John Andrew Creighton was born on October 15, 1831, becoming the ninth and last child of James and Bridget Creighton. John would go and work for his brother Edward. Later, the brothers invested time and money into banking and mining, where they found great financial success.

John met Emma (Sarah Emily) Wareham when she was visiting her older sister, Mary Lucretia Creighton. They wed five years later, on June 9, 1868, in Omaha. The couple lived with their siblings, Edward and Mary Lucretia. The couple had a daughter, Lucretia, that passed away 11 months later.

John A. Creighton was known throughout Omaha and the world for his philanthropy. Because of his widespread charitable efforts, especially to many Catholic causes, Pope Leo XIII knighted John, making him a Count of the Holy Roman Empire. John and Sarah Emily invested a large amount of time and money into Creighton University, leading to the expansion of the original building, beginning a natural sciences department, and much more. After the death of his wife, John donated $150,000 to create “Creighton Memorial St. Joseph’s Hospital” in honor of his wife. John A. Creighton died on February 7, 1907, and 4,000 people attended his funeral.