The Rankin Family of Clark County, Ohio

WARREN H. RANKIN, Sr.

Warren H. Rankin, Sr., was born in Springfield, January 6, 1821, and was a son of George Rankin, who was a prominent character in the early history of Springfield. The father was a contractor and ‘builder and erected the old courthouse here and also the old newspaper building where the Bushnell building now stands. It was built, however, as a hotel and was known as the Exchange Hotel but later it was converted into a newspaper office. He also built the brick and stone building at No. 67 North Spring street. The year 1811 witnessed the arrival of the family in Springfield. George Rankin was a native of Virginia and there made his home until his removal to this state in 1811. The following year he joined. the American army to serve in the war of 1812. He bought land in Springfield and was the owner of a plat of ground from North street to Main street and all east of the alley to Spring street, also from the National pike and from Greenmount avenue east to Belmont avenue and south to Mill Run. He was a very prosperous man but the heirs never realized anything from the estate because of the mismanagement of guardians. George Rankin was married in 1821 to Sarah Meadows, who was connected with the Lyons and Meadows families of Virginia, prominent and early settlers of that state represented by loyal American soldiers of the Revolutionary war.

Unto George Rankin and his wife were born ten children: ‘Cyrus, who went south in 1840, became a captain in the Confederate army during the Civil war and has never been heard from since; Charles died in Clark county; William died in Columbus; Warren H. is the subject of this review; Mary Jane and Lorenza Dow are the next younger of the family; Eliza A. is living in Springfield; George is deceased; John makes his home in Moorefield township, Clark county: and Joseph died in childhood. The family is noted for longevity. The children received good educational privileges, fitting them ‘for life's practical duties. All were born at the family home on Spring street. John was a soldier in the Civil war and his son William became a soldier in the Spanish-American war. On the material side the Rankins come of German lineage and of Scotch ancestry on the paternal side. George Rankin died in 1852 when about sixty-four years of age, his birth having occurred in 1788 and he was buried in the northwest corner lot in the Columbia street cemetery. After his death his wife purchased ten acres of land in Moorefield township and there made her home until her death, in 1866, when she was laid to rest-in Greemount cemetery-

Farther back than the first generation, however, could Warren H. Rankin trace his ancestry, for the family was founded in America by James Rankin, who was a native of Scotland. Coming to the United States he settled in Virginia on the banks of the James river near Stanton, Augusta county. He brought with him his six sons and three daughters.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

CAPTAIN HARRY M. RANKIN.

Harry M. Rankin, who is captain of the Central Fire Company of Springfield, was born in West Jefferson, Madison county, Ohio, October 4, 1859, and is a son of Warren H. Rankin, Sr., being the second child and oldest son born of his father's second marriage. In the public schools of Clark county he obtained his education and at the age of eleven years he began work on a farm attending school during the winter months. He was in the employ of Thomas McBeth, a farmer, and when Mr. McBeth removed to Springfield the subject of this review remained in his employ. He learned the florist business with that gentleman and after having thoroughly mastered it in principle and detail he began business for himself in 1880, renting the Clayson greenhouse. There he engaged in the raising of flowers and vegetables and as success attended his efforts he was afterward enabled to purchase land and erected a home and greenhouses of his own, meeting with ‘prosperity in the conduct of his business through a number of years. He spent a few months in the south, but did not relinquish his business during his absence from the city. While in the south he worked for the South Florida Railroad Company for eight months and then returned to Springfield, where he continued in business as a florist for a year, conducting a general retail trade. In 1886 he was employed as a clerk in a large general store in Springfield.

The same year he became a member of the fire department and later received a regular appointment. By close attention to his duty he has steadily worked his way upward until he now occupies the responsible position of captain of the Central Fire Company. He was first stationed in the Central engine house, where he remained until 1889, when he was transferred to No. 4. Soon afterward he was made captain there and subsequently he was returned to the Central station with the rank of captain.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JAMES F. RANKIN.

James F. Rankin was born in South Charleston, November 24, 1861, a son of John Rankin. Having acquired his preliminary education in the public schools he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, Ohio, and when his education was

< completed he began his business career in the banking house of his father, being made assistant cashier, which position he still holds. With his father and brother he owns the bank and the brothers now practically have control of the institution, the father living in retirement from business.

On the 5th of June, 1894, James F. Rankin was married to Nettie Kemper, a daughter of the Rev. James S. Kemper, of

Dayton, Ohio, and they have one son, John Millington, born February 3, 1896. Mr. Rankin has always been a pronounced Republican and has held various offices, while by Governor Nash he was appointed trustee of the combined normal and industrial department, at Wilberforce, Ohio, in 1900 to fill out an unexpired term, and in 1902 was reappointed. He has taken an active part in the erection of the new Normal building at Wilberforce, and is doing everything in his power to promote the interests of this center of learning. A stanch Republican in politics he has served as a delegate to the county and state conventions and is a valued member of the Masonic fraternity, having been made a Mason in 1890, in Fielding Lodge, No. 192, F. & A. M,, in which he has since been honored with various offices, serving as its master for two terms and also as representative to the grand lodge.

I. WARD FRE Yi

Splendidly conducted business affairs of magnitude and importance have placed L Ward Frey with the capitalists of Springfield. His operations, too, have made him a valued resident of the city, for he has labored along lines proving of general benefit, while at the same time his individual success has been extended along other lines which have brought to him a good return. He has also put forth his efforts in behalf of the city of his nativity. He commands uniform respect here and no history of Clark county would be complete without the record of his life.

His birth occurred on the 22d of November, 1852, in Springfield, his parents being George H. and Jane Q. (Ward) Frey. From pioneer times the Ward family has been connected with Clark county, for Isaac Ward, the maternal grandfather, came with his family to Clark county in 1833, removing to the west from Cumberland county, Pennsylvania.. Upon a farm near Springfield he took up his above and there spent his remaining days. He wedded Mary Rodgers, a daughter of James Rodgers, also a native of Pennsylvania, and among their children was a daughter, Jane O., who became the wife of George H. Frey and the mother of our subject. A complete history of the parents appear elsewhere in this work.

I. Ward Frey of this review was one of a family of twelve children, of whom only five are yet living. At the usual age he entered the public schools of Springfield, pursued a high school course here and later became a student in the Highland Military Academy at Worcester, Massachusetts, where he continued his studies for three years. On putting aside his text-books he returned to his native city and became connected with business interests controlled by his father, George H. Frey. In 1877-8 he was connected with The Springfield, Jackson & Pomeroy Railroad Company, and later engaged in the quarrying business. He also devoted his attention to the manufacture of lime and controlled an extensive local trade, shipping the product to various states and continuing actively in that line of business industry until 1882, when failing health compelled his retirement. After a rest of several years, he became a member of the Champion Machine Company in 1886, and so continued until 1888, since which time he has given considerable attention to his farming interests. He has to-day valuable city property and farming lands, having judiciously placed much of his capital in the safest of all investments: real estate.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JAMES F. RANKIN, a highly respected citizen and influential business man of South Charleston, who has been prominently identified with the banking interests of this locality for a number of years, was born here November 24, 1861, and is a son of John and Charity A. (Fullerton) Rankin, and a grandson of James Rankin.

James Rankin, the grandfather, was born in 1780 in Berlin, Worcester County, Maryland, and came to Madison County, Ohio, in 1815, and here was accidentally killed by a train in 1857. He married Margaret Truitt and they reared a family of eight children, of whom John, father of James F., was the second eldest. John Rankin was born December 18, 1811, in Berlin, Worcester County, Maryland, and in 1815 accompanied his parents to Clark County, Ohio, and located seven miles east of South Charleston, in Madison County, residing there until 1845, when he came to South Charleston. He was united in marriage with Charity Fullerton, a daughter of James Fullerton, and they reared a family of three children: Stacy B., James F., and Ella M., who died in 1887.

James F. Rankin has spent his entire life in South Charleston, receiving his educational training in the public schools of the town and in Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio. At the age of twenty he entered the banking business, in which he has continued ever since, being at this time vice president of the London Exchange Bank Company, of London, Ohio, and cashier of the Bank of South Charleston, St. Charleston, Ohio.

Mr. Rankin was appointed trustee of the combined Normal and Industrial Institute at Wilberforce by Governor Nash, and served as such for a period of five years, when he resigned and was appointed, by Governor Herrick, a member of the Ohio Fish and Game Commission. He was re-appointed to that office by Governor Harris and is still serving in that capacity. Politically, Mr. Rankin is a Republican. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the Masonic order, in which he was master for two terms, and has filled all the offices of that order.

Mr. Rankin was married in 1894 to Nettie Kemper, a daughter of James S. and Frances (Gasper) Kemper, and to them have been born two children — John M., and Kempei.

Stacy B. Rankin, president of the Bank of South Charleston, was born in South Charleston and has always been a resident of this city, obtaining his education in the public schools. Mr. Rankin has always been interested in the banking affairs of this locality, and is recognized as one of the leading and substantial business men of the town. He has been secretary of the Ohio Bankers' Association since its organization in 1891. At the time of the St. Louis World's Fair he was appointed executive commissioner of Ohio by Governor Nash, having charge of all the Ohio interests at the fair. Mr. Rankin was appointed receiver when the Washington Traction Company failed.

Politically, he supports the Republican party and represented Clark County in the Seventj-third and Seventy-fourth General Assemblies. Fraternally, he is a Mason and attends the Presbyterian Church of South Charleston. Mr. Rankin was joined in marriage with Miss Fannie Kemper, of Dayton, and they have two children — Marquis Kemper and S. Barcroft.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected.

WARREN H. RANKIN, Jr.

Warren H. Rankin, Jr., was born in Springfield, March 8, 1861, and at the usual age became a public school student, there continuing his studies until he reached the age of eleven. He then started out in life to earn his own living, entering the employ of a market gardener who carried on business north of Springfield. For fifteen years he remained with that man, mastering the business in principle and detail. As his efficiency increased he was promoted gradually until he was given full charge of the business and at times he has had as many as fifty men working under him. At length he severed his connection with his old employer in order to engage in business for himself and in 1886 established the wholesale commission house on West High street. Later he removed to No. 55 Market Square, where he carried on a very extensive trade, employing eight men and utilizing three teams in the delivery of his goods. He also carried on business as a wholesale and retail dealer in baled hay, doing his own baling of local products. A disastrous fire, however, occurred and occasioned him considerable loss, but phoenix-like his enterprise arose from the ashes and in due course of time he had retrieved his lost possessions and had succeeded in securing an extensive and lucrative business. In 1898, however, he sold out and gave his whole attention to the restaurant business which he had purchased in 1891 of William Curtis. The new enterprise also proved a profitable one and his patronage has increased from the time that he furnished sixty meals per day until he now supplies seven hundred meals daily on an average.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.