The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1875-02-26
REOGRAPmY OF REV. JOHN
RANKIN.
JOHNS MARRIAGE.
The Reasons why He IA shat
Time Entered into that
Relation.
The Results and Notices of
HIS wife.
CHAPTER ".

The Results and Notices of
HAIS wife.
CHAPTER ".
One month before graduating
John was married to Miss Jane
Lowry. This was not a result of
blind passion, but of deliberate
judgment. His parents were old,
and It was difficult for his father TO
pay his board and for his mother to
make his clothes; therefore he was
anxious to relieve them. Miss Jane
Lowry was granddaughter to
President Doak, with whom John
boarded during his time at college,
and had her home with her parents.
two miles distant. She was q menu
Der of the church and had the repu-
tation OF being industrious and
good natured, and was a good
seamstress, could cut and make all
kinds of mems clothing. In view
of these things John determined to
pay his addresses to her, and, in
case of sufficient mutual affection,
he would make her his wife. He
was successful. Affection was mu-
tual, and the marriage took place
on the 2nd day of January, 1916.
Her person was comedy. Her hair
was beautiful, and so long as to
nearly reach to the floor when she
stood erect. Her wealth was in
herself. Besides keeping her house
she made q hundred dollars with
her needle in a year. She is just
the kind of wife every poor minis
ter ought to have. In industry she
had no superior. Her example was
exceedingly good. When in health
she was punctual in attendance at
church. She took her children all
to church, even to the babe in her
arms. She atteRded upon the sick
to q great extent, and SO skillfully
that physicians were anxious to
have her visit their patients, and es-
pecially when they were danger
ously i'll. In one instance she at
tended a lady, q member of the
church, five weeks, day and night,
and was no doubt the means of saw
ing her life. The woman had suf-
fered necessary but terrible opera
ton, and was very low. Nothing
short of the most skillfnl nursing
could have saved her life. Mrs.
Rankin was ready for every good
work, and had the good will of all
in every place in which she was
known. She is the mother of thir-
teen children, all of whom lived to
be married, and all but two are still
living, and those two, it is believed,
are In heaven. All those living,
except one, are church members.
After a life of incessant labor and
care she still lives, near the close of
her seventy-ninth year.
The marriage of Mr.. Rankin was
a matter of surprise to all his
friends and relatives. He had new
er kept company with young ladies,
and his course of study was not
completed, and many doubtless
thought that It was unwise, as they
supposed it would terminate his
studies, and so prevent his entering
into professional life but it was the
means of enabling him to pursue
his studies. He lost no time. He
had no longer to pay for board, and
he obtained a wife that could, If ne
cessity required, maintain, with
needle, both herself and him. And
during long life she has been a
constant aid to him in supporting
the family while he preached the
gospel with very small compensa-
ton. By her industry, economy
and good management, and a salary
of three hundred and fifty dollars
thirteen children were supported
and educated, three of them for the
ministry, one for the practice of
medicine, and the others for the
common stations of life. Sick or
well, she always manifested a will
ingness to have her husband meet
his appointments, whether they
were at home or abroad. Thus the
favorable results Of his marriage
prove that Mr.. Rankin acted wisely
in entering into that relation at that
time. Under other circumstances
it might have been unwise. To
have married q woman that was an
expense instead of an aid, would
have been far from being wise. In
Mr.. Rankin's marriage two were
united who know how to work
their way through life.
CHAPTER v-SIR. RANKIN'S STUDY OF
DIVINITY AND LICENSE TO PREACH
THE GOSPEL.
Six months before he graduated
at college Mr.. Rankin put himself
under the care of Abindon Presby-
terry. President Doak furnished
him books On divinity, which he
read with carefulness. The Pres
bytery gave him subjects on which
to write trial pieces. These he pre-
pared so well as he could. They
all passed well when read before
tue Presbytery, and were unani-
mously approved, aud at the end of
eighteen months he was licensed 70
preach the gospel. This was unu-
sual, and was owing to the fact that
his trial pieces proved that his
knowledge of divinity was accurate
and extensive. Daring his youth
he had read the bible and theolog-
ical books to a great extent, so that
his knowledge of theology was at
that time sufficient 10 haYe enabled
him to preach the gospel. He read
lily quoted the scriptures to prove
any of the common doctrines of
theology. He had q natural pro-
pensity to read theological books.
He was clear and foreible reason
er and an eloquent speaker. His