Jacob Creath was a Canadian-born clergyman. He was commonly called Elder Jacob Creath, Sr. , to distinguish him from his nephew Jacob, whose career was somewhat similar.
Background
Jacob Creath was born on February 22, 1777 in Nicholasville, Kentucky, United States. The Creath family was prolific in preachers and influential in the religious development of the Southwest. At least one of Jacob's brothers and five of his nephews were ministers. He was the son of Samuel and Susan (Moore) Creath. In 1784 his father, having been in prison for seven years because of his sympathy with the American Revolutionists, was given twenty days to leave Canada or be hanged. He brought his family to New York, from which place they went to Cherry Valley, Pennsylvania and finally in 1786 settled in Grassy Creek, Granville County, North Carolina.
Education
He had no advantages in school; in fact, he did not attend school.
Career
In 1795 he joined the Grassy Creek Baptist Church. According to a contemporary, however, being a spritely lad, he attracted the attention of a Colonel Carter of Culpeper County, Virginia, who reared him in his own home, where the youth fell in love with his benefactor's daughter whom he married.
He began to preach at the age of eighteen, and in April 1798, was ordained at Roundabout Meeting House, Louisa County, Virginia. After serving as pastor in Mathews County, Virginia, he migrated to Kentucky in 1803 where he became a member of the Elkhorn Association. For the remainder of his life he was conspicuous in the religious affairs of the state.
Thomas Campbell was much impressed with his abilities as a speaker, and Henry Clay is said to have called him "the finest orator that Kentucky has ever produced. " In spite of his evangelical effectiveness, however, he proved a disturbing element among the Baptists. A personal difference with Jacob Lewis over a slave trade in which friends of both parties took sides, became a cause célèbre, and led Elder Elijah Craig to issue a pamphlet entitled, A Portrait of Jacob Creath, written with a pen "dipt in poison. " Creath was acquitted of its charges by a council of churches, but the affair disrupted the Elkhorn Association and brought about the formation of the Licking Association.
By 1830, he had become one of the leading champions of Campbellism in that section of the state, and his church with others was dropped from the Baptist connection.
Achievements
Jacob Creath has been listed as a noteworthy clergyman by Marquis Who's Who.
Religion
Creath united with the Baptist Church at the age of twelve but in his late years he became a part of the Christian movement, that was called Restoration movement or Campbellism.
Membership
Creath was a member of the Elkhorn Association.
Personality
He was of good appearance, "inclined to be foppish in his dress, " and "possessed a fine tact for carrying the populace with him. " He was also charged with being bold, aspiring, and ambitious.
For the last seven years of his life he was totally blind.
Connections
Creath was married, January 24, 1799, to Milly V. Carter, whose father, Job, however, is said to have hailed from Lancaster County, Virginia.
