My City February 2022

William B. McCreery 1865-67

Born in Mt. Morris, NY William Barber McCreery moved to Genesee County, MI with his family in 1838. At the age of 22, he became a lawyer but his occupation was put on hold when a year later, he enlisted with the Union Army as sergeant with Company F, 21st Infantry. During his time with the Army, McCreery rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and was injured a total of six times †ghting in the battles of Williamsburg, VA and Chickam- auga, GA where he was taken prisoner in 1862. Two years later, he escaped from Libby Prison in Virginia by way of a tunnel he dug with other prisoners. After †nding his way back to Union forces, McCreery was forced to resign due to disability caused by wounds and neglect. Upon returning to Flint, he married Ada Birdsall from Fenton. He then started the law †rm of Judd, McCreery and Avery, and owned a mill located on the Flint River. After his time as Mayor of Flint, McCreery became one of the directors of the Flint Water Works, director of the Chicago and North Eastern Railway, and the original stockholder of the Grand Trunk Railway. From 1871-74, he acted as U.S. Collector of Internal Revenue. He served as State Treasurer from 1874-78 and as the U.S. Consul to Valparaiso, Chile from 1890-93. After Ada’s death in 1884, he married Genevieve Decker from Flint. McCreery died in 1896 and was buried in Glenwood Cemetery.

Austin B. Witherbee 1867-68

Witherbee came to Flint with his parents in 1841. An industrious sort, he opened a self-named drug store (the now iconic Witherbee’s) as soon as he came of age.›e store was a success, but Witherbee had an even more grandiose plan. In 1858, he opened ›e Exchange Bank, Flint’s †rst legitimate banking institution, with partners Mr. Meigs and Mr. Stone. He managed the bank so well that in 1864, he bought out his partners and sold his drug store to Charles A. Mason. When the First National Bank was organized, With- erbee closed his bank and took the cashiership position with First National where he was content to †nish out his time. He died in 1871 and was buried in Glenwood Cemetery. 

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