My Genealogy Hound

George T. Rankin was born two miles east of Greeneville, Tenn., November 14, 1844, and is the son of James D. and Margaret (Branner) Rankin. The father was born two miles east of Greeneville, Tenn., April 3, 1809, and was the son of Robert Rankin, who was born in Virginia in 1773, of Scotch parents. He was one of the pioneers of East Tennessee, and when they made their settlements the country was overrun with Indians, and they were forced to hide in the canebrakes at night for safety. James, the father of our subject, removed to Jefferson County in 1859, and settled on the farm now owned by our subject. He was in his young days a saddler by trade, but in later life was a farmer, and one of the most successful tillers of the soil in the county. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, was an honest, upright and public-spirited citizen, and his death, which occurred June 9, 1878, was universally regretted. The mother was born one mile east of Dandridge, May 10, 1812, and is the daughter of Casper Branner, one of the leading farmers of Jefferson County. The mother is a pious, Christian lady, and a member of the Presbyterian Church. She makes her home with our subject. Our subject was reared on the farm, and acquired his education at Tusculum College, in Greene County, and at the schools of Dandridge. His father put him in his tanyard in 1862, where he worked for about thirteen years, and then he took charge of the enterprise, and continues the same at the present, in connection with his farm. He is an enterprising, and public-spirited man, and is always ready to assist all laudable enterprises. He is a firm believer in the benefit and necessity of education, and is in favor of the advancement and progress of the public schools. He was married September 17, 1885, to Miss Mary O’Brien, of Cocke County, who was born in Charleston, S. C, August 4, 1869, and is the daughter of William O’Brien, deceased. To this union one child has been born, as follows: James, born September 26, 1886.