Introduction
Elizabeth “Lizzie McCreight was born in Ohio around September of 1859 to John A. and Celia McCreight. She was musically talented and was a music teacher in Camden for well over 40 years.
John A. McCreight was in he real estate business. The family was living in Springfield Ohio when the 1860 Census was enumerated. The family was in Bolivar, West Virginia when the 1870 Census was taken.
The 1888–1889 Camden City Directory shows the McCreight family, which included a sister, C. Eva McCreight, living at 309 State Street. Lizzie McCreight remained at 309 State Street through 1890. John McCreight and his wife are not listed in the 1890–1891 City Directory, it could be that they had left the city. John McCreight had died by the time the 1891–1892 City Directory was compiled. That Directory, as well as the 1892–1893 and 1893–1894 Directories lists Lizzie McCreight and her mother at 517 North 4th Street. The 1895–1896 Directory shows them at 332 State, and the 1896–1897 edition shows that they had returned to 309 State Street. The 1900 Census show Lizzie McCreight, her widowed mother, and sister Mrs. Eva Holmes at 309 State Street. Lizzie McCreight and her mother were still there as late as 1906. The 1910 Census lists Miss McCreight and her widowed at 311 State Street. In the latter part of 1910 the two women moved to 321 State Street. This would remain Lizzie McCreight’s home until her death in 1933.
1n 1895 Lizzie McCreight was a charter member of the Camden Womans Club, as was her mother. Lizzie McCreight was an active member, and served as an officer of the club on a number of occasions. She also belonged to the Camden County Historical Society.
Miss McCreight took her own life in October of 1933.
Own Life Taken by Music Teacher
Camden Morning Post —
Miss Elizabeth M’Creight, 65, Found Dead in Home at 321 State Street
An elderly North Camden music teacher ended her life last night by gas.
The teacher was Miss Elizabeth McCreight, 65, of 321 State street. Her body was found in the kitchen.
Because Miss McCreight lived alone, police guarded the house during the night, after she had been discovered dead, when it was reported she owned many valuables.
Detectives reported finding a chair upset directly in front of the kitchen gas stove, indicating, they said, Miss McCreight was overcome by the fumes and had fallen from the chair.
The body was discovered after two boys, William K. Huff, 16, of 317 State street, and Dermott Dollar, 16, of 408 Cooper street, had smelled the odor of gas as they passed. Huff went to his home, directly across the street, and told his father, William K. Huff, Sr., who telephoned police.
Detectives William Dolan and Leon Branch forced a rear window and found the body on the floor of the gas filled kitchen. All gas jets of a cook stove were open. Coroner Arthur H. Holl was summoned and issued a certificate of death by suicide. Holl declared the woman had probably been dead for three or four days.
Neighbors informed police the woman lived in the house alone and was a music teacher. Other information revealed she was an active social worker of the North Baptist Church, Linden street near Fourth street, and had not been seen since Sunday when she returned from church.
Funeral services will be conducted Monday at 2 p.m. at the Holl Funeral Home, 1401 Princess avenue, by Rev. George H. Hemingway, former pastor of the First Presbyterian Church. The body will be on view tomorrow night at the Holl parlors. Interment will be on Tuesday in the family burial plot at Springfield, Ohio.