McCREA, Edward T. (Capt) - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Captain Edward T. McCrea died at 7:20 o’clock Wednesday morning, April 7, at his home one half mile southeast of New Richmond, death resulting from hardening of the arteries. Mr. McCrea had been sick since early last fall and failed rapidly.  Edward T. McCrea was born near Southland in Shelby county, April 20,1836, and was almost 79 years old at his death. He grew to manhood in the bounty of his birth, and where lie strove hard for an education, this ho gained through ceaseless toil on the farm, a few short months in the primitive schools, and short time tutorships under different masters. About 1858 he entered Franklin college, but there his education was cut short by the call to arms for his country. He enlisted for the cause of thd north and went to the war in August, 1861, and served to its close. He became captain of his company, Co D , 33rd Regiment of Indiana Volunteers. Mr. McCrea had been a member of the Grand Army of the Republic for the past fifteen years. In his service for his country of four years he was in eighteen battles. He was married in Martinsville July 31, 1867, to Jessie Louise Draper of Bloomington. The wife survives him, as do also the three sous born of them, Edward H. McCrea, living at home, William McCrea of Greenfield, and John McCrea of New Richmond. He is also survived by three grand children. One brother and three sisters are yet living—Sam McCrea and Mrs. Mary Davis of Shelbyville, Mrs. Emma Dodd of Morristown, and Mrs. Margaret Moore of Oklahoma Mr. and Mrs. McCrea, shortly following their wedding day, came to New Richmond to make their home, and settled on the farm which had remained their home for these 47 years. He was an honored citizen of the community, and his experience and sound counsel were often sought by his friends and the people of the community, knowing that he ever held the best interests of his friends and neighbors a sacred trust. Every man was his friend. In public life he was a republican, and served his country as best his conscience directed him for the greatest good to his fellow man. He served Montgomery county as its representative in the Indiana legislature from 1897 to 1899. He was also Coal Creek township’s first republican trustee in its history and served the people’s Interests well for one term beginning in 1886.Mr. McCrea early in life became a Christian and a doer of God’s work in the land.  He first joined the Baptist Church in his boyhood but had been a member of the New Richmond Methodist Church for more than 40 years.  He was also a member of the New Richmond Lodge of Masons.  Mr. McCrea leaves a host of friends who mourn his death today and in sympathy weep with his loved ones left behind. His was an exemplary life, a genial spirit, a charitable friend of man and an honest doer of life’s ceaseless toil in all things that count for the good of humanity. He has gained his well earned reward.  The funeral will occur from the Methodist church at 10 o’clock Friday morning, the funeral service to be in charge of the pastor, Rev. H. D Dick. Interment will be made in the New Richmond cemetery.

Will McCrea and wife of Greenfield who were called here Wednesday of last week because of the death of his father returned to Greenfield Sunday.  Mrs. McCrea will return the end of the week for a week’s visit.  – kbz

Dr. Sam P. McCrea, a brother, Mrs. Lora Blair, Ed Comstock and wife and Frank Doble and wife, nieces and nephews, all of Shelbyville attended the funeral of Capt. ET McCrea Saturday.  – kbz

Edward Templeton McCrea was born in Shelby county, Indiana, near the village of Smithland, April 20, 1836; and departed this life April 7, 1915; aged 79 years, He was the son of John and Eliza McCrea who conducted a tan yard and was the fifth in a family of ten and the fifth to leave this world. All of this large family lived to be old and all with two exceptions lived beyond 70 years. The surviving members are Mrs. Mary Davis and Dr, S. P. McCrea of Shelbyville, Ind., Mrs. Emma Dodds, Morristown, Ind., Mrs. Margaret Moore of Oklahoma, and Mrs. Harriet Piatt of Kansas. When Edward was 16 he was sent to Franklin college where he spent two years. He also attended Hanover college one year. At the close of his college career he taught school for some time and for six months served ns postmaster of Marietta, Ind. In August, 1861, at the age of 25, he organized Company D of the 33rd Indiana volunteer infantry at Shelbyyille, and was elected captain of the company, The 33rd regiment was a part of the western army, or army of the Cumberland, and took part in many battles. The first man killed in the army of the Cumberland was Lewis McFarran who lost his life in the battle of Wildcat, Kentucky. He was a member of Co. D and a boyhood friend of Captain McCrea. During the Georgia campaign Colonel Coburn of the 133rd was captured and taken to Libby prison, and during his absence Captain McCrea was in command of the regiment for six months. Returning from the war, he practiced law in Shelbyville for some time and July 31, 18(57, was married in Martinsville, Indiana, to Jessie Lou Draper of Bloomington, Ind. To this marriage three sons were born, and they with the wife and three grandsons survive him.  With the exception of one year in Ellettsville, Ind., Mr. and Mrs. McCrea lived for nearly 48 years at the home where he passed away. During this time he followed farming in which he was very successful. From 1886 to 1888 he was Trustee of Coal Creek township, being the only republican up to that time who had ever held that office. He also served two terms as a member of the Indiana legislature, from 1895 to 1899, He was a member of the Methodist church at New Richmond for nearly half n century; also a member of the Masonic Lodge. He was a man of good judgment and business ability and during his active years his advice and counsel were often asked for. In his passing away the community has lost one of its most valuable members. It is hard for me to realize that Captain McCrea has gone away. Of iron constitution and rugged health he had never been sick a day in his life and I never thought of him in connection with death. In his going I have lost one of my two best friends but I am consoled by the reflection that he lived a long and honorable life. In my memory he still lives and I believe at some time and place I will see him again.  I think of him when as a boy he played at the old tan yard near Smithland.  As a young Captain of infantry, drawing his sword in defense of the Union, when in the vigor and strength of his manhood he delighted my childish imagination with tales of the Civil War; of our many pleasant wanderings over Old Smokey Row and Crab Orchard farms; and of the last sad scene when overtaken by age and disease he went down to the brink of the dark river and embarked without fear for the other shore – communicated!

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