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Below is a family biography included in The History of Jasper County, Missouri published by Mills & Company in 1883.  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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WILLIAM RANKIN, born in Fayette county, Ohio, Feb., 20, 1831. His father, Sinnet, came to Jasper county in 1842, settling three-fourths of a mile north of where Carthage now stands, on what is known as the Kendrick farm. Senior Rankin was engaged in the cattle business for some twenty years, and long before towns and railroads in this section, used to drive cattle to Baltimore and Old Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He died in Nov., 1868, in the northern part of Jasper county. Mr. William Rankin enlisted in the Tenth Iowa Infantry, for three years, but was discharged at the end of eight months because of ill health. In 1856 he had removed to Boone county, Iowa, on a farm near Swede Point, and in 1867 returned to Jasper county, Mo. In 1856 he was married, his wife being born in 1838. The names of the children are Sinnet, Francis A., Edgar B. Until recently, Mr. Rankin owned a farm near Oronogo, which he, however, sold. Has been a member of the Odd Fellows, and Mrs. Rankin a member of the Christian Church. He is a member of the mining firm of Rankin, Whitfield & Weathers, who are operating extensively on the grounds two miles south of Carl Junction. They have been getting ninety tons a week, which has been selling for $23 a ton. At present the shaft is sixty-five feet deep, and the blende commonly known as jack or zinc ore is improving the further it is worked. There is a thirty horse-power engine and a crusher operated by a traction engine of ten horse-power; thirty hands are employed at present in and around their works. The mines are kept running night and day and produce a great quantity of zinc ore. Mr. Wm. Rankin is to be congratulated in his successful management of the mine and the amount of valuable ore produced.

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This family biography is one of more than 1,000 biographies included in The History of Jasper County, Missouri published in 1883.  For the complete description, click here: Jasper County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Jasper County, Missouri family biographies here: Jasper County, Missouri Biographies

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