BIO: James H. RANKIN, Centre County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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  JAMES H. RANKIN, whose death occurred in July, 1893, at Bellefonte, 
Centre county, where he had passed a life beyond man's allotted years, 
and where he had been an honorable member of the Bar for fifty years, 
represented one of the first families to locate in the place.
  John Rankin, the father of James H., was born in Franklin county, 
Penn., May 1, 1779, and became one of the early settlers in Penn's 
Valley, Centre county.  His father was born in Ireland.  Before John's 
removal to the village of Bellefonte, he was an elder in Mr. Stuart's 
Church, and after his location there he connected himself with the 
Presbyterian Church. He opened a store in Bellefonte in 1810.  He was 
sheriff of Centre county in 1812; prothonotary in 1818; and a justice 
of the peace, 1840-44.  On June 7, 1804, he married Isabella Dundas, 
who was born on the ocean en route from Scotland, and their children 
were: Mary, who married Alfred Armstrong; Isabella, who married John 
Irvin; Jane, who married George S. Armstrong; Ellis, who married James 
Gilliland; William D.; Dr. John C.; James H., our subject; J. Duncan; 
and L. Calvin.  The father of these died April 22, 1848.
  James H. Rankin was born in the old McAllister home, on the corner of 
Allegheny street and Cherry alley, Bellefonte, March 3, 1819.  His 
early education was acquired in the public schools and at the academy 
at Bellefonte; later he was graduated from Jefferson College, 
Cannonsburg, Penn.  Returning to Bellefonte, he, as a law student in 
the office of William Potter displayed an unusual talent, which had its 
reward in a brilliant examination for the admission to the Centre 
County Bar, which he passed in January, 1840. The Bar of Centre County 
at that time was reputed one of the best in the State.  In 1850 he was 
elected district attorney over Robert G. Durham, Whig; in 1853 and 1856 
he was re-elected, defeating Edmund Blanchard and William P. Wilson.  
On October 13, 1861, Mr. Rankin was mustered into the service as first 
lieutenant of Company H, 56th P.V.I., and went to the front in defense 
of the Union; sickness, however, necessitated his return home in the 
following spring, and he resigned on March 27, 1862. At the close of 
the war he was appointed to one of the leading positions in the 
Internal Revenue Department, which he filled with integrity.  After the 
expiration of his term of office he resumed the practice of the law, 
which with a general insurance business, he kept up until the last few 
days of his life.  "As a citizen none could have been better than he, 
as a husband and father, he was faithful and honored.  As a friend we 
can offer no more expressive eulogism than to say that the death of no 
other man will cause more profound regret in the hearts of all classes 
of people in our town.  His life, always simple and unassuming, was 
that of an honorable man. His character beyond reproach and his spirit 
fraternal and God-like to a fault.  He had no enemies because all who 
knew him were friends."
  Mr. Rankin was a charter member of the Gregg Post No. 95, G. A. R.  
He married Miss Barbara Furey, who was born on her father's (Robert 
Furey) farm near Pleasant Gap, and their children are: Alice, who 
married R. A. Kinsloe, editor of a paper at Philipsburg, Penn; Hon. 
John I., of Washington, D. C.; Jennie, the wife 

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  203

of Gov. D. H. Hastings; Miss Bella, at home; and Edward, the operator 
of the Western Union Telegraph at Bellefonte.  The parents of Mrs. 
Rankin were natives of Centre county, Penn., where the greater parts of 
their lives were passed and where they died, the father on May 19, 
1846.  Robert Furey was the son of John and Barbara (Lebo) Furey, early 
residents of Centre county, and here died, the former in February, 
1826, and the latter on March 5, 1850, aged eighty-eight years.  The 
other children of this couple were:  William, Jeremiah and Nancy.