SMITH McCREIGHT. Among the influential and intelligent citizens of Hanover township, none occupies or deserves a more prominent place than this gentleman, a native of Jefferson county, Penn., where he was born July 18, 1832. He is a son of Andrew McCreight. The father was born in 1787, in Ireland, and when but seven years of age was brought to America, and grew to manhood in Pennsylvania. In 1812 he was married in Armstrong county, Penn., to Ann Sharp, who was born in 1795. Her family were pioneers of Armstrong county. The children of Andrew and Ann McCreight were: James, a wheelwright and carpenter, deceased in 1888, at the age of seventy-five years, in Armstrong county, Penn.; Sharp, a retired farmer of Indiana county, Penn.; Sarah (Mrs. Abraham Neil), of Jefferson county, Penn.; Joseph, a farmer of Jefferson county, Neb., where he died; John, a farmer of Jefferson county, Penn.; Ann (wife of William Caldwell), of Clearfield county, Penn.; Jane (Mrs. Joseph McNeil), of Clearfield countv, Penn.; Thomas S., a farmer and miller of Jefferson county, Penn.; Smith, of whom further mention is made; Nancy, deceased in 1891 (married to Benjamin Hawk); Jamison, a farmer in Kansas; and Hannah, an unmarried lady, living in Kansas. The parents began life as tenants in a humble home located on Plum creek, Armstrong Co., Penn., where he worked as a tenant and cropper. By industry he prospered, and soon accumulating some money, went to Jefferson county, Penn., and purchased a tract of uncleared land, which was cheaper in that county. The young couple removed to their new home, and, after much hard work, succeeded in clearing enough of the land to carry on farming. With that undying spirit of pluck, which is the national characteristic of the true Irishman, he finally obtained enough property to provide all necessary comforts of life, which he enjoyed. In politics he was an Old-line Whig, and then a Republican, taking an active interest in the success of his party. Both he and his wife were consistent members of the U. P. Church. He died in 1861, his wife having entered the "valley of the shadow" in 1858. They were buried on the farm in Jefferson county, Pennsylvania. Smith McCreight was reared to manhood on his father's farm, and there inducted into the mysteries of agriculture. He attended the common schools, and in early life took charge of the home place in company with his brother, Thomas S., caring for the father and mother until they died. On March 14, 1863, Smith McCreight was married to Sarah E. Murphy who was born in 1842, in Westmoreland county Penn., a daughter of James and Susan (McMurray) Murphy. James Murphy was a tailor by trade, also working on a farm. Mr. and Mrs. McCreight have passed all their married life on the old homestead farm in Winslow township, Jefferson Co., Penn., and his brother Thomas S. followed lumbering in the winter season and farming in the summer for some years. They afterward purchased one-half interest in a grist and saw mill, and the following year bought the other half. As the business increased they made extensive improvements on the property, placing $1,500 worth of new machinery in the gristmill. Just when the business had become profitable the destructive fire of August 25, 1877 swept away all their property 1,500 bushels of grain and 100,000 feet of dry pine lumber. No insurance was carried. This was a terrible trial, but their energy and enterprise were indestructible, and before the smoke of the debris had ceased to curl upward they had begun the erection of a modern mill. It was rapidly pushed to completion, and within four months of the date of the fire these "hustling brothers" were again ready for customers on a more extensive basis than before the fire. In 1881 the mill property was disposed of, and Smith McCreight began farming. In the autumn of 1884 he purchased and moved upon 200 acres of land in Hanover township, Washington county, known as the "Martin Tucker" farm. His enterprising and progressive spirit is evinced in the many improvements which have been made since his residence on the place. A handsome new dwelling was erected in 1890. It is located on an elevated spot, one of the highest in Washington county, affording a most delightful view of the surrounding country for many miles. Mr. McCreight was a Whig, afterward uniting with the Republican party. He and his wife are members of the U. P. Church at Paris, and their children are Thomas A., a farmer of Hanover township, living on the home place; Clara A., studying telegraphy; Anna, and Beulah S., living at home.

Text taken from page 475 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed June 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published June 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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