Grandpa John McCrary was a reverend who opposed slavery and drinking alcohol.

Mr. McCrary was reared in the faith of the Presbyterian Church and maintained his connection with the same until about the year 1800, when his views having changed he severed his connection with that denomination and became a member of the Christian Church. He was one of the sturdy and honored pioneers of Indiana and was the organizer of a number of churches in the vicinity of his home. Living in a day when the slavery question was the most important issue to engage the attention of the people, he took strong grounds against the institution, especially its introduction into northern territory. Believing it to be a sin he did not hesitate to express his views in regard to it and in the division of the church occasioned by the opposing views of the members on that subject, he took his stand with those who believed that "all men are created equal and that they are endowed with certain inalienable rights, among which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." On the temperance question he was no less outspoken, urging upon the people the necessity of abstaining from the use of alcoholic drinks. After living a true Christian life during a half century, the greater part of which time he was engaged in the self-sacrificing labors of a pioneer minister of the Gospel, this good man passed to his heavenly reward. His wife was his able and faithful assistant in his work and the promises concerning the future life were dear unto her as unto him.