My Genealogy Hound

John McCracken. Prominent among the leading farmers of Kings River Township, and an old settler of the same, stands the name of John McCracken, who was born in Washington County, Tenn., April 15, 1811. He is the son of Robert and Nancy (McClure) McCracken, both of whom were of Scotch-Irish descent. Robert McCracken was born in Pennsylvania, and moved with his parents to Jonesboro, Tenn., where he remained for a short time, and then moved to Rhea County, of the same State. From thence he moved in 1839 with his family to Madison County, Ark., where he died at the age of seventy-six years. The mother was born in Virginia, and died in Madison County, Ark., at the age of sixty-four or sixty-five. They were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, but were in their younger days members of the Old Presbyterian Church. The father followed farming all his life, was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was on his way to New Orleans when that battle was fought. To his marriage were born nine children, five now living. John McCracken received the rudiments of an education in Washington County, Tenn., and remained with his parents until twenty-one years of age, when he began to farm for himself. He learned the blacksmith trade and followed this for about ten years, but the balance of the time he has been engaged in tilling the soil, except when in the Florida War in 1835. July 5, 1832, he married Miss Nancy Henry, who was born in Rhea County, Tenn., in 1810, and died in Madison County, Ark., in 1840, leaving three children, only one now living, William H. Those deceased were named Mary and Nancy. In 1842 Mr. McCracken married Mrs. Mary (Boatright) Henderson, widow of Robert Henderson. They moved from Greene County, Tenn., to Crawford County, Ark., in 1836, where Mr. Henderson died in 1840, leaving three sons: John E., Robert s. and W. R. Two of these, who were reared by Mr. McCracken, are now deceased. Mrs. McCracken died in Madison County, Ark., February 26, 1888. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. To this union were born six children, four now living: Mrs. Nancy Ann Harper, Mrs. Charlotta L. Coker, Mrs. Zalmona E. Costen and Mrs. Doras S. Snead. Mrs. Mary B. Boatright and Francis M. are deceased; the latter, the only son, was accidently killed during the late war at the age of twenty. He was in the commissary department in an Arkansas regiment, Confederate army. Mr. McCracken has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, for fifty years or more, and has always taken a great interest in all church affairs. He was a Whig previous to the war, but since then has been a Democrat. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and at times has held different positions. He is the owner of 260 acres of land, the greater portion being under cultivation, and although he lost heavily during the war, his house being burned, property destroyed or stolen, he went to work with renewed energy, and is now in comfortable circumstances.