James E McCracken

 

History of Kentucky and Kentuckians, E. Polk Johnson, three volumes,
Lewis Publishing Co., New York & Chicago, 1912. Common version, Vol. III,
pp. 1174-75. (Campbell Co)



James E. McCracken was born July 1, 1845, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and received a common school education.  In his early life he was compelled to seek employment, owing to family financial affairs, and before the breaking out of the rebellion in 1860 he was in the state of Mississippi, there employed as mail boy carrying United States mail from Coffeeville to Panola by horseback. 

At the breaking out of the rebellion he returned to Cincinnati, Ohio.  A short while after his return from Mississippi he enlisted in the Eighteenth Regulars as a drummer boy, but did not go to the front, and through influence was released.  Soon afterward, however, he enlisted and served six months as a United States teamster, doing some hard service.

After his term of teamster ship expired he remained with the Second Kentucky Cavalry and did duty at the battles of Shiloh, Iuka, Decatur and others. He then returned to Cincinnati, taking up the profession of river pilot, and secured a license as a U. S. Steersman, under the order of General Grant, doing duty on government transportation on White River, Arkansas, and lower Mississippi, and also on the Tennessee and Cumberland, and after the close of the Rebellion he still retained employment in that capacity, also holding other prominent positions on the river. 

He was then employed by the Cincinnati and Nashville Packet Company, where he remained until 1875, when he retired from the river and embarked in the building material business, locating at the corner of Front & Ludlow streets, Cincinnati, Ohio, and is still in that business, his being one of the oldest established business houses in Cincinnati and is doing a large and heavy business, the firm being well known.

     In 1865 he took up his residence in the city of Newport, Kentucky, and immediately became identified with the interests of that city, serving three terms in the city council from the First ward and four terms on the Board of Education from the First ward, over which he was presiding officer for two years, when he retired with the greatest honors that were ever bestowed on a retiring president.

He organized and founded the Campbell County Protestant Children's Home, and was its president for ten years, when he retired.  He was one of the most prominent and ardent workers for the Democratic party, and was the treasurer of its County Executive Committee for several years, and also held the position of chairman of the City Executive Committee for several years. 

In 1886 he declined to become a candidate for state representative, but on October 2d of the same year was nominated for mayor on the Democratic ticket, but was defeated by a small majority. He was then appointed, by Judge McKibben, a member of the Police and Fire Commissioners' Board, and was elected chairman of the said board.  He was identified with the old First National Bank of Newport, being one of its directors and stock-holders, and was one of the founders and organizers of the Newport Safe Deposit Company, being elected presiding officer.

     He assisted to organize and found the Newport Builders' Exchange, and was its first president, and was also one of the charter members of the Cincinnati Builders' Exchange, and in 1891 was elected president of the said exchange, being identified with the same for a great many years. He was at one time largely interested in the Clifton Suburban Home and Building Company, and also in the Ft. Thomas Land Company, over which he was the presiding officer.  He has been identified with the Newport Mutual Fire Insurance Company for over twenty-five years, and in 1902 was elected its president.


     In 1884 he became identified with the Order of Knights of Pythias, and soon thereafter joined the military branch.  In 1890 he was appointed and served four years as quartermaster of the Kentucky Brigade.  He served two years as chief of staff and two years as adjutant, when he was elected colonel, commanding the Fourth Regiment, under which capacity he served for four years.  He was a member of General Carnahan's staff for two terms, and in 1905 was elected brigade commander of the Kentucky Brigade and has since that time held that position, taking a very active part in the interests of the Order of Knights of Pythias, with the rank of brigadier general, and has commanded a great many large military parades.

     The subject of this sketch was the youngest of the five children of William and Lucy (Winters) McCracken.  William McCracken in his youth represented the Fifth ward of Cincinnati, and was a prominent member of the Democrat party.  He was in the Mexican war, with General Robert Lytle, and after he returned from the war he became associated with the old
Cincinnati Commercial paper, being also owner and editor of the Columbus Delta.

 
Lucy (Winters) McCracken was the daughter of Captain John Winter (sic), a steamboat capitalist.  William McCracken's parents, Dr. Nathaniel and Bridget (Collins) McCracken were born near the city of Dublin, Ireland, and were the descendants of Colonel Joseph McCracken of the British Army, and Bridget (Collins) McCracken was the descendant of Bishop Banks of Ireland, and they emigrated to this county and settled in Cincinnati when the village consisted of thirty houses.  They located on the outskirts of the village, what is now called Fourth street, between Walnut and Main, on the east side, known then as the old Presbyterian burying ground.

     James E. McCracken married Adeline Maddox, the daughter of Charles Maddox, of Owen county, Kentucky, and they now reside at their country home, Bonnie Leslie, adjacent to the city of Newport. General McCracken is considered a self-made man.
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James E McCracken 1929 Obituary


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