Wayne County Press
Thursday
Apr. 22, 1920
p1

The funeral of the late Judge Jacob R. Creighton, who died shortly before noon last Wednesday, took place at the M.E. church at two o'clock on Friday April 16th.

The body had lain in state there from noon until the hour of the funeral. Rev. J. W. Flint, pastor of the church, conducted the funeral services, which were simple. A quartet composed of W. O. Boze, Walter C. Sams, H. O. Brockett and Oscar Murphy rendered two vocal numbers. Miss Corine Jessop very sweely [sic] sang Bishop Quayle's "Resurrection Hymn". Judge John L. Cooper read the obituary appearing below. At the cemetery at Maple Hill the local Masonic order gave its ritualistic service. A number of the members of the Centralia Commandery were present in uniform, but did not go to the cemetery.

Those from outside of the county to attend the funeral were: Judge Kinsall, Judge McKernon, Thos. Daily, Marsh Wirthart, and Judge W. B. Phillips, of Shawneetown; Judge E. C. Kramer, and J. D. Shaeffer, of East St. Louis; Judge J. C. Eagleton and E.E. Newlin of Robinson; Judge J. C. Kern, of Carmi; Judge Conrad Schul, Judge Wm. K. Green, Curtis Williams, Fred P. Watson, of Mt. Vernon; Judge Wm. Hart, of Benton; Judge J. H. Lane, of McLeansboro; Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Morris, of St. Louis; Mr. and Mrs. Zach H. Deem, wife and children Dorothy, Thomas and Joseph of New Albany, Indiana.

Jacob R. Creighton son of John McClure and Mary Ann Creighton, was born in White county, Illinois, August 24th, 1848. His earthly life closed at his home in Fairfield April 14th, 1920. He had lived 71 years, 7 months and 20 days. He was one of nine children of which six sons and and one daughter have now passed away.Two brothers, namely, John M. and Thomas F. both of Wayne county, survive.

Mr. Creighton was married to Miss Lucretia E. Bonham, November 29th, 1888. Two sons, Edward W. and John M., with one daughter, Miss Mary, came to bless the home. These all survive as ornaments in society and a great comfort to their mother.

In early manhood Mr. Creighton was converted and became a member of the M. E, church, at Ebenezer, under the ministry of the late C. W. ----. As a young christian he was very active in all of the work of the church. His membership was transferred to the First M. E. church in Fairfield during the pastorate of Rev. ---- Cates, in August, 1910. He has been a faithful member and strong supporter of the church in all of its enterprises.

He was intensely interested in the great Centenary movement --- all of the forward enterprises of ----. His support and interest will be greatly missed.

His heart had been failing for several years, much more rapidly during the last few months. He clearly appreciated his approaching change for which he quietly waited. A few days since he was asked by his wife if he had any fear of death. To this question he replied: "No, all fear is taken away, and we have great confidence." He suffered much, but in great patience. As the hour of his departure drew near, he looked death in the face, calm and unafraid.

As the aim of his life had been to mete out equal and exact justice to all, so he readily commited hmself to the Judge of All the Earth and quietly p[assed on to join the majority of the family and mingle with the great company who have washed their robes and made them ---- in the blood of the Lamb. He has entered into the fadeless fellowship of glory. Peace and honor to his memory.

Judge Creighton was admitted to the bar in 1875, and from that time until the day of his death was in public life. Five years after his admission to practice he was elected as State's Attorney of this county, and he was again elected in 1884 and served until 1888, always with credit to his constituents and to himself. In 1888 he was nominated by the Democratic partyfor the office of Attorney General of Illinois, and showed the confidence the people had in him by running many votes ahead of the remainder of the state ticket.

From 1888 until 1903 Judge Creighton was in the general practice of the law, not only in his home county, but throughout thesouthern part of the statdee. During this time the firm of which he was a member, Creighton and Kramer, were the attorneys for Illinois for the Southern Railway Company and the B. & O. S. W. Ry. Co. with offices in both this city and at East St. Louis.

In June 1903 he was elected Judge of the Circuit Court for the Second District, and was reelected in June 1909, serving until 1915. In his service on the bench he gained the reputation, throughout Illinois, of a fair, just and ----- Judge, and in 1912 he was selected by the Supreme Court as one of the Justices of the Appellate Court in the Springfield District, for the term ending June 1915.

As is well known, the work in that district requires a high grade of judicial training due to the fact that the constitutionality of many of the acts of the General Assembly are tested there, that being the seat of the state government. After serving for about a year and a half he asked the Supreme Court to relieve him from service in the Appellate Court because the work in the Circuit Court was getting behind and needed his services.

When he retired from the Appellate Court, not a single case brought to him was left undetermined. In 1914 Judge Creighton was appointed as Assistant Attorney General under Hon. P.J. Lucey, and served for that? year. he was assigned to the important work of advising and looking into the legal work of the Insurance Department and the office of the Auditor of Public Accounts. He was actively interested in the affairs of his party, and was recognized as one of its careful and able advisors not only locally but in the state and nation.

In 1916 he was appointed as a member of the finance committee of the National Committee of the Democratic party and rendered valuable aid to the committee and the party. In 1912 he was a delegate from this district to the National convention of his party at Baltimore, and cast his ballot for the nomination of Mr. Wilson.

In 1916 Judge Creighton was named as one of the eight delegates at large from Illinois to the Democratic National Convention at St. Louis, his associates being Gov. Edward F. Dunne, Roger C. Sullivan, Carter H. Harrison, Robert M. Sweitzer, Robert E. Burke, Jackson M. Pierce and Henry T. Rainey.

On the 25th day of June 1917 he was appointed as a member of the local exemption board of this county, and served until the 20th of September, 1918, as chairman of the board. In this difficult position he never avoided a duty, no matter how unpleasant or evaded any responsibility in the least. As he did in all his other public duties he gave his best in this work and it was only after repeated urgings from his friends that he resigned from the position. To those who watched the course of events it is well known that the intense interest and untiring efforts given to the work of the local board had much to do with the break down of the great strength with which nature had endowed him. Taken from any point of view Judge Creighton always measured up to the highest standard and in every walk of life played the part of a man.

When he retired from the bench, one who knew him said: "He was noted throughout the circuit for having the courage necessary to do what he believed to be right, under all circumstances. During the twelve years he served as Judge of the Circuit Court he won an enviable reputation for being a big, broadminded man, and was universally recognized as one of the great impartial judges of the state.