[p. 897] a prominent member of the Lawrence County bar, has been a resident of New Castle since 1881, during which time he has been actively and beneficially identified with civic affairs. He was born in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, and was there reared, acquiring his educational training at the Edinborough State Normal School and Grove City. He was then for several years occupied in teaching school in Lawrence and Mercer Counties, after which he registered as a student in the law office of D. B. and E. T. Kurtz at New Castle. After a careful and thorough preparation for the legal profession, he was admitted to the bar of Lawrence County, September 27, 1883, and immediately opened an office for practice in New Castle. He formed a partnership with the Hon. J. Norman Martin, the firm occupying a front rank at the bar during the three years of its existence.
In 1885 Mr. McCracken was elected to the office of district attorney, and he discharged its important duties with signal ability and fidelity to the public interests. He has never sought political preferment, except along the lines of his professional work, but in times of political stress his services have been frequently called into requisition by his friends of the Republican party, of which he is a stanch adherent, and he has always cheerfully responded, devoting his time and talents freely to the advancement of the party's interests. He is a campaign orator of no mean ability, his efforts in this direction being potent in winning Republican votes. In his law practice he has been notably successful, and his professional reputation is now well established. He is an active and useful member of the Lawrence County Bar Association.
In 1893 Mr. McCracken was united in marriage with Miss Mary L., daughter of John R. Miller, of North Beaver Township, and they are the parents of one child—Helen E. Religiously, the family are members of the First Presbyterian Church.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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Updated: 24 Jan 2002