Thankful Rankin

Thankful Rankin was born 19 June 1803 in Guilford County, NC a daughter of George Rankin and his wife Nancy Gillespie . She married in Guilford County to William Watson Wharton, born 12 Feb 1791 in Guilford County. Shortly after their marriage, they moved to McNairy County, TN. The story goes that they started from Tennessee in a wagon drawn by three mules and a horse in October 1856. They took provisions for two months; the trip required 50 days to Kerr County which had not then been organized. Before reaching their destination, they were warned by a horseman to turn back, but were determined to go forth. They spent about a year in Dewitt County, TX before braving the dangers of Indians in Kerr County. They finally established their residence on the Watson Crook Survey six miles from Kerrville. In her long journey from North Carolina to Tennessee and later to Kerr Coounty, Texas her prized possessions included three minature portraits painted in 1826, a hand-woven covelet, a copy of her father's will and a memorial obituary of her grandfather Col. Daniel Gillaspie.

It is said that Thankful's descendents have in their possession watercolors made in 1828 of Thankful, her mother Nancy and grandfather Colonel Daniel Gillespie.

Thankful's daughter-in-law "Susie" told her older daughter that her mother-in-law was hard to understand, but she was of "Scotch-Irish" stock, who originally came from Scotland. Thankful was a strict Presbyterian and named her youngest son after the noted old founder of Buffalo--David Newton Caldwell. His log College produced many early pioneer Presbyterian ministers.

William and Thankful's children:

1. John Doderidge Wharton - believed to be buried in Ardmore, Oklahoma. He carried the name of a noted old Presbyterian minister.

2. William G'laspie Wharton - b. 16 Mar 1841. William enlisted in the Texas Rangers in 1859 and fought in the Civil War. He later served as Deputy Sheriff of Kerr County for over 50 years. He married, had no children and died on 3 Nov 1918. He is buried in the Wharton cemetery in Kerr County.

3. Daniel Newton Wharton - b. 16 Jan 1846 Daniel served as a Corporal with the Confederate States Army. He married on 5 May 1880 to Susan M. . (Holliman); . 'Wharton';Holliman, born 5 May 1860 in Burnett County, TX. He had many children and died on 30 Aug 1938 as did Susan on 5 Nov 1947. Both are at rest in the Wharton cemetery Thankful Rankin and William Watson Wharton: