Andrew "Jackson" McCrackin. Some sources list his birth year as 1828, others 1832.

Prospector and miner in the American West who struck it rich.

In 1874, Jackson, along with "Chloride Jack" Owen (ex Confederate colonel from Georgia), discovered the McCrackin Silver Mine in Mohave County, Arizona. It was this mine that created Jackson's wealth. The McCrackin Mine was reported to have produced over 4 million ounces of silver. Jackson and "Chloride Jack" sold out in 1875 for $240,000 cash and an undisclosed number of stocks. Jackson share of the cash was $170,000. By the 1880 Census he was living in San Francisco. His occupation is listed as "Capitalist".

Background
In 1860 he was elected Alcalde (Magistrate) at Pinos Altos, New Mexico. At the time Pinos Altos was a mining camp made up mostly of men who later took an active role in fighting for the Confederacy in southern New Mexico and Arizona (basically the geographical area of the Gadsden Purchase). In the 1860 Pinos Altos Census miner Jackson is enumerated before the notorious Ned McGowan who is also listed as a miner. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ned_McGowan_(lawyer)

In 1864 Jackson was elected as a representative from Yavapai County to the first Legislative Assembly of the Arizona Territory. He was elected to and served a second term.

Jackson was ambushed on several occasions by Apaches. In 1864 he was part of a 100 man Apache expedition under King S. Woolsey.

Based on his South Carolina roots and his known associates in the Southwest, he likely supported the Confederacy during the American Civil War. One of his Confederate friends going back to his Pinos Altos days was Jack Swilling, who in 1867 founded the town of Phoenix, Arizona. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Swilling

On 28 December 1882, Jackson married the writer and author, Josephine Wompter Clifford at Salinas, California. This was his first marriage and her second. Her first marriage to an Army officer ended in a bitter divorce. Jackson had previously met Josephine when she was visiting Arizona.

Jackson and Josephine lived on a 26-acre ranch in the Santa Cruz Mountains which she had purchased in 1880 prior to their marriage. She named the place Monte Paraiso (Mountain Paradise). The home was located on Loma Prieta Avenue (then called White Wash Alley) which was near Wright Station. Monte Paraiso burned to the ground from a forest fire in 1899. Their home was described as a mecca for writers, musicians, and artists from all over the world.

Jackson was initially buried at Monte Paraiso but believed to have later been removed by his wife Josephine to the Catholic Cemetery at Salinas after she sold the ranch and moved to a cottage in the town of Santa Cruz.

Jackson is known to have prospected in Chihuahua, Mexico, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona.

Place names in the U.S. Southwest that were discovered & named by Jackson while he was searching for gold and silver:
McCracken Mesa - San Juan County, Utah
McCracken Springs - San Juan County, Utah
McCracken Point - San Juan County, Utah
McCracken Peak - Mohave County, Arizona
McCracken Mtns.- Mohave County, Arizona
McCracken Knolls - Coconino County, Arizona

bio by kwmtex

Andrew "Jackson" McCrackin. Some sources list his birth year as 1828, others 1832.

Prospector and miner in the American West who struck it rich.

In 1874, Jackson, along with "Chloride Jack" Owen (ex Confederate colonel from Georgia), discovered the McCrackin Silver Mine in Mohave County, Arizona. It was this mine that created Jackson's wealth. The McCrackin Mine was reported to have produced over 4 million ounces of silver. Jackson and "Chloride Jack" sold out in 1875 for $240,000 cash and an undisclosed number of stocks. Jackson share of the cash was $170,000. By the 1880 Census he was living in San Francisco. His occupation is listed as "Capitalist".

Background
In 1860 he was elected Alcalde (Magistrate) at Pinos Altos, New Mexico. At the time Pinos Altos was a mining camp made up mostly of men who later took an active role in fighting for the Confederacy in southern New Mexico and Arizona (basically the geographical area of the Gadsden Purchase). In the 1860 Pinos Altos Census miner Jackson is enumerated before the notorious Ned McGowan who is also listed as a miner. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ned_McGowan_(lawyer)

In 1864 Jackson was elected as a representative from Yavapai County to the first Legislative Assembly of the Arizona Territory. He was elected to and served a second term.

Jackson was ambushed on several occasions by Apaches. In 1864 he was part of a 100 man Apache expedition under King S. Woolsey.

Based on his South Carolina roots and his known associates in the Southwest, he likely supported the Confederacy during the American Civil War. One of his Confederate friends going back to his Pinos Altos days was Jack Swilling, who in 1867 founded the town of Phoenix, Arizona. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Swilling

On 28 December 1882, Jackson married the writer and author, Josephine Wompter Clifford at Salinas, California. This was his first marriage and her second. Her first marriage to an Army officer ended in a bitter divorce. Jackson had previously met Josephine when she was visiting Arizona.

Jackson and Josephine lived on a 26-acre ranch in the Santa Cruz Mountains which she had purchased in 1880 prior to their marriage. She named the place Monte Paraiso (Mountain Paradise). The home was located on Loma Prieta Avenue (then called White Wash Alley) which was near Wright Station. Monte Paraiso burned to the ground from a forest fire in 1899. Their home was described as a mecca for writers, musicians, and artists from all over the world.

Jackson was initially buried at Monte Paraiso but believed to have later been removed by his wife Josephine to the Catholic Cemetery at Salinas after she sold the ranch and moved to a cottage in the town of Santa Cruz.

Jackson is known to have prospected in Chihuahua, Mexico, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona.

Place names in the U.S. Southwest that were discovered & named by Jackson while he was searching for gold and silver:
McCracken Mesa - San Juan County, Utah
McCracken Springs - San Juan County, Utah
McCracken Point - San Juan County, Utah
McCracken Peak - Mohave County, Arizona
McCracken Mtns.- Mohave County, Arizona
McCracken Knolls - Coconino County, Arizona

bio by kwmtex