McCracken, Robert

ATLAS MAP
OF
SCOTT COUNTY, ILLINOIS
1873

 Andreas, Lyter & Co., Davenport, Iowa


Page 27

ROBERT MCCRACKEN. - Among the prominent pioneers of Scott county, will be noted the above. He was born in Down Patrick, in the county of Down, Ireland, on the fourth of July, 1793. His ancestors were of Scotch descent, and emigrated to the north of Ireland in company with the forces of King William, known in history as William of Orange. The soldiers of the invading army resolved to settle in the "Green Isle," and accordingly, after the battle of Derry, many of King William's followers remained in the country. The McCrackens settled in Down county, and from this county, and from them, sprang a long and continuous line of descent. Wm. McCracken, the father of the subject of this record, was a minister of the church of England, and held many important positions in the gift of the church. He was educated at Oxford, and also studied theology at that celebrated university. After he had taken orders he returned to his native country, and settled in Killmagore, a short distance from Castle Willin. There his career as a pastor is well known and commented in the books and papers of those times. His learning and piety endeared him to a large congregation, and those who differed with him in doctrine could not but appreciate his devotion to the cause of humanity and the church. He was a firm believer in the apostolic succession, yet at the same time he was not bigoted, but could admire what ever was true and ennobling in all faiths and forms of belief. He ever endeavored to pour oil on the troubled waters of religious antagonism and to allay the bitterness of religious strife, so common in those days, and which occasionally happens in the same section of Ireland in modern times. He was a kind and generous friend to the poor; he aided and encouraged the parochial schools; and assisted in many ways all projected plans for the amelioration of the evils that afflicted not only the common but also the wealthy classes of Ireland. While engaged in pastoral labors at Port Ferry, about twenty miles from his own field of labor, he became acquainted with and afterwards married Miss Ann Jane Dick, daughter of Edward Dick, Esq., a wealthy merchant of Belfast. Mr. Dick was one of the leading merchants of Belfast, and at the time of his death had seven ships on the sea. Being largely engaged in importing, his name was well known in many portions of the globe, and his reputation for sagacity and sound business management was firmly established. In former times the importing and exporting trade was in, comparatively speaking, the hands of only a few men. The business responsibility was very great, as steam was unknown as a means of oceanic communication, and vessels starting for distant points were not heard from for many months. Mr. D. was successful in nearly all his undertakings, and had the reputation of being one of the wealthiest merchants in the country. His children were girls, there being three in all, so he took a young man into his employ upon whim he lavished much care and affection, and for whom he felt the same sympathies and exhibited the same affection that an anxious parent would show towards an affectionate son. Whether wisely or not much of the business fell to the care of the protege, and the immense trade in the importing and exporting line was managed by the young man. Mr. D. was getting old and gradually the control of the business seemed to escape from his hands, and almost imperceptibly the young man was in point of fact the chief manager of this mercantile establishment. Business kept on the same as usual; ships were plying in their usual paths across the briny deep; everything seemed to indicate the usual financial stability; and the confidence of the people was firmly placed in the house of Dick & Co. , when suddenly the senior member of the firm died, and what was supposed to be firm and stable was found to be otherwise. The affairs of the firm had been very loosely managed, and the executors, after settling the liabilities of the house, could find very little or no property. The daughters, however, were undaunted and nobly assisted in paying the debts of their respected father. Whether the young man, to whom we have so often alluded, was strictly honest or not in his business management we cannot say, but at all events the sudden downfall of an old and well established house was totally unexpected by all, and the people at large sympathized with the family so unexpectedly bereft of both father and fortune. Rev. Mr. McCracken preached in Down Patrick a short time after the birth of the subject of this article and then removed to Castle Willin, where his estimable lady died in 1796, leaving two children, both boys, of whom the subject of this record was the younger. Rev. Mr. McCracken deeply grieving the loss of his fond wife and companion, soon followed her, and the boys were left to the care of relatives. Robert went to live with an uncle, Hugh McCracken, by name, who resided on a farm near Castle Willin. The chances for attaining an education in Ireland, at this time, were not very great, but such schools as the country afforded Robert attended, and acquired some knowledge of the common branches of the English language. At this time he designed becoming a sailor whenever the opportunity came. However at the age of fourteen he was apprenticed to a Mr. Edgar, a cooper, at Rath Friland, with the intention still of becoming a sailor. After working at the trade for over four years he started in the ship Aeolus, for America. The passage cost him twenty guineas, and perfectly cured him of any idea of following the sea for a livelihood. He remained in the city a short time, and then with a friend who accompanied him on the voyage, he visited some relatives of his friend in Pennsylvania. At this time he designed making his home in the Keystone State, and all his calculations were made to that effect. After remaining for some time in Huntington county, he went to Chambersburg, and engaged for a short time as clerk in the post office. He afterwards retained the position for a year and a half, and then on account of his health went to reside on a farm. He was engaged in agriculture for nearly a year. About this time he was married to Miss Charlotte Patterson, daughter of Solomon Patterson, an old resident of Chambersburg. After his marriage he engaged in the general mercantile business, and remained in this line of trade until 1836. About this time he caught the western fever, which, prior to this date, and since, has prevailed so extensively in the elder states. In company with Rev. James Patterson he visited the states of Illinois and Missouri. After carefully examining considerable land in these states he finally purchased over twelve hundred acres of land in Menard, Morgan and Scott counties. In the latter about six hundred acres were located in sections nine and ten, thirteen, ten. The country at that time was thinly populated, but Mr. McCracken was confident that before many years should pass away the land would rapidly increase in value, and pay very large interest on an investment. Illinois seemed to him to be the promised land of the farmer, and her fertile prairies interspersed with belts of excellent timber could not but attract his admiration. He felt that Illinois was the state for him to obtain a competence, and accordingly he located in Scott county on land above mentioned. He selected Scott in preference to the other counties on account of its fine timber adjacent to the rich prairies. The water privileges were excellent, and the advantages for stock raising and general agricultural purposes seemed to be unsurpassed. Time has shown the wisdom of his choice, and he cannot but look upon his property purchased at that early time as an evidence of his farsightedness, and as being the foundation of his extensive fortune, which he has acquired since his arrival within the limits of Manchester precinct. After purchasing the land above described he visited Springfield and other localities in the vicinity of the capital. He then proceeded by stages to St. Louis, thence by water communication to Pittsburg, and from there by stage homewards he traveled. On meeting with his wife and describing the country which he had visited, she was as anxious to go west as himself, and so he remained at home till the fall of 1837, and then with his wife and six children he came to Illinois, and wintered in Scott county, about two miles south of his present residence. In the spring fo 1838 he commenced to improve his present farm. There being considerable brush land the work was very laborious, and it required much persistence in order to prepare the ground for a crop. Grubbing day after day is very discouraging, but he kept on in the even tenor of his way, and finally had the satisfaction of seeing his farm well improved and under a good state of cultivation. About 1842 his wife, who had labored so faithfully for his interests, died, after a long and lingering illness pronounced by the doctors to be dropsy. Mrs. McC. was well known in Scott county as a kind hearted and generous lady. Of an energetic turn if mind she was a meet helpmate for her never tiring and persistent husband. IN 1845 he was again married to Miss Mary Ann Choseldine (Cheseldine), of Scott county. She died in 1865, after a short illness, supposed to be consumption. She was the mother of four children, who were suddenly deprived of a mother's care. He was again married in 1868, to Miss Martha Jane Poser, of Morgan county. Mr. McC. has taken and still takes great interest in education. In conversation with him we find him well posted in regard to out public school system, and listened with interest to the description of the old log school house, the teacher of limited ability, and all the deficiencies that arose in the early settling of the county. As a school director he has been a careful guardian of the interests of the people for several years, and to him is much credit due for the rank which the schools in his district have attained. Mr. McC has been connected with the Presbyterian church for over half a century, and has led a consistent Christian life and assisted in promulgating the doctrine of peace ever since his conversion in 1820. He has avoided public life, preferring the quiet of his farm to the noise and turmoil of politics. The citizens of the county have often tendered to him nominations for several prominent positions, but while thanking them for the honor conferred upon him in this mark of their respect and confidence, he was obliged to decline the nominations. Though, in his eightieth year, his mind is as firm as ever, and he can converse as intelligently as in days gone by. In the winter of �71 and �72 he had the misfortune to break his leg. Receiving a severe concussion the thigh bone of his right leg was badly fractured. For some unexplainable reason, upon the healing of the limb, it was found to be some four inches shorter than the other. On this account Mr. McC most of the time is confined to his residence though much against his will, as he is now as heretofore of an active disposition. It is a great pleasure to converse with the subject of this record, and to hear his description of foreign lands; his tales of the sea; and to mark contracts noted by him of the different customs of the east and the west. It is not often we are permitted to hold intercourse with one so well learned in the habits of nations and individuals as Mr. McC. If the "great study of mankind is a man," then the subject of this sketch is well versed and ably informed upon the great topic. Coming from a long lived family he bids fair to live many years more in the state of his adoption. Many tales are told of his liberality and generosity towards the poor, and his hospitality to all newcomers. As was the case with many of the prominent settlers, his doors were ever open to the weary traveler, the hungry men fed, and the naked were clad. It is a pleasure to speak of the good qualities of the subject of this article. We trust that we of the rising generation may copy his example, lead the same life that he has, that we like him may receive the blessed "well done, good and faithful servants, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."
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