The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-09-19
H. M. CREEL,P|ONEER
NORTH DAKO7AN IS
DEAD in FAR WEST
Man Who Founded Devils Lake
Succumbs in California
Following Injury

'AAo A-ohC oIIO WHOSE name
is interviewer with the military rec
ords of North Dakota, is dead.
He died at San Diego, Calf, Sat-
urday, according to word received
mere by a brother-in-law, Edgar La
rue. Death was due to physical ills
and an accident which caused a
broken hip and dislocated shoulder.
1nterment will be at San Diego Tues
day.
The life Of General Creel was an
eventful one. Born in Waverly, Mo-,
he participated in the Sitting Bull
campaign in 1881 and later accom-
panied that noted Indian chieftain
and his band to Standing Rock.
AS an engineering officer he built
the military telegraph line from Fort
Totten to Larimore.
In July, 1882, he located the town
site of Devils Lake, which was first
called Creel City but assumed its
present name in 1884.
General Creel's name is INSOFAR
ably interviewer with the military
records of North Dakota and his eff
forts were an element in progressive
development in the Northwest. He
was born on a farm in Lafayette
county, Missouri, Nov. 80, 1855, and
is representative of one of the old
families of Virginia, established in
that state in 1920. His grandfather
served with the rank of colonel in
the War of 1872 and his uncle,
George Creel, was killed in the Mex
lean war. His grandmother was a
sister of the mother of General
"Stonewall' Jackson, and his grand
father, DR.. David Creel, acted as
foreman of the grand jury which
heard the trial of Aaron Burr for
high treason.
Served With Seventh
Reared upon his fathers farm.
General Creel acquired his elemen-
tary education under private tutor
ship and afterward became a student
in Kemper's academy at Boonville,
Missouri. He spent a year in that
school and also in Cooper Institute
and next entered the Virginia Mill
tary Institute at Lexington, Virginia.
where he renamed for two years.
Then. through appointment Of
General John B. Clark of the sew
enth congressional district, he be-
came a student at the U. S. Military
academy at West Point, from which
he was graduated with the class of
June, 1877. He received commits
sion as second lieutenant in the
Eighth U. s. Cavalry and the same
year was promoted to higher rank
III the Seventh Cavalry, his service
in that connection bringing him to
Dakota Territory. After serving for
tive years he resigned in July, 1882.
During his military experience he
gained intimate knowledge of the
state and its pioneer conditions and
development. He had charge of the
government property and the steam
boat, DIR. Burleigh," when Fort Rice
was abandoned and the property
moved to Fort Yates in 1873. In that
year Lieutenant General P. H. Sheri-
dan, commanding the division of
Missouri with headquarters at Chi
cago, ASKED for volunteer from the
officers of the regular army to take
charge of the relief steamer to New
Orleans for the yellow fever suffer-
ers. Lieutenant Creel volunteered
and was informed by General Sheri-
dan that Lieutenant Benner had al
ready offered his services and had
been accepted. also that he, Lieuten-
ant Creel, had been detailed to per-
form very important work on detach-
ed service under the direct supervi-
sion of the lieutenant general. as
he was to accompany the Northern
Sheyennes to the Indian Territory.
to write dictionary and grammar
of their language and otherwise aid
in keeping these Indians in the terri
tory. Lieutenant Benner died in the
performance Of his mission from
yellow fever.
Surveyed Devils Lake
He was one of the expedition that
located Fort Meade. and in 1880 he
surveyed Devils Lake and also made
a topographic survey of the Fort
Totten military reservation. In 1881
he participated in the Sitting Bull
campaign and afterward accompan-
led that noted Indian chieftain and
his band to Standing Rock. AS
engineering officer he built the mill
tary telegraph line from Fort Totten
to Larimore.
General Creel had been a resident
OF Devils Lake almost from it's
founding, and for a number of years
engaged extensively in farming,
owning and conducting a fine estate.
He has also dealt largely in real
estate and loans and engaged in the
grain business. In public affairs, too,
he bore his part. He was chairman
of the board of county commission
ers in Ramsey county in 1885 1886
and register of deeds from January,
1889, to January, 1897, and was act
ing county surveyor from 1889 to
1895.
He was elected to the state senate
in the fall of 1896, serving four
year term. He was elected as an
independent Republican and was
nominee for congress in 1898 on the
fusion ticket. While a member of
the state senate he introduced the
bill requiring all applicants for mar
riage licenses to be previously exam
ined by board of physicians as to
their physical and mental fitness
for the marriage state. His bill was
freely commented upon by prominent
men and newspapers in the U. s. and
England. He has served as chair
man Of the county Republican COM
mittee and was a member of the
state central and executive Repub-
lican committees.
He was q member of the national
committee for the Silver Republicans
of North Dakota for eight years, be-
ing chosen to this office in 1897.
When in Indian Territory General
Creel was married to Miss Alice II.
LaRue, native of Indiana.
General Creel is identified with
several fraternal organizations, in
GLIDING the Elks, the Odd Fellows
and the Modern Woodmen Of Amer
lea.
NYE TO SUPPORT OLSON
st. Paul, Sept. 19.-(R)-Campaign
headnuarterS Of Governor f. r. Olson