McDonough County Genealogical Society
Reverend Jonathan Ford Morris, Jr.
Few pioneer families could claim they helped populate McDonough County as quickly as Durham and Mary “Polly” Smith Creel. Their family grew deep roots in the county, with more than 56 grandchildren born here.
Durham Creel was born in Orange County, Virginia, in 1786. He married Mary “Polly” Smith in 1806, and they settled in Adair County, Kentucky. In 1833, not long after McDonough County and Macomb were established, the Creels moved to Illinois and settled northeast of Bardolph.
They brought their 11 children with them: Charles, Malinda J., James A., Mary A., Martitia Field, Micajah, Silas J., Durham Martin, Elizabeth Ann, John H., Sarah J., and Thomas Jefferson.
The Creel family was active in many aspects of early county life. Three sons—John, Silas and Durham—were veterans of the 1844 Mormon War. Dr. Durham Martin Creel served as an assistant surgeon with the 78th Illinois Infantry during the Civil War, from March 1864 to June 1865. He was also a Mason and later served as the town doctor in Industry until his death.
His brother John and his wife, Margaret, named one their son Jefferson Davis Creel in 1862, after the future Confederate president. It was perhaps a clue to the feelings of the Kentucky-raised Creels.
Religion and community service were also important to the family. Charles Creel, his mother Mary, and his wife, Parthena, were original members of Walnut Grove Presbyterian Church. Charles also served as superintendent of the county poor farm in 1863.
Durham and Mary Creel spent the rest of their lives in McDonough County and are buried together in Hamilton Cemetery.
The Creels didn’t just settle in McDonough County—they helped build the community, with their children and grandchildren becoming part of its early history.
Pioneers of the Past is furnished by Julie L. Terstriep, of the McDonough County Genealogical Society, facebook.com/mcdcgs. For more Pioneers of the Past, go to https://www.mcdcgs.com/ pioneers-of-the-past/
The Italianate Villa style home of J. Ford Morris from the 1871 Atlas Map of McDonough County, Illinois.
