WILLIAM CREIGHTON (who always wrote his name with the addition of "jr." to distinguish himself from an older cousin of the same name who resided here), was born in Berkeley county, Virginia, in the year 1777, came to Chillicothe in 1799, and was admitted to practice here in the same year. He soon established himself in the favorable regards of the people by the industry and conscientiousness with which he applied himself to the interests of his clients. His practice grew steadily larger and larger for many years; but as cases in those days were not such as could pay large fees, and Mr. Creighton did not, to any considerable extent, seek to get and hold real estate, he never became a very wealthy man.
While he was eminently industrious and painstaking in his business, he was not equally industrious as a student of the law. In fact, Mr. Creighton held that the law was simply good sense and sound judgment crystallized into certain forms and rules, and he trusted greatly to evolving from his own sense and judgment what those rules were, or ought to be, in any given case. He was not much addicted to hunting up precedents or quoting decided cases. When, in later times, more exact knowledge of the science of the law, and better acquaintance with the reported cases, were required for successful practice, he was fortunate in associating himself in partnership with William Key Bond, and afterwards, and finally, with John L. Green.
Nor had Mr. Creighton any pretensions to oratory. His style of speaking was conversational; ready, easy, fluent, and pleasant enough, but never impassioned. He aimed to amuse with his wit, rather than to enthuse those he addressed "with thoughts that breathe and words which burn."
He dearly loved and freely indulged in practical jokes and fun. An hundred anecdotes of these might be readily gathered from the memories of men yet living, but of all we have heard there is not one which we would dare to put into type.
He always took a deep interest in political affairs, and was an ardent Whig after that party was organized, and was especially devoted to the fortunes of Henry Clay. He was elected to congress, and represented this portion of Ohio from 1815 to 1817, and again from 1827 to 1833.
In the latter year he resigned his position as representative for the purpose of accepting the office of district judge of the United States court, to which he was nominated by the president, but was disappointed by reason of the senate having refused to confirm the appointment.
In person, Mr. Creighton was a large man, nearly, or quite, six feet in height, large-boned but not fleshy, weighed, perhaps, one hundred and eighty pounds. His hair was dark brown, and never became very gray; he had gray eyes, rather deep set and over-shaded with heavy brows. He habitually carried his head advanced, which made him appear somewhat round-shouldered. His expression of face was always gravely good-humored. He was fond of entertaining his friends and distinguished strangers, and was a generous and genial host. Henry Clay, DeWitt Clinton, and many more historic men have sat at his table. Judge Safford, who occupied the old Creighton mansion, at the corner of Water and High streets, after Mr. Creighton's death, showed us a single account paid by him for madeira, port, sherry and Malaga wines, brandy, and whiskey, which footed up three hundred and fifty-five dollars.
William Creighton died here, in September [sic], 1851.
