Francis H. Rankin, Sr.

Francis H. Rankin, Sr.
Michigan State Senator
In office
1877  1879[1]
Michigan State Representative
In office
1860  1865[1]
14th Recorder (law)
In office
1872–1873
Preceded by Charles E. McAlester
Succeeded by Solomon V. Hakes
Constituency City of Flint, Michigan[2]
16th Recorder (law)
In office
1874–1876
Preceded by Solomon V. Hakes
Succeeded by abolished (City Clerk)
Constituency City of Flint, Michigan[2]
1st City clerk
In office
1876–1879
Preceded by Created
Succeeded by J. B. F. Curtis
Constituency City of Flint, Michigan[2]
Personal details
Born County Down, Ireland
Nationality Irish
Political party Whig
Republican
Spouse(s) Arabella
Relations Joseph Rankin, Father
Richard S. Hearn, father-in-law[1]
Children Francis H. Rankin, Jr.
Occupation printer, editor, publisher
Profession Publishing
Religion Episcopal[1]

Francis H. Rankin, Sr. was a Michigan, United States politician and publisher. He was a member of and Grand Master of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and in 1873 was the Sovereign Lodge's Grand Representative. He received the Knight Templar degree in the Masons.[1]

Early life

Born in County Down, Ireland to Joseph Rankin, He married Arabella Hearn of County Longford, Ireland. He came to the United States in 1848 initial to Pontiac, Michigan, where he learned the trade of printing. In 1850, he came to Flint, Michigan and founded the Genesee Whig, a weekly newspaper. On December 28, 1854, he had a son of the same name.[1]

Political life

Rankin was appointed to the Flint City Charter draft committee in 1855.[3] Rankin served on the School Board for several terms. In 1860, he was elected to the first of two terms in Michigan House of Representatives.[1] Rankin was elected City of Flint Recorder in 1872 serving a one-year term. In 1874, he returned to that position, serving additional terms[2] until the city charter was amended to replace the elected Recorder office with a common council appointed clerk in 1876.[4] He was the first person appointed to the office of City Clerk of Flint.[2] In addition to being the City clerk, Rankin was elected as a Michigan State Senator in 1877 serving a single term. Under Governor Crapo, Rankin served as one of several prison inspectors. From 1879 to 1887, he served as postmaster.[1]

Post-political life

In 1895, with William C. Durant and several other individual, they founded a fraternal beneficiary society on January 31, 1895 called the Knights of the Loyal Guard.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Francis H. Rankin". 1892 Portrait & Biographical Album of Genesee, Lapeer & Tuscola Counties. Chapman Bros. pp. 851–853. Retrieved 2009-02-24.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Chapter XIII: Roster of City Officials". History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions. Michigan Historical Commission. 1916. Retrieved 2009-02-06.
  3. "Chapter XIII: Early Years of Flint City". History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions. Michigan Historical Commission. 1916. Retrieved 2009-03-09.
  4. "Chapter XIII: First City Officers". History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions. Michigan Historical Commission. 1916. Retrieved 2009-02-19.
  5. "Chapter XXIV: Knights of the Loyal Guard". History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions. Michigan Historical Commission. 1916. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
Political offices
Preceded by
Charles E. McAlester
Recorder of Flint
1872–1873
Succeeded by
Solomon V. Hakes
Preceded by
Solomon V. Hakes
Recorder of Flint
1874–1876
Succeeded by
abolished (City Clerk: Himself)
Preceded by
None
City clerk of Flint
1876–1879
Succeeded by
J. B. F. Curtis
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