Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Ranck, Glenn N. November 24, 1869 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com May 26, 2007, 5:39 pm

Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     GLENN N. RANCK.  Endowed with literary talent, Glenn N. Ranck has become 
well known through his contribution to the history of the Pacific northwest 
and also through his journalistic activities and his public service. He is one 
of Vancouver’s loyal sons and a member of an old and prominent family of 
Washington. Mr. Ranck was born November 24, 1869, and is of Dutch lineage, 
tracing his ancestry in this country to about 1685. His forbears settled in 
the colony founded by William Penn and were men of courage and patriotism. His 
great-great-grandfather in the paternal line lived within hearing distance of 
some of the notable battles of the Revolutionary war and served under 
Washington at Brandywine and Germantown.
     William Ranck, the father of Glenn N. Ranck, was born July 30, 1829, in 
Butler county, Pennsylvania, and was reared in that state. Lured by the 
discovery of the yellow metal in California, he made the long and dangerous 
journey across the plains in a “prairie schooner” in 1852 and was successful 
in his quest. The material in the gold ring he afterward wore was obtained 
while he was engaged in placer mining and this relic of the early days is now 
one of the treasured possessions of his son Glenn. While in California, 
William Ranck was active in forming the republican party, voting for “Fremont 
and freedom” in 1856. Afterward he migrated to Washington, settling at 
Vancouver in 1858, and in 1860 aided in organizing the republican party in 
Clark county. For some years he was a government wheelwright at Fort Vancouver 
and his was the pioneer wagon-shop in this locality. A progressive 
agriculturist, he planted one of the early prune orchards of Clark county and 
prosperity attended his business and farming operations. At one time he was 
chief of the fire department of Vancouver and served both the city and state 
of his adoption to the extent of his ability. He was elected justice of the 
peace and became one of the councilmen of Vancouver. For four terms he was 
probate judge and the present courthouse was built when he was chairman of the 
board of county commissioners. Mr. Ranck was also a member of the Washington 
territorial legislature and faithfully met every trust reposed in him, whether 
of a public or private nature. In Vancouver he was married in 1864 to Miss 
Kate Neer, a daughter of Caleb G. and Elizabeth (King) Neer. The father fought 
in the Mexican war and crossed the plains in 1852, when his daughter Kate was 
a child of eight years. He located on the Columbia river and his farm was 
situated in the vicinity of the Goble donation land claim near St. Helens, 
Oregon. During her girlhood Kate Neer attended school in Vancouver and lived 
with the family of Captain Troup, her father’s friend, who was in command of a 
Columbia river steamboat. She remained with the family until she was about 
nineteen years of age and during that time became acquainted with William 
Ranck, to whom she plighted her troth. Mrs. Ranck’s demise occurred in 1892, 
and her husband passed away in 1908. Their three children, Lulu, Bertha and 
Glenn N., were born in Vancouver and the last named resides in the house which 
his father was building when he met and courted Miss Neer.
     Glenn N. Ranck attended the public schools of Vancouver and aided his 
father in the cultivation of the ranch. For a time he was in the employ of the 
government, working with a surveying party in the northeastern part of Clark 
county, and was next engaged in teaching in country schools. Afterward he was 
assistant to the city engineer and the county surveyor and during the Spanish-
American war he joined Company G of the First Washington Volunteer Infantry. 
He rose to the rank of sergeant and was wounded at Guadeloupe Ridge while 
aiding in quelling the insurrection in the Philippines. After his release from 
military duty Mr. Ranck engaged in general merchandising at Camas, Washington. 
Entering the field of journalism, he became editor of the Vancouver Chronicle 
and published the paper for several years. While engaged in editorial work he 
was chosen as the first native-born citizen of Clark county elected to the 
state legislature, of which he was a member for two terms, and sat in the same 
seat which his father had occupied many years before. From 1912 until 1916 he 
was register in the United States land office at Vancouver, and when the 
nation was drawn into the vortex of the World war he volunteered for service 
but owing to his age was not designated for active military duty. For six 
months he was connected with the quartermaster’s department at Camp Lewis, 
Washington, aiding in forming regiments as they came in, and after the 
departure of the Nineteenth Division he returned to Vancouver. Mr. Ranck was 
asked to take an examination for the commission of captain in the United 
States Guards and complied with the request but was never called upon for 
service. Meanwhile he had joined the Oregon State Guard and was made sergeant 
of his company, with which he served until the close of the war.
     In January, 1919, Mr. Ranck was appointed a deputy in the office of the 
county treasurer of Clark county and acted in that capacity for four years. 
During the period from 1923 until 1927 his time was chiefly given to 
historical and journalistic work and since January of the latter year he has 
been city treasurer, discharging his duties with characteristic thoroughness 
and efficiency. At one time he was at the head of the volunteer fire 
department and a trustee of the public library. He was also a justice of the 
peace, clerk of the school board, chairman of the county republican committee 
and trustee of the city library. Since its organization he has been president 
of the Vancouver Historical Society and is the author of an interesting volume 
entitled “Legends and Traditions of Northwestern History,” published in 1914. 
Mr. Ranck was married in Vancouver and has two children, who are also natives 
of the city. He has put his talents to good use and displays rare qualities as 
a public servant. His favorite study is the History of the United States and 
of the “Oregon Country” in particular, and he now has in preparation a history 
of old Fort Vancouver. 


Additional Comments:
History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Pages 327-328

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