Career
Born in the town of Ridgeway, Iowa County, Wisconsin, Cretney was a building contractor and President of the State Bank of Arena. Cretney was also in the real estate business and had invented and patented a system of traffic signs. Cretney served as president of the village of Ridgeway and was a Republican.
In 1915, Cretney served in the Wisconsin State Assembly.
He then moved to Madison, Wisconsin and served as sergeant at arms in the Wisconsin Assembly. Cretney died in Madison, Wisconsin after a long illness.
