William B. McCreery

William B. McCreery
14th State Treasurer of Michigan
In office
1875–1878
Governor John J. Bagley
Charles Croswell
Preceded by Victory P. Collier
Succeeded by Benjamin D. Pritchard
Constituency Michigan
9th Mayor of the City of Flint, Michigan
In office
1865–1867
Preceded by William Hamilton
Succeeded by Austin B. Witherbee[1]
Personal details
Born August 27, 1836
Mt. Morris, Livingston County, New York
Died December 9, 1896
Spouse(s) Ada B. Fenton[2][3]
Relations Reuben McCreery, Father[2]
Charles H. McCeery, Brother[4]
William M. Fenton, Father-in-law[3]
Children Fenton Reuben[5]
Profession Law
Religion Episcopal
Military service
Allegiance  United States
Service/branch Army
Rank 21st Michigan Infantry
Unit Company F, Second Michigan Infantry
Commands 21st Michigan Infantry
Battles/wars Civil War --
Stones River
Williamsburg
Chickamauga

William B. McCreery was a Michigan politician and diplomat.[6]

Contents

Early life

McCreery was born on August 27, 1836 in Mt. Morris, Livingston County, New York.[5] In 1859, he was admitted to the county bar.[7]

Civil War

Initially assigned to Company F, Second Michigan Infantry,[7] He was later a Lieutenant Colonel commanding the 21st Michigan Infantry[8] with the Union Army in the Civil War. He fought with valor and was serious wounded at Williamsburg, Virginia, and at Chickamauga.[7] He was captured by the Confederates[6] after being wounded at the Battle of Chickamauga.[2] He escaped in 1864 from Libby Prison in Richmond, Virginia[6] reportedly by the way of a tunnel dug by himself and other prisoners.[7]

After the war

Returning to Flint, McCreery enter the general merchandising business with F. W. Judd then in the lumber industry with a sawmill on the banks of the Flint River just south of the Saginaw Road bridge. In the Grant administration, he became the district collector of internal revenue. He was involved in the Flint City Water Works Company as its president and as an original stockholders and in the Grand Trunk Railway Flint-Lansing extenstion construction.[7]

Political life

He was elected as the ninth mayor of the City of Flint in 1865 serving two 1-year terms. Elected Michigan State Treasurer in 1875 serving until 1878. Appointed in 1890 as U.S. Consul in Valparaiso.[6]

Post-political Life

He served as a director of First National Bank of Flint. McCreery died on December 9, 1896 in Flint, Michigan and laid to rest at Glenwood Cemetery, Flint, Michigan.[6]

Political offices
Preceded by
Victory P. Collier
Michigan State Treasurer
1875-1878
Succeeded by
Benjamin D. Pritchard
Preceded by
William Hamilton
Mayor of Flint
1865-67
Succeeded by
Austin B. Witherbee

References

  1. ^ List of Flint City Mayors. Political Graveyards.com
  2. ^ a b c Michigan in the Civil War. Bentley Historical Library: Subject Guides and Indexes.
  3. ^ a b JOSEPH BRUSH FENTON MIGenWeb
  4. ^ LABETTE COUNTY, Part 21: BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES - RICHLAND TOWNSHIP (KELLERMAN - MOORE).
  5. ^ a b Index to Politicians: Mccornack to Mccullis -- Fenton Reuben McCreery entry
  6. ^ a b c d e Index to Politicians: Mccornack to Mccullis -- McCreery, William B. entry
  7. ^ a b c d e Chapter XV: Banks and Banking, Part II. The History of Genesee County, MI
  8. ^ The Post Top 10: Interesting Battle of Stones River sites. Collected By Mike West, Managing Editor. Murfreesboro Post.