Alachua-Nassau-Levy County FlArchives Biographies.....McCreary, Henry Hamilton 1861 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/fl/flfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 2, 2008, 11:36 pm Author: B. F. Johnson Henry Hamilton McCreary Prominent in newspaper circles in Florida, and one of her most valued legislators, who has given to the State nearly sixteen years of valuable service in the General Assembly, is Henry Hamilton McCreary, publisher and editor of the Gainesville Daily and Semi-weekly Sun. Mr. McCreary is a native of North Carolina, in which State he was born, at Southport, on December 28, 1861. He comes of that Scotch stock which made eastern North Carolina in colonial days the most independent section of the colonies. The descendants of these early Scotch settlers spread over western Carolina into Kentucky and Tennessee, and thence throughout the South, and from the Revolutionary period down have shown the same democracy of spirit and devoted patriotism that made their ancestors notable. Mr. McCreary's parents were William T. and Mary (Hamilton) McCreary. He comes, therefore, of Scotch stock on both sides of the family. His father, who was a carpenter by trade, was a cousin of the distinguished Senator McCreary of Kentucky. His mother was a relative of the Hamiltons of Maryland, which family gave a governor to that State. William T. McCreary was evidently of a wandering spirit in his youth, as he had to his credit six trips around the world. In 1866 the McCreary family moved to Florida, first settling in Fernandina, and in 1868 moving to Cedar Keys, where the elder McCreary followed contracting until the business became seriously injured by an influx of incompetent men. He was an enterprising man and was largely instrumental in bringing to the notice of the Eastern markets the valuable fish and oysters in which the waters around Cedar Keys abounded and out of which has grown a large business. He thus became one of the most valuable citizens of that section, and was highly esteemed for his public spirit. H. H. McCreary obtained his education in the public schools of Florida, supplemented by many laborious hours of night study, and followed that up by a course in the commercial department of the University of Kentucky, at Lexington. In 1881, a youth of twenty, he established himself at Gainesville as the publisher of the Alachua Advocate. Out of that publication has grown the Gainesville Daily and Semi-weekly Sun, of which Mr. McCreary has been editor since its foundation. His public career began in 1892 as a member of the City Council at Gainesville, and he served as chairman of the finance committee of that body. In 1894 the people of his county sent him to the lower house of the General Assembly, and re-elected him in 1896. In 1898 they transferred him to the State Senate as Senator from the Thirty-second District. He was re-elected in 1902, and again in 1906, for the term ending in 1910. The completion of his present term will mark sixteen years of consecutive service in the General Assembly. A steadfast adherent of the Democratic party, his legislative service has been of that sort that rises above mere partisan considerations and of such value to the State that his constituents have retained him term after term. No higher compliment can be paid to an American citizen than this long retention in public service, which comes from popular election. It is even more complimentary than an election to Congress, because the district is smaller, the Legislator is known personally to a very large majority of his constituents, and as his course in the General Assembly affects very closely every citizen of the State, it is jealously watched. Constant endorsement, therefore, is evidence of both faithful and valuable service. Mr. McCreary in religious matters is a communicant of the Presbyterian Church. In fraternal circles he holds membership in the Order of Elks and I. O. O. F. On November 28, 1883, he married Miss Irene Richardson, daughter of William T. and Margaret (Fraser) Richardson. Of this marriage three children have been born, of whom two are now living, Miss Irene and Elmer White McCreary. Like every successful newspaper man, Mr. McCreary has been a wide reader. Naturally, newspapers and current literature have formed the larger bulk of his reading, which, like that of all newspaper men, is of a miscellaneous character. He believes that the best interests of State and Nation, particularly of Florida, are to be promoted by a closer attention to industrial development, and less thought to mere political questions. It is certainly true that Florida is at that period of its history where industrial affairs should take precedence, and from the standpoint, both of business and patriotism, Mr. McCreary's judgment would appear to be sound. Locally he ranks as one of the strong men of his section, who has gained and holds the esteem of a large constituency. Additional Comments: Extracted from: FLORIDA EDITION MAKERS OF AMERICA AN HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL WORK BY AN ABLE CORPS OF WRITERS VOL. III. Published under the patronage of The Florida Historical Society, Jacksonville, Florida ADVISORY BOARD: HON. W. D. BLOXHAM COL. FRANK HARRIS HON. R. W. DAVIS SEN. H. H. McCREARY HON. F. P. FLEMING W. F. STOVALL C. A. CHOATE, SECRETARY 1909 A. B. CALDWELL ATLANTA, GA. COPYRIGHT 1909 B. F. JOHNSON Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/fl/alachua/photos/bios/mccreary23gbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/fl/alachua/bios/mccreary23gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/flfiles/ File size: 5.9 Kb