McCRACKEN, Thomas R. - 1914

MCCRACKEN, GOLDEN, CONKLIN, PENNINGTON, SMITH

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 7/9/2009 at 16:55:31

HISTORY OF
Cherokee County
IOWA
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1914
by Thomas McCulla

THOMAS R. McCRACKEN.

Thomas R. McCracken, who has been a resident of Cherokee county for more than four decades, is now spending the evening of life in honorable retirement at Quimby. He was actively identified with general agricultural pursuits in Silver township for a number of years and subsequently conducted a hotel at Quimby, erecting the first hostelry in the town. His birth occurred in Sullivan county, Pennsylvania, on the 9th of February, 1843, his parents being John and Anne (Golden) McCracken, both of whom are natives of Ireland. In 1831 the father emigrated to the United States, locating first in Rochester, New York, and subsequently in Sullivan county, Pennsylvania. He devoted his attention to farming until the outbreak of the Civil war and then enlisted for service in the Union army as a private of Company B, Fiftyeighth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, remaining with that command for over three years. On the expiration of that period he reenlisted and died in the service, thus laying down his life on the altar of his adopted country. His widow afterward removed to Kansas and in that state spent the remainder of her life. John McCracken gave his political allegiance to the republican party, and both he and his wife belonged to the Methodist church. Their children were six in number, as follows: John, who is deceased; Catherine, who is the widow of Samuel Conklin and resides in Kansas; Thomas R., of this review; Eliza Jane and Sophia, both of whom have passed away; and Edward, a resident of Tacoma, Washington.

Thomas R. McCracken attended the schools of his native county in the acquirement of an education and after putting aside his text-books secured employment as a teamster at Dushore. For nearly two years during the period of the Civil war he served as a private in Company B, Fiftyeighth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, making a creditable record as a brave and loyal soldier. After returning home he entered the service of his former employers, working for the same company until 1871. In that year he came west to Iowa, locating in Silver township, Cherokee county, where he purchased and improved a farm, being busily, engaged in general agricultural pursuits until 1888, when he took up his abode in Quimby. Here he erected the first hotel and successfully conducted the same for eight years. During the past seventeen years, however, he has lived retired, enjoying the fruits of his former labors in well earned ease.

On the 22d of September, 1867, Mr. McCracken was united in marriage to Miss Ruth Pennington, a daughter of Jesse and Harriett (Smith) Pennington, of Sullivan county, Pennsylvania. They were natives of the Keystone state and thence came to Iowa, Mr. Pennington operating a farm in Silver township, Cherokee county. He was a republican in politics and his religious faith was that of the Evangelical church. Both he and his wife are deceased. Mr. Mc Cracken also exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party. He has gained an extensive circle of friends and acquaintances during the many years of his residence in this county and is widely recognized as one of its esteemed and representative citizens.