Tag: James Rankin

Jesse Rankin m. Cynthia Sellers/Sellars: Who Was His Father?

This answer to this question is reasonably straightforward. The only problem is that it leaves another one hanging out there unanswered. Of course it does! This hobby wouldn’t be half as much fun otherwise.

Here’s the background. In January 2018, I posted an article  about some Rankin families I stumbled across in the records of Gibson County, Tennessee.[1] Although the article focused on the Robert Rankin who applied from Gibson in 1832 for a Revolutionary War pension, it also mentioned other Rankin families in the county.

One of the other Gibson County families was Jesse Rankin and his wife Cynthia. Rankin researchers disagree on the identity of his parents. Some claim he was a son of Shaker Reverend John Rankin from the Guilford County, NC line of Robert and Rebecca Rankin. That John died in 1850 in Shaker Village (now “Shakertown”), Logan County, KY. Let’s call him “Shaker John.” Other researchers claim Jesse was a son of the Robert Rankin who lived in Rutherford Co., NC, Pendleton District, SC, and Caldwell County, KY. Call him “Rutherford Robert.”

Jesse of Gibson County was definitely not a son of Shaker John. Good circumstantial evidence establishes that Jesse was a son of Rutherford Robert. See discussion of both possibilities below.

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           Jesse and Cynthia first appeared for certain in the 1840 census for Gibson County. They were probably also enumerated there in 1830, although Jesse’s age group is inconsistent between the 1830 and 1840 censuses.[2] The 1850 census lists the Rankins in Jesse’s household as follows (all four children born in Tennessee):

      • Jesse Rankin, 55, farmer, born KY, District 9, dwelling #1841
      • Cynthia Rankin, 50, born KY
      • James Rankin, 21, farmer
      • Elias Rankin, 17, farmer
      • Williamson Rankin, 15, farmer
      • Madison Rankin, 13

In 1851, Jesse obtained a grant of 48.5 acres in Gibson County.[3] That was the last record I found for him until his will appeared in the Gibson probate records. It was dated November 18, 1851, and named his wife Cynthia and “three youngest sons” Elias, Williamson and Madison. I found no record establishing when the will was proved. Jesse was not listed in the 1860 census, so it is a safe bet that he died sometime between 1851 and 1860.

So far as I can tell, only his son Elias remained in Gibson County, where he appeared through at least the 1880 census.[4] Madison was living in Missouri by 1870. I couldn’t find either Williamson or James after 1850. Both were the right age to have been war casualties.

Knowing that both Jesse and Cynthia were born in Kentucky, the next step was to look in Kentucky marriage records. Turns out they were married on January 7, 1821, in Livingston County, KY.[5]

Jesse of Gibson County was not the son of Shaker John of Logan County, KY. The Logan County records establish that a different Jesse Rankin was a son of Shaker John. Jesse (son of Shaker John) appeared in the census in Shaker Village, Logan County, every decade from 1850 through 1880. Nine other children of Shaker John can also be identified from Shaker Village death records[6] and Logan County federal census records during 1850 – 1880. Jesse Rankin died there, single, in 1882. It is unlikely that Shaker John’s son Jesse ever married or had any children, since the Shakers practiced celibacy.

Well, then … was Rutherford Robert the father of Jesse Rankin of Gibson County? The answer is almost certainly “yes,” for three reasons.

First, Rutherford Robert left a will dated 1808 and proved 1816 in Caldwell County, KY. Robert named a son Jesse. Second, Caldwell County was immediately adjacent to Livingston County in 1821, when Jesse and Cynthia married in Livingston. Jesse’s family almost certainly lived nearby. Third, the only Rankin family appearing in Caldwell and Livingston County records in the first third of the 19th century was the line of Rutherford Robert. Here are some records in those locations:

      • Elias Rankin, another son proved by Rutherford Robert’s will, was listed in the 1820 and 1830 census in Caldwell County. Elias married Matilda Herring there in 1820. Note that Jesse and Cynthia Rankin also named a son Elias, which is not a common name.
      • The “Widow Rankin” (presumably Leah, Rutherford Robert’s wife) was listed in the 1820 census in Caldwell County.
      • Elizabeth and Jennet Rankin, identified as daughters in Rutherford Robert’s will, married in Livingston County to James George (1806) and John Durly (1809), respectively.

The records connecting Jesse, son of Rutherford Robert, to Jesse Rankin of Gibson County may not establish Jesse’s parentage as “conclusively proved.” The circumstantial evidence is sufficiently clear and convincing to accept that conclusion, though.

So much for the question of Jesse’s parents: now for the one that lingers. To which (if any) of the other North Carolina Rankin lines of Rowan County is Rutherford Robert related? Originally, Rowan covered a substantial area, including what would eventually become Guilford, Lincoln, Iredell and Rutherford counties — homes to several colonial Rankin families. Those include Samuel and Eleanor Alexander Rankin of Lincoln, David and Margaret Rankin of Iredell, Robert and Rebecca Rankin of Guilford, and William and John Rankin, two sons of Joseph Rankin of Delaware who migrated to Guilford.

There is apparently no paper evidence connecting Rutherford Robert to any of those families. Francis Gill, the premier researcher on Rutherford Robert’s line, was unable to prove that Robert was related to any other North Carolina Rankin families. We clearly need to turn to Y-DNA testing. So … where is a living descendant of Rutherford Robert? So far as I know, no male descendant from the line of Rutherford Robert Rankin has participated yet in the Rankin Y-DNA project. We need to find one, or – better yet – several.

I’m working on it.

See you on down the road.

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[1] The article titled “The Mysterious Robert Rankin of Gibson County, Tennessee” can be found here.

[2] 1840 federal census, Gibson Co., TN, Jesse Rankin, 2120001-010101. The eldest male is in the 40 < 50 age bracket, or born 1790 – 1800. Compare the 1830 federal census, Gibson Co., TN, Jesse Rankin, 20001-10111. The 1830 census shows the eldest male in the 20 < 30 age bracket, born 1800-1810. The 1830 census is probably wrong.

[3] Barbara, Byron and Samuel Sistler, Tennessee Land Grants (Nashville: Byron Sistler & Associates, 1998).

[4] 1870 federal census, Gibson Co., TN, “Lias” Rankin, 35, farmer, with Lizzie Rankin, 41, Sallie, 11, Mollie, 10, Thomas, 8, Divan, 6, Jeff D., 4, and Ada, 2, all born in Tennessee; 1880 federal census, Gibson Co., TN, listing for E. C. Rankin, 47, wife Elizabeth, 52, daughter Mary E., 20, son Thomas J., 19, daughter L. D., 15, son William A., 14, daughter Ida C., 12, and daughter Nora, 9.

[5] Jordan Dodd, Kentucky Marriages to 1850, online publication at Ancestry.com.

[6] Shaker Village death records can be found  here..

Some Colonial North Carolina Rankin Lines: an Overview

It is extremely easy to conflate families having the same surname when they lived in the same area at roughly the same time. In North Carolina, all of the Rankin lines first appeared in the area that was originally Anson County. At its formation, Anson included an enormous territory. Its northern border was the Virginia, line until the formation of Rowan County in 1753. It had no western boundary until the formation of Mecklenburg in 1762. Its southern boundary was indeterminate until the survey of the SC line in 1764.

In short, the Rankin families of Rowan, Lincoln, Rutherford, Mecklenburg, Iredell, and Guilford Counties all lived in areas that were originally part of Anson. As if that weren’t bad enough, they all recycled the same male given names ad infinitum: Robert, David, John, Samuel, and William. With that in mind, here is some basic information about several of these colonial Rankin lines. The objective is to help you distinguish among those families when you run across them.

First, a caveat. If you have read my article about the Scots-Irish,[1]  you know that the earliest migrants into the colonies from Ulster arrived around 1700 and settled mostly in New England. Among those were evidently some Rankins. I know absolutely nothing about New England Rankins. What I do know with a modicum of confidence is something about colonial Rankin families of North Carolina. I mucked about the North Carolina records for more than a year, trying to identify the parents of my last conclusively proved Rankin ancestor.

Here are the North Carolina Rankin families briefly sketched in this article: (1) Joseph Rankin of Delaware (1704-1764), two of whose sons went to Guilford County; (2) Samuel and Eleanor (“Ellen”) Alexander Rankin of Lincoln (then Gaston) County; (3) Robert and Rebecca Rankin of Guilford County; (4) David and Margaret Rankin of Iredell County; and (5) Robert Rankin (wives Mary Withrow and Leah MNU)of Rutherford County. Here are brief descriptions of each family.

Joseph Rankin of Delaware (1704-1764) (“Joseph of Delaware”), wife Rebecca MNU. Their sons John and William moved to Rowan/Guilford County.

Joseph of Delaware had definitely arrived in the colonies by 1731, when he acquired a tract in New Castle County, Delaware. He is buried at Head of Christiana Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Newark, New Castle County, where his tombstone survives. Joseph’s wife Rebecca (MNU) and his son William were administrators of his estate. His place of birth is unproved, although a serious gambler would put a lot of money on Ulster. One local history claims he was born in Clyde, Scotland, which is also possible. He had at least seven children. Four sons are conclusively proved (Joseph Jr., Thomas, John, and William), two sons are suggested by circumstantial evidence (Robert and James), and a daughter Ann, d.s.n.p., is proved by the will of her brother, Joseph Jr.

Joseph’s proved sons Joseph Jr. and Thomas remained in New Castle, where both died. Thomas, a Lieutenant in the Delaware militia, is buried in the same grave as his father. The DAR placed a “patriot” marker on the grave, probably giving rise to a claim by one researcher that Joseph (who died in 1764) was a Revolutionary War soldier. If so, he was a ghostly presence.

I have been unable to track Robert or James beyond brief appearances in the New Castle records.

Joseph’s other two sons, John and William Rankin, migrated to that part of Rowan Co., NC which later became Guilford County. John (born 1736, New Castle County, died 1814, Guilford) went to North Carolina first, about 1765-68. His wife was Hannah Carson. William Rankin (born 1744, New Castle, died 1804, Guilford) went to NC about 1768-70, where he married Jennet/Jean Chambers.

John and William are buried at the old Buffalo Presbyterian Church in Greensboro. They each had many children and grandchildren, and their lines were meticulously researched by Reverend Samuel Meek Rankin. His research is documented in his book, The Rankin and Wharton Families and Their Genealogy, originally published in 1931 and now available online in its entirety at at the UNC library website. For the record, Rev. Rankin’s book is dead wrong about Joseph of Delaware being the father of Samuel Rankin, see below.

Two of Joseph of Delaware’s proved descendants have YDNA tested and are a 37-marker match with a genetic distance (“GD”) of 1, a close match. One of the men is a participant in the Rankin DNA Project. Joseph’s line is part of Lineage 1B of the Rankin project, see the chart  here. Joseph’s descendants also match the lines of Robert and Rebecca Rankin of Guilford County and David Rankin of Iredell County. More about them  below. Together, those two families and Joseph of Delaware’s line comprise Rankin DNA Project Lineage 1.

Samuel Rankin (1734 – 1816) of Lincoln Co., NC and wife Eleanor (“Ellen”) Alexander (1740 – 1802)

Thanks to a family legend and YDNA testing, I am reasonably confident that Samuel and Eleanor are my ancestors. I therefore tend to be a bit prissy with respect to misinformation about them. Some researchers claim Samuel and Eleanor were married in Pennsylvania, which is demonstrably incorrect. Eleanor appeared in North Carolina deed and court records with her Alexander family of origin as a child in 1753 and 1755. She married Samuel about 1759-60, almost certainly in North Carolina. Their eldest son, William, was born in North Carolina in January 1761.

Some researchers assert that Samuel was born in Paxtang, Pennsylvania, although there seems to be no evidence for that claim. I think it’s highly improbable. Samuel may be the same man as the Samuel Rankin who appeared on the 1753 tax list for Sadsbury Township in Chester County, Pennsylvania There were no other Rankins on that list.

Samuel and Eleanor lived on Dutchman’s Creek in the part of Lincoln County that later became Gaston County. His nickname, I was charmed to learn, was “Old One-Eyed Sam.” I don’t know how he lost an eye. He and Eleanor had seven sons (William, Samuel, Robert, David, Richard, Alexander, and James) and three daughters (Jane/Jean, Anne, and Eleanor). William, Alexander, James, Jane, and Anne stayed in Lincoln County, or nearby. Richard Rankin died in Mecklenburg County, just east of the Catawba River. You can see Richard’s headstone on Beatty’s Ford Road north of Charlotte in the left foreground in the banner photo on this website. Three of Samuel and Eleanor’s sons (Samuel Jr., Robert, and David) and a daughter (Eleanor Rankin Dickson) went to Rutherford County, Tennessee. David stayed in Murfreesboro, but his three siblings moved on to Shelby County, Illinois.

Two theories about the father/parents of Samuel Rankin (Sr.) still have proponents on the internet. Both of them have been conclusively disproved by Y-DNA testing, see the article at this link. I have found no evidence in colonial records regarding the identity of Samuel’s parents. He is probably the original Rankin immigrant in his line.

Robert and Rebecca Rankin of Guilford Co., NC (“R&R”)

This family arrived in the colonies in 1750 from Letterkenny Parish, Donegal County, Ireland, where their children were probably born. [1] They were in Pennsylvania for only a short while. Robert Sr. and his son George Rankin (or perhaps Robert Jr. and his brother George) were included on the 1753 tax list for West Nottingham Township in Chester County. R&R then came to Guilford County in 1755 as part of the Nottingham Colony, a group of Scots-Irish members of Nottingham Presbyterian Church, now located in Maryland (it was then in Pennsylvania). Here is a map of Chester County in 1712 showing the Nottingham lots, located in disputed territory that wound up in Maryland.

R&R had at least two proved sons who died in Guilford County: George (died in 1760), whose wife was Lydia Steele, and Robert (died in 1795), whose wife’s identity is a matter of controversy among Rankin researchers. Some Rankin family trees and at least one compiled Rankin history conflate the Robert who died in 1795 with his father Robert (husband of Rebecca), who died about 1770-73. The article at this link addresses that issue.

According to Rev. S. M. Rankin, R&R also had a son John who proved to be a research dead end for me, although the Guilford records suggest that is possible. R&R also had a daughter Ann, whose husband was the William Denny who died in Guilford in 1770. R&R probably had other children as well, including two daughters who might be deemed only likely: Margaret (Rankin) Braly or Brawley, widow of Thomas Braly/Brawley,  and Rebecca (Rankin) Boyd, widow of John Boyd. Evidence concerning those daughters is discussed in this article.

All of the above is conventional wisdom so far as I know, except for (1) the identity of the wife of R&R’s son Robert Rankin who died in 1795 (see discussion under David Rankin of Iredell, below), (2) Ann as a daughter of R&R, (3) the two likely daughters Margaret and Rebecca, and (4) the death date of George Rankin, son of R&R. Rev. Rankin said George died in 1761, but that was probably a typo. George actually died in 1760, when his will was both written and probated.

David Rankin of Iredell Co., NC (d. 1789), wife Margaret LNU (“Iredell David”)

David Rankin’s 1789 Iredell will and other records establish a wife Margaret and three children: Robert, James (not explicitly named in the will), and Elizabeth (ditto). Both James and Elizabeth are established by the will, even though it doesn’t provide their given names, and other records.

Iredell David’s son Robert may be and probably is the same man as the “Mystery Robert” who applied for a Revolutionary War Pension from Gibson County, Tennessee in 1832. I made that argument in this article, although my opinion should be deemed somewhat speculative. The identity of Robert’s wife is also a matter of controversy. Some researchers believe his wife was a Jean Denny (1755-1779) from Guilford County. Some Jean Denny definitely married some Robert Rankin in Guilford County in 1775. Other researchers believe that Jean Denny of Guilford married Robert, the son of R&R who died in Guilford in 1795. I disagree, because I believe that Robert (son of R&R) of Guilford was Jean Denny’s uncle. This question requires a fairly lengthy argument which I will save for another day.

In any event, Robert and his wife Jean had two sons: (1) Denny, who married Sarah McMinn, and (2) James, who married Elizabeth McMinn, Sarah’s sister. Both families remained in Iredell. Two of Denny’s sons moved to Gibson County, TN (home of “Mystery Robert”) and then to Shelby Co., TN, where they both died. Many of James and Elizabeth’s descendants remained in Iredell; some are still there today. They are nice folks.

Iredell David’s son James died in the Battle of Ramsour’s Mill in Lincoln Co. in June 1780. His wife was a Miss Alexander (probably Susannah), and they had four children who are proved by Lincoln County guardian records: (1) David Rankin, born by 1781, Lincoln; (2) Margaret (“Peggy”) Rankin who married Thomas Witherspoon in Lincoln, 6 Jul 1801; (3) William Rankin who married. Mary Lourance/Lawrence, 17 Jan 1810; and (4) Jane/Jean Rankin m. William Crays.

Iredell deed records suggest that Iredell David’s daughter was probably  Elizabeth, wife of Samuel McCrary (or McCreary).

For a lengthy chart (including supporting records) on the line of David of Iredell, see the article at this link.

Robert Rankin of Rutherford County, NC (b. 1748-49, d. 1816, Caldwell County, KY), m#1 Mary Withrow, m#2 Leah LNU (“Rutherford Robert”)

Francis Gill did the definitive research on Rutherford Robert and published a book about him and others. I cannot find a copy of his book available for either purchase or loan, or I would buy it.

Rutherford Robert married Mary Withrow in Tryon County, North Carolina in 1769. He owned land on Second Broad River in what ultimately became Rutherford County. He and his future Withrow in-laws may have been listed on the tax list for Aston Township, Chester Co., PA in 1768, before going to NC. Rutherford Robert and Mary Withrow divorced, and he married as his second wife Leah LNU. They wound up in Caldwell County, Kentucky, where Robert applied for tax relief in a document establishing his birth year as 1748-49. He left a will naming his children Margaret, James, John, Rachel and David (children of Mary Withrow) and Elizabeth, Jennet, Jesse and Elias (children of his second wife Leah).  The children evidently scattered to the four winds. At least one of them, Jesse, wound up in Gibson County, Tennessee, see this article about him.

Whew! This article became longer than I expected. Hope this helps a bit in keeping these families straight. One final note: a couple of people who have read my articles say they never look at the footnotes, which just make them too long. I have started omitting them, for the most part. However, if anyone wants a citation to a source for anything in this or any other article, please let me know and I will be happy to provide it.

See you on down the road.

Robin

[1] See the article at https://digupdeadrelatives.com/2018/12/28/reprise-scots-irish-anyway/

[1] John Rankin, a Shaker preacher and grandson of R&R, hand-wrote his autobiography at age 88. These details about the migration of R&R are from that autobiography. See “Auto-biography of John Rankin, Sen.” (South Union, Ky., 1845), transcribed in Harvey L. Eads, ed., History of the South Union Shaker Colony from 1804 to 1836 (South Union, Ky., 1870), Shaker Museum at South Union, Auburn, Kentucky (SMSU), 29-30. For a typescript of Eads’s history, see Shaker Record A at the Special Collections Library, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Kentucky (WKU). The above citation can be found at this link.

The Mysterious Robert Rankin of Gibson County, TN

Thanks to a winter storm and black ice on the road, Gary and I abandoned a planned trip to the North Carolina Archives. Instead, we u-turned to head home and then impulsively turned north at Birmingham toward the Tennessee State Library and Archives in Nashville. With no research plan for Tennessee, I began mucking about in county abstracts. When I stumbled over a passel of unfamiliar Rankins in Gibson County, I had a mission.

What caught my eye was the Revolutionary War pension application of a Robert Rankin.[1] He applied in Gibson County in September 1832. He served in the North Carolina militia. His sworn statement is replete with military detail; it reads as though he had a sharp mind and memory. Unfortunately, he did not identify the county where he enlisted, which might have led quickly to his family of origin. I didn’t have a clue who Robert might be, so he presented a fun puzzle to be solved.

The Gibson County records don’t reveal much about Robert. He was born about 1748 and lived in North Carolina when he was an adult.[2] He first appeared in Gibson County in 1827 when he was almost seventy years old.[3] He had no land, but owned one enslaved person.[4] He had a daughter named Margaret Finley.[5] He probably died between 1837 and 1840.[6] None of that helped identify his family of origin.

The thing that led to solving Robert’s puzzle was this: his pension application says that his brother (not named) was killed by Tories at the Battle of Ramsour’s Mill.[7] Robert also fought in that battle in June 1780. About 40 Whig patriots died there, although it was not easy to determine which dead soldiers fought for which side. That is because the combatants wore no uniforms. Loyalist Tories stuck a spring of greenery in their hats; the patriot Whigs had a piece of white paper in theirs. Those identifiers were sometimes missing from the bodies.

The largest number of patriot troops came from Iredell County. About thirteen of the forty dead patriots were members of Capt. Sharpe’s 4th Creek Company, Statesville, Iredell County, North Carolina.

Family history research rarely involves certainty, especially when dealing with records more than two centuries old. Sometimes one must play the odds. The best bet here is that Robert Rankin of Gibson County was originally from Iredell County.

A possibility appears as soon as you hit the Iredell records. Probate records include the will of a David Rankin. It was dated 1781 and proved in 1789.[8] It names his wife Margaret, son Robert, and three grandchildren: (1) David McCreary, (2) James Rankin, expressly identified as the son of Robert Rankin, and (3) David Rankin. The will does not say that grandson #3 David Rankin was Robert’s son. Grandson #3 must have had a father other than Robert. David and Margaret apparently had a second son who died before David wrote his will.

It wasn’t hard to find a candidate to be the second son. There was a James Rankin who died before January 29, 1782. James owned land in Burke County,[9] where his estate was administered. He had four minor children for whom a guardian was appointed in Lincoln County.[10] Here are the relevant records:

    • A Lincoln county guardian’s bond identifies John Alexander as guardian of minors David Rankin, Jane Rankin, Margaret Rankin and William Rankin, orphans of James Rankin.[11]
    • A Burke County administrator’s bond dated 29 January 1782 named Robert Rankin as administrator of the estate of James Rankin.[12] John Alexander was one of the securities on the bond.

On those facts, Robert and James Rankin were near kin, most likely brothers. John Alexander was part of the same extended Rankin family. Either (1) John Alexander married a Miss Rankin, or (2) John Alexander had a sister who married James Rankin. My friend Jody Thompson, a descendant of John Alexander’s brother, says that John Alexander was not married to a Rankin. Thus, John Alexander must have had a sister who married James Rankin, making John the uncle of his four Rankin wards.

Here is the critical piece of evidence. The Iredell County Genealogical Society has a collection called the “Philip Langenour papers.” They contain Mr. Langenour’s collections of stories about local families. He mentioned a Miss Alexander (no given name stated) who married a Mr. Rankin (ditto) who died in the 1780 Battle of Ramsour’s Mill.

This is the only evidence I have seen that a Rankin died at Ramsour’s Mill … other than the Gibson County pension application of Robert Rankin, whose patriot brother was killed in that battle.

The pieces of this puzzle fall together nicely. It is as good a bet as you can find in genealogy that James Rankin died in 1780 at Ramsour’s Mill, his wife was Miss ______ Alexander, and they had a son named David Rankin and a daughter named Margaret. Miss _____ Alexander Rankin’s brother John Alexander was guardian for his nephew David and his three Rankin siblings. The James Rankin who died at Ramsour’s Mill must have been a son of David and Margaret Rankin of Iredell and a brother of the Robert Rankin who was administrator of James’s estate.

Here is where we take a plunge off the high diving board without, we hope (as Jody puts it), “forcing Cinderella’s shoe to fit.” (Please forgive the mixed metaphors.)

Robert Rankin of Gibson County, Tennessee, who fought at Ramsour’s Mill and lost a brother there (and had a daughter named Margaret), is almost certainly the same man as Robert Rankin, son of David and Margaret Rankin of Iredell, and the brother of James Rankin who died at Ramsour’s Mill.

Thanks to Philip Langenour, the shoe fits quite nicely.

There is a bit more to the evidentiary trail. Robert Rankin, son of David and Margaret, disappeared from the Iredell records after February 1826 without leaving a will or estate administration there.[13] Robert Rankin of Gibson County made his first appearance on a tax list there in 1827. Jody and I had long wondered where the heck Robert went after he left Iredell. Had it not been for some black ice on I-20 a few miles east of Oxford, Alabama, we would probably still be wondering.

There is another connection between Gibson and Iredell County Rankins. Robert (proved son of David and Margaret) had two sons who remained in the Iredell/Lincoln area. One of them was Denny Rankin, who married Sarah McMinn. Robert A. Rankin and Samuel Rankin were Denny and Sarah McMinn Rankin’s sons.[14]

Robert A. Rankin began appearing in the Gibson County records in 1838.[15] Samuel Rankin was there by 1837, when he was security on the administrator’s bond of a John McMinn.[16] In the 1840 census, neither Robert of Iredell/Gibson nor his grandsons Robert A. and Samuel Rankin were enumerated in Gibson County. Robert A. and his brother Samuel had moved on to Shelby County, where both died; Samuel was Robert A.’s administrator.[17]

Finally, please note that there were two other Rankin lines in Gibson County. I found no evidence to connect any of them to the Rankins from Iredell County. Briefly, here are the other Rankin families:[18]

    • David F. C. Rankin (1823 – 1885) and his wife Susan Young. David was a son of David Rankin and Anne Moore Campbell of Rutherford County, Tennessee. The senior David Rankin was a son of Samuel and Eleanor (“Ellen”) Alexander Rankin of Lincoln/Gaston County, North Carolina.
    • Jesse Rankin, who was born in Kentucky about 1795, and his wife Cynthia Sellers. Some researchers believe Jesse was a son of Robert Rankin of Rutherford County, NC and Caldwell County, KY. Other researchers think Jesse was a son of “Shaker Reverend” John Rankin of Guilford County, NC and Logan County, KY. Both Robert of Rutherford and Shaker Rev. John had sons named Jesse.

On that note, it must be time to write an article about Jesse and Cynthia … moving on from North Carolina and Tennessee to Kentucky.[19]

See you on down the road.

Robin

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[1] See a transcription of Robert Rankin’s pension application here.

[2] Id. Robert Rankin was 84 when he applied for a pension in 1832 and was thus born about 1748. He was in the North Carolina militia, so there is virtually no doubt that he lived somewhere in North Carolina when he enlisted.

[3] Familysearch.org, Gibson Co., TN, “Tax Lists, Box 1, 1824-1835,” DGS #102863906, 1827 tax list included Robert Rankin with 1 black poll, no land.

[4] Id. The 1820s and 1830s tax lists included Robert Rankin, although he did not appear on the lists each year. He was never taxed on any land. The tax lists show a black poll with Robert in at least 1827, 1828 and 1830. I haven’t checked thereafter.

[5] The 1830 census for Gibson County had Robert as a head of household in the 80 < 90 age bracket, born 1740–50. His household included a female born 1780–90, a male born 1815–20, and one male enslaved person born 1800-06. Robert gave an enslaved person named Solomon to his daughter Margaret Finley in 1837. Gibson Co., TN Deed Book F: 55. Robert’s daughter may be and probably is the Margaret D. Fenly listed in the 1840 census for Madison County, Tennessee, born 1780-90, with an enslaved male born 1785-1804.

[6] Robert was not enumerated in the 1840 federal census for Gibson Co. and probably died between the 1837 gift deed to Margaret Rankin Finley and the census. I found no probate records for him.

[7] Here is a link to information about Ramsour’s Mill..

[8] NC State Archives and Library Search Room, File Box No. C.R.054.801.11, file folder for Rankin, David, 1789. David’s will is recorded in Iredell Will Book A: 200.

[9] North Carolina Grant No. 211, Grant Book 28: 211, Patent Book 98: 211. Grant dated 14 Mar 1780 to James Rankin, 450 acres on the south side of the Catawba River.

[10] Burke was adjacent to Lincoln County on the northwest when James Rankin obtained a grant in 1780. Iredell was created in 1788, adjacent to Lincoln on the north. See North Carolina county formation maps.

[11] Anne William McAllister & Kathy Gunter Sullivan, Civil Action Papers 1771-1806 of the Court of Ps & Qs, Lincoln County, North Carolina (1989). Bond of John Alexander dated 4 July 1793.

[12] NC State Archives and Library Search Room, File Box No. C.R.014.508.45, Burke County Estates Records, 1776 – 1934, Queen – Ritchel, file folder for Rankin, James, 1782. The file contains the original bond of Robert Rankin as administrator of the estate of James Rankin, dec’d, securities John Alexander, Joseph Steele, and Francis Cunningham. See also Familysearch.org, “North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979,” Burke County, Rankin, James, 1782. If you look closely, you can see the notation “Robert Rankins Admin Bond” penciled in to the left of the signatures on the second page of the bond.

[13] Iredell Co., NC Deed Book M: 271, deed date April _____, proved 1826, witnessed by Robert Rankin. That is the last “in person” appearance by Robert I found in the Iredell records.

[14] See Iredell Co., NC Deed Book T: 394, Robert A. Rankin a grantor in a deed conveying interest in estate of Dennis (sic, Denny) Rankin; NC Probate Records, Iredell Co., Wills 1808-1845, Volume 2: 274, image 149, will of Sarah Rankin naming children Robert and Samuel et al.

[15] See Gibson County Will Book B: 258, Robert A. Rankin was guardian of two Liggett children.

[16] See Gibson County Will Book B: 150.

[17] See loose probate papers, Shelby Co., TN, 4 Nov 1844 bond of Samuel Rankin as administrator of Robert A. Rankin.

[18] Some Rankin researchers think that Robert Rankin and his wife Isabel (maiden name Rankin) of Guilford Co., NC, McNairy Co., TN and Pope Co., AR may have also lived in Gibson County. I disagree. One of their descendants says she has seen no evidence the couple lived there, and I don’t see any room for them in the Gibson records.

[19] The article is i titled “Jesse and Cynthia Sellers Rankin of Gibson County, TN: Who Was His Father?” See it here.

David Rankin, died Iredell Co., NC, 1789

One of the many fun things about genealogy is meeting really nice people, including (in my case) some who are named Rankin. This includes a Rankin in Iredell County, NC, his wife, and his brother in Guilford County, NC. Unfortunately, we aren’t related. That’s a shame. We have adopted each other nonetheless.

David Rankin of Iredell County, their Rankin ancestor, was one of my early research targets when I was trying to find the family of origin of my last proved Rankin ancestor. I had high hopes for David, to no avail, as Y-DNA has conclusively proved.

Y-DNA from David’s line establishes a match, although not a close one, with the line of Joseph Rankin of New Castle County, DE. David was neither Joseph’s son nor his grandson, although David might be Joseph’s nephew. There is no evidence of any connection, however, so David and Joseph most likely share a common ancestor on the other side of the Atlantic. David’s line is also a match with descendants of Robert and Rebecca Rankin of Guilford County, NC. David might be Robert and Rebecca’s son, or a nephew. I don’t know whether the Y-DNA evidence is sufficient to draw that conclusion. We can conclude that Robert Rankin of Guilford and David Rankin of Iredell are closely related. Moreover, David is more closely related to Robert of Guilford than he is to Joseph of Delaware.

Meanwhile, I want to share my research on David’s line, because some Rankin out there might find it useful. Here it is. I’ve included a great deal of documentation, as well as links to other sources, so this is verrrrry long. Please tell me if you spot problems.

1 David Rankin, b. unknown (circa 1725?), d. 1789, Iredell Co., NC. Will written 15 Mar 1781. Wife Margaret LNU.

Here is my abstract of the will of David Rankin made from the original located at the NC State Archives and Library. The will is dated 15 March 1782 and was proved Dec 1789. No recitation that he is sick or weak. Leaves to beloved wife Margret, one third of the “plantation on which I now live for life, choice of my horses … her own clothing,” etc. Beloved son Robert, “plantation where I live plus the third in which my wife has a life estate, livestock, plantation utentials, wagons, residue of household goods.” Beloved grandson David McCreary, £5 to be paid by my son Robert before he [David] comes of age. Also to my beloved grandson David Rankin, £5 to be paid him by my son Robert before he arrives at the age of 21. Also to my beloved grandson James Rankin, £20 to be paid him by his father my son Robert. And the above sums to be made as good as money was in the year 1763. Son Robert, executor. Signed 15 Mar 1782, David Rankin. Witnesses Wm Kerr, Isabella Falls?

As to his children, David’s will expressly names a son Robert who has a son James. It also implies (1) a daughter who married a McCreary and had a son David and (2) a son who is not named but was the father of “grandson David Rankin.”

In that regard, there was a James Rankin who died in 1780 at the Battle of Ramsour’s Mill who was almost certainly David’s son. See more below under 2 James Rankin m. Miss Alexander, probably Susannah. James and Miss Alexander definitely had a son named David Rankin, proved by Lincoln Co. court records.

2 Elizabeth Rankin  m. Samuel McCreary. Both left wills in Iredell County naming a son David, among other children.

3 David McCreary, b. bef. 15 Mar 1782.

2 Robert Rankin, b. circa 1745-1750 (based on proved birth dates of sons), probably b. 1748. Disappeared from Iredell/Lincoln County records by 1826. Probably went to Gibson Co., TN and died 1838-40. See my article about Robert Rankin of Gibson Co. at this link. Wife Jean LKU, possibly Jean Denny from Guilford Co.?, b. 1755 – d. 10 Dec. 1779, age 24. Some Robert Rankin married some Jean Denny on 28 Feb 1775 in Guilford. Most Rankin researchers think the groom was a Robert Rankin of Guilford who died in 1795, although that Robert Rankin was probably Jean’s uncle.  Jean Rankin is buried in Centre Presbyterian Church, Iredell Co. She and Robert definitely had a son named Denny Rankin.

3 James Rankin, b. 1777-78 – d. 22 Feb 1854, age 77. Wife Elizabeth McMin, b. abt. 1779. James’ Iredell Co. will names all eight daughters and a son James, who was apparently their only surviving son. I have found no extant marriage bond for James and Elizabeth, but they were probably married in Lincoln Co., NC because Elizabeth’s sister Sarah McMin and James’ brother Denny Rankin were married there. James’ Iredell will was witnessed by James D. Rankin, a nephew who lived adjacent James (James D. was a son of Denny and Sarah McMin Rankin). Note: a beneficiary of the will would not have been a witness, which establishes that James Rankin, son of James and Elizabeth, was not the man who called himself James D. Rankin. There is apparently no extant tombstone, but James was buried in the Centre Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Mooresville. The Historic Cemetery Directory shows his year of death as 1855. However, his will appears to have been recorded 6 Jan 1854. One of those two dates is obviously incorrect.

1820 Iredell census has a listing for James Rankin (2 listings apart from Denny Rankin), although the profile doesn’t appear to fit with James’ surviving children: 320010-2101. That profile includes a male and female 26 < 45, 3 young females, and 5 young males. I can’t explain this.

1840 Iredell census, James Rankin, 000000001-000230001. James is listed as 60 < 70, b. 1770-1780, as is his wife Elizabeth. Five daughters were still living at home, three of whom are listed as age 20 < 30 (b. 1810-1820), which would include Ann, Sarah, and one other daughter. Two are shown as age 15 < 20 (b. 1820-1825), which would include Nancy and one other.

1850 Iredell census, James Rankin, 72, b. NC abt 1778, Elizabeth Rankin, 71, b. NC abt 1779, Ann Rankin, 35, b. NC abt 1815, Sarah Rankin, 31, b. NC abt 1819, and Nancy M? Rankin, 28, b. NC abt 1822.

Here is my abstract of the will of James Rankin, made from the original located at the NC State Library and Archives, Raleigh, NC, file box C.R.054.801.11. The will is undated and there is no recitation of residence. It appears to have been recorded 6 Jan 1854.

To my dear wife Elizabeth, all real and personal property including land where I live, slave Henry, household and kitchen furniture, livestock, farming tools, grain fodder and other provisions. Also carriage, notes and money. All a life estate, remainder at her death to my three single daughters Ann, Sarah and Nancy [Rankin] to be theirs jointly and absolutely. If any of my daughters marries (either before or after death of her mother), then the married child “shall be allowed to take and hold” one bed and furniture, one cow and calf, one horse and saddle worth $85 and kitchen furniture “such as my other married daughter received.” After the death of their mother, no division of property between my 3 daughters Ann, Sarah and Nancy “so long as two of them remain unmarried for it is my will and desire that this should be a home to the single daughter both after the death of their mother as well as during her life time, but in the event that any two of them should marry then … the property sold and equally divided.” Son James, large dictionary and my rifle gun. I have already given and divided off to my other daughters Ruth, Rachel, Jane, Elizabeth and Lucinda “all the property I design to [be] given them as their portion.” Daughter Ann, my large Bible and the side saddle of my wife Elizabeth. Signed James (x) Rankin. Witnessed Robt J. McDowell, James D. Rankin.

4 Ruth Rankin

4 Rachel Rankin

4 Jane Rankin m. Alexander Williams

4 Elizabeth Rankin

4 Lucinda Rankin

4 James Rankin, b. abt 1807, d. 1890. Married #1 Frances (“Frankey Mayhew”), #2 Patsey Little, Lincoln Co., 17 Mar 1858.

1840 Iredell census, James Rankin, 200001-200001001. James is in the 30 < 40 age category, b. 1800-1810. Two sons < 5, b. 1835-1840. Female in the 60< 70 category may be his mother-in-law Susannah Mayhew, who was living with the family in 1850.

1850 Iredell census, James Rankin, 43, Frankey Rankin, 42, John D. Rankin, 19, George L. Rankin, 16, Nancy L. E. Rankin, 13, Rachel E. Rankin, 11, Franklin J. C.? Rankin (Frankie Caroline? See 1860 census), 8, James A. Rankin, 6, Hester A. Rankin, 5, and Susannah Mayhew, 74, b. MD. All others b. NC.

1860 census, James Rankin, 53, farmer, $1000/2000, b. NC, Iredell Sch Dist 60, Patsey Rankin, 54, Lee Rankin, 26, b NC abt 1834, (George Lee Rankin?), Eleanor Rankin, 23 (Nancy L. Eleanor Rankin), Rachel Rankin, 20, Caroline Rankin, 19, James Rankin, 16, Hester Rankin, 15, and Osborn Rankin, 8, all b. NC.

5 John Denny Rankin, b. 10 May 1831, Statesville, Iredell Co., d. 19 May 1912, Galveston, Galveston Co., TX. Buried Riddle Cemetry, Rockdale, Milam Co., TX. Preacher, doctor and schoolteacher. Wife Mary M. S. Sechler, Rowan Co., NC marriage bond dated 18 Feb 1862, daughter of Abraham Sechler and Mary M. Freeze.

1870 census, Washington Co., TX, John D. Rankin, 39, minister and carpenter, Mary M. S. Rankin, 35, McKenzie Rankin (male), 7, James Rankin, 6, Charles G.? Rankin, 5, and Agnes E. Rankin, 1, all b. NC.

1880 census, Milam Co., TX, John D. Rankin, 49, preacher, wife Mary M., 46, son Jackson M. (Jackson McKenzie) Rankin, 17, son James G. Rankin, 15, son Charlie L. Rankin, 14, daughter Agnes E. Rankin, 11, daughter Flora I. or J. Rankin, Rowan D. Rankin, 6, daughter, and Rosadalis Rankin, 5, daughter. All b. NC and parents b. NC except Flora, Rowan and Rosadalis were  b. TX.

1900 census, Milam Co., TX, D. Rankin, 69, b. May 1831, farmer, b. NC, parents b. NC, wife Emma Rankin, 55, b. Feb 1845, married 9 years, b. AL, parents b. NC, son J. G. Rankin, b. Apr 1864, b. NC, parents b. NC, daughter-in-law Thula Rankin, b. Jan? 1875, TX, parents b. GA, granddaughter Thula Rankin, b. Aug 1899, granddaughter Alice Noff, b. Dec 1885, b. TX, parents b. TX.

In 1910, James D. was living with his son Charles L. Rankin in Bell Co., TX.

TX death certificate in Galveston, Galveston Co., TX gives his dates of birth and death, lists his occupation as “preacher, doctor, schoolteacher;” born Statesville, NC, son of James Rankin, b. Iredell, and Susanna [sic] Mayhew, b. Statesville. Usual residence Florence, TX, buried Rockdale, TX.

6 Jackson McKenzie Rankin, b. 9 Jan 1863, NC, d. 9 Apr 1944, Abernathy, Hale Co., TX. Wife Sarah Alice Mayfield, married 16 Jun 1888 in Milam Co., TX. He was a Baptist preacher.

1900 census, Milam Co., TX, Jackson M. Rankin, Jan 1863, NC, parents b. NC, “preaching,” wife Sarah A. Rankin, b. Dec 1869, MO, son Dennie Rankin, b. Aug 1889, TX, daughter Maggie E. Rankin, b. Feb 1891 TX, son James E. Rankin, b. Oct 1892 TX, daughter Mary Rankin, b. Mar 1894 TX, son Harvey Rankin, b. Apr 1896 TX, daughter ______, b. Mar 1898, TX.

1910 census, Garza Co., TX, Jackson M. Rankin, 47, married 21 years, b. NC, parents b. NC, minister, Gospel Baptist Church, wife Sarah A. Rankin, 40, has had 10 children, all living, b. MO, parents b. MO, son Dennie Rankin, 20, b. TN, daughter Emma Rankin, 10, TX, son James Rankin, 17, TX, daughter Mary B. Rankin, 16, TX, son Harvey L. Rankin, 14, TX, son Willie H. Rankin, 12, TX, son McKenzie S.? Rankin, 9, TX, son Gambrell Rankin, 7, TX, son John Rankin, 4, TX, daughter Alice Rankin, 2, TX.

1920 census, Lubbock Co., TX, M. Rankin, 57, farmer, b. SC [sic], wife Sarah Alice Rankin, 50, MO, daughter Mary Rankin, 26, TX, son Kennedy (McKenzie?) Rankin, 19, TX, son Gambrell Rankin, 17, TX, son John Rankin, 15, TX, son [sic, the “sex” column has her identified as a female] Alice Rankin, 12, TX, daughter Rosa Lee Rankin, 6, TX.

1930 census, Crosby Co., TX, Jackson M. Rankin, 67, Baptist Minister, with wife Alice Rankin, 60 and daughter Mary Rankin, 36. Adjacent M. H. Rankin. In the 1840 census, Jackson M. and Sarah Alice are with their son McKenzie in Abernathy, Hale Co., TX.

TX death certificate gives dates of birth and death and identifies his parents as John D. Rankin, b. NC, and Mary Sechlar, b. PA. Informant was M. H. Rankin. Buried in the Abernathy Cemetery, Hale Co., TX.

7 Jackson Dennie Rankin, b. 16 Aug 1889, Rockdale, Milam Co., TX, d. 2 Aug 1939, Lubbock, Lubbock Co., TX. Occupation given as “teacher” on his son’s birth certificate, “bookkeeper” on his death certificate, and “singer” on his draft registration card. Wife Virgie Alice Dodson, b. Coryell Co., TX.

WW I draft registration card dated Jun 1917 for Jackson Dennie Rankin, 27, b. 16 Aug 1889, Rockdale, TX. Occupation “Evangelistic Singer, Baptist Church, San Augustine, TX.” Resides Petersburg, TX. Medium height and build, brown eyes, light brown hair, slightly bald. Single, no dependents.

1930 census, Lubbock, TX, Jackson Rankin, 40, married at age 31, b. TX, father NC, mother TX [sic], wife Argie Rankin, 36, b. TX, son Jackson Rankin Jr., 6, b. TX.

Death certificate identifies his parents as J. M. Rankin, b. NC, and Sarah Alice Mayfield, b. MO. Informant on death certificate was J. M. [sic] Rankin Jr. of Slaton, TX.

8 Jackson David Rankin, b. 25 Mar 1924, Brownfield, Terry Co., TX, d. 11 Dec 2005, Cambria, San Luis Obispo Co., CA. Corporal, US Army Air Corps, WW II. Went to Texas Tech in Lubbock. Buried in Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, CA.

7 Maggie Emma Rankin, b. 24 Feb 1891, TX, d. 17 May 1979. Resided in Lorenzo, Crosby Co., TX; died in Lubbock, Lubbock Co., TX.

TX death certificate identified her as Emma Rankin O’Rear, a widow. Names her parents, Jackson M. Rankin and Sarah Alice Mayfield. Informant was James O’Rear.

7 James Mathew Rankin, b. 19 Oct 1892, Milam Co., TX, d. 9 Mar 1974, Lubbock, Lubbock Co. Resided in rural Crosby Co., TX. Schoolteacher, school superintendent, and Crosby Co. judge. Wife Maude Benton (b. 17 Dec 1892 in Red River Co., TX, d. 21 Jan 1967 in Lubbock). They married on 12 May 1920. He was an army Private, WW II. Both are buried in the Ralls Cemetery, Ralls, Crosby Co., TX.

TX death certificate states he was married and identifies his parents as Jackson M. and Sarah Alice Mayfield. Informant was Joe Rankin. Maude’s obituary identified two surviving sons.

8 Joe David Rankin, 8 May 1929 – 24 Dec 2002. 2nd Lieutenant, USAF, Korea. Buried Ralls Cemetery, Crosby Co., TX.

8 Jean McKenzie Rankin, 8 May 1929 – 4 Aug 1995. Doctor. Wife Marianne Clark.

7 Mary Elmore Rankin, b. 13 Mar 1894, TX, d. 21 Dec 1971, Ralls, Crosby Co., TX. Never married. Schoolteacher. Buried Abernathy Cemetery, Hale Co., TX. Death certificate identified her parents as Jackson M. Rankin and Sarah Alice Mayfield. Informant J. M. Rankin.

7 Harvey Carroll Rankin, b. 4 Apr 1896, TX, d. 9 Feb 1982, Falls Church, Fairfax Co., VA. Resided in Springfield, VA. Baptist minister. Wife Irene Hettie Dleozier. Virginia death certificate identifies his parents as McKenzie Rankin, b. TX, and Alice Mayfield. Obituary identifies survivors.

8 Robert Carroll Rankin, b. 26 Aug 1930, Lubbock Co., TX, d. 25 Apr 2006.

8 Nelda I. Rankin, b. 2 Mar 1933, Clovis, Curry Co., NM, d. 1 Oct 1995, Clovis. Attended Bob Jones University. Married Donald Albert Cowette 26 Jun 1953, Pasquotank, NC. Buried in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Curry Co., NM beside her mother.

7 Willie H. Rankin, b. abt 1898, TX.

7 McKenzie Hix Rankin, b. 1 Nov 1901, TX, d. 28 Dec 1960, Abernathy, Hale Co. TX. Death certificate lists “postal clerk: as his occupation. Wife Marion B. Peston (1904-1991). Buried in the Abernathy Cemetery.

1940 census, Abernathy, Hale Co., TX, McKenzie Rankin, 39, b. TX, dairy manager, wife Marion Rankin, 35, b. VT, daughter Bernice Rankin, 13, TX, son Charles Rankin, 5, b. NM, father Jackson Rankin, 77, b NC, mother Sarah Rankin, 70, b. TX [sic].

7 Charles Gambrell Rankin, b. 19 Nov 1902, TX, d. 15 Feb 1991, last resided in LaPorte, Harris Co., TX. Wife Madie Agnes Walker (1904-1977).

7 John Stephen Rankin, b. 8 Aug 1905, TX, d. 14 May 1982, Lorenzo, Crosby Co., TX. Wife Martha Christine Holcomb (1909-1965). U.S. Army, WW II, enlisted 14 Oct 1942, released 14 Feb 1946. Minister. Buried in the Abernathy Cemetery, Hale Co., TX. TX death certificate identifies parents as Jackson M. Rankin and Sarah Alice Mayfield.

7 Alice Rankin, b. 20 Nov 1907, d. 16 Apr 1964. Husband James Francis Barron (1910-1994) on 24 Dec 1933. Buried Terrace Cemetery, Post, Garza Co., TX.

7 Rosa Lee Rankin, b. abt 1914, TX.

6 James G. Rankin, 24 Apr 1864 – 12 Sep 1922. Preacher. Had four daughters and a son who died at 13. TX death certificate for J. G. Rankin identifies father as J. D. Rankin, b. NC, mother Mary? Sechler. Buried New City Cemetery, Rockdale, Milam Co., TX.

6 Charles Lee Rankin, b. 8 Oct 1865, NC, d. 14 Jun 1935, Houston, Harris Co., TX. Wife Annie M. Dean. Texas death certificate identifies him as a son of John Denney Rankin and Mary M. Sechler. Buried Hollywood Cemetery in Houston, 3506 South Main.

1910 census, Belton, Bell Co., TX, Charles L. Rankin, 43, b. NC, parents b. NC, merchant, furniture, Annie M. Rankin, wife, 34, daughter Mary L. Rankin, 15, son Karnes M. Rankin, 14, son Charlie D. Rankin, 9, son John G. Rankin, 3, daughter Annie B. Rankin, 6 months, and father John D. Rankin, 78 (married 3 times), b. NC, parents b. NC.

7 Mary L. Rankin, b. 1895, TX.

7 Karnes McKenzie Rankin, 1896 – 1960s. 1940 census, Houston, 4802 Ave. I, Karnes Rankin, wife Ruth Pearl Hill, (she d. 1974, Madison Co. TX), daughter Ruth N. Rankin, 5, son Harold Rankin, 2.

8 Ruth N. Rankin, b. abt 1935.

 8 Harold Lee Rankin Sr., b. 31 Jul 1937.

7 Charlie Dean Rankin, 25 Oct 1899 – 11 Mar 1931. Worked for the Houston Chronicle. Father C. L. Rankin, mother M. Dean. 1900 census (Milam Co., TX), 1910 census (Belton, Bell Co., TX) and 1920 census (Harris Co., TX). Informant on death certificate: C. L. Rankin of Willis, TX. Buried Forest Park Cem., Houston, wife’s name was Chloe.

7 John G. or F. Rankin, b. 1907/08. Appeared in the 1910 census, Bell Co., no further record.

7 Annie B. Rankin, b. 1910.

7 George W. Rankin, b. 27 Jul 1912, d. 18 Nov 1997, buried Willis Cemetery, Montgomery Co., TX. Spouse Martha N. Rankin, 8 Mar 1912 – 2 Jan 2005, married 27 Sep 1931. 1940 census, Houston, Harris Co., TX, 4806 Ave. I., bookkeeper, bank.

6 Agnes E. Rankin, b. NC abt 1869.

6 Flora I. or J. Rankin, b. TX abt 1872.

6 Rowan D. Rankin (female), b. TX abt 1874.

6 Rosadalis Rankin, b. TX abt 1875.

5 George Lee (or Leroy) Rankin, b. NC 5 Nov 1833 or 34 – d. 23 Feb 1909. Married Margaret Ruth Mills (1840 – 1921). Company I, 7th Regiment, NC Troops, enlisted 26 Feb 1862.

1870 census, Davidson, Mount Mourne, Iredell Co. NC, George L. Rankin, 37, b. abt. 1833, farm hand, NC, Margaret R. Rankin, 29, NC, Aaron M., 8 months, NC and Mary V., 8 months (twins).

1880 census, Davidson, Iredell Co., NC, L. Rankin, 46, b. NC, parents b. NC, Mag. R. Rankin, wife, 40, A. M. Rankin, son, 10, M. V. Rankin, daughter, 10, J. L. Rankin, 7, son, Geo W. Rankin, 5, son, Martha A. Rankin, daughter, 3.

1900 census, Davidson, Iredell, George L. Rankin, b. NC Nov 1833, 66, m. 31 years, parents b. NC, Margaret R. Rankin, b. Apr 1840, NC, Mary V. Rankin, daughter, b. Dec 1869 (Mary Virginia), James L. Rankin, son, b. Jan 1873, Martha? Rankin, daughter, b. Dec 1876, Maggie E., daughter, b. Feb 1881.

Tombstone in the Rocky Mount United Methodist Church Cemetary, Iredell, George Lee Rankin, 5 Nov 1833 – 23 Feb. 1909. Margaret Ruth Rankin, same cemetery, 12 Apr 1840 – 1 Jan 1921.

See 1910 census, Davidson, Iredell Mooresville, Margaret R. Rankin, 59, widowed, has had 6 children, all still living, with James L. Rankin, son, 37, Mattie Rankin, daughter, 30, Elma Rankin, daughter, 27, all b. NC, parents b. NC. See also 1920 census, Davidson, Iredell, Margaret R. Rankin, dwl #17,  age 78, widowed, with M. Elma Rankin daughter, 37; James L. Rankin in adjacent household.

6 Aaron Marshall Rankin, b. 3 Dec 1868, d. 30 Jan 1935. Wife Lillian Emma Kerr, married 21 Apr 1897. NC death certificate for Aaron Marshall Rankin, Route 1, Troutman, Iredell, NC, has dates of birth and death and identifies him as a retired farmer, a son of Lee Rankin and Maggie Mills. Informant: Mr. E. R. Rankin.

7 Edgar Reid Rankin, b. 31 May 1898, d. 1962. Also buried New Perth Cemetery. Married Mary L. Windcoff (1899-1987) on 3 Jan 1920. 1930 census, Fallston, Iredell, dwl #39: Edgar R. Rankin, age 31, m. #1 at 21. Wife Mary E. L. Rankin, 30, daughter Vivian G. Rankin, 8, father Aaron M. Rankin, 60.

8 Vivian Geraldine Rankin, m. Harold Collins, 24 Dec 1939.

6 Mary Virginia Rankin, b. 3 Dec 1869, d. 1948. Married Thomas Jefferson Conger, 19 Mar 1902.

7 Margaret Conger, Duke University. Schoolteacher.

7 Luther Conger m. Amelia Watkins.

8 Luther Conger Jr. m. Louise McLendon.

8 Thomas Conger m. Frances Douglas.

8 James Conger m. Dottie Plyler.

8 George Conger m. Nancy Grau.

6 James Lee Rankin, 31 Jan 1873 – 6 May 1954, buried Rocky Mount Cemetery, Iredell. Wife Annie Freeze (26 Jun 1890 – 13 Sep 1924), married 17 Dec 1911. NC death certificate states his dates of birth and death and identifies his parents as George Rankin and Margaret Mills. Informant was Miss Elma Rankin (his sister).

1920 census adj. mother Margaret Rankin: James L. Rankin, dwl #18, age 47, married, but wife isn’t listed. Daughter Margie R. Rankin, 6, son Marion K. Rankin, 4?, and E. J. Rankin, son, 8 months, b. 1919.

1930 census, Davidson, Iredell, dwl #73, James L. Rankin, 54, widowed, Elma Rankin, sister, 48, single, Margaret Rankin, daughter, 16, Mary Rankin, daughter, 14? (should be son Marion K.), E. J. Rankin, son, 10.

1940 census, Davidson, Iredell, James L. Rankin, 67, M. K. Rankin, son, 24, Marjorie Rankin, daughter, 23, Emma Rankin, sister, 58.

7 Margie or Marjorie Rankin, b. 1914.

7 Marian Kermit Rankin, b. 9 Apr 1915, d. 9 July, 2002, Mooresville, Iredell, NC. Buried Glenwood Memorial Park, Mooresville, NC. Obit in Charlotte Observer 11 Jul 2002. First wife Thelma Overcase, 1915-1993. Second wife Rachel Owens, 1922-2001.

7 Edgar James Rankin, b. 22 Apr 1919, d. 9 May 1985. Wife Rosa Jane Freeze (1920-1977). Buried Rocky Mount United Methodist Church Cemetery, Mooresville, Iredell. WW II draft registration card IDs father as J. L. Rankin, Mooresville.

1940 census, Davidson, Iredell, J. Rankin, 20, Rosa F. Rankin, 19 and Jimme Rankin, 5 months (adj. father J. L. Rankin).

8 James John Rankin, b. 12 Oct 1939, Iredell, lived in Lincolnton.

8 JoAnn Rankin m. Tommy Fann.

8 Linda Rankin m. Joel Cook.

6 George Whitfield Rankin, b. 11 Sep 1874, Iredell, d. 17 Dec 1942, Troutman, Iredell Co., buried New Perth Cemetery. Wife Sara Jane Parker, married 16 Aug 1896.

1910 census, Fallstown, Iredell, Sherill’s Ford Road, George W. Rankin, 35, first marriage, married 13 years; wife Sarah Jane Rankin, 33, has had 6 children, all still living; daughter Mary Louise, 12, son William L. Rankin, 10, daughter Reitta May Rankin, 8, son Thomas F. Rankin, 6, daughter Ruby E. Rankin, 4, and son Charles A.? Rankin, 2.

1930 census, Fallstown, Iredell, NC, dwl #62, George W. Rankin, 55, 1st married at age 21, Sarah J. Rankin, wife, Edna Rankin, daughter, 23, Katherine Rankin, daughter, 12, Charles R. Rankin, son, 22, m. 2 years, and his wife Mildred Rankin, 20.

7 Mary Louise Rankin, b. abt 1898.

7 William Lee Rankin, 1899-1952. Married Edna Lawrence. 1940 census, Statesville, Iredell, age 40, with wife Willie E. Rankin, 39, and Jewel Rankin, 12. Will proved 21 May 1952.

7 Rita May or Mae Rankin, b 1902, m. Lathan Smith.

7 Thomas Fred Rankin, b. 7 Nov 1904, Iredell, d. 9 Dec 1972, resided Landis, Rowan Co., at 210 Rankin Road. Retired Barber. Spouse Elzora McCombs. Buried Carolina Memorial Park, Concord, Cabarrus Co., NC.

7 Ruby Edna Rankin, b. 1906-07, m. Mr. Gillian.

7 Charles Rnette (this is not a typo) Rankin, b. 2 Feb 1908, d. 23 Jul 1991. Wife Mildred Marie Hardline. WWII draft registration card calls him Charles Rneet Rankin, of Troutman, Iredell Co., NC. The NC birth index calls him Charles Rnette Rankin, son of George Whitfield Rankin and Sarah Jane Parker. NC death index also calls him Charles Anette Rankin. Buried New Perth Cemetery, Troutman, Iredell County.

8 Norman Dean Rankin, b. abt 1935, d. 11 Oct 2015, age 80, in Troutman, NC, Iredell. Husband Bobby Carroll Murdock.

8 Charles Allen Rankin, b. 24 Apr 1932, Troutman, Iredell, d. 10 Mar 2000. Wife #1 Peggy Stewart, wife #2 Sally Josey. Resided Iredell. Died in Surry Co., NC, work accident. Buried in Memorial Gardens, Statesville.

8 Peggy Joy Rankin m. Jim Templeton.

7 Katherine Rankin, b. abt. 1918, m. Mr. Hartsell.

6 Martha Ann Rankin, b. 21 Dec 1876 – d. 1963. Married Christopher Samuel Elihu Hart on 4 Dec 1913, he was b. 21 Dec 1876, d. 2 Apr 1963.

7 Spruce Rankin Hart, 17 Nov 1914 – 22 Feb 1967. First wife Mary Louise Brawley, second wife Mary Doris Keever, m. Sep 1953.

8 Charlotte Kay Hart, 3 Aug 1941. Schoolteacher.

8 Martha Bernice Hart, b. 28 Jan 1943. Married Lonnie Carroll Harmon 18 May 1969.

6 Maggie Elma Rankin, b. 25 Feb 1881, d. 1962?

 5 Nancy L. Eleanor Rankin, b. NC abt 1837. 

5 Rachel E. Rankin, b. NC abt 1839-40

5 Francis Isabella Caroline Rankin, b. NC abt 1841-42, d. 1897, m. James M. Rumple.

5 James Aaron Rankin, b. NC abt 1844. Company I, 7th Regiment, NC Troops. Enlisted 22 Jul 1861. Killed at Chancellorsville on 3 May 1863.

5 Hester A. Rankin, 1845-1920, m. William Marshall Mills.

5 Osborne Tatum Rankin, b. 20 Apr 1852, Iredell Co., d. 1918, Rowan Co., NC, m. Amanda Isabella Shuford.

1870 census, Davidson, Iredell Co., dwl 103: James Rankin, 63, farmer, b. NC, Louisa Rankin, 51, Osborne T. Rankin, 18, b. NC abt 1852.

1880 census, Atwell, Rowan Co., NC: James Rankin, 73, farmer, Louise Rankin, 63, wife; Osborne Rankin, 28, son, farmer, Amanda Rankin, 26, son’s wife (Amanda J. Shuford, b. 1853, m. 1873); James Rankin, 3, son Lee Rankin, 10 months (b. Aug-Sep 1879, son of Osborne and Amanda). In 1900 census, add son Charles W. Rankin, b. 1887.

NC death certificate for Osborne Tatum Rankin, barber, Unity Twp, Rowan Co., NC. Born 20 Apr 1852, d. 20 Aug 1918, age 66, wife Amanda. Father James Rankin, b. Beaties Ford, Iredell Co., NC; mother Franky Byrd Mayhew, b. Iredell.

6 James Daniel Rankin. b. 8 Jun 1875, d. 16 May 1966 in Boone, Watauga Co., NC. Wife Tula Roberta Abernathy of Boone, NC.

7 Ruth S. Rankin, 1904-2003, Denton Co., TX, m. Paris Milton Rutherford.

7 Charles Elmer Rankin, 1908-1996, m. Mildred McDade.

7 Winton Blair Rankin, b. 1916, Boone Co., d. 2015, Wake Co., NC, m. Edith Dora Griffin.

6 Robert Lee Rankin, b. 8 Aug 1879 – d. 31 Jan 1940. Wife Susie Mae Belk. NC death certificate identifies his father as O. T. Rankin, b. NC, mother Amanda Shuford. Informant Mrs. R. L. Rankin.

1930 census: Robert Lee Rankin, 50, Susie Mae Rankin, daughters Bessie, Lucille and Rosa Lee Rankin; sons Grey Rankin, 17, Flake Rankin, 23, and Billy Rankin, 7.

7 Bessie Rankin, b. 1907.

7 Lucille Rankin, b. 1909.

7 Robert Grey Rankin, b. 27 Oct 1912, Salisbury, Rowan Co., d. 21 Jan 1976, Winston-Salem, Forsyth Co., NC. Buried Rowan Memorial Park Cemetery. Wife Eileen Jones, 29 Aug 1914 – 17 Jul 2003.

7 Rosalie Rankin, 1915-1975, m. Thomas H. Jackson.

7 Osborne Flake Rankin, 10 Jan 1918 – 16 Jul 1978, buried Lebanon Lutheran Church Cemetery, Cleveland, Rowan Co., NC. Spouse Helen L. Miller.

7 William Benjamin (“Billy”) Rankin, 7 Sep 1922 – 2 Oct 1981. Wife Margaret Sharpe Linebarger, 1925 – 2001 buried Hollybrook Cemetary, Lincolnton, NC.

6 Etta Elmora Rankin, 1882-1970, m. James A. Peeler.

6 Charles Wesley Rankin, b. NC 11 Sep 1886, d. 14 Jun 1918. Buried Greenlawn Cemetery, China Grove, Rowan Co., NC. Wife Lurline Ray Graham.

7 Charles Wesley Rankin, Jr., 1913 – 1981, d. in Lynchburg, VA. Wife Alice Johnston, 1910-1986.

7 Edward Ray Rankin, 1917-1972.

7 Josephine Rankin, 1918-2003, m. Edwin Pionowski.

4 Ann Rankin, b. 1816, m. James Reid.

4 Sarah Rankin, b. 1820, m. J. F. Brawley.

4 Nancy M. Rankin, b. abt 1822, NC, m. James S. Beatty.

3 Denny Rankin, 1775 – 1823, Iredell Co., NC. Wife Sarah McMin, marriage bond dated 4 Jan 1803 in Lincoln Co., NC. Will proved 1823. Sarah’s petition to have dower set aside mentions 126 acres on the Catawba River. Estate papers identify John M. Rankin as the guardian of minor children Sarah Aseaneth Rankin, Rachel Elizabeth McMin Rankin, and James D. Rankin. Only James was still a minor as of 20 Aug 1838. Both Denny and his wife Sarah are buried in the Centre Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Mooresville, Iredell Co., NC. A total of eight children are proved by a 1837 deed from two of the heirs to their mother, see Iredell Deed Book T: 394.

1810 census, Iredell Co., NC, Denny Rankin, 1 male 26 < 45 (b. 1765-1784), 1 female same age range, 3 males and 1 female less than ten (b. 1800-1810) (John M. b. 1803, Samuel b. 1806, and possibly William; daughter uncertain).

1820 census, Iredell Co., NC, Denny Rankin, 220010-32110. One male 26 < 45 (b. 1775 -1794), female same age, 1 female 16 < 26, 2 females 10 < 16, 3 females < 10, 2 males 10 < 16 (John M. and Samuel) and 2 males < 10 (Robert A. and James Denny?)

Denny’s tombstone inscription reads as follows: “Dennie Rankin born 1775 died 1823/Farewell father who lies here/This stone erected by his loving son Samuel Rankin/Honor thy Father and Mother.” An abstract of Iredell Co. cemeteries notes that the stone was made in Memphis, TN.

Sarah McMin Rankin’s tombstone is inscribed “Sarah wife of D. Rankin born 1781 died 1843,” with the remainder of the inscription identical to her husband’s (except substituting “mother” for “father”).

4 John M. Rankin, 13 Oct 1803 – 7 Sep 1884. Wife #1 Dorcus LNU (1802-1858). Married wife #2 Catharine Nixon (16 Aug 1815-11 Aug 1866) in Lincoln Co., 5 Jan 1859. She appears in 1860 census with 5 children born before 1860, all apparently children of Dorcus. In 1870 census, wife #3 is Elizabeth LNU. Buried United Presbyterian Church, Lincoln Co., NC.

5 Catharine Rankin, 1833-1908, m. Mr. Nixon

5 Jane Rankin, 1835 – 1887

5 Dorcas Cherry Rankin, 1837 – 1922

5 Rachel Rankin

5 John N. Rankin, b. abt 1843. Enlisted 20 Aug 1862, age 18, Co. K, NC 23rd Inf. Mustered out 25 Oct 1862 at Winchester, VA.

5 Aseneth M. Rankin, 1844-1874

5 Robert R. Rankin, 1848-1855

4 Samuel Rankin, b. 22 Jun 1806, Iredell Co. – d. 27 Apr 1886, Shelby Co., TN. I believe (some Rankin researchers disagree) that he is the Samuel enumerated in the census during 1840-1880 in Shelby Co., TN. Denny and Sarah’s son Samuel bought stones for his parents’ Iredell County graves that were carved in Memphis, which is in Shelby Co. Wife Marcella LNU.

1840 census, Shelby Co., TN, Samuel Rankin, 200001-11001. Oldest male 30 < 40, b. 1800-1810. Two sons b. 1835-1840 (Marcus and George), a daughter b. 1835-1840 (Rachel), and a daughter b. 1830-1835 (Sarah).

1850 census, 2nd, Shelby Co., #615: Samuel Rankin, 44, carpenter, b. NC, Marcilla Rankin, 43, VA, Sarah Rankin, 16, TN, Rachel Rankin, 14, TN, Marcus Rankin, 11, TN, George Rankin, 7, TN, and William Rankin, 6, TN.

1860 census, 2nd, Shelby Co.: Samuel Rankin, 54, farmer, b. NC, Marcilla, 51, VA, Rachel, 23, TN, Marcus L. or S., 22, TN, George L. or S., 20, TN, Jamey?, 17, female, TN, Wm. D., 15, TN, and Samuel D., 7, TN.

1870 census, Shelby Co., #17: Samuel Rankin, 64, b. NC, Marcella Rankin, 63, VA, Rachel E. Rankin, 24, b. TN, George L. Rankin, 31, b. TN, James Rankin, 28, b. TN, Samuel D. Rankin, 18, TN.

1880 census, 2nd, Shelby Co., TN: Samuel Rankin, 74, b. NC, parents b. NC, Marsella Rankin, 73, b. VA, parents b. VA. West Union Cemetery, Shelby Co., TN: Samuel Rankin, b. 22 Jun 1806, d. 20 Jul 1890, and Marcella Rankin, 18 Oct 1806 – 27 Apr 1886.

5 Sarah Rankin, b. TN abt 1834, d. 19 Jul 1882, married Mr. Van Fleet.

5 Rachel E. Rankin, b. TN 26 Jan 1836 – 25 Jun 1910, husband M. L. McEncroe. Buried West Union Cemetery, Shelby Co., TN.

5 Marcus D. Rankin, b. TN abt 1838-39. Wife Carolyn Brazil?

1870 census Dist. 4, Shelby Co., TN, D. Rankin, 33, b. TN, H. C. Rankin, female, 28, b. TN, Mary T. Rankin, 9, b. TN, and Joseph C. Rankin, 2, b. TN.

6 Joseph C. Rankin, b. 7 Feb 1868 d. 29 Aug 1956, buried West Union Cemetery, Shelby Co. Death certificate identifies his parents as Mark Rankin and Carolyn Brazil Rankin and wife as Eva Corbitt Rankin (1872 – 1937).

1910 census, Dist. 2, Shelby Co., TN, Joe Rankin, 42, b. TN, parents b. TN, married 19 years, wife Eva, 39, has had 8 children, 4 living; son Terrell, 15, TN, son Louis, 9, TN, daughter Amanda, 6, TN, daughter Rachel, 1, TN, and brother-in-law Lawrence Corbit, 27.

7 Terrell Rankin, b. TN abt 1895

7 Louis Rankin, b. TN abt 1901

7 Amanda Rankin, b. TN abt 1904

7 Rachel Rankin, b. TN abt 1909

6 Luther E. Rankin, b. Oct 1880, d. 5 Jun 1929, buried West Union Cemetery, Shelby Co., single, according to death certificate. Parents identified as M. D. Rankin, Amie Bazoa.

5 Jamey (female) Rankin, b. TN abt 1842

5 George L. Rankin, b. TN abt 1843

5 William D. Rankin, b. TN abt 1844-45

5 Samuel D. Rankin, b. Shelby Co., TN abt 1853. Married Mary Jane McMurray, a widow. 1880 census, Dist. 2, Shelby Co., TN, D. Rankin, 27, b. TN, father b. NC, mother b. ?, wife M. Jane, TN, son Phelan M. Rankin, 5 months, and stepdaughter Othella McMurray, 7, TN.

6 Phelan M. Rankin, b. 1880.

4 William Rankin, probably b. 1800-1810.

4 Rachel Elizabeth McMin Rankin, b. abt 1818, Iredell Co., NC

4 Jane D. Rankin m. ______ Porter

4 Robert A. Rankin, d. 1844, Shelby Co., TN, m. Tabitha Leggett, Gibson Co., TN.

4 Sarah Aseaneth Rankin, b. abt 1816, Iredell Co., NC

4 James Denny Rankin, b. 1820, d. by 1857, wife Evaline or Emerline York.

1850 census, James D. Rankin, 30, b. NC, Evaline Rankin, William L. Rankin, 3, Sarah E. Rankin, 1, and Sarah A. Rankin, 34 and Rachel E. M. C. Rankin, his sisters Sarah Aseaneth and Rachel Elizabeth McMin Rankin.

1860 census, Evaline Rankin, 40, farmer, Leroy Rankin, 15, Bettie Rankin, 13, Harriet Rankin, 11, and Emma Rankin, 2.

5 William Leroy Rankin, b. NC abt 1846.

5 Sarah Elizabeth Rankin, b. NC abt 1847.

5 Harriet Rankin, b. NC abt 1849.

5 Emma Isabella Rankin, b. 10 Jul 1856, d. 26 Jan 1928, Mooresville. Born in Iredell County. Death certificate identifies her father as Denny Rankin, b. Iredell, and Emerline York?, also b. Iredell.

2 James Rankin, d. June 1780 at the Battle of Ramsour’s Mill, m. Miss (Susannah?) Alexander.

3 David Rankin b. by 1781, Lincoln Co., NC.

3 Margaret (“Peggy”) Rankin m. Thomas Witherspoon, 6 Jul 1801, Lincoln Co.

3 William Rankin m. Mary Lourance/Lawrence, 17 Jan 1810.

4 Jane/Jean Rankin m. William Crays.

 

 

Part Two: Expanded Chart for James Rankin, son of Samuel and Eleanor Alexander Rankin

This is “part two” of an outline of the family tree of James Rankin, one of the sons of Samuel and Eleanor (“Ellen”) Alexander Rankin. It is an expanded outline that includes notes containing census records and other information, all shown in italics. I initially included citations to specific records (e.g., death certificates), although the sources became so repetitive that I abandoned that effort.

For a list of the primary sources I used in preparing this chart, see Part One HERE.

And now, for anyone who is an absolute sucker for detail, is the lonnnngggg expanded chart …

1 Samuel Rankin (1734 – 1816) and Eleanor (“Ellen”) Alexander Rankin (1740 – 1802). Samuel’s will, dated 16 Dec 1814 and proved April 1826, names inter alia their son James. (1) These dates of birth and death disagree with those given by most Rankin researchers. They are from Goshen Grove Presbyterian Cemetery inscriptions transcribed on FHL Microfilm #882,938. The film contains a pre-1914 cemetery inscription survey; the Historical Records Survey Service Division of the WPA prepared the transcription. Samuel Rankin’s tombstone has long since disappeared, but his wife Eleanor’s was still standing in the late 1990s. (2) North Carolina State Archives File Box C.R.060.801.21, original will of Samuel Rankin. Recorded in Lincoln County Will Book 1: 37. Will names children William, Jean Hargrove/Hartgrove, Samuel, David, Robert, Alexander, Ann Rutledge, Eleanor Dickson and James. A tenth child, Richard Rankin, predeceased Samuel but is proved by strong circumstantial evidence.

2 James Rankin (b. 1775-1780, d. 1832-1833). Wife Mary (“Polly”) Johnson, marriage bond 26 Aug 1812, Lincoln Co. Will named wife Mary, youngest child Mary Ann, and sons Richard and Robert. Provided all property to be equally divided among his children, without naming them. However, his estate records identify eight children. (1) 1820 census, Lincoln Co., NC, p. 350, James Rankin, 30001-10011. Male 26 < 46, female > 45, female 26 < 45, 3 males < 10, 1 female < 10. James, the eldest male, was b. 1775-1794. (2) 1830 census, Lincoln Co., NC, p. 231, James Rankin, 12020011-101001, shows James in the age 50 < 60 bracket, b. 1770-1780. Combining the 1830 and 1820 census info, James was born 1775-1780. (3) North Carolina State Archives, File Box C.R.060.801.21, “Lincoln County Wills, 1769 – 1926 Quickle – Reep,” file folder labeled “James Rankin 1832.” Folder contains the original will of James Rankin dated 27 Nov 1832, proved Jan 1833. Recorded in Lincoln Co. Will Book 1: 273. (4) File folder labeled “James Rankin 1832” also contains a document showing the division of his estate in eight lots to his heirs Robert Rankin, Rufus Rankin, Caroline Rankin, James Rankin, Louisa Rankin, Samuel Rankin, Richard J. Rankin, and Mary Rankin.

3 Robert Rankin, b. abt 1815, Lincoln Co., NC, d. after 1880, Crawford Co., AR. He is probably the Robert Rankin who appeared in the 1850 and 1860 census in Gaston Co., NC and then in the 1870 and 1880 census in Crawford Co. AR. Wife Harriet D. Alexander. (1) 1850 census, p. 404, Gaston Co., NC, dwelling #193, Robert Rankin, 35, merchant, b. NC, Harriet D. Rankin, 21, b. NC. (2) 1860 census, Woodlawn PO, Gaston Co., NC, Robert Rankin, 46, farmer, b. Lincoln Co., NC, Harriet Rankin, 30, b. Mecklenburg Co., NC, Amzi Rankin (male), 7, Charles Rankin, 4, and Robert Rankin, 2. Listed adjacent to James Alexander. (3) In the 1870 census, this family appears in Crawford Co., AR, Richland Twp., Van Buren, PO, dwelling 98: Robert Rankin, 55, farm labor, b. NC, Hariet Rankin, 42, b. NC, Emsly? Rankin (male, most likely Amzi?), 19, b. NC, Charles Rankin, 13, b. NC, Mary Rankin, 10, b. NC, Alice Rankin, 8, b. NC, Ada Rankin, 6, b. NC, and Robert Rankin, 2, b. NC. (4) 1880 census, Alma, Crawford Co., AR, dwelling 35, Robert Rankins, 65, farmer, b. NC, parents b. NC; H. D. Rankin, wife, 51, Charles Rankin, 23, son, Alice W. Rankin, daughter, 17, Ada D.? Rankin, 15, daughter, Robert E. Rankin, 12, son, and Richard A. Rankin, 3, son. (5) 1900 census, Crawford Co., AR, Alma Twp., dwelling #48, Harriet D. Rankins, b. Apr 1920, age 71, widowed, has had 10 children, 6 living, b. NC, parents b. NC; son Amzi A. Rankin, b. Mar. 1853 in NC, age 47, single, saloon keeper. Same dwelling, family of Ada B. Cason, daughter (of Harriet Rankin), b. Sep 1863 NC, age 36, married 9 years, has had 5 children, 4 living, Thomas E. Cason, (Harriet’s) son-in-law, b. Jul 1860, MS, 39, married 9 years, chief of police; Robert W. Cason, grandson, b. Apr 1894 AR, age 6, Delia A. Cason, granddaughter, b. Apr 1894 AR, age 6, Edw. E. Cason, grandson, b. Dec 1895, AR, age 4, Caude Cason, grandson, b. Nov 1899, and Richard A. Rankin, son, b. May 1871, age 29, b AR.

4 Amzi Alexander Rankin, b. 14 Mar 1853, Woodlawn, Gaston Co., NC, d. 23 Jun 1914, Muskogee, Muskogee Co., OK. Findagrave website has obituary identifying Woodlawn as his birthplace. He apparently never married. Buried Greenlawn Cemetery, Checotah, McIntosh Co., OK. (1) 1910 census, Checotah, McIntosh Co., OK, West Gentry Ave: Amsie [sic] A. Rankin, 53, single, b. NC, parents b. NC, Mary D. Holt, sister, 49, widowed, and Boy [?] G. Holt, nephew, 25, b. AR, father b TX, mother b NC. (2) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&amp;GRid=69677109&amp;ref=acom

4 Charles Rankin, b. abt 1856-57, Gaston Co., NC. Died before 1900.

4 Robert Rankin, b. abt 1858, Gaston Co., NC. Died before 1870.

4 Mary D. Rankin, b. abt 1860-61, Gaston Co., NC. Married a Mr. Holt, no marriage record found. According to her brother Amzi’s obituary, she lived in Checotah, McIntosh Co., OK as of 1914. She was listed there in the 1930 census with her brother Robert. (1) Listed in brother Amzi’s household in 1910 census, see above. (2) 1930 census, Checotah, McIntosh Co., OK, 703 W. Gantry St., D. Holt (female), 69, widowed, b. NC, parents b. NC, and brother R. E. Rankin, 63, widowed, b NC., parents b. NC.

4 Alice W. Rankin, b. 1863, Gaston Co., NC, d. 1945, McIntosh Co., OK. Husband William Thomas McNeely (1860-1914), married 23 Oct 1883 in Crawford Co., AR. Both are buried in Greenlawn Cemetery, Checotah, McIntosh Co., OK. (1) Alice’s tombstone: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=McNeely&GSiman=1&GScid=98551&GRid=79087030& (2) Tom’s tombstone: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&amp;GRid=79608448&amp;ref=acom

4 Ada B. Rankin, b. Sep 1863, Gaston Co., NC. Husband Thomas E. Cason, married about 1891, Crawford Co., AR. See 1900 census with her mother Harriet Rankin, above.

4 Robert E. Rankin, b. Sep 1866, Gaston Co., NC. Appeared with sister Mary D. Rankin Holt in the 1930 census, Checotah, McIntosh Co., OK, widowed. Wife Rose Thursten/Thuston, m. 31 Dec 1891, Crawford Co., AR. (1) 1900 census, Indian Territory, Creek Nation, Checotah: Robert E. Rankin, b. Sep 1866, age 33, married 8 years, b. NC, parents b. NC, hardware salesman; wife Rose Rankin, b. Apr 1867, has had one child, b. AR, parents b. AR; Wiley E. Rankin, son, b. Dec 1896, Indian Territory, Creek Nation, father b. NC, mother b. AR. (2) 1910 census, Denver, CO, 2215 Clarkson St., Robert E. Rankin, 42, 1st marriage, b. NC, parents b. NC, salesman, furniture store; wife Rose, 43, b. AR, parents b. AR, son Wylie E., 13, b. OK, father b. NC, mother b. AR.

5 Wiley Edward Rankin, b. 31 Dec 1890, Checotah, OK, d. 1945. Buried in the Crown Hill Cemetery, Wheat Ridge, Jefferson Co., CO. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&amp;GRid=47089970&amp;ref=acom

4 Richard Arthur Rankin, b. May 1871, Crawford Co., AR. Lived in McIntosh Co., OK as of 1914; Muskogee, OK, in 1934; rural Muskogee Co., in 1940. Buried Sperry Rest Haven Cemetery, Osage Co., OK. Wife Bernice, LNU. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&amp;GRid=15941441&amp;ref=acom

3 Caroline Rankin.

3 James Rankin, b. abt. 1829. He might be, and probably is, the James Alexander Rankin (25 Jun 1829 – 2 Aug 1881) buried in the Rankin Cemetery in Upton Co., TX. James Rankin, son of James and Mary Johnson, identified himself as a carpenter in both the 1850 Gaston Co. census (in the household of his brother Samuel Rankin) and the 1860 census in Bowie Co., TX in the household of Robert Beaty, probably his brother-in-law. https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Rankin&GSfn=James&GSby=1829&GSbyrel=in&GSdy=1881&GSdyrel=in&GSst=46&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=55136923&df=all&

3 Louisa Rankin, b. abt 1827-28. She might be the L. R. Rankin (female), age 32, in the 1860 census for Bowie Co., TX along with J. A. (James Alexander?) Rankin, 31, carpenter, Robert Beaty, 32, carpenter, and M. A. Beaty (female, perhaps Louisa’s sister Mary?), 29. All were born in NC.

3 Samuel Rankin, b. abt. 1821. Identified his occupation as “miner” in the 1850 census. To my surprise, gold was mined in Gaston Co. (1) 1850 census, Gaston Co., NC. Listing for Samuel Rankin with his siblings Rufus, Louisa and James Rankin. Samuel Rankin, 29, “miner,” Rufus Rankin, 27, farmer, Louisa Rankin, 23, James Rankin, 20, carpenter. Rufus’ first wife, Mary, died in March 1850, and his three eldest children (William, 6, Laura, 4, and James, 4 months) are also enumerated in the household.

3 Richard J. Rankin.

3 Mary Rankin. May be the Mary who married Robert Alexander Beaty on 22 Apr 1849, see the 1860 census, Bowie Co., TX and the 1850 census, Gaston Co., NC, listings for Robert Beaty.

3 William Rufus Rankin, b. 7 Mar 1823, Gaston Co., d. 17 Nov 1883, Gaston Co. He is buried in Goshen Grove Cemetery, Belmont, Gaston Co., NC. Major, Confederate Army. Married twice: #1 Mary Ann (possibly Capps?, 23 Feb 1826 – 6 Mar 1850); #2 Sarah Elizabeth Stowe (8 Apr 1840 – 28 Aug 1892). (1) 1850 census, Gaston Co., NC. Listing for Samuel Rankin with his siblings Rufus Rankin, Louisa Rankin, James Rankin, and Rufus Rankin’s eldest three children. Rufus’ first wife, Mary, died in March 1850, and the census was taken in August 1850. The three children of Rufus and Mary are listed in the household: William, 6, Laura, 4, and James Rankin, 4 months. (2) 1860 census, Woodlawn PO, Gaston Co., NC, dwelling 979, Rufus Rankin, 37, farmer, $1500/$3078, Sarah Rankin, 20, NC, William Rankin, 16, NC, Laura Rankin, 14, NC, James Rankin, 10, NC, Whiten Rankin, 3, NC, Andrew Rankin, 2, NC, J. Pinkney Stowe, 25, and Eliza W.? Stowe, 51. (3) 1870 census, River Bend, Gaston Co., dwelling 192, Rufus Rankin, 48, farmer, $2000/$1000, b. NC, Sarah Rankin, 28, NC, Mack Rankin, 20, NC, Whiten Rankin, 13, NC, Andrew Rankin, 9, NC, Pinckney Rankin, 7, NC, Robert Rankin, 5, NC, Mary Rankin, 3, NC, Larkin Rankin, 2 months, NC. (4) 1880 census, South Point, Gaston Co., William R. Rankin, 57, b. NC, parents b. NC. Wife Sarah Rankin, 40, son Andrew Rankin, 21, son Pinkney Rankin, 18, son Robert Rankin, 14, daughter Mary Rankin, 12, son Larkin Rankin, 10, daughter Jane Rankin, 8, son Albert Rankin, 6, son Price Rankin, 4, and mother-in-law Eliza A. Stowe, 71. (5) Adjacent tombstones in Goshen grove for William Rufus Rankin, CSA, Mary A. Rankin, wife of W. R. Rankin, and Sarah E. Rankin, wife of W. R. Rankin. “Wife of” is inscribed on the tombstones of both Mary and Sarah. Goshen Grove Presbyterian Church is located at 380 Woodlawn Avenue, Belmont, NC. The cemetery is past the church on the right, just before you get to the railroad tracks. William Rufus Rankin’s tombstone gives his dates of birth and death and has a “CSA” inscription. Military marker indicates that he was a Major in the 37th NC Infantry Regiment. See image at http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=66750474. William Rufus Rankin’s first three children (William Gamewell, Laura and James) were children of his first wife Mary Ann. The remaining 9 children (Whiten through Price) were children of his second wife, Sarah Elizabeth Stowe.

4 William Gamewell Rankin, 9 Mar 1844 – 12 Feb 1900. Wife Elvira A. Leeper (16 May 1840-11 Feb 1916). Buried New Hope Presbyterian Cemetery, Gastonia. (1) 1870 census, River Bend, Gaston Co., William Rankin, 26, b. NC, Elvira Rankin, 29, NC, Sallie Rankin, 6, NC, Wiley Rankin, 2, NC and Mary Rankin, 1, NC. (2) 1880 census, Gaston Co., William Rankin, 36, farmer, b. NC, parents b. NC, wife Elvira A. Rankin, 40, son Wiley T. Rankin, 12, NC, daughter Mary A. Rankin, 9, NC, son Edward J. Rankin, 7, NC, and daughters Laura B. Rankin, 4, NC, and Emma F. Rankin, 1, NC. (3) 1900 census, Gaston Co., NC, Elvira A. Rankin, 60, Leona L. Rankin (Laura?), 24, Emma F. Rankin, 21, John R. Rankin, 18, and Rufus A. Rankin, 17. (4) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=44671755 (5) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=44672427

5 Sallie Rankin, b. abt 1864, Gaston Co.

5 Wiley Theodore Rankin, 24 Sep 1867 – 18 Dec 1929. All children were by first wife, Lula Ford. Second wife Lillie Johnston, married 24 Sep 1902, Gaston Co. Wiley and Lillie died in Ft. Lauderdale, Broward Co., FL, but are buried at Oakwood Cemetery, Gastonia. (1) 1910 census, 501 W. Main, Gastonia, Wiley T. Rankin, 42, 2nd marriage, President, Insurance and Realty, wife Lillie J. Rankin, 35, first marriage, married 8  years, has had no children, daughter Mildred, 16, daughter Elener, 13, son Wiley [sic] T., 11, daughter Lula, 9. (2) 1920 census, 501 W. Main St., Gastonia, Wylie T. Rankin, 53, b. NC, parents b. NC, President, Cotton Mills, wife Lillie Rankin, 44, son Theodore Rankin, 21 (President, Cotton Mill), daughter Lula Rankin, 19, and sister Emma Rankin, 42. (3) 1927 Gastonia city directory, Wiley T. Rankin (wife Jillie [sic] J.), mayor and councilman, City of Gastonia, Pres. Gastonia Insurance and Realty Co., and Pres-Treas Osceola Mills (Inc), residence 501 W. Main Ave. (4) 1934 Gastonia city directory, Lillie J. Rankin, widow of Wiley T., residence 501 W. Main Ave. (5) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&amp;GRid=83290875&amp;ref=acom (6) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Rankin&GSiman=1&GScid=48278&GRid=83290874&

6 Mildred Rankin, b. 17 Jun 1893, Gaston Co., d. 2 Feb 1941, Gastonia, NC. Husband Haddon Spurgeon Mackie (1891-1970). http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&amp;GRid=84273713&amp;ref=acom

7 Wiley Theodore Mackie, b. 13 Jul 1920 – 11 Sep 1943. Annapolis. Lt., U.S. Navy, WW II. Served on the U.S.S. Rowan, torpedoed off the coast of Italy.

7 Mary Lou Mackie, a. abt. 1922, m. Alton F. Bryant, 19 Nov 1946, Gaston.

6 Elma or Emma? Rankin, b. 24 Sep 1896, Gastonia. Husband John D. Kennedy, married 1930 in Brevard Co., FL. (1) 1940 census, Ft. Lauderdale, Broward Co., FL, John D. Kennedy, 35, lawyer, b. FL, wife Elma R., 37 (?), b. NC.

6 William Theodore Rankin, b. 24 Nov 1898, Gastonia, d. 4 Apr 1952, Gastonia. Wife Mary Payne, m. Gastonia 25 Apr 1929. (1) 1927 Gastonia city directory listing for Wiley [sic] T. Rankin Jr., VP-Supt. Osceola Mills Inc., residence at 501 W. Main Ave. (2) 1930 census, Gastonia, 609 South Street, William T. Rankin, 30, President, Cotton Mill, Mary P. Rankin, wife, 24. (3) 1940 census, Gastonia suburbs, T. Rankin, 41, b. NC, salesman, completed 4 years college, wife Mary Rankin, 34, b. NC, and son Wiley, 9, b. NC. (4) Death certificate lists his occupation as “V.P. Textiles, Inc.,” usual address at 1305 York Road, Gastonia. (5) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&amp;GRid=83290871&amp;ref=acom

7 Wiley Theodore Rankin, 7 Oct 1930 – 14 Dec 1999. Wife #1 Jeanette Adams; wife #2 Hally Lee. (1) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&amp;GRid=13044757&amp;ref=acom (2) College yearbook picture: http://search.ancestry.com//cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=YearbooksIndex&h=252573731&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=twY46&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&rhSource=1265 (3) Obituary: GREENSBORO — Wiley Theodore Rankin III, 69, died Dec. 14, 1999. He was a native of Gastonia, son of the late William Theodore and Mary Payne Rankin, husband of the late Jeanette Adams Rankin, attended Gastonia High School, NCSU School of Textiles where he was a brother in the Sigma Chi fraternity, worked for Goodyear, America Enka for 27 years, retired from American Rayon, served in the Air Force where he was a cryptographer stationed in Germany, continued service locally as the vice president for the Greensboro Optimist Club, ran its junior golf outing the past two years, volunteered with Greensboro Safety Town run by the Greensboro Police Department. SURVIVORS: Wife, Hally Lee Rankin; sons and daughters-in-law, Dr. David Simel and Dr. Joanne Piscatelli, Durham, Bruce and Kristal Simel, New Bern, Dr. William T. Rankin III and Gena Rankin, Mebane; daughters and sons-in-law, Dr. Dana Simel and Michael Herrinton, Palo Alto, Calif., Mary Rankin Vowell and Capt. J.B. Vowell, Columbus, Ga.; grandchildren, Lauren, Michael, Raphael, Drew, Brian and Dylan Simel and Adam Vowell

6 Lula Rankin, 6 Nov 1900 – 2 Feb 1985, buried Oakwood Cemetery, Gastonia. Schoolteacher. (1) 1934 Gastonia city directory, Lula Rankin, teacher, West School, residence 501 W. Main Ave. (2) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&amp;GRid=83290878&amp;ref=acom

5 Mary A. Rankin, 1870 – 22 Aug 1919. Married Charles Clyde Craig 19 Nov. 1895, Gaston. Buried Oakwood Cemetery, Gastonia. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&amp;GRid=96744276&amp;ref=acom

5 Edward Jenkins Rankin, 26 Dec 1872 – 28 Aug 1950, buried Oakwood Cemetery. Wife Emma Mary or Mary Emma Stowe, married 1 Apr 1898. Owner and/or manager of a furniture store. (1) 1934 Gastonia city directory, “Rankin-Armstrong Co., Inc.,” Edward J. Rankin, President-Treasurer. Furniture, refrigerators, household goods, at 124-132 S. Marietta; wife Emma J., residence at 315 Highland. (2) Edward’s family has consistent census records from 1900 through 1940, inclusive. They lived at 605 South Main in 1900, 601 W. Airline I 1910 and 1920, and 315 N. Highland St. in 1930, 1940 at the time of his death in 1950. The census records prove 2 daughters.

6 Annie Lucille Rankin, 23 Feb 1900 – Nov 1992, Gastonia. Apparently never married. (1) 1936 Gastonia city directory, A. Lucille Rankin, steno, County Welfare Department, residence 315 N. Highland (her parents’ home from at least 1930 to 1950). (2) Profession given as “Steno, Welfare” and “Steno, Municipal” in the 1930 and 1940 census, respectively. (3) Delayed birth certificate gives her father’s middle name as Jenkins. (4) She was the informant on her father’s and her Aunt Emma’s death certificates, suggesting she was perhaps the family caretaker.

6 Margaret S. Rankin, b. 19 July 1909.

5 Laura Luna Rankin, 12 Dec 1875 – 17 Jan 1945. Married John Taylor Harrison, 10 Apr 1901, Gaston Co. Buried New Hope Presbyterian Cemetery, Gastonia. (1) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&amp;GRid=34081310&amp;ref=acom (2) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=34081336

5 Emma F. Rankin, b. 6 Oct 1878, d. 22 Feb 1957, lived in Gastonia her entire life. Resided 702 S. Chester St. when she died. Buried at New Hope Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Gastonia. Sales clerk. (1) 1934 Gastonia city directory, Emma F. Rankin, saleswoman, Matthews-Belk Co., residence 702 S. Chester.

5 John Ralph Rankin, 6 May 1881 – 2 Oct 1920. Married Victoria May Grischy 24 May 1906. Buried in New Hope Presbyterian Church Cemetery. (1) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Rankin&GSiman=1&GScid=2155069&GRid=125401880& (2) 1910 census, Spokane, WA, John R Rankin, 28, married 4 years, b NC, parents b NC, salesman; wife Victoria M., 24, m. 4 years, has had two children. Sons James R., 3, and William, 2 months.

6 James Robert Rankin, b. 15 Apr 1907, Gastonia, d. Mar 1982, Gastonia. Wife Eugenia White, 1908 – 1996. Buried Gaston Memorial Park.

6 William Rankin, b. 1910.

5 Rufus Andrew Rankin (Sr.), b. 15 Oct 1882, Gaston, d. 11 Jan 1933. Wife Minnie Jane Armstrong, married 21 Mar 1906, Gaston Co. Buried at Hollywood Cemetery, Gastonia. (1) 1910 census, 507 South St., Gastonia, Rufus A. Rankin, 27, m. 4 years, proprietor of furniture store, wife Minnie J. Rankin, 22, daughters Evalyn, 3 and Mary R., 17 months. (2) 1920 census, same address, Rufus A. Rankin, 37, proprietor of a furniture store, Minnie J., wife, 32, daughters Evelyn, 12 and Mary R., 11, son Rufus A. (), 8, daughter Alice E., 6, & son Robert W., 2. (3) 1927 Gastonia city directory, Rufus A. Rankin, wife Minnie, President of Piedmont Oil Co., Inc., residence at 507 South St. (4) 1930 census, same address, Rufus A Rankin, 47, proprietor, “oil jobber,” son Rufus A. Jr., 18, daughter Alice E., 16, son Robert W., 12, daughter Helen F., 9, and son Samuel A. Rankin. (5) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&amp;GRid=96744014&amp;ref=acom

6 Evelyn Rankin, 16 Jan 1907 – 30 Aug 1999. Married John Paul Stowe, Gaston Co., 29 Nov 1934. Registered nurse, 4 years of college. Buried Hillcrest Gardens Cemetery, Mt. Holly. (1) 1927 Gastonia city directory, Miss Evelyn Rankin, student, residence at 507 South St. (2) 1934 Gastonia city directory, Evelyn Rankin, secretary, County Health Dept., residence 315 N. Highland. (3) Find-a-grave website has her obituary identifying parents, siblings, children. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&amp;GRid=13091819&amp;ref=acom

6 Mary Ruth Rankin, 6 Nov 1908 – 1 Jul 1977. Married Henry W. Jordan 3 Nov 1933 in Greensboro, Guilford Co., NC. Buried Pine Hill Cemetery, Burlington, Alamance Co., NC. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&amp;GRid=13091819&amp;ref=acom

6 Rufus A. Rankin Jr., b. 1 Aug 1911, Gastonia, d. 6 Jan 1985, Kilmamock, Lancaster Co., VA. Wife Dorothea Edwards Higgins, married 15 Apr 1939, Richmond, Henrico Co., VA. Worked in the Credit Department at Exxon (previously Humble Oil., previously Standard Oil Co.). Buried in the Campbell Memorial Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Weems, Lancaster Co., VA. (1) 1927 Gastonia city directory, Rufus A. Rankin Jr., residence 507 South St. (2) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&amp;GRid=76928863&amp;ref=acom

7 Rufus A. Rankin III, 25 Sep 1940 – 26 May 1994. Buried Campbell Memorial Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Weems, Lancaster Co., VA. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=76929098

7 Henry L. Rankin. Serving in U.S. Navy when his father died in 1985.

6 Alice Elvira Rankin, b. 16 Nov 1913, Gaston, d. 8 Feb 2003, Gastonia. Married Wilson Alexander Forbes 10 May 1938, Gaston. Both are buried at Olney Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Gastonia. (1) 1936 Gastonia city directory, Alice E. Rankin, schoolteacher, residence 507 S. South St. (her parents’ house). (2) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&amp;GRid=24914716&amp;ref=acom

6 Robert Wray Rankin, 10 Sep 1917 – 22 Jul 1958. Wife Jane Elizabeth Boren, married 18 Oct 1941. Military service, WW II, PFC. Buried Hollywood Cemetery, Gastonia. In 1947, he was the Gastonia City Tax Collector. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&amp;GRid=96744131&amp;ref=acom

6 Helen Franklin Rankin, b. about 1921. B.S., Secretarial Administration, Womens College, UNC. Married Harry Tracy Westcott, 21 Mar 1942, in Randolph Co., NC.

6 Samuel Armstrong Rankin, b. 12 Aug 1923, Gastonia, d. 29 Oct 1994. Married Cornelia Stevens Lowe, 23 Feb 1946 in Chester, Washington Co., VA. Buried in Sunset Knoll Cemetery, Ramseur, Randolph Co,. NC.

4 Laura Rankin, 29 Mar 1846 – 10 Jan 1906. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=132162139

4 James (“Mack”?) Rankin, b. Mar. 1850.

4 Whiten Robertus Rankin, b. 3 Feb 1857, d. 19 Jul 1946, South Point, Gaston Co. Wife Judith Elizabeth McKee, married 6 Nov 1879, Gaston Co. (1) 1910 census, South Point, Gaston Co., Whiten R. Rankin, 53, m. 30 years, b. NC, parents b. NC, wife Elizabeth, 53, and daughters Katie, 22, Georgia, 15, and Lydia, 11. (2) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=139473336

5 Thomas Pinkney Rankin, b. 19 Aug 1880 – 15 Feb 1963. Married Vivian Pearl Leonhardt 18 Mar 1903, Gaston. Buried Edgewood Cemetery, Lowell, Gaston Co. (1) 1910 census, South Point, Gaston, Thomas P. Rankin, 29, m. 7 years, merchant, wife Vivian, 27, daughter Roberta, 5. (2) 1930 census, Lowell, Gaston, Thomas P. Rankin, 49, m. 27 years, bank cashier, wife Pearl, 47, son Thomas, 19, daughter Vivian, 15, son Charles (?), 10. (3) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&amp;GRid=155873762&amp;ref=acom

6 Roberta Rankin, 1904-1976, m. George Blakey Smith. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=126811468

6 Thomas Pinkney Rankin Jr., b. 25 Jun 1910, Lowell, Gaston Co., d. 18 Jun 1978. Buried Gaston Memorial Park, Gastonia. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=155873970

6 Bennie Vivian Rankin, b. 18 Mar 1918, Lowell, d. 28 Jan 1995, Malvern, Hot Springs Co., AR. Husband Glenn Baker. Buried Shadowlawn Cemetery, Malvern. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=155873970

6 Eugene Malcom Rankin, b. 17 Aug 1922, Lowell, d. 31 Jan 2016, Greenwich, Conn. Buried Edgewood Cemetery, Lowell. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=161485810

5 Zada Rankin, b. 17 Aug 1882, Gaston Co.

5 John Robert Rankin, b. 14 Mar 1885, Gaston Co., d. Feb 1970. Married Clara E. Sloan, 25 Nov 1913, Gaston. (1) 1920 census, Gastonia, 514 S. York St., John R. Rankin, 34, Gastonia postmaster, wife Clara S., 31, son James W., 5, daughter Sarah E., 3. (2) 1930 census, Gastonia, 304 W. 5th, John R. Rankin, 45, VP bank, wife Clara D., 42, son James W., 15, daughter Sarah E., 13, and son R. Sloan, 10.

6 James W. Rankin, b. 20 Oct 1914, Gastonia, d. Feb 1987, Greensboro, Guilford Co., NC. Married Susan Porter Calder 16 Jul 1938, Mecklenburg Co., NC. Duke University mid 1930s, Business Administration. (1) 1942 Gastonia city directory, James W. Rankin, VP-Sec, New Way Laundry and Asst Office Mgr, FCM. (2) By 1957 at the latest, living in Greensboro, NC, listed in city directories. 1957, James an accountant with Burlington Industries.

6 Sarah E. Rankin, b. abt 1917, Gastonia.

6 Robert Sloan Rankin, b. 23 Feb 1920, Gastonia, d. 14 Aug 1998, Hilton Head Island, SC. (1) 1940 census, Robert S. Rankin, midshipman, US Naval Academy, Annapolis, age 20, from Gastonia, NC.

5 Sarah Katie Rankin, b. 20 Dec 1887, Gaston Co.

5 Annie Minerva Rankin, b. 4 Feb 1891, Gaston Co.

5 Georgia May Rankin, b. 17 May 1894, Gaston Co.

5 Lyda Violet Rankin, b. 5 Dec 1898, Gaston Co.

4 Andrew Johnson Rankin, b. 21 Jan 1859, Gaston Co., d. 11 Nov. 1936, Gastonia. Lived at 414 W. 5th Avenue, Gastonia. Sec./Treas. Building & Loan at retirement; earlier, salesman, general merchandise store. Married Emily Ann Smith (7 May 1858-27 Dec 1937) on 13 Dec 1883 in Gaston Co. Buried Hollywood Cemetery along with wife and all three daughters. (1) 1900 census, South Point, Gaston Co., Andrew J. Rankin, b. Jan 1859, age 41, m. 16 years, b. NC, parents b. NC, salesman, general merchandise; wife Emma, b. Mar. 1858, age 42, m. 16 years, has had 3 children, all living; daughters Margaret E. Rankin, b. Nov 1884, age 15, Ida M. Rankin, b. Mar 1888, age 12, and Sarah E. Rankin, b. Jul 1889, age 10. (2) 1910 census, South Point, Gaston Co., Andy J. Rankin, 51, first marriage, 26 years, merchant, general store; Emily A. Rankin, wife, 52, has had 3 children, all living, and daughters Ida, 22, saleslady, general store, and Edna, 20, public school teacher. (3) 1920 census, Gastonia, 414 West 5th, Andrew J. Rankin, 60, Sec. & Treas., Building & Loan; wife Emily A., 61, daughter Sarah E. 30, teacher, grade school. (4) 1930 census, Gastonia, 314 West 5th, Andrew J. Rankin, 71, Sec/Treas, Building & Loan, wife Emily, 72, and daughter Edna, 45, steno, Building and Loan. (5) 1936 Gastonia city directory, Andrew J. Rankin (Edna, his daughter also living there; Emily has died), Secretary-Treasurer, Gastonia National Farm Loan Association, 414 W. 5th (6) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=96972792 – Andrew’s grave. (7) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Rankin&GSiman=1&GScid=47713&GRid=96972754& – Emily’s grave.

5 Margaret Elva Rankin, 29 Nov 1884 – 2 May 1981, Gastonia. Husband John Pinchback Chandler (1887-1929), married 21 Aug 1907, Gaston Co. Both buried Hollywood Cemetery, Gastonia. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&amp;GRid=96972874&amp;ref=acom

5 Ida Myrtle Rankin, 24 Mar 1888 – 14 Feb 1981, Gastonia. Husband Samuel Sidney Shuford (1880-1957), married 1 Oct. 1914, Gaston Co. Both buried Hollywood Cemetery, Gastonia.

5 Sarah Edna Rankin, 6 Jul 1889 – 20 Jul 1987, never married. Edna was a public grade school teacher from at least age 20 until sometime before age 41. After that, she was a stenographer at a Building & Loan, presumably the same place where her father was Secretary-Treasurer. Informant on her father’s death certificate. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Rankin&GSiman=1&GScid=47713&GRid=97014253&

4 Rufus Pinkney Rankin, b. 16 Feb 1862, Belmont, Gaston Co., d. 1 Nov 1910, Gastonia. Wife Zoe Anna Hand (Mar 1867 – 24 Jan 1929), married in Gaston Co. 20 Oct 1887. Buried at Oakwood Cemetery, Gastonia. (1) 1900 census, Gastonia, P. Rankin, b. Feb 1862, age 38, m. 12 years, manufacturer; wife Zoe, b. Mar 1869, 31, m. 12 years, has had 4 children, all living; son Grady Rankin, b. Feb 1891, age 9, daughter Violet, b. Jun 1894, age 6, son Henry, b. Oct 1895, age 5, and son Laurence, b. Mar 1898, age 2. (2) 1910 census, Gastonia, 209 E. Long? Avenue, Rufus P. Rankin, 48, first marriage, 22 years, Pres., cotton mill and bank; wife Zoe A., 41, has had 5 children, all living, son Rufus G., 19, bookkeeper, bank, daughter Sarah V., 16, son Henry, 14, son Lawrence S., 12, and son Pink, 8. (3) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&amp;GRid=17145813&amp;ref=acom – R.P.’s grave. (4) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&amp;GRid=17145830&amp;ref=acom – Zoe’s grave

5 Rufus Grady Rankin Sr., b. 25 Feb 1891, Gastonia, d. 13 Jun 1976, Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., NC. Married Ruth Boyce, 22 Jan 1913, Gaston Co. Quite an extraordinary career, starting as a bookkeeper in Gastonia National Bank at 18, became a Director 4 years later (see his father’s occupation), then President of Pinkney Cotton Mills (plus positions in many other cotton mills), eventually a director of Duke Power Co. Buried Oakwood Cemetery, Gastonia. (1) 1920 census, Gastonia, Grady R. Rankin, 28, President, Cotton Mills; wife Ruth, 26, daughter Anna B., 6, and son Grady R. Rankin Jr., 1 ½. (2) 1930 census, Gastonia, 317? S. York St., Grady Rankin, 39, first marriage at age 21, President, Cotton Mills, wife Ruth, 37, first marriage age 20, daughter Anna B., 16, son R. Grady Jr., 11, son David, 7, and son George, 5 ½. (3) 1940 census, Charlotte, Mecklenburg, Eastover Road, Grady Rankin, 49, Executive, Public Utilities, Ruth B., wife, 47, and sons David H., 17, and George M., 15. (4) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=17145854

6 Anna Boyce Rankin, b. 18 Jan 1914, Gastonia, d. 10 Feb 2011, Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co.. Husband Joseph William Lineberger, married 30 July 1938 at Blowing Rock, Watauga, NC, where her father owned a home. Went to Hollins College 1932; belonged to the Riding Club. Buried at Lutheran Chapel Cemetery, Gastonia. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&amp;GRid=120900848&amp;ref=acom

6 Rufus Grady Rankin Jr., b. 3 Jul 1918, Gastonia, d. 12 May 1997. Married Margore Louise Crist, 17 May 1941, in Caldwell Co., NC. Second marriage in Collier Co., FL, Nov 1967, name not given in marriage index. Died 12 May 1997, Lake Wales, Polk Co., FL, buried in Naples, Collier Co., FL, UCC Memorial Gardens. (1) WWII draft registration gives his address as 180 Prospect St., Lenoir, Caldwell Co., NC; employed by self, “commission agent,” Sinclair Refining. Person who would know his whereabouts: Mrs. R. G. Rankin, 322 Eastover Rd., Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., NC. (2) Went to UNC, late 1930s.

6 David Holland Rankin, b. 18 Jul 1922, Gastonia, d. 28 Dec 2013, Charlotte, NC. U.S Naval Academy, Annapolis. He was on the first ship into Tokyo Bay after the surrender to clear the harbor. Married Nancy Fidelia O’Herron, 26 Feb 1946. Retired as President and CEO of Eckerd Drugs. Captain of the golf team at Annapolis. There is a lengthy and detailed obituary at this link: http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=David-Rankin&lc=2734&pid=168779754&mid=5793005

7 David Holland Rankin Jr.

7 Betty Rankin, m. Richard Hecenbleikner.

7 Samuel Boyce Rankin, wife Susan.

7 Michael O’Herron Rankin, wife Kay.

6 George Mason Rankin, b. 18 May 1924, Gastonia, d. 12 Jun 1969, Asheville, Buncombe Co. Went to UNC at Chapel Hill, B.A. Spanish, Navy ROTC, Phi Beta Kappa; graduated in three years. Married Ann Rawley Long, 1 Apr 1950, Winston-Salem, Forsyth Co., NC. When he died, he resided at 14 Lynwood Road, Asheville, NC. President, Rankin Oil Co. Buried in Lewis Memorial Park, Asheville, Buncombe Co., NC. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&amp;GRid=19804947&amp;ref=acom

5 Sarah Violet Rankin, b. 16 Jun 1893, d. 16 Jan 1969, Gastonia. Married George B. Mason, Gaston Co., 29 Oct. 1913. Buried Oakwood Cemetery, Gastonia. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&amp;GRid=74261337&amp;ref=acom

5 Henry Rankin, b. 26 Oct 1895, Gaston Co., NC, d. 21 Oct 1964, Durham, Durham Co., NC. Married Mary Olive Reed abt 1918. College graduate. (1) 1920 census, Gastonia, Henry Rankin, 24, VP & Treasurer, cotton mill, wife Olive R. Rankin, 22, and son Henry, 15 months. (2) 1930 census, Gastonia, Henry Rankin, 34, first married at age 22, Sec. & Treas., cotton mill, wife Olive R., 31, son Henry Jr., 11, and daughter Preterssia [sic], 9. (3) 1940 census, Gastonia suburbs, Henry Rankin, 44, VP of Textiles Inc., cotton mill, wife Olive, 42, son Henry Jr., 21, and daughter Patricia, 19.

6 Henry Rankin, b. abt 1919, Gastonia.

6 Patricia Rankin, b. 21 Mar 1921, Gastonia.

5 Lawrence Samuel Rankin, b. 20 Mar 1898, Lowell, Gaston Co., d. 6 Feb 1978, Gastonia. Wife Sadie Love Thomson. Lived at 602 S. York St., Gastonia. Buried Oakwood Cemetery, Gastonia. (1) 1934 Gastonia city directory, Lawrence S. Rankin, wife Sadie T., Vice President Gastonia Insurance Agency Inc. and Agent, Sinclair Refining Co., residence 408 W. 6th (2) 1940 census, Gastonia, Lawrence Rankin, 42, distributor, Sinclair Oil, wife Sadie, 39, son Lawrence Jr., 15, son James, 12, son Robert, 10, and mother-in-law Statia Thomson. (3) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=17145779

6 Lawrence Rankin Jr., b. 3 Sep 1924, Gaston Co., d. 12 Jan 1998. Enlisted in the Army Air Corps Reserves 24 Feb 1943 in Miami, had one year of college.

6 James Thomson Rankin, 12 May 1927 – 29 Mar 1992. Spouse Barbara Grigg, 17 Jan 1930 – 13 Dec 2015. Both buried Oakwood Cemetery, Gastonia.

6 Robert Hand Rankin, b. 12 May 1929, Gastonia, d. 18 Sep 1998, buried Oakwood Cemetery, Gastonia.

5 Rufus Pinkney Rankin Jr., b. 23 Jan 1902, Gaston Co., d. 26 May 1992, Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., NC. Married Jessie Gray Boggs, 27 Dec 1922. Buried Oakwood Cemetery, Gastonia. (1) 1930 census, Gastonia, Pinkney Rankin, 339 York Road, age 28, cotton broker, wife Jessie G., 28, son Pinkney Jr., 4. (2)http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&amp;GRid=140642755&amp;ref=acom

4 Robert Franklin Rankin, b. 17 Jan 1866, Belmont, NC, d. 14 Dec 1960, Wilmington, New Hanover Co., NC. Wife #1: Sarah Ella Jenkins (mother of Nellie, Campbell and Robert), m. 1889; wife #2, Anna Jane Wells, m. 27 Oct 1897 (mother of Sarah, Graham and Cecil); wife #3, Florence Rackley, who survived him (mother of Juanita, Charles, Pinkney Ray and Margaret Elizabeth). (1) Tombstone of Sarah Ella Jenkins, 31 Aug 1870 – 14 Apr 1894: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=17108366 (2) Marriage certificate, Robert Franklin Rankin, son of Rufus and Sarah E. Rankin, married 27 Oct 1897, Gaston Co. to Annie Wells. She was b. 30 Jul 1877 – d. 11 Feb 1907, buried Oakwood Cemetery, Gastonia. Her tombstone is at this link: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&amp;GRid=17121034&amp;ref=acom (3) 1900 census, Gastonia, F. Rankin, b. Jan 18__, age 34, m. 3 years, with Mrs. R. F. Rankin, wife, b. Jul 1877 (this is Anna Wells), age 22, married 3 years, has had one child, living; daughter Nellie, b. Mar 1890, age 10, son Campbell, b. Mar 1892, age 8, son Robert Jr.? b. Feb. 1894, age 6, and daughter Sarah, b. Aug 1898, age 1. (4) 1910 census, River Bend, Gaston Co., Robert F. Rankin, 43, 3rd marriage, married one year, contractor; wife Florence J., 29, has had one child, still living, son David Campbell, 19, son Robert R., 16, daughter Sarah E., 12, son Graham F., 7, son Cecil C., 5, and daughter Juanity V., 11 months. (5) 1920 census, River Bend, Gaston Co., Robert F. Rankin, 54, wife Florence J., 39, dau Sarah J., 21, son Graham, 17, son Cecil, 14,   daughter Juanity, 12, son P. Ray, 10, son Charles, 8, daughter Margaret, 6, daughter Ruth, 4, daughter Lillian, 2, and daughter Fannie, 2 months. (6) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=31574403

5 Nellie Rankin, b. Mar 1890, Gaston Co.

5 David Campbell Rankin, b. 17 Mar 1892 – d. 14 May 1962, buried Old St. Andrews Episcopal Church Cemetery, Charleston, Charleston Co., SC. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=41839200

5 Robert Richard (or Richard Robert?) Rankin, b. 24 Feb 1894 – d. 28 Apr 1972, Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., NC. Infantry Captain, WW I. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=69219678

5 Sarah E. Rankin, b. 10 Aug 1898 – d. 23 Nov 1985. Husband Ross Orr McConnell. Both buried Steel Creek Presbyterian Cemetery, Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&amp;GRid=32678368&amp;ref=acom

5 Graham Franklin Rankin, b. 23 Dec 1902, Mt. Holly, d. 5 Oct 1958, Staunton, Augusta Co., VA. Wife Margaret Dunn Rankin (6 Sep 1901 – 25 Dec 1991, married in Gaston Co. 20 Nov 1923. Census and death certificate identify him as an automobile salesman, real estate salesman, and life insurance salesman. He and wife are both buried in the Thornrose Cemetery, Staunton, Augusta Co., VA (1) 1930 census, Mt. Holly, River Bend Twp., Gaston Co., Graham Rankin, 27, salesman, auto co., wife Margaret, 28, and son Frank, 5. (2) 1940 census, River Bend Twp., Gaston Co., Graham F. Rankin, 37, real estate salesman, wife Margaret, 38, and son Robert F., 15. (3) Death certificate confirms that he was a son of Anna Wells, Robert Franklin Rankin’s 2nd (4) Margaret’s tombstone: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=148059779

6 Robert Frank Rankin, b. 8 Aug 1924, Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., NC, d. 18 Jun 2015, Staunton, Augusta Co., VA. Buried Thornrose Cemetery, Staunton. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=148059779, obituary included.

5 Cecil Coke Rankin, b. 30 Jan 1905? Mt. Holly, Gaston Co., NC. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&amp;GRid=17121108&amp;ref=acom

5 Juanita Victoria Rankin, b. 23 Apr 1909, Mt. Holly – d. 2 Apr 1994, Wilmington, New Hanover Co., NC. Buried Oakdale Cemetery, Wilmington. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=65060486

5 Pinkney Ray Rankin, b. 20 Aug 1910, Mt. Holly, Gaston.

5 Charles Wesley Rankin, b. 10 Dec 1911, Mt. Holly, Gaston.

5 Margaret Elisabeth Rankin, b. 29 Mar 1913, Mt. Holly, Gaston.

4 Mary Eliza Rankin, 1868 – 1900. Husband Charles Hall Lineberger, 1858 – 1932. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=38891900

4 Larkin Edgar Rankin, b. 10 Feb 1870, d. 28 Aug 1935, Gastonia, Gaston Co., NC. Buried at Hollywood Cemetery, Gastonia. Wife Jennie Lineberger Hand, 13 Feb 1874 – 24 Apr 1953. Married 11 Jan 1893, Gaston Co. (1) Death certificate gives his name as “Lark E. Rankin” and identifies him as a son of William Rufus Rankin and Sarah Stowe, also names his wife. (2) 1900 census, South Point Twp., Gaston Co., Larkin E. Rankin, b. Feb. 1870 NC, parents b. NC, grocer; Jennie L. Rankin, wife, b. Feb 1894; William L. Rankin, son, b. Nov 1894; Sarah E. Rankin, daughter, b. Jul 1896; Larkin E. Rankin, son, b. Feb 1898; Thomas P. Rankin, nephew, b. Aug 1880. (3) 1910 census, South Point Twp., Gaston Co., dwelling 98, Larkin E. Rankin, 40, m. 17 years, merchant, general store; Jennie L. Rankin, wife, 26, has had 6 children, 5 living; Lamar? A. Rankin, son, 16; S. Rankin, 14, son (should be daughter); Ellis L. Rankin, son, 11; Lois Rankin, 6, daughter; Henry H. Rankin, son 1. (4) 1927 Gastonia city directory, L Ellis Rankin (wife Jennie H.), county auditor and clerk, County Board Commissioners, residence at 705 S York. (5) 1934 Gastonia city directory, Larkin E. Rankin, wife Jennie H., clerk, County commissioners. Residence 701 S. York. (6) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=167236477

5 William Lamar Rankin, b. 13 Dec 1893, Gaston Co., d. 3 Oct 1966, Shelby, Cleveland Co., NC, although he was a resident of Gastonia. Wife Tula Beard, married 14 Nov 1918. Textile salesman at the time of his death. Buried Oakwood cemetery. Findagrave incorrectly identifies his parents, which are named on his death certificate (Lark E. Rankin and Jennie Hand); son William Jr. was the informant. (1) 1930 census, Gastonia, Gaston Co., Lamar Rankin, 36, shipping clerk, cotton mill, wife Tula, 31, son Billie, 11, son Sammie, 8, daughter Dorothy, 5, and son Donald, 2 ½.

6 William Lamar Rankin, Jr., b. abt. 1919, Gaston Co. Resident of Salisbury, Rowan Co., in 1966.

6 Sam Rankin, b. abt. 1922, Gaston Co.

6 Dorothy Rankin, b. abt. 1925, Gaston Co.

6 Donald Rankin, b. abt. 1927, Gaston Co.

5 Sarah Erwin Rankin (or Erwin S., female), b. Jul 1896. (1) 1927 and 1936 Gastonia city directories, Miss Erwin Rankin, clerk Efird’s Department Store, residence 701 S. York.

5 Larkin Ellis Rankin, b. 29 Apr 1898, Gaston, d. May 1959, Highlands, Florida. Married Lucile Evelyn Trimble or Trumbly, 12 Dec 1927. May have been married previously. (1) 1930 census, Gastonia, Larkin Ellis Rankin, 704 Lee St., 31, Service Supt., oil refinery, wife Lucile K?, 30, son John D., 11 months (born 1929). (2) 1940 census, living in his mother’s household at 701 S. York St.: Jennie H. Rankin, 66, widowed, daughter Erwin S. Rankin, 44, son Larkin E. Rankin, 41, daughter-in-law Lucile P.?, 40, and granddaughter Jane C. Rankin, 7.

6 John Daniel Rankin, b. 27 Aug 1929, Gaston, apparently died before 1940.

6 Jane Cecile Rankin, b. 29 Mar 1933, Gastonia.

5 Lois Rankin, b. 12 May 1904, Gaston. Schoolteacher. 1927 Gastonia city directory, Miss Lois Rankin, teacher South School, residence 701 S. York.

5 Henry Hand Rankin, b. 6 Jan 1909, Lowell, NC, d. 29 Apr 1990, Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co. Went to UNC, Chapel Hill. 1931 yearbook says his major was textile manufacturing; member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. Blonde hair, blue eyes, apparently. Married Helen Bell, 14 Oct. 1939, in Iredell Co., NC. Both are buried in the Greenwood Cemetery, Belmont. (1) 1927 Gastonia city directory, listing for Henry H. Rankin, student, residence 701 S. York. (2) Helen’s obituary (30 Dec 1917 – 17 Jul 2016) is on the Findagrave website. The website erroneously identifies one of her children as a Wm L. Rankin b. 1893. Clearly error. (3) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=167156386 (4) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=167236028

6 Richard Henry Rankin, 21 Feb 1948 – 7 Oct 2014. Apparently never married. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=137014633

4 Nancy Jane Rankin, b. abt 1872, Gaston Co., NC, d. 14 Nov. 1949, lived in rural South Point, Gaston Co. Husband Charles I. Armstrong, married in Gaston Co. 29 Jan 1891. (1) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=49951188 (2) Death certificate gives the name of her mother as Sarah Elizabeth Stowe, the only evidence I’ve found of Sarah’s middle name. Buried Goshen Cemetery, Belmont.

4 Albert Richard Rankin, b. 28 Mar 1874 – d. 30 Oct 1931, Gastonia. Wife Estella (“Stella”) Iola Jenkins. (1) 1910 census, Gastonia, Albert R. Rankin, 35, marriage #1, 12 years, Travelling Salesman, Wholesale Groceries, wife Stella J., 29, has had 7 children, 5 living, daughters Nancy A., 9, Annie S., 7, Mabel L., 4, Berta, 2, and son Albert R. Rankin Jr., 3 months (b. 1910). (2) 1920 census, Gastonia, 175 W. 4th, Albert R. Rankin, 46, broker, feed stuff, flour, wife Stella J., 38, daughters Nancy A., 19, Annie S., 17, Mabel L., 13, Alberta, 11, son Albert R., 9, and daughter Alice McN?, 6. (3) 1930 census, Gastonia, Albert R. Rankin, 55, first married at age 24, foodstuff salesman, wife Stella J., 49, first married age 18, son Albert R. Jr., 20, bookkeeper, and daughter Alice M., 16. (4) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=17145533

5 Nancy Adele Rankin, 22 Nov 1900 – 30 Aug 1999, Gastonia. Married Theodore Page Morris. Buried at Oakwood Cemetery, Gastonia. Obituary and tombstone at http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=13044810

5 Annie Sloan Rankin, 1 Aug 1902 – 25 Mar 1988. Husband Allen Harold Sims. Buried Oakwood Cemetery, Gastonia. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=15500512

5 Mabel Lee Rankin, 19 Feb 1906 – 21 Aug 1999, Gastonia. Husband Harry Lindley Rutter. Buried Oakwood Cemetery, Gastonia. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=13044785

5 Alberta (“Berta”) R. Rankin, 3 Jan 1908 – 19 Oct 1979, Gastonia. Husband Carroll Jenkins Shelton. Buried Oakwood Cemetery. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=13044785

5 Albert R. Rankin Jr., b. 12 Jan 1910, Gastonia, d. 24 Aug 1985. Buried Oakwood Cemetery, Gaston. Wife Bobbie Titman (21 May 1912 – 19 Nov 1983). (1) 1934 Gastonia city directory, Albert R. Rankin , assistant secretary-treasurer, Avon Bonded Wholesale Inc., residence at 701 S. Chester. (2) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&amp;GRid=83290859&amp;ref=acom

5 Alice McNeill Rankin, b. 14 Jul 1913, Gastonia, d. 10 Dec 1993. Married Edward Smith Gordon, 9 Nov 1938, Gaston Co. (1) 1936 Gastonia city directory, Alice M. Rankin, clerk, Textiles, Inc., residence 701 S. Chester. (2) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&amp;GRid=83290862&amp;ref=acom

4 Emmett Price Rankin, 25 Sep 1876 – 10 Jun 1954. Died Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., NC. Buried in Gaston Memorial Park, Gastonia. (1) 1934 city directory, Gastonia, listing for E. Price Rankin (wife Lillian C., Rankin’s Cash Grocery), clerk in charge, Victory Station U.S. PO, York Road near Carolina Ave., South Gastonia. (2) Death certificate identifies him as a son of William Rufus Rankin and Sarah Stowe. (3) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=128657429