George Gideon Creager

George Gideon Creager, a prominent early settler of Harrison Twp., Henry County, was born in Maryland March 31, 1810. He was the son of Cornelius and Mary Buck Creager and a grandson of Conrad Creager. Cornelius was a teacher and Gideon also taught.

They came to Ohio settling near Dayton in 1812. They remained there about twenty years, then moved to Seneca County. Gideon had two sisters, Julia and Adeline. Cornelius died in Seneca County and is buried near Republic, Ohio.

Gideon married Christina Shonkwiler in 1838. Christina, a daughter of Daniel Shonkwiler, was born in Sciota County July 23, 1818. They had a family of thirteen children: Harriet, Jemima, Daniel, Benjamin, Carolyn, Oscar, Delos and Margaret were born in Seneca County. In 1852 when Margaret was three months old the family moved to Henry County. Gideon's mother came with them.

My father Oren Henry was their first child after coming to Henry County. He was born April 25, 1854. Then Seldon, Veona, Mary and Clement were added to the family.

Oren married Elza McEwen, a daughter of James and Elizabeth Ingle McEwen, December 24, 1876. They lived in Harrison Township until 1878 when they moved to Holgate, Ohio. He worked for his father-in-law in the store for several years, then worked in the stave mill until moving back to Harrison Township in 1895. They had four children, an infant son died December 1, 1879, Harry born March 3, 1881, died August 1968, Laura, born July 31, 1884, died April 1, 1887, and Ethel, born August 11, 1893.

Ethel married William F. Hess, a son of Lewis and Elizabeth Pfau Hess, October 12, 1921. He was born June 1, 1892 and died March 6, 1966. There are three children, Wilma, Virginia and William E.

Submitted by: Mrs. Wm. F. Hess