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William B. McCreery

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
William B. McCreery
14th State Treasurer of Michigan
In office
1875–1878
GovernorJohn J. Bagley
Charles Croswell
Preceded byVictory P. Collier
Succeeded byBenjamin D. Pritchard
ConstituencyMichigan
9th Mayor of the City of Flint, Michigan
In office
1865–1867
Preceded byWilliam Hamilton
Succeeded byAustin B. Witherbee[1]
Personal details
BornAugust 27, 1836
Mt. Morris, Livingston County, New York
DiedDecember 9, 1896
SpouseAda B. Fenton[2][3]
RelationsReuben McCreery, Father[2]
Charles H. McCeery, Brother[4]
William M. Fenton, Father-in-law[3]
ChildrenFenton Reuben[5]
ProfessionLaw
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/serviceArmy
Rank21st Michigan Infantry
UnitCompany F, Second Michigan Infantry
Commands21st Michigan Infantry
Battles/warsCivil War --
Stones River
Williamsburg
Chickamauga

William B. McCreery (August 27, 1836 – December 9, 1896) was an American politician and diplomat who lived much of his life in Michigan.[6]

Early life

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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

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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

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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 extension construction.[7]

Political life

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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 Valparaíso.[6]

Post-political Life

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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 Michigan State Treasurer
1875-1878
Succeeded by
Preceded by Mayor of Flint
1865-67
Succeeded by

References

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