Rev. John McCrary

MCCRARY, WASSON

Posted By: Fran Hunt, Volunteer
Date: 10/6/2001 at 09:55:29

From the Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties – 1890
REV. JOHN MC CRARY
Rev. John McCrary, deceased is numbered among the early comers of Van Buren County, but died the same year of his arrival in the community. He was a son of James and Isabel G. McCrary and was born about the year 1770, in Iradell County, North Carolina. Having attained to man’s estate, in 1793 he was united in marriage with Ruth Wasson, and they began their domestic life in the State of his nativity but on account of the institution of slavery they removed to Tennessee where they made their home until 1810. That year witnessed their settlement in Indiana, where they spent a quarter of a century. In 1835, they removed to McDonough County Illinois, but after a year continued on their westward journey to what is now Van Buren County, Iowa, but only a short time had been spent, by Mr. McCrary in that community, when he was called to his final rest.
Unto this worthy couple was born a family of eight children, four sons and four daughters, viz: Polly, James, Lucinda, Rebecca, Miner, Minerva, Abner H. and John C.
Mr. McCrary was reared in the faith of the Presbyterian Church and maintained his connection with the same until about the year 1800, when his views having changed he severed his connection with that denomination and became a member of the Christian Church. He was one of the sturdy and honored pioneers of Indiana and was the organizer of a number of churches in the vicinity of his home. Living in a day when the slavery question was the most important issue to engage the attention of the people, he took strong grounds against the institution, especially its introduction into northern territory. Believing it to be a sin he did not hesitate to express his views in regard to it and in the division of the church occasioned by the opposing views of the members on that subject, he took his stand with those who believed that “all men are created equal and that they are endowed with certain inalienable rights, among which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” On the temperance question, he was no less outspoken, urging upon the people the necessity of abstaining from the use of alcoholic drinks. After living a true Christian life during a half century, the greater part of which time he was engaged in the self-sacrificing labors of a pioneer minister of the Gospel, this good man passed to his heavenly reward. His wife was his able and faithful assistant in his work and the promises concerning the future life were dear unto her as unto him.
I am not related, and am only copying this for the information of those who might find this person in their family.