William Creer

William Creer

William Creer

William Creer was born in England, in the town of Preston, Lancashire, February 18, 1836. His father, Edward Creer, was born November 3, 1813. His mother, Ann Morris, was born December 27, 1814, in Chesley, Lancashire, England. They were married in Preston, in the year 1835. Mathias Creer was born at White Haven Cumberland County, October 15, 1791. The family came from the Isle of Man and settled in White Haven. John Creer, the father of Matthias, followed fishing a shoemaking for a livelihood. The family left White Haven and removed to Preston. They were among the first to embrace the doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, in the British Mission, some of whom were baptized in the year 1838. The following certificate of Ann Creer, the mother of William Creer has been preserved and worthy of record as being among the first certificates issued in the British Mission:

“We do hereby certify, that Anne Creer, the bearer of this, is a regular member and in good standing and fellowship in the church of L.D.S. in Preston, and is a worthy member of the same, and as a token of our love and good will, we give unto her this letter of commendation to the fellowship and esteem of the Saints in any land or country to which she may be pleased to remove.” Signed Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde, Presiding Elders of the Church. (March 12, 1838).

Edward Creer, the father of William Creer, with his wife, Ann, and their children, immigrated to America on the ship “Charlotte,” in 1847, arriving at St. Louis, in December of the same year, having been on the ocean for eleven weeks. There were 150 saints in the company. William Creer, the subject of this sketch, was eleven years old. His only opportunity for education was at the age of eight, having attended the schools in Preston for eight weeks. The remainder of the time at Preston he was employed at the Cotton Mills, as a tender to a loom weaver. Shortly after their arrival at St. Louis, William Creer worked with his father at Gravois, a coal-mining district until May 1854.

On May 1, 1854, the Creer family left St. Louis for Utah, traveling through the state of Missouri with ox teams. There were about 25 wagons in the company, under Captain Joseph Fields. They were five months and three days traveling from St. Louis to Salt Lake City, arriving a few days before October conference. In January 1856, William and his sister Mary moved to Spanish Fork upon request of his friend Joseph Howell, who preferred to give him employment, for which he received food. On 1st East and 6th North they built a dugout. Shortly after, the family moved from Salt Lake to Spanish Fork. William married Sarah Jane Miller Bradley and Mary, his sister, married John Banks, January 22, 1858.

They were married by Bishop A.K. Thurbor and later in 1867 went to the Endowment House at Salt Lake City. William and his wife Sarah moved from 1st East and 6th North to 2ndf South and 1st West, where they lived the remainder of their lives.

Their first home was a dugout in the side hill. Later a one-room log cabin was built, which served as a home for the eight of their children, who are as follows: William, Joseph, Edward, James Morris, Charles Cannon, Sarah Ann, Alvin Robert, Thomas Oliver, and John Preston. Roger W. being the only one born in the frame house which now marks the original spot of their family home.

William, as a young man starting in life, was requested by Bishop A.K. Thurbor to devote much of his time to civic and social affairs, there being plenty of men to make roads, build bridges and to go to the canyons. He was prominent in dramatics in the early history of Spanish Fork. He loved to play known as “Reb Rey,” “Rose of Etric Vale,” “Lowly Man of the Ocean,” and “The Lady of Lyons.” Some who were on the stage with him were: Mary Faux, Emma Manwill, Sarah A. Robertson, Carolina Pace, Jane Warren, Jane Bradford, John Moore, George D. Snell, and Dick Murray.

The musical history of Spanish Fork City may very properly accompany this sketch. In March 1856, William R. Jones moved to Spanish Fork. He immediately showed his musical ability. On July 4, 1856, the Spanish Fork choir was organized, with William Creer, Allen Adamson, and Sarah Broomhead as committee. William R. Jones was the first leader and William Creer was the first president, who remained president of the choir for 40 years, and sang first bass. The stirring and animated singing of the Spanish Fork Choir attracted the attention of Brigham young, and the choir on two occasions visited Salt Lake City by his invitation, the first time singing at the conference held in the bowery, and afterwards at the opening of the New Tabernacle. Another time, when Brigham Young was on his way to attend the dedicatory services at the opening of the Nephi meetinghouse, President Young stayed at Spanish Fork and upon his request, they accompanied him to Nephi where they stayed two days. In the early days a brass band was organized under the leadership of Charles H. Hales. Secondhand instruments were the only kind to be purchased. Citizens were serenaded on the Nation’s Birthday by strains of music, which if not sweet, were loud. William sold his only cow to purchase an instrument to join the band.

Spanish Fork at this time was a frontier settlement, and they organized companies of the Militia, it being necessary to protect the citizens from marauding Indians. William Creer was commissioned a Major of the 2nd Battalion of the 2nd regiment of the 2nd division of the Utah Militia District, in the early part of 1866. On the 20th day of June 1866, during what is known as the Black Hawk or Sanpete War, Major William Creer, in command with a party of 15 men, went in pursuit of 26 Indians, who had stolen some cattle and horses the night previous. The party was mounted and started soon after daybreak. They followed on the trail of the Indians, and overtook them, about 12 miles southeast of Springville, over the mountains on what is known as Little Diamond Creek in Spanish Fork Canyon. They immediately took positions below the Indians and stock so as to prevent their being driven down the canyon. This was about 11 am. They engaged the Indians for four hours or more and drove them from the canyon. Thirty-eight head of cattle and thirteen head of horses and mules were recovered. About noon, Albert Dimmick, one of the attacking party, recie3ved a wound in the abdomen, from a shot fired by one of the Indians, from which he died the following day. Chief Mountain was in command of the Indians and four of their number were slain.

William Creer was appointed Alderman of Spanish Fork to fill the vacancy by the resignation of George W. Wilkins, January 22,1866. He was elected at the regular election February 11. 1867 and served the following terms, 1867, 1869, 1871, and 1873.

From the money he received for his work on the transcontinental railway in Weber Canyon and at the Promontory, he purchased his first set of law books. They were very expensive. His wife had built her hopes on a new house, but when all of the hard earned money was spent on law books, she was sorely disappointed and wept. But it proved the best investment of his life. Having had but eight weeks of schooling, it was necessary for him to spend much time to acquire a knowledge of the law. He passed the bar in 1877.

He served as a trustee on the school board for a number of terms. In Spanish Fork’s early history, he was instrumental in securing the services of Professor Joseph A. Rees as an educator.

His church records show that he was baptized in England in 1844, by his father Edward Creer. He was ordained a Seventy June 7, 1857, by M. Caldwell, shortly after his arrival in Utah. He was one of the seven presidents of the Seventies at the time of his death.

William Creer was one of the first men in Utah to take a stand for women’s suffrage, and on his fiftieth birthday, the Women’s Suffrage Organization of Spanish Fork gave him a testimonial in recognition of his labors.

After Utah’s statehood and the division of the party lines he became a staunch democrat, and was ever active in politics. He was a member of the committee who drafted the constitution of the Spanish Fork Co-op. For a period of eight years he was a director. The Spanish Fork Co-op became one of the foremost companies in Utah doing business in that capacity, having successfully established a business, its purchases being just a little short of half a million dollars a year. Later he became president and held that office for many years.

William Creer says: “In January, 1879, I started for Arizona in company with President S. Bradford. We remained during the summer, assisting in commencing the settlement which is now known as St. Joseph.” (After his return home he fitted out Thomas Riley with an outfit and he went to St. Joseph.) “On the 16th of June 1877, I was admitted to the bar of the first Judicial District Court of the Territory of Utah, and in February of the following year was appointed attorney for Spanish Fork and continued in that office until the city election of 1883, when I was elected Mayor of Spanish Fork which office I held for the years of 1883, 1885, and 1886. I was appointed city attorney again and served from March 12, 1887 until January 1889.”

He was elected a member of the House of Representatives for the twenty-sixth session of the Utah Legislature from the District of Utah and Juab Counties, in 1884. Tulliges Magazine, in its history of Spanish Fork says, “Mayor William Creer, as a member of the last legislature which has just closed its session, was noticeable as one of the most able of the House, and one of the most available workers for the committee business. He was o the committees on Claims and Public Accounts, Manufacture and Commerce, Irrigation, Territorial Library, and was chairman of his committee on Private Corporations. On the floor of the House he pressed his measure with vigor and eagerness, and only yielded points to the opposition when the amendments were judicious, or the exceptions taken were approved by his own judgment. It may be that a legislative commission, appointed by Congress will for a while suspend the Utah Legislature, and if so, probably this will be the end of the people’s representatives until Utah is a state: in which case the honorable William Creer will be perpetuated as a member of the last of our Territorial legislatures and Spanish Fork will be credited with having sent, for the memorable sessions of 1884, one of the ablest representatives.”

Due to an accident, through which he broke his arm, complications developed and after two years of suffering, William Creer died at the family home at Spanish Fork on August 10, 1900.