The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1916-12-14
LAST RITES FOR
JAMES NJ CRACKEN
HUGE CONCOURSE OF FRIENDS
PAY LAST RESPECTS AT THE
FAMILY HOME
BRIEF SERVICES IMPRESSIVE
REMAINS ARE INFERRED IN
WOOD-FIREMEN AS
HONORARY ESCORT

Last ea-tny rites Tor the laTe
James McCracken We're performed
on Saturday afternoon, the remains
being laid to rest in Greenwood ceme-
terry. Brief but impressive services
were held at the family home, Seventh
and Pine streets, at 2 o'clock, con-
Quoted by Rev. Duel. At the grave
side only short prayer was said.
The high esteem in which the de-
ceased was held throughout the city
was attested by the throng of friends
who. completely filled the spacious
residence during the service, spread
over the wide lawns and overflowetl
to the streets, remaining Throughout
the ceremony despite the cold. Only
a small percentage could gain en-
trance to the home.
Also, from ten until one o'clock,
when the casket was opened for view
OF the remains, steady file passed
through the home, hundreds looking
Tor the last time on the features Of
their esteemed and honored citizen.
The Odd Fellows in a body formed a
section of this procession and, as
they passed, each placed a sprig of
evergreen on the coffin, which reposed
on a bier in a corner, practically hid
den Underneath and behind flowers.
Besides a wealth of shower boquets,
the offerings included a beautiful
mass of white roses from the Fire De-
Partment, large wreaths from the Odd
Fellows and the United Workmen and
an emblematical floral ladder from
the hook and ladder company of the
fire department.
Rev. Duel preached a short but
gripping sermon and his eulogy of
the deceased was the greater because
OF its simplicity. He consoled the
members of the family for their loss
with vivid picture of the good hav-
ing accrued to the community by the
deceased having lived his life here
and shedding his example of right
high and honorable living.
Several hymns were sung by a
quintet composed of Mrs. Emma Mil
Ter, Mrs. c. H. Lewis, Mrs. Arthur
Brecount, v. G. Wedge and A. F.
Strebel.
The members of the fire depart
Hent escorted the remains as a guard
of honor from the family home to the
Third street bridge where they parted
ranks and with heads barred paid their
last respects to their departed COM
rade. The pail bearers were George
Fish, George Rice, E. A. Richards, Ed
Evans, William Otto and H. F. Hen
nemann, all old hunting companions
Of the deceased and named by him
before his death.
Jim" McCracken will be sorely
missed by a legion of friends. He had
all the attributes of a regular fel.
low" in business dealings, society and
community life, and had the reputa.
ton of being one of the "squarest'
men in town. In the business life OF
the town he rose from an inexper
fenced and humble beginning to the
senior partnership of one of the larg.
est business houses in the city, Nc.
Cracker and Burgess, and in that bus.
mess perpetuated his name as one
standing for honest and square deal.
ing. While never active in the public
life of the city he was always ready
to put his shoulder to the wheel OF
open his purse toward making sue.
cessful any enterprise that was fol
the good of the community. He was
primarily home man in social life
but enjoyed the workings and frolics
of the fraternities to which he be.
longed.
The fortitude with which he met ap.
preaching death perhaps best illus.
trated the calibre Of the man. He
knew before others that the end was
near. All during the afternoon and
the night before his demise he. re-
manned clear-minded, though dying
adjusted his business affairs, diracted
his will, instructed the members OF
his family as to what his wishes
would have been if he could live, sum-
n,oned a number Of old time friends
to bid them farewell and when his err
rands had been accomplished he
breathed his last with the expression
that he had no fear or regret or COM
plant to entering the Great Beyond,
except that he must leave his family
and friends.
James McCracken was self made
man. He was born March 16. 1871,
on farm in Waseca county, Mime
sota, the son of Mr.. and Mrs. Robert
NcCracken. When eight years old he
came here with his parents, who set
tied on farm just west of the city.
AS a boy he attended the country
schools and was reared to young man