One of David's early childhood heroes was Ross J. Alexander, and Creamer's first political experience was pulling a sleigh carrying voters at the time of Alexander's running for the United States Congress. Creamer's early political career began when he was elected School Director, as well as serving as a township clerk, being a member of the township Democratic committee and also serving for three years as manager of the Belmont Agricultural Association. In 1892 he accepted the position of Belmont County recorder, a task that many people saw as impossible. He did an excellent job at this position and was re-elected in 1894. On June 1, 1906, Creamer accepted appointment to the position of state fire marshal, during the early part of the administration of then Gov. John M. Pattison. In April, 1908 he was nominated by the Democratic State Convention for state treasurer, the only other Democrat besides Gov. Judson Harmon on the ticket. Creamer served as state treasurer from 1909 until his second term as treasurer expired on January 13, 1913. Two years later in March 1915, he was appointed a member of the Ohio State Board of Administration by Gov. Frank Willis. This board was in charge of the twenty-two state institutions for Ohio. After his political career Creamer continued to live in Columbus, where he was involved in the real estate business and was elected City Treasurer of Columbus in 1930.
Family life
Creamer was born David Staley Creamer on September 3, 1858 on his family's homestead in Key, Belmont County, Ohio to David Jackson and Amanda Masters Creamer. The homestead was first purchased by his grandfather, the original David Creamer, an early settler of Ohio, around 1815. Besides an older brother Zadock, he had 2 younger sisters, Emma and Carrie. Creamer lost his mom when he was just 8 years old, and consequently his father remarried in 1869 to Margaret Haines. Mr. Creamer was married to Gertrude Rebecca Fowler on October 16, 1890 in Bellaire, Ohio. They had 4 kids, Lorena Verdell McClure, Effie Marie Creamer, David Harold Creamer and Genevieve Fowler Creamer; and six grandchildren, one of whom, Kenneth D. McClure, would later be Mayor of Bexley, Ohio. Creamer resided in Columbus for the rest of his life, living to be 88 years old, and died there on November 17, 1946. He was buried in his family's plot at Union Cemetery in St. Clairsville, Ohio. Source Citation: Year: 1920; Census Place: Columbus Ward 16, Franklin, Ohio; Roll: T625_1383; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 265; Image: 835.
