He died of consumption at his home at the corner of Seventh Street and First Avenue, West Cedar Rapids, at age 51. He was born in Marlow District South Carolina, October 10th, 1831.His ancestors were of Highland Scotch descent; his grandfather came to America in 1768, and settling in South Carolina.His father was a farmer; a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church, and active in founding churches in that then wild country. At the age of thirteen, young McRae was put to work on the farm. For several years he hoed and plowed, picked cotton and drove the ox-team. During this period of farm work he attended the DeKalb Academy, at intervals; but these intervals were rare and of short duration, as he could not be spared from the farm. But by studying late and early, at morning and on "rest days," he managed to keep up with his classes. I will fast forward through his education, (which is a very interesting story) and say he was settled in the regular work of the ministry in 1855, when he married Miss Annie T. Bradshaw, daughter of a minister of the Presbyterian church of wide reputation in the South.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:17:25 +0000