McCracken & Allied Families
Need an overview of how the families fit together? The Navigation Chart shows an overview of the connections of the surnames.
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Where do I start?
You can choose to read biographies, view photos, read genealogy reports, and more. Use the secondary menu shown above to move to the page that you desire to view. Then, click the link of the information that you would like to view.
Alternately, you can begin reading the biographies by navigating to the next slide using the links (i.e. Read Biographies) at the top and bottom of this content.
How are the biographies organized?
The biographies are organized with the main surname of the family group first followed by the other surnames in alphabetical order. The biography menu, however, specifies all surnames in alphabetical order with the specific individuals for each surname listed earliest to most recent.
Notation
The following notation is used on the biography pages.
♥ This indicates that the person listed is a direct ancestor. They will have a separate entry with more detailed information.
♦Verified This indicates that records exist showing this ancestor is in our direct line.
♦Evidence This indicates that there is significant evidence, including circumstantial evidence, that the ancestor is in our direct line. However, a specific record has not been found showing they are the parent of the closer generation.
♦DNA This indicates that members of the family have DNA matches known/claimed to be related to the person through a different family line. For instance, Lemuel McCracken would be marked with DNA because descendants of his children Lawrence, Andrew, William T., and Henry show up in results as DNA matches.
Unverified This person is claimed to be a direct ancestor, but not enough evidence has been collected to mark the person as such and DNA evidence has yet to be discovered.
McCracken Mystery
Little information about Lemuel Lawrence McCracken was passed down in the family. That may be because of the early deaths of his wife Louisiana (age 49) and his children (the one living longest lived only to 66). Additional complications and reasons the family may not have known a lot about him arose from his multiple marriages. Most of the information about Lemuel has been obtained through records. Nothing is known of his parents or any potential siblings.
Questions
- Where was Lemuel Lawrence McCracken prior to 1854?
- Who were Lemuel’s parents?
- Did Lemuel have any siblings?
- Is Lemuel related to Robert McCracken that lived in Bates County, Missouri at the same time he did?
- Is McCracken really Lemuel’s surname?
- Where is Ida Belle McCracken after 1910? Burial Location?
- Where were William T. and Lemuel F. McCracken in 1880?
- Why did Francis E. McCracken change her name to Minnie Alameda McCracken?
- When did Sarah Ann (Dufer) McCracken die and where is she buried?
- Why did the family say that Louisiana’s maiden name was Johnson when it was Matteer?
- Were the Johnson/Johnston family that lived near the McCracken family in Crawford county somehow related?
- How did Lemuel know the Gallea family?
Louisiana’s Name Mystery
The family always believed that Louisiana’s last name was Johnson. However, no records have been found for Louisiana with the Johnson name or any similar name. Her maiden name was Matteer, which is proven based on records and DNA. Prior to marrying Lemuel, she married James Badgley. Thus, she is found in records as Matteer, Badgley, and McCracken.
So, where did the idea that she was a Johnson come from? It is possible that the conclusion was drawn because Andrew’s middle name was Johnson. However, it is likely that he was named after President Andrew Johnson, who had taken office the year before his birth.
Another possibility is their friendship with the Johnson family in Crawford County, Kansas.
Alternately, it may have come from William T. McCracken’s first wife Louretta Johnston. Family believed that she was a cousin to Louisiana.