Alexander McCracken and Mary Larimer

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Husband Alexander McCracken ^{1 2}

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           Born: 31 Jul 1793 - County Antrim, Ireland
     Christened: 
           Died:  - ? Mercer Co, PA
         Buried: 

       Marriage: 

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Wife Mary Larimer ^{1 3}

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: Bef 1888
         Buried: 

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         Father: [Father] Larimer (      -      )
         Mother: 

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Children

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1 M James McCracken ^{1 4}

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           Born: 31 Jul 1793 - near Mercersburg, Franklin Co, PA 5
     Christened: 
           Died: Bet 1877 and 1888
         Buried: 

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2 F Ann McCracken ⁶

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: Bef 1888
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Robert Findley (      -1849) 7

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3 F Mary "Polly" McCracken ^{1 5}

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           Born: Nov 1800 or Jul 1800 5
     Christened: 
           Died: 16 Aug 1849
         Buried:  - Mill Creek Cemetery, Utica, Frenchcreek Twp, Venango Co, PA 8

         Spouse: John Cooper (cal 1798-1851) 1

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4 M John McCracken ^{1 9}

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           Born: Abt 1801
     Christened: 
           Died: 1881 10
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Sarah "Sallie" Williams (      -      ) 10

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5 M Alexander McCracken ^{1 4}

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: Bef 1888
         Buried: 

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6 F Jane McCracken ¹

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: Bef 1888
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Joseph Williams (      -      ) 1

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7 F Martha McCracken ^{1 11}

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: Bef 1888
         Buried: 

         Spouse: John Williams (Abt 1802-1860) 1

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8 M Thomas McCracken ^{1 12}

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           Born: 29 May 1809 - Sandy Creek Twp, Mercer Co, PA 13
     Christened: 
           Died: 11 Aug 1893 14
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Elizabeth Williams (Abt 1809-1848) 15
           Marr: 1831 15

         Spouse: Mary Logan (      -1866) 15

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General Notes: Husband - Alexander McCracken

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Among the first families in the clearings, in 1798, was that of Alexander McCracken. The journey was made almost the entire distance on Indian trails; Mrs. McCracken riding on horse-back on the top of the goods, and carrying her youngest child, Ann, while John McCracken rode behind her; the other horse was also packed high with goods, and James McCracken rode behind them, while the father walked and drove their two cows.

He was a native of county Antrim, Ireland, and had been located for some years east of the Alleghany Mountains before he settled in Sandy Creek Township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, in 1798. This was only about two years after the first white settlers came to the country now included within the county, they, also, being Irishmen. Like the other newcomers, Mr. McCracken's first work was to plant a patch of potatoes. He also had his individual experiences with land-grabbers and Indians. During his third spring in Sandy Creek Township a man named Irish did bluff some of the settlers from their lands, by making pretended claims upon them, but when he appeared upon the McCracken tract and began coolly to lay out the boundary lines, the proprietor also appeared with a gun loaded with buckshot and told him to let the Jacob staff stand. This argument was so convincing that the intruder withdrew without a word and the staff stood there till it rotted down. Alexander McCracken became a prominent man of the locality, well serving both his family and the public. He became the owner of some four hundred acres of land, which he divided among his children. He served for many years as a ruling elder of the Presbyterian Church. [HMC 1909, 992]

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General Notes: Wife - Mary Larimer

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A story is related of Mrs. McCracken, typical of the courage displayed by the women of pioneer times. During the absence of her husband one day an Indian warrior, Jake Shandy, appeared at the home cabin with a large dead bear on his shoulder, which he cast before the fireplace and prepared to skin. But the vigorous, cleanly young housewife did not propose to be treated in this cavalier fashion and, giving the red man a tremendous kick, ordered him to take his bear and do his dirty work outside. The savage grunted, but evidently relished the courage of the white squaw, for he shouldered his game, skinned it on the ground outside the cabin, and returned to Mrs. McCracken with a choice portion of the meat. [HMC 1909, 993]

1 —, History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania. Its Past and Present (Chicago, IL: Brown, Runk & Co., Publishers, 1888), Pg 1098.

2 J. G. White, A Twentieth Century History of Mercer County Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1909), Pg 1065, 1078, 1109.

3 J. G. White, A Twentieth Century History of Mercer County Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1909), Pg 1078, 1109.

4 J. G. White, A Twentieth Century History of Mercer County Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1909), Pg 1078.

5 —, History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: L. H. Everts & Co., 1877), Pg 67.

6 —, History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania. Its Past and Present (Chicago, IL: Brown, Runk & Co., Publishers, 1888), Pg 663, 1098.

7 —, History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania. Its Past and Present (Chicago, IL: Brown, Runk & Co., Publishers, 1888), Pg 663.

8 Venango County Historical Society, Venango County Pennsylvania Cemetery Records and Early Church Histories, Vol. 6, Frenchcreek Township (Franklin, PA: Venango County Historical Society, 1998), Pg 18.

9 J. G. White, A Twentieth Century History of Mercer County Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1909), Pg 982, 1078, 1109.

10 J. G. White, A Twentieth Century History of Mercer County Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1909), Pg 982.

11 J. G. White, A Twentieth Century History of Mercer County Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1909), Pg 1065.

12 J. G. White, A Twentieth Century History of Mercer County Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1909), Pg 1060, 1078.

13 J. G. White, A Twentieth Century History of Mercer County Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1909), Pg 1060.

14 J. G. White, A Twentieth Century History of Mercer County Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1909), Pg 1061.

15 —, History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania. Its Past and Present (Chicago, IL: Brown, Runk & Co., Publishers, 1888), Pg 1099.