JAMES E. RANKIN. Of the well-known pioneers of Washington county, the Rankin family, of which this gentleman is a member, is mentioned among the leaders. John Rankin was born in Winchester, Va., of Irish descent, and came with his parents to Washington county, Penn., about 1774, bringing colored help with him from Virginia. He had a family of eight sons and two daughters, nearly all of whom were born in Winchester, Va. He located in Mt. Pleasant township, this county, securing 1,800 acres of choice land, then a vast wilderness, which is now transformed into some of the finest farms of Washington county. Here he erected a log cabin, and made such improvements as were possible, being in constant danger from the treacherous savages. But bravely and patiently he struggled on, establishing the pioneer home. After his sons had grown to manhood one of them, James, joined a party who went to establish a colony in Kentucky. They arrived safely, but during the return trip were attacked by Indians, and James was killed, his fate being but one addition to that of the many pioneers who were practically martyrs to colonization. The parents of James passed the remainder of their lives on the frontier home, both dying the same year. Samuel Rankin, youngest son of John, was born July 18, 1769, in Winchester, Va., and came to this county in 1774. On January 7, 1796, he was married to Jane McConahey, who was born February 18, 1775, daughter of a pioneer settler. The following children were born to their union: William, John, David, Matthew, Samuel, Stephen, James, Matilda, Abigail and Jane. Of these children Jane is the only one yet living. She is unmarried. The others lived to an adult age, and were citizens of Washington county. Samuel Rankin became a wealthy farmer, and always lived on the old home farm, situated about two miles northwest of Hickory, this county. In politics he was a Democrat, and was one of the famous minute-men. In religion he and his wife were members of the Union Church. He died in October 1820, being followed by his wife July 20, 1869, in her ninety-fourth year. The remains of both lie in the U. P. cemetery at Hickory, Mt. Pleasant township, this county. Their children were as follows: William, born November 24, 1796 (deceased January 13, 1884); John, born April 4, 1798 (deceased in April, 1866); David, born February 15, 1800 (deceased July 27, 1858); Matthew, born February 15, 1802 (deceased in June, 1880); Matilda, born March 22, 1804 (deceased in February, 1875); Samuel, born June 3, 1806 (deceased May 27, 1834), Abigail, born in October, 1808 (lived on the old homestead until her death); James (deceased, mentioned below); Stephen, born August 20, 1813 (deceased in February, 1877); and Jane, born February 6, 1817 (living in Burgettstown). James Rankin was born March 24, 1811, in Mt. Pleasant township, and passed his youth on the old home place, receiving his education in the log schoolhouse of the day. In December, 1834, he was married to Martha V. Stevenson, who was born in 1813, daughter of James Stevenson, of Smith township, this county. James Stevenson was a native of Washington county, and was there married to Jane Vance, who bore him children as follow: Ann (Mrs. Alexander Hays), John S., Elizabeth (Mrs. S. J. Ghist), Mary (wife of Patterson Vance), Martha V. (married to James Rankin), Joseph, Edgar and Rachel J. (wife of John B. Phillis). Mr. Stevenson followed the vocation of a miller, afterward opening a carding works, and was also engaged in undertaking. He was first a Democrat in politics, then became a Whig, and afterward united with the Republican party. He was formerly a member of the Presbyterian Church known as the Raccoon, and when the Burgettstown Church was organized, became a regular attendant of that Society. James and Martha (Stevenson) Rankin first settled on a farm in Mt. Pleasant township, this county, and in 1868 moved to an adjoining place, coming to Burgettstown in 1884. They have had the following children: Samuel N. (enlisted in Company D, Twenty-eighth New York Regiment; he served three months, then re-enlisted, and in 1863 entered the secret service under Gen. Banks, and was missing while en route to Richmond), James E., Jane E. (Mrs. John P. Campbell), William Ray (who was drowned in 1846), John P. (living in Baker City, Oreg.), Joseph Vance (living in Wichita, Kans.), David A. (accidentally killed when fifteen years old, in Wichita, Kans.), and Anna M. James Rankin was a popular and enterprising citizen, having won success by his own exertions. He was a warm friend of educational progress, and in religion a member of the Mt. Prospect Presbyterian Church, of which he was a ruling elder for twenty-eight years. He died July 27, 1887, at Burgettstown, this county, where his widow is yet living. He was justice of the peace for many years. James E. Rankin was born in 1838 on the farm in Mt. Pleasant township which is yet his home; he received a district-school education and worked on the farm. On November 15, 1877, he was united in marriage with Mary Walker, a native of Cross Creek township. Her father, John N. Walker, was born in 1808, in Cross Creek township, this county, and on November 18, 1830, married Ann Vance, who was born in 1812, in Cross Creek township. They settled on a farm near their birthplace, and reared the following family of children: Rachel (deceased in May, 1871, wife of R. S. Donaldson), Alexander (living in Eldersville, this county), William Vance (a farmer), James (living in Cass county, Neb.), Elizabeth (wife of John Lawton, of near Larned, Kans.), Hannah (married to J. P. Reed, of Larned, Kans.), Mary (Mrs. J. E. Rankin), Virginia (living with her parents), John N. (living in Cross Creek township), Joseph (deceased in 1874), Frank (deceased in 1856) and Cynthia (married to Samuel Wilson, of Santa Anna, Cal.). The father of this family was an active member of the Democratic party. He died February 15, 1882, and was laid to rest by the side of his wife, who passed away May 15, 1870. Mr. and Mrs. Rankin have passed their married lives on the home farm, which contains 200 acres of well-cultivated land. They are members of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics he is an active Democrat.

Text taken from page 1446 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed January 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]