In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1859
From A Biographical Record of Clark County Ohio (1902)
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 is usual with the firemen he has had varied experiences and has many times narrowly escaped
As printed in A Biographical Record of Clark County Ohio (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1902. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.