As president of the First National Bank of Harrisburg, O. M. Karraker is
connected with one of the leading financial institutions of Saline county,
and is performing the duties devolving upon him in his responsible position
with ability, fidelity and to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned.
The Karraker family was first known west of the Alleghanies in 1818, when
Daniel Karraker, Mr. Karraker's great-grandfather, migrated from Cabarrus
county, North Carolina, to Indiana, settling with his family in the
wilderness, from which he redeemed a homestead. Subsequently coming to
Illinois, he took up land in Union county, near Dongola, and the house which
he erected is still standing on the old homestead. He there spent the later
part of his life, dying at the age of seventy-six years.
Reverend Jacob Karraker, Mr. Karraker's grandfather, was a pioneer minister
of the Missionary Baptist chuch, in which he preached for three score years.
He was a noted trapper and hunter, and as a young man was an expert log
roller. He spent his last years in Dongola, Illinois, passing away March 12,
1910, aged eighty-seven years, five months and twelve days.
For twenty-six years W. W. Karraker, Mr. Karraker's father, was engaged in
professional work, having been well known as a successful and popular school
teacher. His home during all of that time was on the old Karraker homestead
in Union county, where he is still living, an honored and respected citizen.
Receiving excellent educational advantages when young, 0. M. Karraker was
graduated from the State Normal School at Carbondale, Illinois, with the
class of 1899. Very soon after receiving his diploma he became principal of
the Harrisburg High School, a position in which he served acceptably for
eighteen months. He subsequently became assistant cashier of the "First
National Bank of Harrisburg, and served as such from 1900 until 1906, when
he was deservedly promoted to cashier of the bank, and January 1, 1912, he
became president, an office for which he is amply qualified and eminently
adapted. Mr. Karraker was reared in the Baptist faith, his grandfather,
Elder Jacob Karraker, having been especially prominent in the affairs of the
Bethany Baptist church in Union county, which he organized, and in which he
served as pastor, without pay, for twenty consecutive years.
Extracted 13 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from 1912 A History of Southern Illinois, volume 3, page 1192.
| Jackson | Williamson | |
| MO |
 |
Johnson |
| Alexander | Pulaski |
