Mary Love Rankin

Mary Love Rankin was born in Keokuk on March 1, 1852 and died in Keokuk on April 18, 1936. On June 6, 1871 she married John Nichol Irwin in Keokuk, Iowa. John, who was active in his father's Irwin-Phillips dry goods business at the time of their wedding, went on to lead an varied political and diplomatic life. At various times, he was Mayor of Keokuk, Territorial Governor of Arizona, Territorial Governor of Idaho, and Minister to Portugal. John and his family could not stay too long a time away from Keokuk at any of John's political/diplomatic postings because they so very much enjoyed the top-of-the-bluff view of the broad Mississippi from the back-side porch of their large, rambling 633 Grand Avenue house.

Mary Love and John Nichol Irwin produced four children:

1. Alice Irwin Kendrick (Mrs. Rolla M. Kendrick), of Ferguson & Saint Louis, Missouri

2. Elizabeth (Mary) Stephanie Irwin, who lived with her mother in Keokuk and later married Joshua Elder

3. Stephen Irwin, who died at an early age (nearly 4 years old)

4. John Rankin Irwin, who was Keokuk Postmaster and Speaker of the Iowa House of Representatives. John inherited and lived at the family's 633 Grand Avenue home, now listed on the National Park Register of Historic Places.

During the thirty years or so that Mary survived her husband, there was no doubt of the strong family leadership by Mary, affectionately called "Gannie" by all the descendants of her own children. During that period, she was often on the go, involved in book clubs, parties, foreign travel, visiting relatives, etc.

First Lady of Idaho Territory, 1883-1883; First Lady of Arizona Territory, 1890-1892.

Buried on Apr 21, 1961 in a copper vault by DeJong Funeral Home.