The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1900-07-25
DEATH OF JOHN MccREroAr.
Who Expired at HIS Home in Dubois
Monday Morning.


section to Dubois four years ago, died
at the latter place at 400 a. IN. Monday,
July 23rd. From the Dubois Express
Of July 23rd we clip the following
sketch Of the career of this honored
and highly esteem gentleman who re-
sided SO near Reynoldsvllle for three
score years:
Born July H. 1921, while Longfellow,
Whittier and Lincoln were boys and
within two months Of the death of the
great Napoleon. he has passed through
the latter three-quarters Of the present
century witnessing in his life time
transformation, unequalled perhaps, In
the history Of the world.
It is difficult for the present genera
tion TO conceive the great United States
OF America without railroads, without
q telegraph or telephone line, without
a steamboat for the first successful
use OF the latter took place while the
subject was a boy), without sewing ma
chimes, cooking stoves, kerosene or
matches. Manufactured gas was not
In use for Illuminating purposes, and
pitch-pine faggots and tallow dips were
used until the candle. a modern conven-
ience, took their place. Mowers, reap
ers, threshing machines we're unknown
and the hand-sickle and cumbersome
fail were used. The subjects mail was
carried when he was a matured mani
to and from his friends and relatives
through the unsettled west and Califor-
MIA by pony express, and he himself,
when II young man. travelled on foot and
horseback through the state OF Iowa
when railroads were yet unknown there.
Such have been the transformations
since the subject commenced his lifes
journey and which he witnessed during
his life which even went beyond the
''three score years and ten" mans al
lotted time.
In 1882 Mr.. McCreight's family re-
moved to the neighborhood Of the pres
ent homestead in what is known as
Paradise, near Reynoldsville, when this
section was wilderness and Indiana,
Franklin and Old Town were the trad
ing centres and salt flour and grain for
seed were hauled by oxen and all things
were most primitive. The subject could
recount many experiences in hunting
bear and deer in the Big Swamp where
Dubois now stands.
John McCreight was born TO Andrew
McCreight and Ann Sharp, the brother
OF seven sons and six daughters, all OF
whom lived to ripe old age. Among
the survivors are Jameson, living in
Kansas, Thomas S., who now lives on the
original homestead in Paradise. Smith,
of Washington county, Mrs. William
Caldwell, Of Curwensville, Mrs. Polly
Ross, of Reynoldsville, and Hannah, of
Kansas.
Mr.. McCreight's early life was spent
largely in the cutting and rafting of
timber, making trips down the Ohio to
Cincinnati and down the Susquehanna
to Harrisburg, from which points the
return journey was often made by foot.
He was married in 1851 to Eliza c. I'm
capber, OF Greensburg, and settled near
the present homestead carrying on
farming in connection with his lumber
interests and acquiring early in life a
competency, large part of the coal now
being operated on the Hamilton side
of the famous Big Soldier mines having
been purchased from him, some of it 20
years ago.
Mr.. McCreight was once elected JUS
tice Of the peace and his is perhaps the
only instance on record where no docket
was ever used, he invariably securing a
settlement OF grievances brought before
him without proceedings. He was
known as Honest John" and by the
young people far and near as "Uncle
John" among whom he was a general
favorite and special friend.
His family consisted of four children
Of whom the following, four sons and
two daughters, survive: Joseph S.,
dentist at Ridgway, William H., M. l.,
cashier Of the Deposit National Bank,
| in this city, b. B., also of the Deposit
| National Bank, Mrs. VI. NJ. McAdOo, at
present living on the homestead, and
Mrs. A. ]. Quinlan, of Akron, Ohio.
He was a devout christian and was
always supporter OF the United Pres
byterian church. Having come into
possession OF property on South Brady
street, he removed TO Dubois tempor-
arily about years ago spending part
of his time at the farm. His death oc-
Cured at 400 O'Clock this morning. sud-
denly and without pain. Funeral SER
vices will be held at the farm house in
Winslow township, jefferson county, on