William Alexander Rankin

area 10

Captain

A.Q.M. US Volunteers

HON. WILLIAM A. RANKIN, farmer, was born at Ripley, Brown County, Ohio, September 15, 1832. He was educated in his native town, and learned the trade of carpenter and builder, and followed that occupation in Mississippi two years, 1850-51. Returned to Ohio, settled in Columbus, and was engaged in contracting and building from 1851 to 1853, when he removed to Edgar County, Ill., where he engaged in dealing in real estate as well as continuing his former business until 1856, when he moved to Kansas, settling on a farm claim near Black Jack, Douglas County, in the spring of 1857, where he remained, engaged in dealing in real estate, farming and stock-raising, until after the breaking-out of the war.

In 1859, he was elected a member of the Kansas House of Representatives from Douglas County, and served in the regular and special sessions of 1860. He was especially active in the passage of what was known as the Emancipation Resolution. Portions of the years 1860-61 and 1862, he spent in mining in Colorado.

While there he was elected a member of the House of Representatives, serving one term. Returning from Colorado in the winter of 1862-63, he received a commission as recruiting officer, and was engaged in raising troops for the war until July, 1863, he received a commission from President Lincoln as Assistant Quartermaster of Volunteers, with the rank of Captain, and was ordered to the Army of the Cumberland, then at Chattanooga, Tenn. August 21, 1863, while at Lawrence awaiting the aforesaid, he, with J. K. Rankin, was charged upon by six of Quantrill's guerrillas in an open street.

Promptly returning their fire, a lively fight ensued, resulting in the wounding of two guerrillas, and putting their party to flight. He was assigned to duty with the Second Brigade, First Division of Cavalry, commanded by Gen. E. C. McCook.

He was soon after promoted to be Division Quartermaster, with the rank of Major, which position he occupied until the army was ordered upon the Atlanta campaign, in which he served as Chief Quartermaster of the cavalry command. In these various positions, he served on the staffs of Gens. Elliott, Stanley, McCook, La Grange, Croxton and Wilson.

He outfitted Gen. Wilson's command of 25,000 troops at Eastport, Miss., and Waterloo, Ala., for his grand raid through Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and Georgia. July 7, 1865, he was assigned to duty on the staff of J. H. Wilson, as Purchasing Quartermaster for the military district of Columbus. July 27, he was appointed Chief Quartermaster of the same district on the staff of Gen. J. T. Croxton, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, in which capacity he served until March, 1866, when he was honorably discharged.

At the close of his military service, he was appointed Chief Clerk of the Southern Indian Superintendency, holding the position about two years. Since that time he has been engaged in various pursuits, merchandising in Lawrence, in Government contracts, trading with Indians; dealing in stock and real estate, coal mining and railroad contracting.

He was married in Columbus, Ohio, February 23, 1852, to Miss Phebe D. Ward, by whom he has had seven children, five of whom survive - Julia A., Low, Don J., Harry and Fred. Mr. R. is a member of the Congregational Church.