Samuel  P.  McCrea
            Samuel P. McCrea, M. D., one of the enterprising business men of Shelbyville, is a native of Shelby County, and the youngest of a family of ten children born to  John and  Elizabeth McCrea.  His paternal ancestors came originally from Scotland, and settled in New York, in which State John McCrea was born on the 26th dav of July, 1787? being the youngest son of  Samuel McCrea.  John McCrea, on the 27th day of November, 1828, was united in marriage to  Miss Elizabeth Templeton, who was born in Virginia in the year 1807.  The family came to Indiana in 1835, and settled in Hendricks Township, Shelby County, locating at what has long been known as McCrea's Mountain, where the father entered land and developed a farm, being one of the early settlers of that section of country.  Mr. McCrea was by occupation a tanner, but after locating in the county, engaged in agricultural pursuits, which he followed until his death in 1859.  Mrs. McCrea preceded her husband to the grave, departing this life on the 23d day of November, 1852.  Dr. McCrea was born February 2, 1845, and grew to manhood on the farm with the routine duties of which he early became familiar.  He received his rudimentary education in the common schools and subsequently, in 1861, entered Franklin College, in which institution he obtained a knowledge of the higher branches of learning.  Having decided upon the medical profession for his life work, the doctor, after a course of preliminary reading, entered in 1865, the Rush Medical College of Chicago, from which he graduated in 1868.  Having thus prepared himself for the duties of his calling, he began the active practice of the same in Shelbyville, in 
partnership with the late  Dr. W. T. Green, a firm which lasted until 1870.  In the latter year, the doctor abandoned the practice and engaged in the drug business, which he has since successfully continued, being at this time in partnership with C. Bishop. Dr. McCrea, in addition to his profession and business relations, has taken an active interest in the welfare of the city, and at one time served as a member of the Common Council.  He was made a Mason in 1868, and stands high in the order having taken the orders of the Temple, and at this time is the Eminent Commander of Baldwin Commandery, No. 2.  Politically, he is a Republican, but not a partisan in the sense of seeking official position.  The doctor was married November 21, 1878, to  Miss Phebe A. Robertson [right],  of this city, a union blessed with the birth of one child, viz.,  Florence J. McCrea.  
History of Shelby County, Indiana,  "Shelbyville Sketches," page 512, Chicago: Brant & Fuller, 1887.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming
The picture of  Phebe Robertson McCrea is from Boetcker's Picturesque Shelbyville, 1909.

McCrea  &  Bishop

The  Shelby  Democrat
February 13, 1879
VOL. 1;  No. 37
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from the article, SMILING  SHELBYVILLE!
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The above named firm is, at this time, the oldest firm in the city.  Samuel P. McCrea, the senior member of the firm, was born in the year 1845, in Hendricks township, Shelby county, Indiana.  He remained at home, farming a portion of the time until about twenty years of age, when he went to college two years, and then commenced preparing himself for the medical profession, graduating at the Rush Medical College, of Chicago, Illinois, in February,1868.  He then practiced medicine in partnership with  Dr. W. F. Green  for about two years, and on the first day of January, 1870, formed a partnership with  Thomas Tull, purchased the drug store owned by Hendricks and Morrison, and carried on business under the firm name of  McCrea & Tull.  On the first day of September, 1871, Mr. McCrea purchased Mr. Tull's interest in the store, and on the first day of November, 1871, formed a partnership with  Cyrenius Bishop.
          Cyrenius Bishop was born in the year 1825, in Washington county, Virginia.  He came to this State and located in this county in 1835.  He followed farming for a number of years.  The Democratic party, seeing in him a man of honest principles and strict integrity, prevailed on him to accept the nomination for county Recorder.  He did so, and was elected by a flattering majority, and filled that position from 1867 to 1871 to the entire satisfaction of his party and the citizens generally.  Mr. B. stepped down and out on the first day of November 1871, and on the same day purchased an interest in the drug store of which he is now a partner.  The business is carried on under the firm name of McCrea & Bishop.
          This firm first started in business in the Phoenix block, where they lost their stock by fire on the 6th of April 1875.  About two weeks after this event, they purchased the drug store situated on "Robins' corner," (their present location) owned by  Gordon & Talbott.  They have added greatly to their stock, until now they have a complete assortment of the best and purest of drugs, patent medicines, paints, ails, perfumeries, toilet articles, druggists' sundries, etc., etc., which they always sell at the lowest market prices.  Particular attention is paid to preparing prescriptions.  Their stock of cigars and tobacco is always kept up to the standard, and they keep the best the market affords.

Next biography in the "Smiling Shelbyville" newspaper article, Michelsen & Maholm.

Contributed by Jeanne Surber

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