Beckham County, OK - Obits: John T. Rankin, 1929
Friday, 03 October 2008
Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell)

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RANKIN, JOHN T.
(13 Jun 1929, Thursday, Erick Democrat, Erick, Beckham Co, OK):
J. T. Rankin was born over eighty six years ago.  When he was about thirty
years of age he came to what is now western Oklahoma.  He filed on a claim
one half mile north of where the present city of Rankin now stands.
He endured many hardships, and after a long period of time he established
a general store.  The people who lived within a radius of ten or fifteen
miles of this store came there for supplies.  Finally J. T. Rankin, after
much trouble, got the mail transported from Sayre to his store.
Then the people began settling around this store and thus a small town
grew up and became known as Rankin.  A Post Office was established at
Rankin in 1906.
Mr. Rankin remained a single man throughout his life.  Every time he
thought of getting married he thought of the old adage that says "Marry in
haste; repent at leisure."  He always thought of this adage as being
something like this "If you marry you are sure to repent."  Although Mr.
Rankin was not a woman-hater he decided that it was best for his peace of
mind to remain single.
Mr. Rankin died June 9th, 1929, at the age of 86 years, 10 months and 8
days leaving many friends behind.  The man who carried the first mail from
his Post Office preached his funeral.
Before Mr. Rankin died the townsite was moved one half mile north to the
railroad and the name of the town was changed to Reydon.
Thus ends the life of J. T. Rankin.

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