McCrea, Lewis

Posted By: Bruce McCrea
Date: 2 December 2001

LEWIS ANDREW MCCREA AND ORA BELLE (BAYMAN) MCCREA

This is a slightly revised version of a biography I wrote for the Families of Darke County book a few years ago.

LEWIS ANDREW MCCREA was born August 2, 1857, at Fair Hill, Maryland. He was the son of Samuel and Martha (Ball) McCrea. ORA BELLE BAYMAN was born March 30, 1862, in Wayne Township, Darke County, Ohio, one mile west of Webster. She was the daughter of James and Katharine (Huddle) Bayman.

Lewis McCrea learned the trade of stone mason in Maryland from his father. He moved to Webster about 1879, joining his cousin Cloyd McCrea. The 1880 Wayne Township census lists Lewis McCrea, stone mason, age 23, living with the Charles Seifert family next door to J.W.C. (Cloyd) McCrea and his family.

Ora Belle (Bayman) McCrea's obituary states, "She was born in Wayne Township, one mile west of Webster, where she spent her girlhood. She was raised in a Christian home, and in young womanhood joined the United Brethren Church at "The Old Chapel". Few people remain who remember where this church stood. After the Methodist Church was built at Webster, she transferred her membership to that church." The 55 acres where her home was located are in the southeast ¼ of Section 36, Township 11, Range 3. This land was purchased by her father, James Bayman, from his brother-in-law, Levi Huddle, on November 21, 1849. It has been in the family ever since and is currently the home of Lee Conway. This United Brethren Church was part of the Stillwater Circuit and was located in the southwest corner of the southeast ¼ of Section 36. James Bayman was the leader of this congregation during the 1860s. He died April 20, 1876, when Ora Belle Bayman was 14 years old.

Lewis McCrea and Ora Belle Bayman were married in Darke County, Ohio, on June 14, 1885. According to Lewis's obituary, "He saw the passing of the log house and log barn. Over two hundred houses and barns stand on foundations laid by him and his helpers, besides five churches and fifteen schoolhouses. In 1893 he was converted and joined the Methodist Church at Webster, Ohio. Never missing a service when health permitted and was one of its liberal supporters." The McCreas lived in Webster. Minutes of the Webster town council at the Wright State University library show that Lewis first became a councilman in April, 1888, and served on the council off and on through the 1890's. He was mayor of Webster from 1902 to 1908. He was elected in 1902 and reelected in 1904 and 1906 as the Democratic candidate. He was the last mayor Webster had as the town voted to unincorporate on Feb. 18, 1908. His salary as mayor was raised to $10 a year on Dec. 26, 1905. As an example of wages of that period, town records show that on Oct. 24, 1904, he was paid $4.68, $2.18 for 1¾ days shoveling gravel @ $1.25 and $2.50 for 1 day hauling gravel @ $2.50.

Lewis and Ora Belle McCrea had three children. They are:
MANSEL LEVI MCCREA - born Nov. 14, 1888, married March 16, 1910 to Grace Floretta Martin (May 22, 1889 - April 4, 1983), 2 children, died Oct. 28, 1975.
KENNARD B. MCCREA - born Feb. 10, 1894, married (1), divorced, Alma Davidson (no children), married (2) Sept. 20, 1940, Matilda Hagenbush (Kiser) (Dec. 7. 1900 - Sept. 12, 1988)(no children), died Dec. 3, 1978.
SARAH OPAL MCCREA - born July 31, 1896, died Aug. 12, 1908.

Ora Belle Bayman McCrea died Nov. 14, 1939. Lewis Andrew McCrea died Sept. 27, 1951. They are buried in Greenlawn Cemetery in Versailles, Ohio.

Submitted by Bruce McCrea, 1614 Peppertree Lane, Lansing, Michigan 48912-3721.

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