Notes for Archibald MCCRACKEN

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Notes for Archibald MCCRACKEN

DOB/DOB on tombstone.
See:
- "Mattocks Family Heritage Resources - Bible of Luther Axtell" (http://mattocks2.wordpress.com/2009/05/26/bible-records-c opied-from-luther-axtell-jr-old-bible/).
- Daniel Gibson Axtell - www.axtellfamily.org
*****
The McCracken Family, p. 302
THE McCRACKEN FAMILY. The natives of the Highlands of Scotland have, the world over, a reputation second to none for robust bravery, honesty and loyalty, and the McCracken's in this county, with proper pride, claim descent from such nobility of the
historic soil of "Caledonia, stern and wild."
Many years ago, during religious persecutions in Scotland, a portion, if not all, of the clan McCracken left their heather clad hills for the North of Ireland, where, with many more of their self exiled countrymen, they built up a new home in which
they were free to worship according to their own old Presbyterian customs, without let or hindrance. From this place emigrated to America, in 1793, Andrew McCracken, following in the wake of his brother David who had preceded him to the shores of
Columbia by some years. In Ireland Andrew was a flax dresser, but in this country he followed farming. The brother had made a settlement in Amwell township, and thither Andrew also made his way, where he passed the remainder of his days, tilling the
soil and making a permanent home for his posterity; he died in 1837, at the age of seventy-seven, while on a visit to Athens, Ohio. He had married, in Ireland, Nancy Jamison, who departed to the "other shore" in 1835, when seventy-three years of age.
They were the parents of six children--two sons and four daughters-- who reached maturity, but none of whom are now living. Of these, Archibald was the father of M. L. A. McCracken, the subject proper of this memoir; John went to Athens, Ohio, thence
to Lee county, Iowa, where at the age of eighty-three he died (his sons are living on the Pacific slope).
Archibald McCracken, in 1823, married Lureua, daughter of Luther Axtell, a farmer, who came to Washington county from New Jersey in an early day, in which State he had married a Miss Dodd, and their four sons and six daughters all grew to maturity,
of whom one son is a minister in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Pittsburgh; one daughter, Rachel, is at present living in Washington county, unmarried; another daughter, Nancy, married Silas Clarke, and is now deceased. The parents of these
children both died in Washington county, the father about 1870, the mother some time later. The Axtell family are descended from Col. Axtell who commanded a regiment of Cromwell's guards, was present at the trial and execution of Charles I, and was
himself beheaded not long afterward, about the time of the Restoration. A full account of the trial and execution of Col. Axtell is found in "Cobbett's State Trials."
After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Archibald McCracken took up their residence at the old home- stead of his ancestry, in Amwell township, where they passed the remainder of their days. The mother was called from earth in 1858 at the age of fifty-four
years, the father died in 1885 aged eighty-seven years. Ten children were born to this honored couple, as follows: Phoebe, wife of Jehu Iams, in West Virginia; Elizabeth, married to William Watson, of Amwell township; Mary, wife of Samuel Smith, of
Franklin township; Sarah, wife of Stephen B. Miller, of Amwell township; Chloe, Rachel and Martha Jane, all deceased in young girlhood; Andrew J., a farmer in Russell county, Kans.; Martin Luther A., special mention of whom will be presently made; and
Jonas C., on the home farm.
Martin L. A. McCracken was born in Amwell township, Washington Co., Penn., his rudimentary education being received at the subscription schools of the neighborhood, afterward improved by an attendance at the free schools of the county, but he was
fourteen years old before he could read. He remained at home until twenty-one years of age, and then, having nurtured a desire to become a lawyer, he resolved that the ambition of his young life should be fulfilled. Leaving the paternal rooftree, he
worked about on various farms, teaching school in winters five years, and then attended Pleasant Valley Academy for a time, and Waynesburg College one session. In 1860 he went South, and was a teacher at Mayslick Academy, Ky., when the Civil war broke
out-- producing an excitement in the State that caused the academy, as well as other institutions of learning, to be temporarily closed up. Returning to Washington, Mr. McCracken enlisted for three years in Company K, Eighth Pennsylvania Reserve
Regiment, or Thirty seventh Regiment P. V. I., which was attached to the army of the Potomac, and he served fifteen days over the term of his enlistment, during nine of which he saw heavy fighting in the wilderness. He participated in battles including
over thirty days' heavy fighting, besides numerous skirmishes and minor engagements and was four times wounded, though not any time seriously, unless we except the shooting off of the little finger of his right hand. His army record is as follows:
Enlisted May 9, 1861; promoted to corporal then to sergeant, and as such was mustered out with company May 24, 1864. After his discharge Mr. McCracken returned to Washington county, read law in the office of the late John L. Gow, Sr., in Washington,
Penn., and was admitted to the bar of his native county in 1867, since when he has been engaged with well-merited success in the practice of his chosen profession. He was partner with J. A. McIlvaine from 1874 until the latter's appointment to a
judgeship; then was partner with M. H. Stephenson, one year; then practiced alone, until February 1, 1892, since when he and J. Q. McGiffin have been partners under the firm name of McCracken & McGiffin.
In 1862, while absent from his regiment on recruiting service several months, Mr. McCracken was married to Martha M., daughter of John Adams, who came from Ireland to Amwell township in 1818, and died in South Strabane township in 1873; two of his
sons, William and James, now reside in Washington, where they follow carpentry. To Mr. and Mrs. McCracken have been born eight children, of whom five are now living, all at home with their parents, viz.: Minnie L., Bertram E., Edna L., William A. and
Martha Jane. Mr. McCracken is a typical self made man, a living example of what patient purpose, indomitable perseverance and hard study can accomplish. During the early years of his manhood, from November 1 to May 1, following year, he was accustomed
to rise at 3 o'clock in the morning and study till daylight, which became the nucleus to his education. Politically he is a Republican: from 1866 to 1869 he served as recorder, and he has filled various township and borough offices. Socially he is a
member of the F. & A. M. The original farm where his grandfather settled, in Amwell and Franklin townships, is now owned by him. Mr. McCracken has in his possession an old English musket, bearing the date 1763, which his great-grandfather Axtell
carried throughout the Revolutionary war; he was at Valley Forge with Washington, and the musket was one of those used in making a litter on which Gen. Mercer was carried off the field wounded.
]Text taken from page 302 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). ]

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