Born in Brooke County, Virginia, October 13, 1837, a son of William and Action (Harper) McCreary, both natives of Virginia, of German descent. He, at the age of ten years, began to work as a chore-boy on the farms in the vicinity of his birthplace. In 1856 he came to Iowa, and located at Centerville and was first employed as a teamster or cattle driver. In October, 1856, he was employed as clerk in the store of William Bradley, with whom he remained until the spring of 1858, when he went to Kansas, returning the following winter, and in the spring of 1859 took a trip to the mining regions of Colorado. In the fall of 1859 he returned to Centerville and again entered the store of William Bradley, remaining until July, 1862, when he enlisted in Company G, Thirty-sixth Iowa Infantry, and on the organization of the company was appointed First Lieutenant. In March, 1863, he was discharged on account of disability and returned to Centerville. After recovering sufficiently he visited his old home in Virginia, in the fall of 1863, and on returning to Centerville was again employed by Mr. Bradley. In September, 1865, he entered the employ of F. M. Drake, and remained until 1867. In 1868 he engaged in farming near Centerville, and in 1869 was employed as clerk in the drug store of Dr. S. W. Wright, and in 1873 engaged in business for himself. In December, 1872, he was married to Julia Lane. He was a member of the Thirtieth and Thirty-first Iowa General Assemblies, 1904-1906, representing Appanoose County.

Born in Brooke County, Virginia, October 13, 1837, a son of William and Action (Harper) McCreary, both natives of Virginia, of German descent. He, at the age of ten years, began to work as a chore-boy on the farms in the vicinity of his birthplace. In 1856 he came to Iowa, and located at Centerville and was first employed as a teamster or cattle driver. In October, 1856, he was employed as clerk in the store of William Bradley, with whom he remained until the spring of 1858, when he went to Kansas, returning the following winter, and in the spring of 1859 took a trip to the mining regions of Colorado. In the fall of 1859 he returned to Centerville and again entered the store of William Bradley, remaining until July, 1862, when he enlisted in Company G, Thirty-sixth Iowa Infantry, and on the organization of the company was appointed First Lieutenant. In March, 1863, he was discharged on account of disability and returned to Centerville. After recovering sufficiently he visited his old home in Virginia, in the fall of 1863, and on returning to Centerville was again employed by Mr. Bradley. In September, 1865, he entered the employ of F. M. Drake, and remained until 1867. In 1868 he engaged in farming near Centerville, and in 1869 was employed as clerk in the drug store of Dr. S. W. Wright, and in 1873 engaged in business for himself. In December, 1872, he was married to Julia Lane. He was a member of the Thirtieth and Thirty-first Iowa General Assemblies, 1904-1906, representing Appanoose County.