Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 01: HISTORIES – Creech Family
Series 09: BIOGRAPHY – Families

Creech children of Uncle William and Aunt Sal standing next to Creech Cabin at School. [mott_3496_011x-.jpg]
TAGS: William and Sally Creech Family, Pine Mountain Settlement School, William Creech Sr., Sally Dixon Creech, Henry Creech, Delia Creech, Columbus Creech, Kentucky mountain families, genealogy charts, Uncle William Creech’s vision
WILLIAM and SALLY CREECH FAMILY
The Creech Family includes William Creech Sr. and Sally Dixon Creech, the founders and donors of the land for the Pine Mountain Settlement School, Pine Mountain, Kentucky. Today the family is broadly dispersed throughout the country. However, when William Creech came to the Pine Mountain Valley, he settled among other members of the extended Creech family who lived only a short distance from each other. As the successive generations grew and married, there were many families in the long valley who could claim “kin” to the Creeches.

Children of William Creech Sr. and Sally (Dixon) Creech, c. late 1930s or early 1940s. [creech_001.jpg]
WILLIAM and SALLY CREECH FAMILY: The Children of William and Sally Creech
The family of William Creech and Sally Dixon Creech was similar to the many mountain families who migrated into Central and Southern Appalachians. It was not uncommon for the mountain settlers to have large families. The average family size of these Appalachian settlers in the 19th and early 20th century was between 6 and 10 children.
Martha (died in infancy)
Rhoda (m. H. Wilder)
Columbus (b. 1881, m. Emily Hill)
Henry C. (m. Delia Blanton)
Nancy Ann (m. John M. Lewis)
William R. (m. Joany Minyard)
Polly (m. Ben Lewis, d. 1936)
Joe (m. Sudie [Susy] Smith)
Absolom (d. 1909)
WILLIAM and SALLY CREECH FAMILY: Uncle William Creech’s Vision for the School
The following newsletter, sent to friends of Pine Mountain Settlement School in 1916, describes Uncle William Creech’s vision for the new school and the advances of the School since its founding in 1913.
For a transcription of “Uncle William’s Letter,” go to CREECH LETTERS 1916.
- Newsletter sent to friends of Pine Mountain Settlement School in 1916, p. 01. [creech_028.jpg]
- Newsletter sent to friends of Pine Mountain Settlement School in 1916, p. 02. [creech_029.jpg]
WILLIAM and SALLY CREECH FAMILY: Other Resources
Early Settlers on the Poor Fork of the Cumberland River, Harlan County Kentucky and Adjoining Counties by Jackie Owen (1990) [out of print – Contains information on the Creech Family and related families as well as b/w photos, and an index. It also includes family charts, pages for recording births, marriages, and deaths and information on the families of: Adams, Ball, Blair, Branson, Caudill, Chadwell, Collier, Creech, Day, Ely, Ewing, Howard, Kelly, Napier, Nolan, Parker, Posey, Scott, Sims, Spencer, Turner, and others.]
The following information is quoted from the Owen source:
Henry [Branson], son of LEONARD AND POLLY GAY BRANSON, brother was Hezekiah. Henry b. ca 1790 in Maryland. d. 1849 in Harlan Co., KY, buried near Harlan. Married Elizabeth Hogarg of Virginia b. 1797, daughter of James Hogarg (Hoggard). Henry and Elizabeth were married in Scott Co., VA, then moved to Harlan Co. Branson is also spelled Bronson which is the spelling our line adopted.
Henry served in the 54th Regiment of the War of 1812 according to Knox Co., Ky, records. He is on the 1811 Knox Co. tax list. Received several land grants on Clover Lick Creek in Harlan Co. where he settled and started his family. In 1824, he sold land to Thomas Creech near a mill on Clover Lick. 1850 Harlan Co. census shows Elizabeth at 52 and head of household, two children at home, Hezekiah Jr. 22, and Abigail, 14. At the Jan. term of Harlan Court 1851, Roland Eversole, Henry J. Creech and William Campbell were appointed to “lay off” to Elizabeth Branson, widow of Henry Branson deceased…her dower…in the land of the said Henry Branson. They reported back to court in March 1851.
Henry and Elizabeth’s children were: Hannah b.1814 d.1859 (m. John Smith), Chole b.1815 (m. Ezekial Hall), Leonard Jr. b.1820 d.1862 (m. Elizabeth Brasher), Elizabeth b.18 Oct 1823 (m. Philip Whisman Hall), Sarah (Sally) b.1835?) (m. William Creech), James b.1824 d. Sept 1862 (m. Sarah Howard), Hezekiah b.1828 d. abt 1910 (m. Nancy Farmer), Catherine b.1829?, Richard b.1819?, Abigail b1821?, Lewis b.1825?
A more extensive genealogical history may be found in the privately published “The Creech Legacy” (1985), a tome of over 400 pages of family history.
Online resources such as Ancestry.com and other commercial genealogical sites may also be searched for those wanting additional information on this important Pine Mountain family.
Also, for assistance in researching histories of families in Eastern Kentucky, see: Harlan County, Kentucky Genealogy – FamilySearch Wiki
GALLERY: WILLIAM and SALLY CREECH FAMILY
[For additional photographs of the Creech Family, go to CREECH FAMILY and VI 37 FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS Creech Family.]
- “Aunt Sally Creech.” On back of photo: “Aunt Sal, wife of Uncle William Creech at her spinning wheel.” [kingman_079]
- XII Helen de Long Photograph Album. Aunt Sal Creech. [pmss3170_mod.jpg]
- Sally Creech. [melv_II_album_080_mod.jpg]
- “‘Aunt Sal’ Creech – retting flax.” [nace_II_album_059.jpg]
- William Creech as a young man. Drawing by Telling from original Civil War photograph. pmss00034_mod.jpg
- William Creech and Ethel de Long. [melv_II_album_074_mod.jpg]
- Ethel de Long, William Creech and (?). Katherine Pettit Album I. [pettit_36_004.jpg]
- William Creech. [roe_014_mod.jpg]
- William Creech. [melv_II_album_024_mod.jpg]
- “Uncle William Creech.” [kingman_076a]
- 018a P. Roettinger Album. “Uncle William giving a lesson in spreading flax.” [William Creech, standing in back, and 9 children in the field.]
- 0056b P. Roettinger Album. “Old Mr. Man, Uncle William and Lizzie.” [Philip Roettinger at left holding walking stick and plants, Elisabeth Roettinger in center holding plants, William Creech at right holding hat in hand.] [roe_056b]
- 0056a P. Roettinger Album.”On the mountain top. Uncle Wm. Creech and “Old Mr. Man [Philip Roettinger]” [Two older men: William Creech and Philip Roettinger sitting, Creech on left holding a cane, hat on the rock at left, Roettinger at right holding a walking stick.]
- 015b P. Roettinger Album. “Uncle William and little William.” [William Creech holding toddler boy, young girl and toddler girl standing to the right.]
- XII Helen de Long Photograph Album. Aunt Sal and Uncle William Creech, in front of their original cabin, celebrating their golden wedding anniversary, 1916.[pmss3182.jpg]
- Creech family members on the porch of the Creech Cabin. [mott_3496_008-.jpg]
- The Creech Cabin with members of the Creech Family to far right. [mott_3495_004-.jpg]
- “Uncle William and Aunt Sal Creech’s Grand Children and Great Grand Children.” [042_VI_friends_neigh_024.jpg]
- “Bill Creech, Gib Lewis, Columbus [Creech], Henry [Creech] Stir-off.” Maple sugar stir-off at the maple sugar camp. [kingman_071c.jpg]
- “Angela and Henry Creech.” Angela was the daughter of Henry & Delia Creech. [kingman_071b.jpg]
- “Henry Creech at Home.” [kingman_071a.jpg]
- “Oldest Person at Creech Reunion 1948. Interviewed by Henry Creech, Dorothy Nace.” [nace_II_album_007.jpg]
- “Henry Creech (l.) and Harrison Cornett (r.)” boiling down sorghum. [kingman_062b.jpg]
- VII 65 Life & Work. #1966. “40th Anniversary – Henry Creech and dedication of Pine Mountain Hospital.” [65_events-visitors_018.jpg]
- VII 65 Life & Work. “40th Anniversary – Henry Creech” in Chapel. [65_events-visitors_016.jpg]
- “Henry and Columbus Creech” demonstrating a dead-fall trap. [kingman_009b.jpg]
- “Emily Hill, Florence Daniels, ? Wolf, Columbus Creech.” [kingman_069c.jpg]
- Roettinger Album. “Columbus and Lizzie on the road to Hurricane Gap.” Elisabeth Roettinger, Columbus Creech. [Woman at left holding walking stick, man at right holding small parcel, walking down a trail.] [roe_068a.jpg]
- “Judge Lewis Lyttle, 1948” and “Columbus Creech.” [nace_II_album_075.jpg]
- 068b P. Roettinger Album. “Ethel and Columbus, Poorfork [River] and Black [Mtn.]. Miss McCullough and Columbus [Creech].” [Man and woman leaning against a wooden fence, dirt path in front, mountains in background.] [roe_068b.jpg]
- 053c P. Roettinger Album. “The giant yellow poplar. Columbus [Creech] and Lizzie.” [Elisabeth Roettinger] at left and man at right at base of tree.] [roe_053c.jpg]
See Also:
COLUMBUS CREECH Biography
CREECH COTTAGE
CREECH FAMILY
CREECH FAMILY HIGHLIGHTS
EMILY HILL CREECH Biography
DELIA CREECH Photograph Album
GUIDE TO CREECH FAMILY LETTERS Correspondence
HENRY C. CREECH Biography
JAMES COLUMBUS CREECH Family Collections Guide
OMA CREECH Biography
RUTH SMITH CREECH Biography
SALLY DIXON CREECH Biography
VI 37 FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS Creech Family Photographs
WILLIAM and SALLY CREECH FAMILY
WILLIAM CREECH Biography
WILLIAM CREECH A SHORT SKETCH OF MY LIFE Autobiography
WILLIAM CREECH FAMILY BUSINESS RECORDS 1903 – 1931
Return To:
FAMILIES in the Pine Mountain Valley Community GUIDE
Title |
William and Sally Creech Family |
Alt. Title |
William and Sally Dixon Creech Family |
Identifier |
|
Creator |
Pine Mountain Settlement School, Pine Mountain, KY |
Alt. Creator |
Ann Angel Eberhardt ; Helen Hayes Wykle ; |
Subject Keyword |
Pine Mountain Settlement School ; William & Sally Creech Family ; William Creech Sr. ; Sally Dixon Creech ; Henry Creech ; Delia Creech ; Columbus Creech ; Kentucky mountain families ; genealogy charts ; Uncle William Creech’s vision |
Subject LCSH |
Creech Family. |
Date |
2014-07-29 ; Date digital: 2008-06-30 ; 2015-03-22 ; |
Publisher |
Pine Mountain Settlement School, Pine Mountain, KY |
Contributor |
Family of William and Sally Dixon Creech |
Type |
Collections ; text ; image ; |
Format |
Original and copies of documents and correspondence in file folders in filing cabinet. |
Source |
Series 09: Biography – Families ; Series 4A: Pine Mountain Settlement School History – Creech Family. |
Language |
English |
Relation |
Is related to: Pine Mountain Settlement School Collections, Series 09: Biography – Families ; Series 4A: Pine Mountain Settlement School History – Creech Family. |
Coverage Temporal |
1911 – |
Coverage Spatial |
Pine Mountain, KY ; Harlan County, KY ; Jane, KY ; |
Rights |
Any display, publication, or public use must credit the Pine Mountain Settlement School. Copyright retained by the creators of certain items in the collection, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law. |
Donor |
Creech family and associated friends of Pine Mountain Settlement School. |
Description |
Core documents, correspondence, writings, and administrative papers of the Creech Family ; clippings, photographs, books by or about the Creech Family; |
Acquisition |
n/d |
Citation |
“[Identification of Item],” [Collection Name] [Series Number, if applicable]. Pine Mountain Settlement School Institutional Papers. Pine Mountain Settlement School, Pine Mountain, KY. |
Processed By |
Helen Hayes Wykle ; Ann Angel Eberhardt ; |
Last Updated |
2008-06-30 hhw ; 2015-03-22 hhw ; 2018-03-19 hhw ; 2018-08-12 aae ; |
Bibliography |
Source(s) Creech Family Records. Series 4A: Pine Mountain Settlement School History – Creech Family. Pine Mountain Settlement School Institutional Papers. Pine Mountain Settlement School, Pine Mountain, KY. Archival material. The Creech Legacy, [History of the Creech Family] Pine Mountain Settlement School Institutional Papers. Pine Mountain Settlement School, Pine Mountain, KY. Archival material. Bibliography Early Settlers on the Poor Fork of the Cumberland River, Harlan County Kentucky and Adjoining Counties by Jackie Owen (1990) [out of print]. |
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