John
William Rankin
(1861-1918)
John William Rankin was born on Sept. 22, 1861 in Wharton Twp., Fayette County, PA, the eldest son of Robert and Hester Ann (Minerd) Rankin.
John married Phoebe Ann Maust (1861-1934). They had nine children – Robert "Dewey" Rankin, Thomas Rankin, Harry Richard Rankin, Grant Rankin, Frank Rankin, Arthur Rankin, John Oliver Rankin, Sarah Jane Rankin and Jacob Rankin.
Little is known of their lives.
John died on April 6, 1918 at age 67 at their home near Elliottsville. At the time, one of his sons was serving in World War I and stationed in camp at San Antonio, TX.
Phoebe died at home in Elliottsville on Feb. 12, 1934. She is buried with her husband at Brown Cemetery near Elliottsville.
Son Dewey, age 26, died suddenly of a heart attack at the Revere Mine on April 2, 1925 “while awaiting the cage to go to work in the mine.”
On Feb. 16, 1916, daughter in law Mary Anne (Miller) Rankin (wife of Grant) died at age 21 "from a severe attack of laryngitis." She was buried at Smithfield Cemetery. Seven years later, Grant married Hilda Burkholder, daughter of William and Sarah (Clare) Burkholder of Fairchance, PA.
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Beautiful mountain scenery along the National Highway near the Summit Hotel, a scene the Rankins would have known and loved |
Son Arthur Rankin married Lottie Miller, a distant cousin who was the daughter of Jesse and Flora Belle (Farabee) Miller. They resided in Chartiers, Greene County, PA for 16 years until the time of his death on May 23, 1945. Their son Gerald Marvin Rankin drowned at age 8 in Ten Mile Creek while at a family picnic.
In 1920, son Thomas married Gladys Miller, also the daughter of Jesse and Flora Belle (Farabee) Miller. They resided in West Finley, Washington County, PA, until 1941, when they moved to Washington. Thomas was employed by the Washington Mine, of the Hillman Coal and Coke Co., until retirement in 1950. He died on Feb. 25, 1952. She passed away on Jan. 28, 1969. Their children were Clarabelle Stollar, Alva Rankin, Grace Giovannini, Agnes Hoffman, Glenn Rankin and Wayne Rankin.
Son Harry Rankin was a coal miner. He married Henrietta Ringer, lived in Prosperity, Washington County, and had 12 children.
Grandson Thomas ‘Bob’ Rankin was a Washington County, PA law enforcement officer, "serving as deputy constable, deputy sheriff and county detective," said the Washington Observer-Reporter.
Grandson Donald L. Rankin Sr., of Hopwood, Fayette County, "was a truck driver for D.M. Bowman of Williamsport, Md.," said the Observer-Reporter. "He was awarded Driver of the Year and was a member of the Million Miles Club."
Copyright © 2000, 2003, 2008 Mark A. Miner