O. Wade Creath
The biographies of the representative men of a county bring to light many hidden treasures of mind, character and courage, well calculated to arouse the pride of their families and of the community, and it is a source of regret that the people are not more familiar with the personal history of such men, in the ranks of whom may be found tillers of the soil, mechanics, teachers, as well as lawyers, physicians, bankers and members of other vocations and professions. The subject of this sketch is distinctively one of the leading citizens of the township in which he lives, and as such has made his influence felt among his fellowmen and earned a name for enterprise, integrity and honor that entitles him to worthy notice in a work of the nature of this volume.
O. Wade Creath, present mayor of the village of Bloomingburg, Ohio, and manager of the Home Telephone Company of that place, was born on November 18, 1870, in Madison county, near Mount Sterling, on the old Creath homestead, where his father also was born and raised. He is the son of William Allen Creath. a short sketch of whose career will be found elsewhere in this volume. His mother was Mary E. McCafferty, who is deceased. William Allen Creath, who is a life-long farmer, is now living in retirement. The subject is one of a family of four children, being the third child in order of birth. Eva, the oldest of the family, is Mrs. William Parker and resides near Bloomingburg. Minnie is the wife of Dr. J. E. Holmes, of Columbus, while Clarence, the youngest of the family, practices dentistry in St. Paul. Minnesota. His wife before her marriage was Alene Schrader and they have one child, Willard.
Mr. Creath received his elementary education in the schools of Bloomingburg, later receiving the more advanced grades at Wooster, this state. After completing his studies at that point, he for a time attended the university at Ann Arbor, Michigan. He returned to Bloomingburg, where for a time he was connected with a general store and then at the outbreak of hostilities between our nation and Spain he enlisted for service with Company D, Eighth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, going from Wooster. He saw active service and was at Santiago, Cuba, at its fall, After the close of the war he returned here and some time later became interested in telephone service. He was instrumental largely in bringing the telephone service of the county up to its present high state of efficiency and for some time has been manager of the Home Telephone Company. Mr. Creath's political afifiliation is with the Republican party and on that ticket he was, in November, 1911, elected to the office of mayor of Bloomingburg, and again elected in November. 1913, which position he fills with efficiency at the present time. He has for many vears taken an active part in the politics oi this locality and is regarded as one of the best workers of his party. His religious affiliation is with the Presbyterian church, to which he gives loyal support. Mr. Creath is a man of energy and laudable ambitions, as witnessed by the fact that he is at present reading law with a view to completing his studies begun at Ann Arbor some years back. In this endeavor he bids fair to attain a gratifying degree of success for, aside from his unswerving integrity and courteous manner, he possesses a quiet firmness which will serve him wel! in his chosen vocation. Practically Mr. Creath's entire life has been passed in this locality and throughout the years he has been true to every trust imposed in him of whatsoever nature. He possesses a kindly and genial disposition, is a pleasing companion and readily makes friends. He is well informed on a wide range of topics and with his native ability and the determination he has to rise still further on the ladder of success, he bids fair in the years to come to place himself still further in the forefront of Fayette county's leading: citizens.
From History of Fayette County Ohio - Her People, Industries and Institutions by Frank M. Allen (1914, R. F. Bowen & Company, Inc.)