The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1886-01-28

Manitowoc" said Mr.. Rankin. "WelP'
he added in half apologetic way, ''it
was the only subject of conversation in
which we could all take part.
After the close of the war he managed
a plantation In Louisiana but running it
with negro empoyes it did not yield
large returns. He also held some gov
eminent position in New Orleans at a
time when government officers in the
south were reaping fortunes. Mr.. Ran
kin had abundent opportunity to grow
wealthy but it was at the expense of Of
fetal hosesty and he declined the offers.
While speaking of these chances he never
sought TO glorify himself for his forbear-
ance. He never seemed to place even an
approximate estimate upon his worthy
acts. In fact he always spoke as if they
| were devoid of merit and he was much
| inclined to deery himself.
just before enlisting Mr.. Rankin was
married to Miss Emily Borcherdt, one
| of the most devoted women who ever
followed o husband to the grave. He
| never showed enthusiasm on any subject
equal to what he displayed when speak
ing of his wife. When speaking to his
friends of the felicity of his married life
he would often state that never did a
word except of kindness to him escape
| the lips of his wife, For the last year
she watched him increasingly and would
! surrender the place to no one. He
thought more of her than he did of himself
and his only fear of death was that his
family would be left without a protector.
He lavished affection upon his daughter
Jennie and "little Joe", boy ten years
of age who bears most striking resem-
blance to his father.
Mr.. Rankin came north and entered
the mercantile business at Mishicott.
But though he did large business he
was neglectful of details and never re.
fused to give credit to any one, He soon
had large sum on the books and find
ing it difficult to collect, quit the bust
ness and came to Manitowoc. While in
Mishicott he was a member of the coun-
ty board and was one of the celebrated
'sniff1ing committee which nnearthed
the astounding dishonesty of some coun-
ty officials. He was city clerk, was elect
ed five times to the assembly and served
three terms as state senator. When he
entered the legislature his political career
proper, began. He seemed to know
things by intuition and his mind had SO
comprehensive grasp that it did not
seem necessary for him to employ those
intermediate processes of reasoning to
reach conclusion. He took everything
in at glance and was most formidable
opponent in argument for this reason.
He remembered everything but it was
native strength, not cultivated memory.
He could call up facts Instantly and never
found it necessary to listen to an entire
argument if logical, as fragment here
and there supplied him with the whole.
1t is doubtful whether Rankin ever heard
| a.whole speech of any length delivered.
The very power he had of grasping
the salient points and concentrating, pre-
vented him from being public speaker
as be could not fill out his thoughts with
needless words and he hated display so
cordially that he would never use a word
fer its sound. He always kept track of
every bill and it required no effort for
him to do SO. He was one of the most
expert parliamentarians in the country,
but he made no study of usage or pre-
cedent. The whole thing dropped into
his mind and he saw it clearly and fully
just as an ordinary mind would perceive
the simplest proposition. The skill
which came from this fullness of knowl-
edge gave him leadership and made his
opposition something to be feared. He
never replied to partisan attacks, but if
the aggressor had pet measure it always
received death blow from an unseen
hand and he soon found this was Ran
kin's answer. The speechmakers could
not wrest the leadership from him and
were glad to serve as his Heutenants. It
was not difficult to win his favor and as
| his friendship was valuable it was court
ed. Any measure which Rankin cham
| poined had hosts of friends because he
was admired and liked by his associates.
He never abused the power he had &C
| quired and never refused assistance when
his judgement did not disapprove of the
wisdom of granting the thing sought.
For this reason he was popular through.
out the state and his friends were limited
to no party.
Rankin's modesty was weakness and
prevented him from pushing himself for
ward. A great many people believe that
when he was first nominated for congress
he had worked increasingly from the
| time the district was formed until
the day the convention was held. 1t
may be that when the district was organ
lied he entertained the hope that he
might represent. it in congress, but if so he
did not act with that vigor characteristic
of him when he formed purpose. His
friends here pleaded with him to an.
nounce himself but he always stated he
could not be nominated. 1t was not his
custom to adopt any Machiavelian policy
with them, and if he was working for the
nomination lie would not conceal the feet.
1t was finally decided to secure him a
delegation from the county whether he
was candidate or not and he was ac-
| tually forced into the contest not from
l. H.. 1,,,k 4