My Genealogy Hound

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.

* * * *

William H. Rankin, one of the leading merchants and a popular resident of Perryville, is a son of George M. and Jane (Alexander) Rankin, and was born in Perry County, March 4, 1850. He was reared on his father’s farm, and educated at the subscription schools of his birthplace, until his eighteenth year, when he commenced farming for himself, on land rented from his father. He continued in that occupation until 1872, when he commenced rafting logs to Little Rock, which business he conducted successfully until the following year, and then embarked in mercantile life with Mr. John Bland, who was also his partner in the rafting venture. In 1877 he erected what is known as the Perryville saw and grist-mill, in connection with a cotton-gin, and in 1880 sold out his interest in these industries. Mr. Bland has been associated with Mr. Rankin in all of his enterprises, and the firm of Rankin & Bland are now building a steamer at their docks, on the Fourche, near Perryville, for Fourche la Fave and Arkansas River navigation, to be used in both passenger and freight service. The firm deal largely in farm and wild lands, in connection with their merchandising, and also handle warrants, notes, etc. On February 7, 1875, Mr. Rankin led to the altar Miss Mollie E. Swaggerty, a belle of Georgia, and a daughter of Dr. Gandison and Nancy (Denman) Swaggerty, of Tennessee and Georgia, respectively, who moved to Arkansas about the year 1854. This union gave them four children: Hallie (born February 17, 1876), Sibyl (born December 30, 1879), Fay (born November 29, 1883), and Joe (born January 27, 1886). In politics he is a Democrat, and was elected on that ticket to the office of sheriff, in 1882, which position he filled in a creditable manner to himself and to the satisfaction of those who supported him. He is a member of Perryville Lodge No. 238, A. F. & A. M., and was first initiated in 1872. He has been and is Master of his lodge at the present time, and has represented the same at the Grand Lodge on several occasions.

* * * *

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

To view additional Perry County, Arkansas family biographies, click here

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.