Polk Co. IAGenWeb

CRESSEY, CAPT. F. J. — Frederick J. Creesey was born at Columbus, Ohio, March 3, 1840. He is one of a pair of twins, his twin brother being Rev. Frank B. Cressey, a Baptist minister of prominence, now located at Detroit, Michigan. In 1846 his father, Rev. Timothy R. Cressey, who, for thirty years, was one of the most noted Baptist ministers in the West, removed to Indianapolis, Indiana, from whence, six years later, he removed his family to St. Paul, Minnesota, then a mere town of three thousand inhabitants, a third of whom were half-breed Sioux Indians. In this place and the adjoining towns of Hastings and Minneapolis (the site of the latter place having been seen by Mr. Cressey when it was simply a wild prairie and patch of hazel brush, with not a house in sight anywhere), the subject of this sketch spent eight years of his youth. At the age of twenty years he added to his somewhat limited education, the advantages of a freshman and a sophomore year at Dennison University, Granville, Ohio. It was at this time that the roar of cannon, sighted on Fort Sumter, reverberated from the shores of South Carolina throughout the land, and the greatest rebellion the world ever saw was inaugurated. Mr. Cressey at once threw down his Latin grammar, shouldered a musket and joined the noble army of patriots to defend the flag of our nation. He enlisted in company B, Seventeenth Ohio infantry, going to the field in twelve days after the fall of Sumter. Upon the expiration of his three months he enlisted for three years in company D, One Hundred and Thirteenth Ohio infantry, serving faithfully till December 15, 1863, when, as the result of a competitive examination, and for special bravery at the terrible battle of Chickamauga, Mr. Cressey was promoted to the position of captain, company G, Fourteenth regiment, United States volunteer infantry, receiving his commission direct from the Secretary of War. After over four years active military service, during which time he braved death in eleven different engagements, and received frequent mention by superior officers for personal daring and cool bravery, Capt. Cressey was honorably discharged at Nashville, Tennessee, March 26, 1866, and with his young wife, Ella Graves, came at once to Des Moines, Iowa, where he has since resided. Patriotism runs in the blood of the Cressey family. The father and five sons were in the Union army during the great rebellion, and served with personal distinction. Since the war Capt. Cressey has given his entire time to the insurance business, for which he seems peculiarly fitted. For three years he was special agent and adjuster of losses for the Pacific Insurance Co. of San Francisco. Also for four years in a similar position with the Continental Insurance Co. of N. Y. He is now manager for Kansas of the Provident Savings Life Assurance Society of N. Y., a position his energy, self-reliance, genial manners and courteous bearing eminently fit him to occupy. Possessing a nervous-sanguine temperament, he is active, vivacious and popular in social circles. The teachings of his eminent and truly good father, who died at Des Moines, August 30, 1870, after a gospel ministry of over forty-two years, are evidenced in the fact that four of his sons are Baptist ministers, of which denomination the subject of this sketch has for twenty-five years been a member. His mother, now living in Des Moines, is the eldest daughter of the late Jonathan Going, D. D., who died in 1844 while president of Granville College, Ohio. Capt. Cressey was first married February 21, 1865, at Granville, Ohio, to Miss Ella Graves, youngest daughter of Ashley Graves, Esq., a young lady of rare personal piety and beauty of character. She died at Des Moines, February 21, 1869, having been four years a wife, leaving one son, Frank Graves, who lives to honor the name of his dead mother. November 26, 1871, the subject of our sketch married Miss Nora Hall, eldest daughter of Hon. Henry Hall, at Walworth, Wisconsin. She was a woman of energy, warm friendship and Christian zeal. She died very suddenly at Des Moines on the first anniversary of her marriage, just one year a bride. Her nameless infant waa buried with her. Capt. Cressey's third marriage occurred September 1, 1875, at Anamosa, Iowa, when he was united to his present wife, Miss Imogene Alderman, daughter of Capt. E. B. Alderman, now living at Marion, Iowa. Two daughters, Stella Alderman and Lena Imogene, have come to them as the result of that union. Capt. Cressey is a man of fine personal appearance, courteous and affable, energetic and persevering He is positive in his nature, and therefore strong in his likes and dislikes. He readily reads character, fully appreciates true friendship, and as cordially hates hypocrisy in all forms. He is a self-made man and a good type of Western character.