MCCREA, ma-kra', Jane, American Revo lutionary heroine: b. Bedminster (now Laming ton), N. J., 1753; d. near Fort Edward, N. Y., 27 July 1777. She was the daughter of a Scotch Presbyterian clergyman, at whose death she went to live with her brother near Fort Ed ward, N. Y. At the commencement of the Revolution she was betrothed to David Jones, an officer of the Crown. When Burgoyne's army was advancing from the north she was visiting a Mrs*. MacNeil at Fort Edward. Her brother, sharing the general alarm felt through out the region, sent for his sister, intending to remove to a safer locality. On the morning fixed upon for her departure, a band of Indians in the employ of Burgoyne suddenly swooped down upon the MacNeil household and they, together with Miss McCrea, were made prisoners. Mrs. MacNeil and her party arrived in safety at Burgoyne's camp, but half an hour later another party of Indians arrived, bearing a number of freshly severed scalps, one of which bore the long glossy hair of Miss Mc Crea, whose body was later found by a roadside. The precise manner of her death never became known. The Indians claimed that she was killed by a random shot from an American de tachment, whereupon her captors determined to secure the reward for her scalp. It has been surmised that a quarrel arose among the Indians as to whose captive she was and that one of them in a frenzy tomahawked her. Other authorities credit the story that Lieutenant Jones hired the Indians to bring his betrothed to camp where they were to be married and that she was killed in a controversy which arose as to whose cap tive she was. Lieutenant Jones denied this story ; he lived to an old age, a morose and gloomy man. At all events the tragedy caused a gen eral feeling of horror throughout America and England. Burgoyne called a council of his Indian chiefs in order to reprove them, but as his allies would have deserted him the offender was allowed to go unpunished. A blasted pine long marked the spot where tradition relates the beautiful young girl was murdered, and her grave may be seen in a small cemetery near the ruins of Fort Edward. Consult Bascom, R. O., 'The Fort Edward Book' (Fort Edward 1903), and Wilson, D., 'The Life of Jane McCrea> (New York 1853).
McCREARY, James Bennett, American lawyer : b. Madison County, Ky., 8 July 1838. He was graduated at Centre Col lege, Danville, Ky., in 1857, and from the Law School of Cumberland University, Tennessee, 1859. He entered the Confederate army in 1862 as major of cavalry and served until close of war, being then lieutenant-colonel of the 11 th Ken tucky Cavalry, C. S. A. He was a member of
the Kentucky house of representatives in 1869, 1871 and 1873 (being Speaker 1871-73) ; gover nor of Kentucky 1875-79, and a member of Con gress in 1885-97. He was a delegate to the In ternational Monetary Conference at Brussels, Belgium, in 1891, and in 1903 became United States senator. In 1911-15 he was again governor of Kentucky. He was delegate-at large to the Kansas City National Democratic Convention and to the Baltimore Convention of 1912.
McCREERY, James, American merchant : b. Ireland; d. Aiken, S. C., 1893. He came to the United States when about 20 and engaged in the dry goods business in Baltimore, and at the beginning of the Civil War removed to New York, where he soon established a business of his own which made him ultimately one of New York's leading merchants. He was a member of many public boards, one of the founders of the silk industry in America and director of numerous commercial enterprises. He was one of the Chamber of Commerce delegation sent to England two years before his death, and was a leading member of various clubs, chiefly of an educational or public character.
McCULLOCH, ma-kirk Benjamin, Amer ican soldier: b. Rutherford County, Tenn., 11 Nov. 1811; d. 7 March 1862. He became a skilled hunter and boatman and joined other frontiersmen in settling Texas. In 1835 he served in the Texan war for independenCe, being in the battle of San Jacinto. Later he set tled as surveyor at Gonzales and was elected to the Texas Congress in 1839. In the following year he was engaged in fighting the Comanches and operating against Mexican raiders. He also commanded a company of rangers in the Mexican War under Taylor and Scott, did im portant work as a scout, and was specially distinguished at the battles of Monterey and Buena Vista, and in the siege of the City of Mexico. In 1853 he was appointed United States marshal in Texas. In 1857 he was one of the commissioners appointed to settle the Mormon difficulties in Utah. During the Civil War he served in the Confederate army, was appointed brigadier-general and sent into Mis souri, where he was defeated at the battle of Dug Spring. but later united his forces with those of General Price and then defeated the Federals under General Lyon (q.v.) at Wil son's Creek. He commanded a corps at the battle of Pea Ridge, Ark., where he was killed by a sharpshooter while making a reconnais sance. Consult Reid, S. C., 'Scouting Expedi tions of McCulloch's Rangers> (Philadelphia 1859).