Following is one of the Biographies and Stories which where gathered by Charles Sumner McKamy in the 1950s for publication in a Crawford County History Book. Unfortunately he passed away before the book was published.
M.P. Rackerby, Postmaster and druggist, Hutsonville. This gentleman was a native of Princeton, Caldwell County, Ky., born December 30, 1846. He was educated in the High Schools of Dubuque, Iowa where he took a complete English course; at twenty-one years of age he left his home and embarked on his life's career, engaging in the drug business at Hutsonville, Ill.; in 1873, he sold his stock of goods and went to Lincoln County, Kan. Where he engaged in a general merchandising business; in 1875, he returned to Hutsonville and again engaged in the drug business; in 1877, he removed to Ellsworth County, Kan. And engaged in agricultural pursuits; in 1879 he again returned to Hutsonville where he remained engaged in the drug business with Mr. C.V. Newton and later continued in business alone. He was also interested in the "Hutson Mill". Mr. Rackerby was appointed Postmaster in 1878, which office he held for a considerable period of time. He was married September 17, 1871 to Miss Anna L. McCutcheon, a native of Indiana, and a daughter of Samuel and Pine McCutcheon. Mr. and Mrs. Rackerby had three children, Louisa Maud; a child who died in infancy; and Arthur Frederick Dudley Rackerby. Mr. Rackerby enjoyed the highest esteem of the community in which he lived; was a member of the orders A.F. & A.M. and K. of P., and an active worker of the order. In politics, he was a Republican. John H. Rackerby, the father of our subject, was born in Virginia February 28, 1799, was brought to Kentucky by his mother and brother. Here he married and in 1856 removed to Grant County, Wis.; in 1859 to Dubuque, Iowa; in 1872 to Pearce City, Mo. where he lived a retired life, enjoying the fruits of his past labors. The mother of our subject was Georgiana Dudley, born near Bowling Green, Ky. in 1812. They had ten children, five boys and five girls. John H. Rackerby was a very prominent man of Kentucky, and in his younger days held many responsible positions and many of the county offices.
Louisa Maud was born June 21, 1874, and on October 28, 1896 intermarried with William T. Hollenbeck, a prominent citizen of Clark County, and to that marriage were born three children: Neal Augustus born in Marshall, Ill on August 18, 1897 and who now lives in Marshall and is retired; John Milton, born in Hutsonville, Ill on March 19, 1899 who also lives in Marshall, is an attorney and presently Judge of the County and Probate Court of Clark County; and William Wayne, born in Marshall, Ill. on January 24, 1905, who also lives in Marshall and is one of the active merchants in Marshall. Mrs. Hollenbeck departed this life August 19, 1948.
Arthur Frederick Dudley Rackerby, the only surviving child of Mr. and Mrs. Rackerby, is a lawyer, born at Hutsonville, Illinois on December 11, 1892, one of a fourth generation of English and Scottish ancestry in America antedating the American Revolution; son of Milton Parish and Anna L. (McCutcheon) Rackerby -- both deceased; married Ruth Armenia Irwin, a native of Crawford County, Illinois on June 30, 1922 to which union have been born no children. Early education in the public schools at Hutsonville, Illinois, and in the Township High School at Marshall, Illinois; graduated with L.L.B. degree at University of Illinois in 1920. Admitted to Illinois State Bar in 1921 and New York State Bar in 1923; member of Law Department of Continental Casualty Company, Chicago, Illinois since 1924; member of Law Department of Armour and Company, Chicago, Illinois since 1924; Assistant General Counsel 1946-1952, and General Counsel since 1952. Member of American Bar Association, National Association of General Counsel, Chicago Law Institute, Illinois Club of Chicago, Chicago Association of Commerce and Industry, Illinois State Chamber of Commerce, and Hutsonville Lodge No. 136, A.F. & A.M. Home address: 5462 Woodlawn Ave., Chicago, 15, Illinois
Contributed by Hurst Sisters, Hutsonville.