BIO:  Samuel McCreary, York County, PA

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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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Part II, Biographical Sketches, Washington Township, Pg 198

SAMUEL McCREARY, a native of Franklin Township, York County, was born October 19, 1819, and is 
a son of John and Julia (Lease) McCreary.  The great-great-grandfather, John McCreary, was a 
native of Scotland, a member of the high church of England, was married to Miss Edwards, of 
England, and a settler of Lancaster County, this State.  The great-grandfather, Thomas 
McCreary, was born in Lancaster County, and married Miss Elizabeth Bowen, a native of Wales, 
and a member of the Society of Friends.  He afterward joined the same church, and settled early 
in York County near Hanover, and was extensively engaged in farming, both in this and Adams 
Counties.  The grandfather (Thomas also) was born in 1754, in this county, was a merchant and 
hotel keeper and captain of the State militia, and afterward major, and was married to Miss 
Mary Garretson, of this county.  The father of our subject was born in Washington Township, 
this county, November 3, 1791, and died in December, 1822,  Subject’s mother died September 23, 
1881, in her eighty-fifth year.  Samuel McCreary left the home farm at the age of sixteen, 
worked in a brick year; he next served an apprenticeship of two years at tailoring; from 1842-
48 carried on brick-making in the summer and taught school in the winter; in 1849 began farming 
in connection with brick-making.  He is the owner of a farm in Washington Township, and two 
tracts of woodland, one situated in Franklin and the other in Warrington Township.  In 1848 he 
married Harriet A. Blackford, daughter of Aaron G. Blackford, who was born November 24, 1827.  
To this union have been born seven children:  Julian Ruhl, Aaron B. (deceased), John L., 
Elizabeth J. T. Baker, Samuel L. (deceased), Katie R. and S. U. G. McCreary.  Our subject, his 
wife and sister, Julia A. (who was born December 22, 1821), together with two of his children, 
Katie R. and S. U. G., constitute the family at the homestead, and all but three belong to the 
United Brethren Church.