties. I bought a boat and fitted it out wi a small stock of goods and started to buy railroad ties located about fifty miles up e river. This was a very ill advised move. I failed rough losses of timber by water and oer unavoidable circumstances. I abandoned is work and brought my boat down e river to Lachtown. This was where my faer married. I was engaged to teach e school for six mons at at place. I had gotten into debt and made arrangements wi my creditors to carry me until I could pay up my obligations, which I did, in monly payments. At e close of my school, I was standing at e landing when e captain of e steamboat whom I knew, asked me what I was doing. I told him, Noing, as I had just closed my school. He said, I ink you re just e man I want. I need a cook badly. Can you cook? I said, I can try. So I left my sister in e home of a friend to look after my boat, stepped on board and began my career as a cook. I succeeded fairly well, until one day, when lying at e wharf at Parkersburg, a friend came aboard, saying at ere was a surveying party he was engaged wi at needed a boat to care for eir party. I engaged to furnish e boat and care for e party. I engaged a young fellow as cook. We fitted out e boat and went to e point of beginning. The second day after reaching our destination, I discovered e cook peeling and washing e potatoes in e Chief Engineer s footba tub. I felt at we should part ways, so I paid his off and let him go. I assumed e duties of cook and provider for e crew of sixteen men. I cared for em e best I could, until we closed e job. Which was e same day at President Garfield was assassinated. I paid off my debts and sold my boat at a very serious loss. My next employment was as a night watchman at a mill near my home. This was not a very pleasant occupation. However, I noticed at e proprietor of e mill had to carry his books to Parkersburg every week to get em posted, and wondered why I couldn t get away some place and get a business course. My sister, Hattie, urged me on in is matter. She had developed quite a strong personality wi her advancing years. She felt at since I had devoted all e time at was necessary to caring for e family, it was high time at I was doing 17

18 someing permanent for myself. I investigated e business colleges of Pittsburgh after talking wi one or two of eir graduates who lived in Parkersburg. I packed up my belongings, bade goodbye to home and went to at great city. I did not know a soul. A few days after my entering Duff s Commercial College, ere was a reunion of e Grand Army of e Republic. This was e biggest crowd at I had every seen at any time. I have never been more lonesome in my life at when I stood on e streets of Pittsburg, looking at at crowd. This turned out to be a critical turning point in my life. One of e teachers of e college had contracted tuberculosis and was forced to leave. William H. Duff, e principal, was a very peculiar man. He knew at I had been a teacher, and he was not able to find such a one as he needed. Instead of coming to me direct, he opened negotiations by going to e principal teacher, who was a good friend of mine. The offer was $12.00 per week, six days a week wi two hours evening work. I was only too glad to grab it, as I had never received over $35.00 per mon for teaching. I attempted to economize by going to cheap restaurants, but got disgusted. Alough my cloes were not very good, I tackled e best private boarding house in Allegheny City at $5.00 per week. I found is paid off as I met some very good people, teachers and oers. I had e little back bedroom at is time in one of e rooming houses in Allegheny City, for which I paid $8.00 a mon and shared it wi an elderly gentleman. I must say at I made pretty good use of my time and made pretty rapid progress. My personality began to show now. What I lacked in education, I made up for in is way. Before I got is offer, I began to feel pretty serious. I was about at e end of my resources, and it looked a mighty long way ahead to finishing. I secured a load of $25.00 from a friend of mine down in West Virginia. I ought at, maybe, I could work out some plan. I got a retaining fee of $5.00 one day for which I did not have to work. Then is offer came, which came like a underbolt from a clear sky, and relieved my embarrassment. I finished my course and got my diploma. I began to feel pretty good. I bought a few better cloes. Now came anoer turning point. A letter was received from a student at Angola, Indiana, at a school was to be established, and wanted e college to recommend a teacher. Had it not been for my friend, Louis Van Orden, e principal teacher, I would never have heard of is. William H. Duff, who was en absent, would never have suggested me. And his secretary would not have done so eier. They did not wish to part wi my valuable services. I opened up correspondence wi e auorities at Angola, acting for e Tri-State Normal College, which was getting ready to open its doors. Letters were somewhat encouraging, and I was determined to make a trip to investigate. I was getting tired of Pittsburg and had developed a sore spot in a lung. I had a bad cough at was making me very uneasy. I shall never forget e change in my impressions of Indiana. I had always considered it as a place of swamps. The country around Angola is very picturesque and very beautiful. I was met wi such cordiality at e place appealed to me from e first. When I came to investigate, I found at ere was no salary attached to e position, but ere was a stated rate of tuition. I was to receive all of e tuition from ose who came into my department. I had a guarantee of four pupils at $8.00 for ten weeks. I hesitated to leave Pittsburgh under such 18

19 terms, but investigation showed at I could get a room for fifty cents per week, good and comfortable. And board was $1.75 per week. The anxiety to be my own boss is a way had its effect. I met e Board of Directors and asked for a six mons trial. They would take noing less an a year, so I signed up for a year. This was on e first of June. School was to open on e 17P P. Therefore, I felt at I must return to Pittsburgh and make preparations. I bought a new suit of cloes, a trunk, an outfit of stationery and books. After my railroad ticked was paid for and allowing for enough spending money to carry me for ree or four weeks after reaching Angola, I found at I was $25.00 in debt. I reached Angola on e 16P P of June and we opened e school on e 17P P. Everybody was interested in e success of e school, and I received a warm welcome for e outset. Angola was a prosperous farm town and very democratic. The amount of weal one possessed at at time, 1884, made apparently very little difference. This was right at e beginning of e presidential campaign and e only handicap I had was at e entire faculty and my friends connected wi e institution were ardent Republicans. I was e only Democrat. However, we made e best of it and I opened my department under very favorable circumstances. Tri-State College Teachers L. D. Creel center standing Thomas Jefferson Creel - seated It was e best move of my life. I immediately jumped into e standing of a fullfledged professor and was received everywhere on at basis. My previous experience in teaching stood me in good stead; and I had my subjects well in hand. I became quite valuable to e institution by having considerable time outside my classes to devote to meeting e young people and interesting em in e college. While I felt at I did not know as much as some of e faculty, I never allowed em to find it out. I must say at in justice to myself, I had a much better personal address an any of em, and rapidly made friends roughout e county as well as e town. This change enabled me to help my family. 19

20 I began to save a little money and sent for my sister Hattie, who had made considerable progress in music. On account of e low expense, I was able to carry her as well as myself, and pay her expenses. We had an efficient music teacher, and she was able to finish e course and become one of e first graduates of e institution. She en had an opportunity to teach to gain a little money, and took a course in Public School Music work in Boston. This started her on an active life. She was soon picked up by e American Book Company to handle eir entire introduction on music. She handled is position for sixteen years. My next ought was at of my youngest broer (Thomas Jefferson Creel), who was growing up wiout any opportunities in West Virginia. I brought him out, and carried his expenses for a year or two in e school, till he got so he could teach. Through my influence, he succeeded in getting a position. He afterwards decided to study medicine and entered e work under my friend and physician Dr. H. D. Woods. I helped him to enter Rush Medical College, where he carried part of his expenses by waiting on tables and running a newspaper route beginning at four o clock in e morning. He made good use of his opportunities. I got him a position as a nurse to an elderly man, which helped him financially. Thomas Jefferson Creel (standing) Lorenzo Dow Creel (seated) In e meantime, he had fallen in love wi a niece of Dr. Woods. After anoer year it was decided at ey would marry. Wi help from home folks, he succeeded in finishing his course. Bo my sister and he repaid me for what I had advanced financially. Alough it may seem a little egotistical, wiout my influence, ey might never have been able to get a favorable start for many years, if at all. I was also very much interested in outdoor life. I spent many of my weekends fishing and hunting, etc. When I ink of what I had at at day in comparison wi conditions now, it is hard to realize. I was a member of a small boating club at had a good boat wi a little house on e lake. They had a nice little cottage on anoer lake wi a partner. I had two horses and a buggy, all on a salary of about $60.00 per mon. 20