Elmira McCracken. 87

Ruth McCracken. 88

Cornelius Dale McCracken. 90

Jesse T. McCracken. 91

Clark McCracken. 91

James H. McCracken. 92

George McCracken. 93

Sarah McCracken. 95

Eli Bloom McCracken. 95

Wesley McCracken. 96

Bertha McCracken. 96

Robert is the sixth son of Robert McCracken Sr. and Rachael Straw.  He was born February 13, 1817 in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. He married on May 21, 1840, Mary Jane, daughter of Abraham and Ruth Paulhamus.  They lived in Ferguson Township near Glen Hope and Ansonville in 1860. In 1866 they moved to Iowa where he died on June 25, 1898.

He is listed in the 1850 Clearfield County Census taken on the 16th day of September 1850 in household # 1132 as follows: Robert McCracken Jr. age 34, Mary J. 25, Elmira 9, Ruth 7, Cornelius 4, Jesse T. 2 and Clark age 1 month.

On the 1860 census in Jordan Township his family consists of himself age 44, Mary 37, Almira 19, Ruth 16, Cornelius 14, Jesse 12, James 8, George 6 and Eli age 1.  By 1870 they lived next door to Robert’s brother Cornelius in Butler Center Iowa where they are recorded as Robert age 46 and Mary J. as age 43. This is obviously wrong but the children’s ages are recorded correctly they are Cornelius 24, James 19, George 17, Eli 12, Wesley 8 and Bertha 4.

The 1880 Federal Census finds the family in Chariton, Lucas County, Iowa listed as Robert age 67, Mary J. 56, Eli 22, Wesley 17 and Bertha 14. And the 1885 State census has them in Jackson Township, Boone County, Iowa as Robert age 68 a shoemaker, Mary J. 61, Jessie 35 and Wesley age 32. Both are miners.

Mary Jane Paulhamus was born March 10, 1823 and died March 1900. Robert and Mary Jane had eleven children all born in Pennsylvania before their journey west.

Elmira McCracken

(Elmira⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Ruth McCracken

(Ruth⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Ruth is the second daughter of Robert and Mary Jane McCracken and the only one that didn’t go to Iowa.  She was born May 3, 1843 and married on June 3, 1860, David Aaron Wise born November 16, 1837 to William Wise/Weiss and Jane Caldwell.  David is shown on the census reports from 1850 through 1900 in Clearfield County and 1910 and 1920 in Altoona, Blair County.  David and Ruth had eight sons and two daughters. On the 1910 census Ruth reports that one of her children has passed on. David Wise died June 23, 1920. Ruth died before 1920, as David was a widower on the Altoona 1920 census where he was living with his daughter and son-in-law Sherman and Agnes McNeal. Their children are;

Harry V. Wise 

(Harry Wise⁵, Ruth⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Harry was born in April 1863 and married in 1885 Isabelle E. Goon aka “Belle” born 1857. They had two children.

Lorena Wise 

(Lorena⁶, Harry Wise⁵, Ruth⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Lorena was born June 1886 and married Oscar Weston Nearhoof born November 8, 1887 at Warriors Mark Pa. They made their home in Altoona where he worked for the PRR. He is described as medium height and build with blue eyes and dark hair. Their children are Frances W. (1911), Esther I. (1913), Harold J. (1916), Lorena R. (1917) and Pauline M. (1928). Her parents were living with her in 1930.  Harry was 65 and Belle 73.

Joseph G. Wise 

(Joseph⁶, Harry Wise⁵, Ruth⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Joseph was born in April 14, 1889 in New Millport and married Dorothy (unknown). He lived in Altoona in 1942 and worked for the PRR and gives Mrs. Shirley Bottenfeld as his contact.

Rolla J. Wise 

(Rolla Wise⁵, Ruth⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Rolla aka “Roy” was born in December of 1865. He married in 1895, Effie Marie Goble born August 1871 in Indiana. They had one daughter Catherine born 1908 in Wilkinsburg, Allegheny County, Pa. He was widowed by 1920.

Dorsey G. Wise 

(Dorsey Wise⁵, Ruth⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Dorsey was born about 1869 and married in 1893, Carrie Eicholtz born in October 1871.  They had two children both born in Allegheny County, Pa. William C. born December 1893 married Margaret K. (unknown) about 1917 and Marie born January 1898.

Nettie R. Wise 

(Nettie Wise⁵, Ruth⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Nettie, aka “Varetta and Loretta” was born August 1871. She married a Mr. Dasher who died very soon after their marriage with no offspring. After her husband died her brother Sheldon lived with her and they both moved to Cuyahoga County, Ohio.

Guy Zenas Wise 

(Guy Wise⁵, Ruth⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Guy was born July 17, 1873 and married Minnie Kuhn born August 1875. They had two children; Orville born January 1898 and Eldon born September 1899.

Agnes M. Wise 

(Bruce Wise⁵, Ruth⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Agnes was born about 1877 and married in 1898, Sherman McNeal. Their children were, Harold G. born about 1900 and Ruth E. born about 1907.

Robert B. Wise 

(Robert Wise⁵, Ruth⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Robert was born June 1878.

Sheldon Wise 

(Sheldon Wise⁵, Ruth⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Sheldon was born December 1882. He was still unmarried in 1930 and living with his sister in Cuyahoga County, Ohio.

Bruce H. Wise 

(Bruce Wise⁵, Ruth⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Bruce was born June 1887 married Sue (unknown) and moved to Cleveland, Cuyahoga County Ohio about 1920.  They had five children, Edna, Helen and Florence born in Pa. Agnes and Robert born in Ohio.

Cornelius Dale McCracken

(Cornelius⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Cornelius D. McCracken is the first son of Robert and Mary Jane McCracken and was born August 8^th 1846.  He first married Louisa ____ born in Indiana in 1854.  They had two children, Mary born in Kansas in 1876 and May born in Iowa in 1879.  We have not learned if he was widowed or divorced but he was married a second time in 1891 to Maude E. born in June of 1867 in Wisconsin and had three more daughters; Mable, Bertha and Nellie. They are found in Keya Paha County, Nebraska for the 1900 census with three children and in Civil Bend, Douglas County Oregon in 1910. Cornelius Dale McCracken died in Douglas County Oregon on February 2, 1917.

Mary McCracken

(Mary⁵, Cornelius⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Mary was born in Kansas in 1876 to Cornelius and his first wife Louisa.

May McCracken

(May⁵, Cornelius⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

May was born in Iowa in 1879 to Cornelius and his first wife Louisa.

Mabel F. McCracken 

(Mabel⁵, Cornelius⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Mabel was born October 1891 in Nebraska to Cornelius and Maud McCracken and married about 1910, Earl Agee, a farmer born in Oregon in 1886. Her mother Maude E McCracken lives with them in 1920 in Green Township, Douglas County Oregon at the age of 57.  She is a widow so Cornelius died before 1920 in Oregon. Mabel and Earl Agee have at least two children, Oreva born about 1913 and Melvin about 1921. Both were born in Oregon. 

Bertha M. McCracken

(Bertha⁵, Cornelius⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Bertha was born February 1894 in Nebraska to Cornelius and his second wife, Maud.

Nellie McCracken 

(Nellie⁵, Cornelius⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Nellie was born February 1896, also in Nebraska to Cornelius and his second wife, Maud.

Jesse T. McCracken

(Jesse⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Jesse McCracken is the second son of Robert and Mary Jane McCracken and was born July 19, 1848. In 1885 he is found on the Iowa census in Jackson Township, Boone County living with his parents and brother, Wesley.  He is listed as single and 35 years old.  On September 8, 1886 he married Anna Cox in Boone County Iowa. She was born April 8, 1870 and died March 19, 1890. He died December 23, 1932 in Marion County Iowa in the township of Knoxville and is buried in Graceland cemetery.

Clark McCracken

(Clark⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Clark, third son of Robert was born May 7, 1850 and died March 15, 1852 in Pennsylvania.

James H. McCracken

(James⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

James, the fourth son of Robert and Mary Jane McCracken, was born December 5, 1851, and married about 1873, Sarah Hoard, daughter of the widow Hannah Hoard, and moved to Kansas. We find him in Prairie Township, Jewell County Kansas on the 1880 census at age 28 and farming.  His wife Sarah is also 28 born in Indiana to parents that are natives of New York.  They have one son William age 2.  James Hoard age 25, boards with the family and is Sarah’s brother.

On the 1900 census they live in Concordia, Cloud County, Kansas and are listed as James McCracken born December 1851 and Sarah born October 1851.  Both are 48 and have been married 27 years. They have three sons. On the 1910 census James and Sarah are 58 and she reports that she was the mother of five children and only three survived. William is 33 and a widower and his son Lawrence McCracken, a 4 year old, lives with them. Jesse listed as Guy age 27 and Charles 25 to complete the household in 1910.  On the 1915 census William, Charles and William’s son, Lawrence, still live at home.

By the 1920 census James lives alone as a widower in Concordia, Kansas. He doesn’t know his age and only that he was born in the U. S.  A neighbor may have given his data, as happened from time to time when the resident was not home when the census taker came by.

William W. McCracken 

(William⁵, James⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

William, son of James and Sarah McCracken, was born in Kansas December in 1877 and was living with his parents in 1900 at 22 years old, single and working as an egg packer. In 1910 and 1915 he is living with his parents as a widower with a son Lawrence born about 1906 in Kansas.

Jesse Guy McCracken 

(Jesse⁵, James⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Jesse was born August 17, 1882 in Iowa and in 1900 he is 17, living with his parents and works as an egg packer. He made a career of working with eggs and chickens, first as an egg packer then a chicken picker and finally we find him in 1930 in Mapleton Iowa, still single and working as an egg Candler. On his WW I draft registration from Mason City he gives his father James McCracken as his next of kin.  He was described as medium height, slender, blue eyes and light hair.

Charles Elsworth McCracken 

(Charles⁵, James⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Charles is the youngest son of James and Sarah McCracken and was born February 6, 1885 in Kansas and is found living with his parents through the 1918 draft registration when he reported he was a self employed box maker. His physical description is; medium height and build with blue eyes and brown hair. He gives his father James McCracken as his next of kin.

George McCracken

(George⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

The fifth son of Robert McCracken was born March 15, 1854 in Clearfield County, Pa. and died September 24, 1928 in Iowa. He married in 1875, his 1^st cousin, Minerva Prudence McCracken born November 6, 1851 and died March 1940 in Iowa.  She is the daughter of his Uncle George McCracken and Margaret Ellen Templeton.

George McCracken is on the 1870 census living with his parents in Bennezette, Butler County Iowa at age 17.  On the Iowa state census in 1885 he is married and living in Jackson, Boone County at age 30. His occupation is miner. His wife is Minerva B. McCracken age 32 and the rest of the household is Laura born in Story County age 8, Cora born in Boone County age 4.

The 1900 census finds the family in Jones Township, Union County Iowa shown as George W. McCracken age 46 born March of 1854. His occupation is Preacher.  His wife is Margaret P. born November 6, 1851 and died in March 1940 in Iowa.  She reports that she is the mother of three children all living. They have a son, George N. McCracken born in April 1893 in Iowa.  Their married daughter, Laura J Tumey born March 1877 age 23, lives with them. She has been married one year and has one daughter Ella P. Tumey born in August 1899 age 9 months. Her husband is not with them. George W., Minerva, George N. and Margaret McCracken (her mother) are in Talmage, Union County Iowa in 1905.

Laura J. McCracken 

(Laura⁵, George⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Laura, the first child of George William and Minerva P. McCracken, was born March 11, 1877 in Story County Iowa.  She first married in 1898 Grant Turney with whom she had one child Ella P. Turney born in August 1899. Her second marriage was to George Hepna of Saskatchewan Canada.

Cora Ellen McCracken 

(Cora⁵, George⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Cora was the second child of George and Minerva McCracken and born in Boone County Iowa on December 8, 1881 married April 5, 1899 James Henry Huntzinger born October 21, 1868 and died January 19, 1925. Their children were:

Elizabeth Huntzinger 

(Elizabeth Huntzinger⁶, Cora⁵, George⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Elizabeth was born January 1, 1900 married William Lyle Wright. He was born March 21, 1903 and died in April 1976.  They had a daughter Betty Wright who married Donald Cockerill.

Lloyd Huntzinger 

(Lloyd Huntzinger⁶, Cora⁵, George⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Lloyd was born September 16, 1901 and died May 1980.

Minta Ellen Huntzinger 

(Minta Huntzinger⁶, Cora⁵, George⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Minta was born October 24, 1904 and died October 14, 1962. She married George Francis Hibner born April 15, 1899. Their daughter Darlene Fay Hibner was born March 12, 1938 and married John Carroll.

Cora Ellen McCracken married secondly Earl Flanders by whom she had two children Eleanor Prudence and Lee Flanders. Her third husband was Lyle Wright.  Cora Ellen died in Alberta Canada July 12, 1950.

George Nye McCracken 

(George⁵, George⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

George was the last child and only son of George and Minerva McCracken.  He was born April 21, 1893 in Mount Ayre, Iowa and married Alma Marion (Johnson) Anderson. They had three sons and one daughter. He is shown on the 1900 census in Union County Iowa at age 7 living with his parents. George and his family moved to Canada where his children married and started their families.

George Wesley McCracken

 (George⁶, George⁵, George⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

George was born about 1920 and married Barbara in or near Alberta Canada where their children were born; Paul William (1948) and Berry McCracken (1952).    

Robert Andrew McCracken 

(Robert⁶, George⁵, George⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Robert was born about 1922 and married Nora Irene MacDougall. They had eight children all born in Alberta Canada; Gail Marie (1946), Linda Irene (1947), Elton Robert George (1948), Patricia Ann (1949), Mary Jane (1951), Frederick William (1953), Daniel Albert (1955) and Colin Richard McCracken (1956).

Edward Nye McCracken

(Edward⁶, George⁵, George⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Edward was born about 1924 married Cassie Borthwick and had four children Eleanor Ann (1943), Guy Alden (1944), Dale Nye and Susan Marie McCracken in (1956).

Marie Prudence McCracken

 (Marie⁶, George⁵, George⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Marie was born about 1926 and married Malcolm Keith MacDougall born 1924 and died 1988. They had four children Ronald Alexander (1947), Marilyn Ann (1950), Garry Lee (1952) and Roger Keith MacDougall (1960).

Sarah McCracken

(Sarah⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Sarah was born April 20, 1856, and died November 15, 1857 in Clearfield County Pa.

Eli Bloom McCracken

(Eli⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

The sixth son of Robert and Mary Jane McCracken was born March 24, 1858 in Clearfield County Pa. and is found on the 1885 Kansas State census in Topeka, Shawnee County as a single man. On the 1900 census he is shown as a farmer in Yakima County Washington and reports he was born in March 1858 in Pennsylvania and has been married for six years. His wife is Effie S. born in May 1864 in Iowa age 36. She reports that her parents were born in Indiana. Their daughter is Annie M. born in March 1895.

 On the 1910 census in the same county Eli is listed as a rancher and Effie tells us her parents were born in New York. Their daughter is named Merle age 15 and born in Washington. No other trace of this family has been found in the US. They possibly went to Canada.

Wesley McCracken

(Wesley⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

The seventh and youngest son of Robert McCracken was born September 18, 1861 and is found on the 1870 census living with his parents in Butler County Iowa and on the 1910 census in Humbolt County working for Arthur Saxton and Dilbert Myers as farm labor at age 48, he is single. On the 1915 Iowa state census, in the town of Rennrich, he states that he is 50 years old, single and has lived in Iowa for 25 years.  His occupation is a tile manufacturer. In 1920 he is a single man in Clay County Iowa renting a room. On the 1925 census of Clay County Iowa he is 63 and still single and renting a room for $8.00 per month. Highest grade completed in school was the 6^th grade. Wesley McCracken never married; he died December 3, 1935 in Clay County Iowa and is buried in the Riverside cemetery in Spencer, Iowa.

Bertha McCracken

(Bertha⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Bertha, the youngest of Robert and Mary Jane McCracken’s children was born July 17, 1865 and died January 13, 1959 in Dickinson, N. D. She married January 1883 in Ames, Story County Iowa, Jacob Beedle son of Abraham H. Beedle and Emaline Ross (natives of Indiana). Jacob was born November 9, 1863 in Ames, Story County Iowa, and died July 26, 1936 in Dickinson, North Dakota.

As a family they are first found on the 1900 federal census Vernon Township, Humbolt County Iowa. They report that he is a farmer and they have been married 17 years (1883) and have five children all living. Ida is 16, born in October 1883, Roy is 14, born in September 1885, Lena 12, born in March 1888, Sin, a son, is 9 born March 1891 and Harold age 5 born July 1894.

In 1905 they are living in Lake Shore Township, Lac qui Parle County Minnesota where Jacob is a hardware merchant at age 42. They have added another daughter to the family, Mildred age 2 born in South Dakota. In 1910 another addition to the family is Ralph age 3 also born in S. D. By 1930 they live and work in Dickinson, Stark County North Dakota with their daughter Ida and her husband William Chernausek. After her husband died Bertha lived in Dickinson until 1948 when she moved to Billings, Montana to live with her daughter Lena Cummings.  The children of Bertha (McCracken) and Jacob Beedle are:

Ida Beedle 

(Ida Beedle⁵, Bertha⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Ida was born October 27, 1883 in Humbolt County, Iowa and married in January 1910, William Chernausek/Chermack. He was born in Minnesota September 15, 1877 to parents of Hungarian descent. In 1910 he is listed as a druggist.  On the 1920 census her youngest brother and sister, Ralph and Mildred lived with her and her husband and by 1930 her parents moved in. William is listed as a pharmacist and Ida’s brother Ralph as a druggist.  Ida died September 5, 1962 in San Mateo, California and William died in January 30, 1968 in McLeod County, Minnesota. His mother’s maiden name is Kyer.

Roy Beedle 

(Roy Beedle⁵, Bertha⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Roy was born September 20, 1885 in Story County, Iowa and died April 19, 1966 in Summerland, B.C. On the 1905 Minnesota State census Roy’s occupation is listed as a carpenter. The following is a story as told by Cathleen, Hope and Gerald Beedle.

Roy was the first of this family to move to Canada (in 1906). He took up a homestead south of Moose Jaw. They lived in the Moose Jaw area until 1931. Then moved to Nipawin, Saskatchewan where he farmed, etc., until he moved to Burns Lake, B.C. about 1946-47. Roy met Beulah in the Moose Jaw District where her parents farmed. He did not have a colorful life as is known. He mainly told stories of hard times when he was growing up. His parents (I believe) lost their home in a fire or tornado when they lived in Iowa. Story goes that Buelah was out riding & shooting gophers. Roy saw her & began to court her. We were also told that Roy was the "catch" of the area. The first home they lived in had all of the amenities; running water, etc. Hope Beedle says that she recalls Roy mentioning an Uncle Mog (Maug?) Resided in Tintagel, B.C. in January 1959 at the time of his mother's death. Roy and Buelah Roszell had nine children, five girls and four boys. Gladys Irene Beedle was born in March of 1922 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and died that same year. A brother William Gordon Beedle was born June 24, 1929 in Moose Jaw and married a Miss Hadden and had 16 children. He died on January 19, 1992.

Lena Beedle 

(Lena Beedle⁵, Bertha⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Lena was born March 28, 1888 in Iowa and married William Cummings they had four children. She died in November 25, 1971 in Sacramento, California and William died in 1919.

Simeon Beedle 

(Simeon Beedle⁵, Bertha⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Simeon was born in March 1891 in Story or Humboldt County, Iowa. He married Ida (unknown) in Lemon, South Dakota and moved to Broadwell, Saskatchewan before 1959. They had 7 children.

Harold Beedle 

(Harold Beedle⁵, Bertha⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Harold was born July 8, 1894 in Renwick, Iowa and by the time he was 22 he was married and had two children. He worked as a pharmacist at the South side Drug Store in Dickinson, N. D.  He is described as medium build and height with brown eyes and slightly balding blond hair. His wife’s name was Avis Mary Cooley born March 26, 1894 in S. D. they had three sons all born in N. D. Harold born 1914, William born 1916, and Richard 1918.

In 1930 the family lived in Cerro Gardo County Iowa. In 1936 they lived in Oklahoma and from there they moved to Sacramento, California. He died December 13, 1953 in Los Angeles California. Avis died January 6, 1980 in Burbank, Los Angeles California.

Mildred Beedle 

(Mildred Beedle⁵, Bertha⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Mildred was born January 17, 1903 and died June 1971 in Sacramento, California. Mildred married Erwin William Gaebe who was born July 23, 1897 in Addeville, Illinois.  He and his brother-in-law William Chernausek, Ida’s husband, were the original shareholders in McKesson Drugs in Dickinson, N. D. Erwin Gaebe enlisted in the Navy at St. Louis, Mo., on Feb. 21, 1918; served at Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, Ill., to Aug. 5, 1918; Naval Hospital, Hampton Roads, Va., to Nov. 11, 1918. Grades: Hospital Apprentice 2nd Class, 161 days; Hospital Apprentice 1st Class, 102 days. Discharged at Hampton Roads, Va., on Aug. 28, 1919, as a Pharmacist's Mate 2nd Class. Their children are: Norma E., Charles E. and Edward Gaebe born March 5, 1928. Erwin Gaebe died August 14, 1971 in Sacramento California.

Ralph Beedle 

(Ralph Beedle⁵, Bertha⁴, Robert³, Robert², James McCracken¹)

Ralph was born May 6 1907 in S. D. and died Jul 1972 in Big Horn, Sheridan County Wyoming. In 1910 he is living with his parents in Breckenridge, Perkins County South Dakota at age 3. The next time we see him he is living with his sister Ida Chernausek in Dickinson, Stark County North Dakota for the 1920 and 1930 census reports. He is working as a druggist in 1930.