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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Perry County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Edmond H. Rankin. The name of Rankin is a familiar one throughout Central Arkansas, the forefathers of that family having been among the earliest settlers of the State. The parents of Edmond were Robert and Frances (Hogan) Rankin, of Irish and English descent and born in North Carolina and Virginia, respectively. The paternal great grandfather came to America before the Revolutionary War, and the grandfather was on his way to join the Colonial forces shortly before the battle of Guilford Court House, in North Carolina, while the maternal great-grandfather fought in the battle of New Orleans. Robert Rankin came to Little Rock when there were but four or five houses in that place, and his father cleared the first land in that vicinity. They were the parents of twelve children, of whom Edmond was the fifth, and was born March 1, 1837, in Perry County. Edmond attended the subscription schools of that county and was instructed in the duties of farm life by his father, an occupation that he has successfully followed ever since. He began business for himself when twenty-two years old by renting land, and farmed it for two years. In 1859 he took up 120 acres of Government land under the graduation act, paying 12 ½ cents per acre, and cultivated the soil until the outbreak of the war, and in the early part of June, 1862, enlisted in Company B, Col. Johnson’s Volunteer Regiment Infantry. Mr. Rankin was absent from most of the engagements participated in by this regiment owing to sickness, but took part in the skirmish at Jenkins’ Ferry in the fall of 1864. He remained with the army until its surrender at Appomattox Court House, and then returned home. Previous to that, after the battle of Helena, he was granted a furlough of twenty days, and returned home, where he was married to Miss Nancy Jane Spears. Upon hearing of this event his superiors complimented him with an extension of his furlough, and January 25, 1863, he rejoined his command at Little Rock. After the war was over he removed, with his bride, to the land he had purchased in 1859, and commenced cutting the timber and making a home. He was also engaged in rafting to Little Rock, at which place he found a ready market for his logs. For twelve years Mr. Rankin followed this occupation in connection with his farm, and in 1869 he bought the interest of five heirs in a tract of 120 acres, of which fifteen acres were under cultivation, and upon it a double log-house, a smoke-house and stables. He moved upon that land in the same year, and now owns 526 acres, with 250 acres under cultivation, besides owning two other tracts of sixty and eighty acres, respectively. He has, up to the present time, built a good dwelling, eight tenant houses, four box and four log-houses, besides owning a large number of cattle, horses and hogs. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Rankin, of whom nine are yet living: George W., Andrew J., Henry Clay, Frances Jane, Charles C., Edmond F., Laura Alice, Julian E. and William A. The children have all been well educated and are well qualified to take their own part in the struggle against the world. Mr. and Mrs. Rankin are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and take an active part in the development and progress of religious and educational matters. Outside of his farming interests Mr. Rankin operates a steam saw and grist-mill and a cotton-gin, which are among the best in the county. He belongs to Perryville Lodge No. 238, A. F. & A. M.

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This family biography is one of 53 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Perry County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Perry County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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