Nikki

Here is some more information on this family.......

DIED at San Antoina, Texas, February 21st , 1880, Mrs. Myra J Rankin, wife of John A. Rankin, Attorney of this city.

Our readers will remember that Mrs. Rankin in company with her husband, child and Mrs. J. T. Rankin went to Texas in November last, in hopes by a change in climate that her failing health might be restored. For a time the change did benefit her, but she was a victim to an insatiable disease, consumption, and has been called from earth in her youth leaving one little daughter, her husband and many near and dear relatives and friends. Her accomplishments as a musician and painter, her wonderfully amiable disposition, and modest thorongh(sic) active and positive christian character had a endeared her to all. Her remains arrived here on Tuesday morning and funeral services were held in the Presbyterian church. Nearly all the clergy bar, court officers and citizens of the city attending. A large number were unable to get into the church. Mr. Rankin and his family have the universal sympathy of our people. Few ladies of her age and retiring disposition have been so generally loved and so sincerely mourned.


From The Olathe Leader, Thursday, February 26, 1880, Vol. II, No. 24, page 3, column 2

I have a photocopy of the obituary, but the microfilm was very dark in that area. I also have a photocopy of an advertisement for the law firm of Hutchison & Rankin, from the same newspaper but in column 7 on the same page. It is very clear. Let me know if you would like them.

It also appears that John A Rankin died within a week of July 25, 1889, as there is a mention of his death in the Johnson County Democrat newspaper, and apparently an obituary in the Spring Hill New Era newspaper. These references are from the obituary index at the Johnson County, Kansas Central Resource Library. I will check the Spring Hill newspaper microfilm for an obituary the next time I am at the library.

You might want to check the Texas records to see if her death certificate is available. There is no death certificate for John. It was the responsibility of the county clerk to keep death records. If the Johnson County Clerks ever kept the records, they are now listed as “LOST”.

From the 1880 Federal Census

John A., a daughter named Clara and she is listed as 3 years old. They are living with his father and mother. See listing 223, 235, page 23 of the City of Olathe, enumerated on June 9, 1880.

Jonathan and Sarah are listed in Crawford County, Kansas, 3 WD Pittsburg (city of Pittsburg)
Film T623 Roll 477 Page 242, Lines 54 & 55. Clara Rankin who would be 23 is not listed with them.

In 1910 they are both still in Crawford County, Kansas, the City of Pitttsburg. You can find them on Film T624 Roll 436, page 109, lines 29 and 30. So he most likely died there. He was listed as 87 in the 1910 census.


Dave Goldy
Overland Park, KS