McCRACKEN, William Hadley - 1890 Bio (1846-1913)

MCCRACKEN, HADLEY, WAHRER, KIRKPATRICK, JONES, CRUMLEY

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 8/14/2007 at 20:27:36

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 274-276

William H. McCRACKEN is now engaged in farming and stock-raising on section 11, Black Hawk Township. Few men in Jefferson County are more widely known and none are held in greater esteem among their friends than the subject of this sketch. He has won for himself an honored place and has made a record of which he may well be proud.

Mr. McCRACKEN was born and reared in Iowa, his birth having occurred in a little log cabin near Pleasant Plain, on the 26th of July, 1846. The family is of Scottish origin. The great-great-grandfather of our subject was born in mid-ocean while his parents were en route for America. The grandfather of William was a native of North Carolina and emigrated from that State to Morgan County, Ind., where he followed farming many years, but in 1843 he resumed his westward journey and became a resident of the Territory of Iowa, locating in Washington County, west of Brighton, where he spent the remainder of his days, his death occurring in January, 1880. His wife long preceded him to her final rest, having passed away in 1858. Throughout the entire community in which he made his home Mr. McCRACKEN was known and respected. He was a man of considerable influence in Washington County, and served for several terms on the County Board of Supervisors and also in township offices. In his youth he accepted the faith of the Society of Friends and his life was in harmony with his religious professions. He cast his ballot with the Whig party during the earlier years of his manhood, but later became a stalwart advocate of Republican principles.

Hiram McCRACKEN, a son of the foregoing gentleman and the father of our subject was born in Indiana, March 3, 1822. He was reared to farm life and received but limited educational advantages but in later years greatly overcame that detriment by reading and observation. On January 25, 1844, he was united in marriage with Miss Dinah HADLEY of North Carolina, who was taken by her parents to Indiana when a child of four years. Previous to his marriage, Mr. McCRACKEN had visited Iowa and located land one mile east of Pleasant Plain and shortly after his union was celebrated he brought his young bride to the new home and erected a log cabin in which they began their domestic life. Devoting his entire time and attention to the cultivation of his farm, his efforts were attended by prosperity and a comfortable home resulted. In April, 1865, he left his first purchase and removed to Black Hawk Township, buying one hundred acres on section 12, where he resided until his death October 15, 1889. His wife still survives him and is making her home in Pleasant Plain. Ten children were born unto that worthy couple, eight of whom are yet living. William of this sketch is the eldest of the family; Enos H. is now a resident of Sheridan County, Kan.; John S. is living in Dixon County, Neb.; Sarah F. is the wife of Dr. C. F. WAHRER, a practicing physician of Mt. Hamill, Lee County, Iowa; Olive wedded J. T. KIRKPATRICK, of Nebraska; Hannah, who is a successful teacher of the county, makes her home with her mother in Pleasant Plain; Hiram is also at home, and Anna is the wife of H. E. KIRKPATRICK, of Dawson County, Neb.

Hiram McCRACKEN, the father of this family, was a man of sterling worth, who by his fellow-citizens and all who knew him was held in the highest regard. As a pioneer settler of Jefferson County, he deserves no little credit for the active part which he took in the upbuilding and the promotion of her interests. The cause of education found in him a special friend and while President of the School Board of Penn Township, he was instrumental in improving the condition of the schools to a great extent. He served in the office of Trustee of Black Hawk Township, and was Librarian for the Friends Church Library, of Pleasant Plain, for many years. He devoted himself wholly to any work which he undertook and in consequence accomplished his purpose. He possessed good business ability, was fair and honest in all his dealings and true to every trust imposed in him. In his political affiliations he was a stalwart Republican and was several times a delegate to the county convention of his party but he never sought public preferment for himself. Conservative and reticent in expressing his views, he was yet a man of strong convictions and nothing could swerve him from the path of duty. For forty years he was a member of the Society of Friends, and with the consistency of that sect he lived a pure, honorable and noble life, and of him it may be said that the world is better for his having lived.

William McCRACKEN, whose name heads this sketch, is an Iowa man, born and bred. He attended the public schools of Jefferson County in his youth and later graduated from Whittier College, of Salem, Henry County, completing the scientific course in that institution. In the intervals of study or during his vacations, he aided his father in the labors of the farm but at the age of eighteen years he began life for himself as a teacher in the public schools of the county and engaged in educational work from December, 1864, until March, 1880, with marked success. It is said that there is a work suited to each one and if they engage in that work they cannot but be successful, and it would seem that Mr. McCRACKEN had found the labor suited to him when he engaged in teaching, yet he has been equally successful as a farmer and stock-dealer. In 1872 and 1873 he served as Superintendent of the schools of Jefferson County, proving an efficient and capable officer and for four years he has also been President of the School Board in his township. What he has done for the educational interests of this community cannot be told in a sentence but the history of his work is written upon the lives of those who were students under him.

On August 12, 1880, Mr. McCRACKEN was joined in wedlock with Miss Rebecca J. JONES, one of his former pupils and a lady of culture and refinement. She is a native of Keokuk County, a daughter of Thomas and Mary JONES and a niece of I. H. CRUMLEY. The following day after his marriage, Mr. McCRACKEN took his young bride to their present home on section 11, Black Hawk Township, where they have now resided for ten years. Their union has been blessed with a family of six sons: Martin L., born October 2, 1881; Stacey, October 25, 1882; Pliny, April 20, 1884; Dymond, August 13, 1885; Charles S., May 9, 1887; Linnaeus, February 3, 1889.

Mr. McCRACKEN now devotes his attention to general farming and stock-raising and is doing an extensive business in the latter line. He feeds nearly all the grain he rasies to his stock and keeps on hand find grades of horses, cattle and hogs. Indolence and idleness are utterly foreign to his nature, and possessing untiring industry and zeal he is sure to accomplish whatever he undertakes, unless hindered by some cause beyond his power to avert. His fellow-citizens recognizing his worth and ability have honored him with several local offices including that of Justice of the Peace and other township offices, in addition to those already mentioned. He is an influential member in the councils of the Republican party, is generally a delegate to the county conventions and has also been in the State conventions of his party, yet although he feels a deep interest in the success of Republicanism, he himself has never sought for political preferment, having little desire to hold office, yet when called upon to represent his follow-citizens in local positions he responds cheerfully and discharges his duties with promptness and fidelity. Firm convictions backed by a talented mind and strong will, fit him for leadership, and the prominent position which he occupies in the community is justly deserved. Every enterprise calculated to advance the general welfare receives his hearty support and co-operation. Both Mr. McCRACKEN and his wife are members of the Society of Friends and are faithful workers for its interests. He is the presiding officer of the quarterly meeting and has served in other minor positions in the church.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: William and wife Rebecca are buried in Richland Friends Cemetery, in Keokuk Co., IA.