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