Thomas W. McCrary (1853-1937)

MCCRARY

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/3/2023 at 14:20:44

Thomas W. McCrary
(May 3, 1853 – November 25, 1937)

For almost thirty years this gentleman has been a resident of Calhoun County, and is justly numbered among her honored pioneers and leading citizens. He has been prominently identified with her agricultural interests, and today owns and operates the old McCrary homestead in Lake Creek Township. Mr. McCrary was born in Warren County. Illinois, on the 3rd of May, 1853, a son of Andrew and Elizabeth (Cunningham) McCrary. His father was born February 13, 1817, in South Carolina, of which state his father Thomas McCrary was also a native, as was his mother, whose maiden name was Park. The grandfather, who was a civil engineer by profession, spent the greater part of his life in the south, but finally on account of slavery he removed to Illinois. He was a strong abolitionist and in religious views was a strict Covenanter of the old Scotch creed. He died in Illinois at a good old age, but his wife was much younger at the time of her death. Their family consisted of nine children, six sons and three daughters, who reached man and womanhood, but only three of the number are now living. Andrew McCrary, the eldest son and the father of our subject, learned the blacksmith's trade when a young man, but did not make that occupation his life work, his time and attention being principally devoted to farming. He was a pioneer of Warren County, Illinois, where he made his home for almost a quarter of a century, and from there removed to Keokuk County, Iowa, in 1868. Purchasing land in that county, he engaged in its operation for five years, and at the end of that period came to Calhoun County in 1873. Here he continued to reside until called to his final rest on the 1st of February,1883. He too was a Covenanter in religious belief, and was a staunch supporter of the Republican party and its principles. In all the relations of life he was found true to every trust reposed in him, and well merited the high regard in which he was uniformly held. His wife, who was born in Illinois, October 15, 1824, still survives him and now makes her home in Lake City. They were the parents of nine children, whose names and dates of birth are as follow: Sarah J., March 14, 1845: Matthew R.. March 4, 1847; Mary M., May 22, 1849; Thomas W., May 3, 1853; Joseph Q., October 30, 1855: Martha H., April 10, 1858; John B., November 9, 1860; James W., May 7, 1864; and Sidney V., January 4, 1868. Sarah J., Martha H., James W. and Sidney V. are all now deceased. Thomas W. McCrary spent his boyhood and youth in Warren County, Illinois, and was reared in much the usual manner of farmer boys, early acquiring an excellent knowledge of agricultural pursuits, and pursuing his literary studies in the district schools near home. He came with the family to Iowa and in 1873 took up his residence in Calhoun County. The following year he and his brother, Matthew R., purchased one hundred and sixty acres of raw land in Lake Creek township, which now forms a part of the old homestead. Other tracts were later bought and sold, the boundaries of the farm enclosing two hundred and forty acres at one time, and the family have owned as high as four hundred acres at one time. The old homestead, now owned by our subject, has been converted from a wild tract into a nice up-to-date farm. The land is fertile and well cultivated, is adorned by a beautiful grove and a good orchard, and everything about the place bespeaks the careful supervision of a man who thoroughly understands his chosen calling and is able to carry forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. Formerly Mr. McCrary gave considerable attention to the feeding of cattle and hogs for market, but at present is more interested in the dairy business, keeping about fifty cows for that purpose, mostly of the short-horn breed.
On the 9th of October, 1882, Mr. McCrary was united in marriage with Miss Eugenia Hutchinson. Her parents are Henry H. and Clara (Gregg) Hutchinson, now residents of Sac City, Iowa. Her father was born in Vermont, August 3, 1838, and her mother in Ohio, December 2. 1841. In 1858 Mr. Hutchinson came to Calhoun County, Iowa, being one of the pioneers of this region. He followed farming and also engaged in mercantile pursuits to some extent. For many years he took a very prominent and influential part in public affairs, and was called upon to fill some important official positions, including that of county clerk. In politics he is a strong Republican, and in religious belief is a Baptist. Mr. and Mrs. McCrary have three children: Earl A., born November 9, 1885; Henry H. bom July 28, 1887; and Bess, born February 18, 1896. In religion Mr. McCrary is Methodist, while his wife is a member of the Baptist church. He uses his right of franchise in support of the men an measures of the Republican party, and has most creditably and acceptably filled the offices of township clerk five years; township trustee several years: and justice of the peace six years. Fraternally he is a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 330, at Lake City, and also belongs to the Highland Nobles, No. 5. In years of continuous residence he is today the oldest citizen of Lake Creek township, and has been an important factor in its upbuilding and development. As one of the pioneers he helped to organize and name the township, and has always taken an active interest in its welfare. He has seen this region transformed from a vast unbroken prairie into one of the best agricultural counties of northwestern Iowa, and in the work of development and progress he has borne his part. His is an honorable record of a conscientious man, who by his upright life has won the confidence of all with whom he has come in contact, and on the roll of Calhoun County's honored pioneers his name should be among the foremost. [Source - Biographical Record of Calhoun County, Iowa, by S. J. Clarke, 1902, p.550]