Harriet I. (Doubleday) McCracken (1862-1939)

DOUBLEDAY, MCCRACKEN, HAWKS, KELLER, SHAW, ISEMINGER

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:12

From Nevada Evening Journal December 22, 1939 (page 8)

Funeral Services for Pioneer Polk County Woman

Special to the Journal
Cambridge, Dec. 22--Funeral services for the late Mrs. Harriett McCracken of Cambridge, who died at the Iowa Lutheran hospital in Des Moines December 17, were held Tuesday, December 19, from Greenwood chapel, southeast of Ankeny, with Rev. E. A. Elliott in charge assisted by Rev. Judson T. Perkins of Maxwell. Burial was in the nearby cemetery.

The following life sketch was read at the services by Rev. Perkins.

"Harriett Doubleday, eldest daughter of late O. E. Doubleday, was born in Fountain county, Indiana, September 28, 1862, and died in the Lutheran hospital, Des Moines on Sunday morning, December 17, 1939. In 1865 her parents moved to Polk county, Iowa, settling on a farm northeast of Ankeny, and there Harriett grew to womanhood.

"In 1879 she was united in marriage to Andrew J. Hanks. To this union one son was born, William E. of Cambridge. After the death of Mr. Hawks, she was married in 1897 to Charles McCracken. At his death she went to live with her son William where she has made her home since 1903.

"As pioneers, her family had much to do with the early history of northern Polk county, and Harriett helped her father in establishing schools, churches and Sunday schools on what was known at that time as "The Prairie." She united with the Christian church in Elkhart in 1890, and a card bearing these important dates was found among her belongings at the hospital after she passed away--evidence of the fact that she wanted to be ready in every particular when the last call came.

"She was an earnest Christian worker, a loyal member of the Eastern Star, and patriotic citizen, very active in the work of the Red Cross during the World war, often working nearly all night in order to finish some needed article. She was a lover of children and rejoiced that in these later days they had so many more advantages than she and her sister had had in the pioneer days when they walked a mile to school through the snow, their mother watching them from the window as far as she would see them and wolves watching them from the hilltops. But she seemed willing sacrifice in order that the coming generation might have better opportunities.

"For a long time she has not been well and has often said that she was living on love and kindness. Finally on last Sunday morning, just before dawn, her soul so willing to go was wafted heavenward; and the white robed nurses ab her bedside seemed like angels of mercy sent to help her get ready for this last journey.

"She leaves to mourn, the one son William E. Hawks of Cambridge, two stepsons, Ira McCracken of Washington state and Dale McCracken of Ottumwa, Iowa, three sisters, Mrs. O. D. Keller of Ankeny, Mrs. Louis T. Shaw of Des Moines, and Mrs. Frank Iseminger of Elkhart; also many other relatives and a host of friends.