Biographies and Obituaries
In loving memory
John Harmon McCracken
John Harmon McCracken was born 4 June 1836 in Daviess County, indiana. His parents were William McCracken and Mary Ann Webber. On 16 August 1858 John married Delana Hill.
John was drafted 23 December 1864 and mustered in 29 December 1864 as a private in Company "D" 13th Regiment of Indiana Volunteers. At the time he was 28 years old. He and Delana had had three children, but only one child was living. One bay died soon after birth in 1861 and another child died at the age of 2 1/2 just a few months before John was drafted.
It is interesting to note that at the time John was drafted, his brothe Charles had been wounded, hospitalized for one and a half years and discharged: his first cousin richard McGehee had been killed at the Battle of Stones River: his cousin John James McCracken had been wounded and discharged: his cousin Thomas McCracken had been wounded and discharged: his cousin William Nelson McCracken had been discharged because of illness: and his brother-in-law Gabriel Moots had been killed at the Battle of Resaca. It must have been very hard for John Harmon McCracken to leave his wife and family and enter the Army.
Shortly after having entered the sevice, John was at Indianapolis in early January of 1865. His feet were frostbitten--the effects of which bothered him during all of marching that he did during his term of service. Early in the spring of 1865 the 13th Indiana was a part of The Campaign in the Carolinas. They marched in the mud from Wilmington, North Carolina to Raleigh during very cold and rainy weather. John, kike many other soldiers, became ill during this time and was treated by the regimental sureon.
Confedrate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General U.S. Grant at Appomatox Court House, Virginia on 9 April 1865. The 13th was present five days later when Cofederate General Joseph E. JOhnston surrendered to General William T. Sherman near Durham Station, North Carolina.
The war was over, but John Harmon McCracken remainded on duty until 5 September 1865 when he was discharged at Goldsboro, North Carolina.
John returned to his family and he and Delana had five more children. they also raised thier granddaughter Emma McCracken Emma was the daughter of Henry Hill McCracken whose first two wives died, leaving infant children. Emma's mother died ten days agter giving birth. Henry's second wife, Lydia Villwock, died soon after giving birth also. The second baby was raised by Henry and Sesta (McCracken) Villawock who were both related and were childless. His name was Loren Villwock.
John and Delana McCracken were members of Mount Olive Baptist Church where John served as Deacon.. John died 3 November 1910 and Elana died 7 January 1929. They both are buried in Veale Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.
Contributed by: Mrs. Jeanne Everett, McCracken Family Historian