McCrackan was born in New York City on April 15, 1856 and was the son of John McCrackan, a lawyer, and Anna Pamela Sanford. Much of his early education was received in Europe. He graduated from Trinity College, Hartford, Conn. in 1882 and studied for the Episcopal priesthood at Berkeley Divinity School, New Haven, Conn., graduating in 1885. His first parish position was as an assistant at Christ Church, Hartford, and he also taught Latin at Trinity for a term. Following a trip to Europe, McCrackan accepted a post on the faculty of St. Margaret's School, Waterbury, Conn., where he also assisted at the parish of St. John's. From 1894 to 1899, he served parishes in San Bernadino and Sierra Madre, Calif., and then went to Europe, engaging in pastoral work, including a chaplaincy at Lucerne and at the Church of St. Paul's, Rome. In the early 1900s, McCrackan became rector of the Church of the Ascension, the American Episcopal Church in Munich, Germany; he was also responsible for conducting services in Oberammergau. He died in Munich on July 21, 1906 and was buried at Oberammergau. McCrackan married Cora Gertrude Bailey on June 6, 1885 in Oxford, Conn.; she was the daughter of the Rev. Samuel R. Bailey. The McCrackans had one daughter, Gertrude, who was born on April 11, 1886, in Hartford, Conn.
From the description of [Journal for John Henry McCrackan, 1884-1887 / Anna P. McCrackan] (Smith College). WorldCat record id: 77521398
