McCrackin, Josephine Clifford (1838–1920)
McCrackin, Josephine Clifford (1838–1920)
American writer and conservationist. Born Josephine Woempner, Nov 25, 1838, in Petershagen, Westphalia, Germany; died Dec 21, 1920, in Santa Cruz, CA; dau. of Georg Ernst Woempner and Charlotte (Hartman) Woempner; m. James A. Clifford (lieutenant in US army), Jan 1864 (died c. 1867); m. Jackson McCrackin, 1882 (died 1904).
Inspired by travels in Southwest, began contributing stories to such periodicals as Overland Monthly and Harper's Magazine (1869); published collected stories as Overland Tales (1877), Another Juanita (1893), and The Woman Who Lost Him (1913); joined environmental conservation movement after fire destroyed CA ranch (1899); named vice-president-at-large of Sempervirens Club of California (forerunner of Save-the-Redwoods League); founded (1901) and served as president of Ladies' Forest and Song Bird Protective Association; was 1st woman member of California Game and Fish Protective Association. Lobbying of Sempervirens Club led to formation of California Redwood Park.