Clay Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and Biographical Album of
Washington, Clay and Riley Counties-David K. Rankin
Portrait and
Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties Chapman
Brothers, Chicago, 1890
DAVID K. RANKIN. This gentleman takes
rank among the representative farmers and
old settlers of Clay County, having been
a resident therein for more than a score of
years. Being early thrown upon his own resources, he
has by
energy and perseverance accumulated a fair share
of this world's goods, and through the worth of
his character become a man of influence in the section
where
he resides. His first landed estate in this
county consisted of 160 acres on section 17, Blaine
Township, which was taken under the Homestead
Act in 1867, it being at that time in the usual condition
of uncultivated prairie land. It has been
improved and the acreage added to until the estate
now comprises 480 acres, supplied with a fine
residence, excellent barns and other outbuildings,
and is considered one of the best farms in the
county. Mr. Rankin is engaged in general farming
and in raising Short-horn cattle and Norman
horses.
Mr. Rankin is a native of Indiana County, Pa., his
birth having taken place Oct. 1, 1839. His parents,
William and Eliza Rankin, were natives also of the
Keystone State. The former died while our subject
was still a young lad, and he lost his mother
when but fifteen years old. He received but limited
educational advantages, and after the death of his
mother began working out by the month among
the farmers of his native State, continuing so employed
until he attained to man's estate.
The breaking out of the Civil War found Mr.
Rankin not only thoroughly imbued with the
spirit of patriotism and a desire to serve his
country, but with greater freedom from home ties
and duties than was the case with many patriots.
Not long after the fall of Ft. Sumter, therefore, he
became a member of Company A, 78th Pennsylvania
Infantry, and attached to the Army of the
Tennessee. For a time he was under the command
of Gen. Rosecrans, and later served under other
well-known generals. His army life covered a
period of over three years, during which time he
took part in many battles, the most noted of them
being Lookout Mountain and Stone River. During
the latter affray he was captured by the Confederate
forces, and for some two months endured confinement
in Libby Prison. In 1864 he was honorably
discharged from the service and returned to
his native State, conscious of having faithfully performed
his duties in the ranks.
Since becoming a resident of Kansas Mr. Rankin
has endured many of the hardships and privations
incident to life on the frontier, and has borne his
part in the development of this section of the
Great West. He has labored not only for his personal
interest and advancement, but for the good
of the community in the furtherance of the cause
of education, in progressive work in the lines properly
belonging to agricultural life, and in any proposed
movement for the public good. The schooling which
he missed in his boyhood has been made
up by his desire to know what is going on in the
world, and through the medium of the public press
he has overcome in a great measure the lack of his
youthful training. Mr. Rankin has served on the
School Board, and is now one of the directors in
the People's National Bank, of Clay Center. He
belongs to the G. A. R. post at Clay Center, and
gives his political adherence to the Democratic
party.
In June, 1867, Mr. Rankin was united in marriage
with Miss Margaret Cochran, of Pennsylvania,
a lady who has nobly borne her part in the struggles
and economies of their early life in the West,
and whose housewifely abilities and womanly virtues
are well displayed in the management of their
beautiful home and the training of the children
who bless their fireside. Their family circle now
comprises nine children, two having been removed
from them by death. The living bear the names
respectively of William H., Charles F., Claude W.,
Jesse H., Alda C, Millie C, Victor H., Presley Ray
and Floyd V.