Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 7th ed., 1887, Kenton Co. THOMAS RANKIN was a citizen of Harrison County, Ky., and came from Virginia in the early settlement of Kentucky. He was the father of eleven children: Simeon, John, David, Robert, James, Thomas, Jane (Dawson), William, Samuel, Sarah (Chambers) and Hannah (Boyd). Thomas Rankin was the first constable in Harrison County, died and is buried in Cynthiana, Ky. Thomas Rankin, son of Thomas Rankin mentioned above, was born April 11, 1784, in Virginia, and received a common-school education in youth. He was married, July 11, 1816, to Nancy McMillen, a daughter of Robert and Mary (Stroad) McMillen, both of Clark County, Ky. Robert McMillen was wealthy, owning large property in Clark County, and giving his children all good estates. The McMillen and Stroad families are of Scotch origin. To the marriage of Thomas Rankin were born five children: Mary J. (Kellar) deceased; Thomas R., deceased; Oscar F.; Andrew F., deceased, and James W. who died in infancy. Oscar F. is the only one now living. Thomas Rankin accumulated a fair estate in Harrison County, and in life was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was jailer of Harrison County for several years, and died on December 18, 1851. Mrs. Rankin, who was also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, died February 6, 1865, in the sixty-fifth year of age. The Rankin family are of Scotch descent, are highly respected, and among the prominent families of Kentucky. Oscar Rankin was born November 23, 1821, in Harrison County. In youth he received his education at the academy of Cynthiana, and while yet a young man was deputy clerk of Harrison County Court for many years. He began the study of law under the preceptorship of William K. Wall, of Cynthiana, and completed his legal studies under the tutorage of Prof. R. A. Forester, of Georgetown College. He was admitted to the bar, and began the practice of law in 1849, in Cynthiana, remaining until 1855, when he removed to Kenton County, where he has since lived. The occasion of this removal was his marriage to Miss Mary C. Wilson, a daughter of Aquilla and Mary (Wilson) Wilson, of Virginia, who came from near Winchester, and owned about 900 acres of land near Independence. To this marriage were born two children: Eugene B., who was married to Miss Naomi McCollum, and William, who died November 18, 1859, in infancy. Mr. Rankin was elected county attorney of Kenton County, and re-elected to that position, serving the people in that capacity from 1866 to 1874. He owns and has in cultivation 115 acres of well improved land worth $13,000. He has retired from active business, which is now being conducted by his son Eugene B. Rankin. Rankin Dawson Chambers Boyd McMillen Stroad Kellar Wilson McCollum Forester Wall = Harrison-KY Clark-KY VA http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/kenton/rankin.t.txt