Samuel RANKIN (c. 1743 – 1818)  is Alex’s 7th Great Grandfather, one of 256 in this generation of the Miner line.

Samuel Rankin was born in 1743 in Tauboyne Parish Near St. Johnston, County Donegal, Ireland. Alternatively he was born in Aughboyne, Ireland. His parents were J RANKIN and Rachel [__?__]. He married Jennie EDMONSTON about 1760 in Ireland.   After Jennie died, he married Katherine Madeville. They emigrated in Sep 1796 to Washington County, Pennsylvania. Samuel died 14 Dec 1818 in Cannonsburg, Washington, Pennsylvania and is buried in Oak Spring Cemetery.

Washington County is now part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area.

Canonsburg was home to singers Perry Como and Bobby Vinton, NFL head coach Marty Schottenheimer, New York Giants’ superstar Doug Kotar, Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle, Bill Schmidt, Olympian bronze medalist in the javelin throw in Munich, 1972,

Jennie Edmonston was born in 1743 in Ireland and died in Ireland in 1774 before emigrating.

Catherine Madeville was born in 1745 in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.  Catherine died 6 Nov 1810 in Canonsburg, Washington, Pennsylvania.

Children of Samuel and Jennie:

	Name	Born	Married	Departed
1.	William S. Rankin	1753 or 1763 Hastrough, Donegal, Ireland	Jane Cowan	1835 Penn Line, Crawford Co., PA
2.	James Rankin?	1767 Ireland		Crawford County PA
3.	Elizabeth RANKIN	1765 Hastrough, Donegal County, Ireland	William L LATTA c. 1784 in Ireland.	23 May 1846 in Crawford County PA from a fractured thigh

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Children of Samuel and Katherine Madeville:  Most of Samuel and Katherine’s children moved to Crawfordsville, Washington, Iowa.  The first private meeting of what would become the Republican Party came when Whig Party defectors met privately in Crawfordsville in February, 1854. The meeting was to lay the groundwork for the creation of a new political party. The first public meeting was held in Ripon, Wisconsin one month later.

	Name	Born	Married	Departed
4.	Mary Rankin	1778 Ireland	Unmarried	10 Nov 1846 Crawfordsville, Washington, Iowa
5.	Rachel Rankin	1779 Ireland	Unmarried	16 Feb 1860 Crawfordsville, Washington, Iowa
6.	Catherine Elizabeth Rankin	1783 Ireland	Unmarried or William Smith?	19 Apr 1856 Washington, Iowa
7.	Nancy Ann Rankin	1785 Ireland	Unmarried	7 Aug 1853 Crawfordsville, Washington, Iowa
8.	John Andrew Rankin	1787 Ireland	Elizabeth Grizella Walker 24 Jun 1824 Somerset, Pennsylvania	11 Feb 1866 Crawfordsville, Washington, Iowa
9.	Samuel Rankin	1789 Ireland		Penn Line, Crawford, Pennsylvania
10.	Thomas Rankin	1790 Ireland		Penn Line, Crawford, Pennsylvania

Samuel  said he had been a member of the Seceder Congregation of Ta’ Boyne (probably Taughboyne) near St. Johnston, Ireland,   Note: St. Johnstown, Ireland is located just across the border from the county of Londonderry (which also contains the city of Londonderry), and appears to be in the county of Donegal.

Buried with him at the Oak Spring Cemetery is his wife, Catherine Madeville Rankin and a Hugh Rankin. His will is dated 20 Jan 1818.  The cemetery in which he is buried is apparently a Seceder Cemetery in Washington Co., PA.

“One source states he said he left Ireland 5 Sep 1796 and arrived Washington Co., PA later that year.

The following were tax-paying residents of the Conneaut township in Crawford County Pennsylvania in  1810: Alexander JOHNSTON, William LATTA and Samuel LATTA, Robert Martin, John Parr, Samuel Potter, William and Samuel RANKIN [maybe Samuel Sr.’s sons] Samuel Brooks, Thomas Crockett [son-in-law], Henry Frey, Obed Garwood, William Hill, Thomas McGuire and Rebecca Paden [daughter-in-law.] Alexander Johnston was a native of Ireland, and settled on Tract 687, in the northeast comer of the township, where he remained till death, leaving five children: William, John, Mary (Lopeman), Jane (McDowell) and Esther (Crockett). William Latta, also a native of the Emerald Isle, was a hatter, settled near Penn Line and after a few years removed from the township. His brothers, Samuel, John and Thomas, were also here, and made improvements, then departed. Robert Martin, an Irishman. settled near Steamburg, and resided there till his earthly labors were ended by death. John Parr afterward removed from the township. Samuel Potter settled in the northern part about 1799. He came from Elizabethtown, NJ, with an ox-team, part of his journey lying through the woods, with only blazed trees as a guide. He put out crops, reared a cabin, then at the end of the season returned to New Jersey, and the following spring came again to his new home, where he remained till his death, at the age of ninety-three years. William and Samuel Rankin hailed from Ireland. The former located at Penn Line, where he cleared a large farm and remained till death.

Children

1. William Rankin

William’s wife Jane Cowan’s origins are not known.

William Came to Crawford County, PA from Washington County, PA about 1800. He came with Samuel Rankin who could have been either his half-brother or his son. Samuel left the county before 1830 but William stayed until his death in 1835 (from will and probate data).  See history of Crawford County, Pennsylvania for details.

Children of William and Jane:

i. William Rankin Jr. b. ~1800-1810 Pennsylvania; d. 1841 Crawford, Pennsylvania; m. 15 Mar 1835 – Ashtabula Co., OH to Jane A. Fuller (b. 05 Jul 1818 in Maine or Vermont – d. 18 Apr 1893 Kanwaka, Douglas, Kansas; Burial Clinton Cemetery, Clinton, Douglas, Kansas). William and Jane had two children 1. Minerva Jane (b. 1837) and William Stanton (b. 1840). After William died, Jane married Samuel Kennedy (1800 Virginia – ) and had two more children Marcus Lafayette Kennedy (b. 1844) and George W Kennedy (b. 1846).

William had a residence before 1841 in North Shenango, PA

In the 1850 census, Samuel, Jane and the four children of the blended family were farming in Pine, Crawford, Pennsylvania.

ii. Mary Ann “Molly” Rankin b. 20 Sep 1798 Washington Co., PA; d. 1872 – Jamestown, Mercer, PA; m. 11 Feb 1818 Conneaut Township, Crawford Co, PA to John W. Snodgrass (b. 12 May 1781 – Northern Ireland – d. 27 Aug 1868 or 27 Oct 1865 – West Shenango, Crawford, PA). John’s father was Benjamin Snodgrass (b. ~ 1755 in Ireland – d. 27 Oct 1828 Crawford, Pennsylvania). Molly and John had twelve children born between 1820 and 1842.

In the 1850 census, John and Mary Ann were farming in South Shenango, Crawford, Pennsylvania with eight children at home ages 10 to 23.

iii. Thomas Rankin d. aft 1842

iv. Eliza Jane Rankin b. 1810; d. : 8 May 1866 Crawfordsville, Washington, Iowa ; m. 3 Dec 1831 Pennsylvania to John McCutcheon (b. 1800 – d. Eliza and John had seven children born between 1832 and 1848.

In the 1860 census, Eliza Mccutcheon was a widow farming in Crawford, Washington, Iowa with six children ages 11 to 24. John and Elizabeth Stewart’s family has the same census number, though the number is repeated for Eliza indicating she was a head of household. I don’t know if it was a typo or if the families were living together. John was a Sawyer (or a Lawyer) and Elizabeth and her daughter Martha were teachers.

v. Catherine Rankin

vi. James Rankin d. 1834 Crawford, Pennsylvania; m. Rebecca Paden

vii. Samuel Rankin

viii. John Rankin

3. Elizabeth RANKIN (See William L LATTA‘s page)

4. Mary Rankin

5. Rachel Rankin

Rachel  lived in Crawford, Washington, Iowa in 1856.  In the 1860 census, Rachel (age 80) was living with her younger brother John and his wife Elizabeth in Crawford, Washington, Iowa.

6. Katherine Rankin

Katherine may have been single or may have married William Smith. William was born in 1780 in Wales.

A letter from Katherine’s nephew Thomas Latta to another brother Moses Latta telling of the death of their mother on 23 May 1846 implies she was unmarried. In addition, her gravestone is inscribed Rankin.

Aunt Catherine went to Iowa this spring.  It appears by a letter I received from there lately that she is very much pleased with that country.  Talked of selling out at Washington and purchasing there. [Ironically, the family moved from Washington County, PA to Washingtong County, Iowa] Uncle John and family were well, and well pleased with the country.

Possible child of Katherine and William

i. Mathew Rankin Smith, b. 4 Oct 1809, Washington Co., Pennsylvania.; m. Esther Carter in 1832, Muskingum Co., OH.  d. 1 Dec 1883 Winchester, Franklin Co., TN.

Mathew migrated from Delaware Co., Indiana to Richland Co., Wisconsin and Franklin Co., Tennessee.

7. Nancy Ann Rankin

8. John Andrew Rankin

John’s wife Elizabeth Grizella Walker was born 27 Sep 1792 in Pennsylvania. Her parents were John Hoge Walker (1754 – 1828) and Isabella McCormick (1758 – 1823). Elizabeth died 21 May 1871 in Washington, Iowa.

[Note, John’s brother has almost the same name and dates of birth and death. Jonathan Hoge Walker (1756 – 1824) married Lucretia Duncan and was appointed US District Judge for Western Pennsylvania in 1818. Sometimes, the two men are mixed up.]

Elizabeth’s father, John Hoge Walker was an American Revolutionary Soldier that served with General George Washington as his wagon master and later his quartermaster at the famous Crossing of the Delaware 1776 and was with the Continental Army at Valley Forge.  After our independence was gained, the Governor of Pennsylvania commissioned him a Major of the Pennsylvania Milita. John’s father and two brothers also served in the Revolutionary War, William II, William III and David Walker.  John Hoge Walker grew to be 6′ 7 3/4″ in Height. One of his brothers was 6’6 3/4″.

Elizabeth’s mother, Isabella McCormick was of the McCormick family that founded the McCormick’s Fort located along the banks of the Conococheague Creek, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. A settlers’ stockaded blockhouse. Indians attacked nearby in 1757. The house was originally built in 1754, and lasted until torn down in 1905. The exact location is unrecorded. John’s grandfather, William Walker, a Sergeant on the frontier during the French and Indian War was killed by Indians,

Elizabeth lived with her husband most of her life in Crawfordsville, Iowa until her death at age of 78.

Children of John and Elizabeth

i. Isabella “Belle” Walker Rankin b. 27 Apr 1824 – Washington, Washington, Pennsylvania; d. 22 Jan 1858 Crawfordsville, Washington, Iowa. Burial: in Old Cemetery, Crawfordsville

ii. Samuel Edmundson Rankin b. 14 Apr 1827 – Washington, Washington, Pennsylvania; d. 29 Sep 1881 – Garnett, Anderson Co., Kansas; m. 1 Jan 1849 – Washington, Iowa to Nancy Maria Crawford (b. 17 Jul 1830 – d. 1894). Nancy’s parents were Dr. Isaac Crawford (1796 – 1846) and Nancy Frazier. Samuel and Nancy had ten children born between 1851 and 1874.

Samuel was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania. At age 18 (1845) he moved with his father to Crawfordsville, Washington, Iowa.

The first private meeting of what would become the Republican Party came when Whig Party defectors met privately in Crawfordsville in Feb 1854. The meeting was to lay the groundwork for the creation of a new political party. The first public meeting was held in Ripon, Wisconsin one month later

In 1857 Samuel was elected to the legislature.

In July 1861, he was chosen first lieutenant of Company C, 8th Iowa Infantry, and became part of Fremont’s Command in the campaign against Price. Engagements included Battle of Shiloh, Siege of Corinth, Siege of Vicksburg and Red River Campaign.

The 8th Iowa participated in the battle of Shiloh, fighting 10 hours on the first day, repelling attack after attack, and, with the battery which it was supporting, inflicting terrible punishment upon the enemy. It was the last to leave the advanced line of the army, being surrounded as it attempted to withdraw and compelled to surrender. Out of 650 men engaged, it lost 64 killed, 100 wounded, and 47 missing. The 8th, 12th and 14th Ia. formed four-fifths of the little force that held back ten times its numbers at the close of the first day at Shiloh, giving Buell time to bring up his forces and snatch victory from defeat. Entirely cut off, they fought until they could fight no longer, and threw down their arms only to see many of their number shot down in cold blood after they had surrendered as prisoners of war. The officers above the rank of lieutenant were sent to Selma, thence to Talladega, returned to Selma soon afterward, three months later to Atlanta, thence to Madison until Nov. 7, when they were sent to Libby prison, Richmond, and were paroled a week later at Aiken’s landing. The lieutenants and enlisted men were sent to various prisons in Alabama and suffered the miseries and privations so common to southern prisons. A few of the 8th who escaped capture went into the “Union Brigade,” a consolidated regiment rather than a brigade, and took part in the Tennessee and Mississippi campaigns, distinguishing itself at Corinth.

No word on whether Samuel was captured.

The regiment was reorganized at St. Louis early in 1863 and made an expedition to Rolla, after which it joined Grant’s movement upon Vicksburg. It took part in the battle of Jackson, participated in the assault at Vicksburg on May 22 and also in the siege. It accompanied the army to Jackson, and after the evacuation there engaged in the pursuit of the enemy. It then went into camp at Vicksburg where Lieut. -Col. Ferguson died of disease. A short march to Brownsville was the only movement of interest until early in November, when the regiment moved to Memphis, thence to Lagrange and Pocahontas, where it remained until ordered to Vicksburg to take part in the Meridian raid. Soon after that event most of the command reenlisted and visited Iowa on veteran furlough. Returning to Memphis, it performed provost guard duty during 1864 and the early part of 1865, its most notable work being the repulse of Forrest, who made an attack on the city Aug. 21, 1864, the regiment being assisted by the “Gray-beard” regiment from Iowa. Early in March, 1865, the regiment moved to New Orleans and proceeded to Mobile bay, where it took part in the assault upon Spanish Fort and captured several hundred prisoners. This assault was made by a brigade commanded by Col. Geddes. Maj.- Gen. Steele, the former colonel of the 8th, won high praise for the manner in which he conducted his part of the siege of Mobile, and Geddes’ assault on Spanish Fort was conceded to be the most brilliant performance of that campaign. The regiment moved to Montgomery shortly after and served until mustered out.

Samuel Edmondson Rankin Service History
Commissioned an officer in Company C, Iowa 8th Infantry Regiment on 31 Aug 1861.
Promoted to Full 1st Lieutenant & Adj on 28 Nov 1861.
Promoted to Full Captain on 24 Jun 1863.
Promoted to Full Major on 01 Jul 1865.
Mustered out on 20 Apr 1866 at Selma, AL.

Total enrollment of the 8th Iowa was 1589. The regiment lost 4 officers and 98 enlisted men who were killed in action or who died of their wounds and 4 officers and 170 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 276 fatalities. 228 were wounded. Samuel mustered out in June, 1866.

That same month he was nominated for treasurer.

About 1872 he went to Kansas. He was for some years a resident of Rich township, Anderson, Kansas. Shortly before his death he moved to Greeley, Anderson, Kansas and started a newspaper, the News. Anderson County remained dry until 1996.

In the 1870 census, SE and Nancy were living in Des Moines Ward 6, Polk, Iowa where SE was the State Treasurer. His real estate was valued at $20,000

iii. Mary Ann Rankin b. 26 Oct 1830 Washington, Washington, Pennsylvania; d. 1 Apr 1920 – Blue Mound, Kansas; m. 1 Mar 1851 Crawfordsville, Washington, IA to her cousin John Hoge Walker (b. 7 Mar 1828 in Butler, Pennsylvania – d. 04 Oct 1903 in Crawfordsville, Washington, Iowa). John’s parents were Jonathan Walker (1797 – 1879) and Rebecca Christiana Meeks (1810 – 1871). Mary Ann and John had seven children born between 1851 and 1873.

Mary Ann Rankin Walker moved to Washington Co. IA with her parents in 1845.  A woman of genuine christian character. A member of the Associate (Now United) Presbyterian Church of Crawfordsville IA She instilled into her children the principles of Evangelical Christianity. was a power for good not only in her family but in the community a Mother in Israel.” Mary Ann Rankin Walker died at the home of her sister Katherine Madeville Rankin Walker and was brought back to Crawfordsville IA and buried by her husband in ‘New Cemetery’ She Died at Blue Mound KS.

John Hoge Walker was born and raised in Butler Co. PA received a common school education as given in the country public schools of the period. Improved his oppoutunities and in winter of 1847/8 was teacher of his home district. Moved to Washington Co. Iowa in 1850.

In the 1880 census, John H. and Mary A. were farming in Crawford, Washington, Iowa.

iv. Katherine Madeville Rankin b. 25 Oct 1832 – Washington, Washington, Pennsylvania; d. 4 Apr 1925 – Blue Mound, Linn, Kansas; Burial: Burial: Pleasant View Cemetery, Blue Mound; m. 15 Nov 1853 – Crawfordsville, Washington, Iowa to her first cousin once removed John David Walker (b. 28 Apr 1828 in Butler, Butler, Pennsylvania – d. 24 Dec 1865 in Crawfordsville, Washington, Iowa) John’s parents were David Oliver Walker (1802 – 1841) and Maria Morton (1805 – 1849). His grandparents were John Walker (1754 – 1825) Isabella McCormick (1759 – 1823). [who were Katherine’s great grandparents See above] Catherine and John David had seven children born between 1854 and 1866.

John David and Catherine had 7 children including two sets of twins.
1. Elizabeth Grizella Walker 1854-1933.
2. David Oliver Walker 1856-1918.
3. Isabella Walker 1859-1859.
4. John Walker 1859-1859.
(Twins, John and Isabella died just after birth due to drought and lack of food) (They were buried on the family farm at Americus, Lyon, Kansas) [Their cousin and our ancestor John Morton McCAW (1789 – 1865) also lived in Americus at this time]
5. Maria Isabell “Bell” Walker 1861-1963
6. John Rankin Walker 1866-1938
7. William Morton Walker 1866-1949

In 1860, John moved his family from the family farm in Lyon County, Kansas to Washington County, Iowa. John then returned to Emporia, Lyon County, Kansas where he joined the Union Army. John spent the winter of 1861-62 in the Quarter Master Department of the Union Army, then served as 1st Sergt, E company 11th Kansas Volunteers and soon was promoted to Captain of Company “E” Cavalry Battery Company of “E” Kansas Regiment.

Captain John David Walker returned to the family farm in Crawfordsville, Washington County, Iowa after his discharge on Aug 7 1865. John was killed just a few months later, on Dec 24 1865 by being kicked in the head by one of his colts. He lived a few hours after receiving the fatal wound. According to the family memoirs, John was buried on the family farm but there is a possibility of John being buried in the Crawfordsville Cemetery.

Catherine was about three months pregnant with their twin boys, John and William (Find A Grave Memorial# 21175000). The twin boys were born 22 July 1866, Crawfordsville, Washington, Iowa.

v. John Walker Rankin b. 4 Apr 1835 – Washington, Washington, Pennsylvania; d. Aft 1905 Census Yates Center, Woodson, Kansas; m. 30 Mar 1859 – Crawford Township, Washington, Iowa to Harriet Harper(b. Mar 1835 in Ohio – Aft 1920 census, Chanute Ward 4, Neosho, Kansas);  Harriet’s father was born in Scotland and her mother in Ohio. John and Harriet had seven children born between 1861 and 1875.

In the 1880 census, John W. and Harriet were farming in Crawford, Washington, Iowa with six children at home ages 5 to 18.

John and Harriet were still farming in Yates Center, Woodson, Kansas in the 1905 census.

Sources:

http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/12435295/person/483533754

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ronnadumas/i2237.html

http://trees.ancestry.com/owt/person.aspx?pid=118838681&st=1

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ronnadumas/i2237.html#i14094