Clark-Madison County OhArchives Biographies.....Rankin, Jr., Warren H. March 8, 1861 - December 28, 1928 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/ohfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Julia Peters jpeters_gen@yahoo.com June 21, 2005, 2:22 pm Author: A Biographical Record of Clark County, Ohio The biography of Warren Rankin, Jr. from "A Biographical Record of Clark County, Ohio", (1902), page 442 and 443: "WARREN H. RANKIN, JR. was born in Springfield, March 8, 1861, and at the usual age became a public school student, there continuing his studies until he reached the age of eleven. He then started out in life to earn his own living, entering the employ of a market gardener that carried ton business north of Springfield. For fifteen years, he remained with that man, mastering the business in principal and detail. As his efficiency increased, he was promoted gradually until he was given full charge of the business and at times, he has had as many as fifty men working under him. At length he severed his connection with his old employer in order to engage in business for himself and in 1886 established the wholesale commission house on West High Street. Later he removed to No. 55 Market Square, where he carried on a very extensive trade, employing eight men and utilizing three teams in the delivery of his goods. He also carried on business as a wholesale and retail dealer in baled hay, doing his own baling of local products. A disastrous fire, however, occurred and occasioned him considerable loss, but phoenix-like his enterprise arose from the ashes and in due course of time, he had retrieved his lost possessions and had succeeded in securing an extensive and lucrative business. In 1898, however, he sold out and gave his whole attention to the restaurant business, (Ed note: The restaurant was “The Candy Kitchen” located at 5 W. Washington had been owned by W. B. Curtis) which he had purchased, in 1891 of William Curtis. The new enterprise also proved a profitable one and his patronage has increased from the time that he furnished sixty meals per day until he now supplies seven hundred meals daily on an average. He employs twenty persons in the conduct of business, to which he gives his personal supervision. He is a popular restaurant proprietor and because of his reasonable prices, palatable products and straightforward dealings he has secured a very liberal patronage. On the 15th of August, 1881, Mr. Rankin was united in marriage to Miss Alice Brady, who was born on Main street in Springfield in 1866, and died in 1888, leaving two children, Mabel Florence, the elder, born June 17, 1883, is the wife of Rev. J. W. Keller, a minister of the Baptist church of Dayton, Ohio, to whom she gave her hand in marriage in 1902. The son, Warren H., born July 4, 1885, died in 1889, the year succeeding his mother's death. On the 20th of April 1891, Mr. Rankin was again married, his second union being with Miss Anna A. Baker, who was born at Yellow Springs. They have three daughters, Hazel Mildred, born March 4, 1892; Ruth Naomi, born January 29, 1894; and Ethel May, born December 1, 1895. Mrs. Rankin is a member of the Methodist church and an estimable lady who enjoys the high regard of many warm friends. Mr. Rankin has been a generous contributor to the support of the church. In politics, he is known as an earnest Republican, who labors untiringly in behalf of the party and his service is disinterested because he has never cared for political preferment for himself. He belongs to Springfield Lodge, No. 33, I. O. O. F., and Mad River Encampment, nor would he accept offices in these organizations. He is also a member of the Junior Order of the American Mechanics and the Commercial Club. Mr. Rankin has gained a very wide acquaintance during the years of his business connection with Springfield and he has the qualities which render him a popular restaurant proprietor, for he is a genial, obliging and courteous and moreover his many friends recognize and appreciate his genuine worth and upright manhood." Additional Comments: Warren Rankin Jr. is my great grandfather Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/clark/photos/bios/rankinjr82bs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/oh/clark/bios/rankinjr82bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/ohfiles/ File size: 4.6 Kb