Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens
Lawrence County Pennsylvania 1897
[p. 606] senior member of the firm of McCreary Bros., extensive manufacturers of high-grade cigars at East Brook, Hickory township, Lawrence County, was born in the above-mentioned township Dec. 12, 1869, and is a son of John and Rachel (McCaslin) McCreary, grandson of Enoch and Margaret (Pierson) McCreary, and great-grandson of Samuel McCreary, who was one of the early settlers of Lawrence County.
Samuel McCreary immigrated to what is now Lawrence County in 1802 with his wife, and at once entered upon a long and useful career as an enterprising agriculturist and large stock-raiser. He lived to be eighty years of age, his death taking place in 1858. He was industrious and saving, and even to-day he would be considered well-to-do and prosperous, for he owned upwards of six hundred acres. He was a Whig, and he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian Church. They reared eight children, who were named as follows: Enoch; Eliza; Elizabeth; William; Thomas; Findlay; Jane; and Margaret.
Enoch McCreary, the eldest son of the foregoing worthy couple, received a good, common-sense education in the schools of Neshannock township, and became a leading farmer when still a young man; he followed this occupation all the period of his life in Hickory township on the farm, now owned by George Young, and departed this life in the month of March, at the age of fifty-three years. He was a Whig until the formation of the Republican party, and had just allied himself with the latter party when death claimed him. He married Margaret Pierson, daughter of Samuel Pierson, and to them were given eight children: Pierson; Belinda; Samuel; Sarah; William; James; John; and Enoch. Mrs. McCreary was spared to her children until July, 1885, when the invisible summons also came to her and she left mortal scenes to rejoin those who had gone before to the blessed homeland. She was aged eighty-six years at her death.
John McCreary, the father of our subject, has followed agricultural pursuits for the most part throughout his life, which has been spent in Hickory township. In his early years he learned the broom-maker's trade, and during the winter months when no other work presented itself put in many hours to good advantage in making brooms. He has also been engaged very extensively in growing strawberries for the markets, having on the average each year some two acres of producing plants. He owns about sixty acres of fertile land, which is well adapted to general farming and fruit-raising. He is a stanch Republican, and has served the township in an efficient manner as poor director. His wife was a daughter of Robert McCaslin of Hickory township, who was of Scotch descent, and for many years was an extensive stock grower in Australia, besides holding valuable interests in gold mining. When he came to the United States he settled in Hickory township, purchased a large farm, and has been chiefly engaged in dealing in stock. Mr. and Mrs. McCreary were the parents of five children, as follows: Robert L.; Ernest M., the subject of this sketch; Samuel P., the junior member of the firm of McCreary Bros.; Edith E.; and Ruth E. They are Methodists and belong to the church of the M. E. denomination in East Brook.
Ernest M. McCreary was educated in the district schools of Brier Hill in Hickory township, and when his education was completed learned the cigar-maker's trade, and in company with Joseph Myers of East Brook carried on the manufacture of cigars until 1890 under the firm name of Myers & McCreary. In that year he went into partnership with his brother, Samuel P., and since then they have had the pleasure of seeing their business thrive and grow to meet their fondest expectations; the name of McCreary Bros. on a box of cigars insures to the lovers of the fragrant weed the best that may be obtained in aroma, flavor and burning qualities. Mr. McCreary is one of the most enterprising citizens of Hickory township, and knows how to make his goods popular and his business successful, if anyone does. In politics he is strongly attached to the Republican party. The East Brook Cornet Band was organized by our subject, and he still continues to direct it, and it has been in great part due to his persistent efforts that it ranks high with other musical organizations of like character in Western Pennsylvania. Mr. McCreary's talent for music comes naturally for the whole McCreary family is well-known for its ability in musical lines; our subject's brother and partner in business, Samuel P., is also a member of the cornet band. Our subject was married Jan. 3, 1894, to Louisa R. Stimple, daughter of Henry Stimple of Pittsburg, Pa., and their union has been blessed with the birth of a daughter, Alice L. They are members in good standing of the M. E. Church.
Samuel P. McCreary was also educated in the schools of Brier Hill in Hickory township, and at an early age, when just out of school, learned the cigar-maker's trade, and then became a partner of his brother in the manufacture of cigars.
Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens Lawrence County Pennsylvania
Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo, N.Y., 1897
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Updated: 23 Jul 2001