John H. Creegan
John H. Creegan, Dealer in General Merchandise, Hardin, Ohio.
Mr. Creegan was born in Burlington, Iowa, October 22, 1845. He is a son of Daniel Creegan, who was a former resident of Shelby County, but afterward a citizen of Burlington, Iowa, where he died some time during the winter of 1864-65, from injuries received while in the army. His father, James Creegan, was one of the early surveyors of Shelby County, and John H. Creegan, subject of this sketch, is the only survivor of the name now living in Shelby County who is a descendant of the old surveyor Creegan. March 13, 1864, John H. Creegan enlisted in Company C, 2d Iowa V. V. I , and served until August 6, 1865, when he was discharged from the service. In the fall of 1865 he purchased a brush factory, which he conducted until the fall of 1867, manufacturing all kinds of brushes. He then engaged in the business of contracting and building, which he conducted several years. In 1868 he came to Ohio, and located in the neighborhood of Sidney, where he continued in this business of contracting and building. In 1869 he emigrated to Nebraska, remained until 1873, when he returned to Shelby County, and, on the 22d day of May, 1873, he married Miss N. Cecil, daughter of Boston and Sarah Cecil, of TurtIe Creek Township, and then returned to his home in Nebraska. In 1875 he and his wife went to California, and located in Nevada County, remained until the winter of 1878, when he returned to Shelby County, and settled in Hardin, where he carried on his business as a carpenter until April, 1880, when, leaving his wife in Hardin, he went to Colorado Springs under contract to superintend a. job of carpenter work, remained about nine months, and then returned to his home in Hardin. In March, 1881, he succeeded G. Sechman in the mercantile business in Hardin, which he has since been conducting with success.
From History of Shelby County, Ohio; R. Sutton & Co, Philadelphia PA, 1883