Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 7th ed., 
1887, Campbell Co.

JAMES E. McCRACKEN, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, was born in 1846, and
is the youngest of five children born to William H. and Louisiana 
(Winters) McCracken.  William H. McCracken was born in Sligo County, 
Ireland, and was a son of Francis McCracken, a leading physician in 
Cincinnati, Ohio, for many years.  They are of a distinguished family 
in Ireland, being a large land holding people, who were Methodist in 
their religion.  William H. McCracken was editor of a Whig paper in 
Columbus, Ohio, called the Columbus Delta.  He was associated with Hon. 
Simon Cameron and Salmon P. Chase, and he and Gen. Lytle were in the 
Mexican War together.  He died in Cincinnati in 1869, and was a very 
prominent man during his time.  The father of Mrs. Louisana (Winters) 
McCracken was a steamboat captain for many years, and a man of wealth 
and high social standing.  The Winters family emigrated from 
Pennsylvania to Ohio, and located in Cincinnati. They were of German 
origin.  Mrs. McCracken was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
and raised her family in the same faith.  She died in 1883.  J. E. 
McCracken had two brothers, Robert L. and John R., who were in the 
Federal Army.  Our subject was educated in the common schools of 
Cincinnati, and began life as a professional river pilot, and was in the
employ of the old Cincinnati & Nashville Packet Company for sixteen
years.  In 1873 he retired from the river, and embarked in the 
sewer-pipe and cement business.  By close attention to business he has 
built up a wonderful trade, which is still increasing in volume.  He 
was a member of the Newport Board of Education for six years, and for 
two years was its president.  Upon his retirement from the board he was 
presented by the board with the highest compliments ever paid a 
retiring president.  He is president and part founder of the Protestant 
Campbell County Children's Home, and through his aid and influence the 
Home is in a flourishing condition.  He is an active member of the 
Democratic party, and at the last city election was their candidate for 
mayor, but was defeated by a small majority.  He was appointed by the 
county judge as police commissioner, of which board he is president.  
He is also vice-president of the Cincinnati Builders' Exchange, and is 
recognized as one of their leading members.  In 1866 he married Miss 
Lida Gilson, daughter of James and Nancy Gilson.

McCracken Winters Cameron Chase Lytle Gilson
=
OH PA Ireland

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/campbell/mccracken.je.txt