St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1888-01-19
RECENT DEATHS.

RANKIN.-This community was sad
dened Saturday morning by the an
nouncement of the death at Morris
vile OF A. E. Rankin. Though known
to be seriously ill, encouraging reports
concerning him had been received and
his recovery was hoped for. On Fri
day morning of the preceding week he
went to Hyde Park on business con-
nected with the late Judge Poland's es-
tate. In the afternoon he drove to the
residence of Hon. P. K. Gleed at Nor
| risville, a distance of 3 or miles, and
had hardly entered the house when he
had severe chill. 1t was soon appar-
ent that he was seriously sick with
pneumonia. His wife was at his bed
side es soon as possible. Mr.. and
Mrs. Gleed's home and everything in
it that could contribute to the comfort
of the sick man was put at the dispo-
sal Off family. Mr.. Rankin knew
from the beginning that his sickness
was serious and made brave and pa
tient battle for life. After giving his
wife some suggestions concerning bus
mess matters should the worst come,
he apparently gave his thought and
strength to combating the disease.
But all was of no avail he died Satur-
day morning at $50. Undoubtedly
the pressure consequent upon the set
tlement of Judge Poland's estate in
connection with other duties, contrib
uted to the final result.
Andrew Evarts Rankin was born in
Salisbury, N. H., June 8, 1882, being in
his 56th year at the time of his death;
his father, Rev. Andrew Rankin, was
a Congregational Clergyman. His
boyhood was spent in South Berwick,
Me-, and Concord, N. H. Later on he
was employed in Il store in Springfield
this state and while there determined
to acquire a liberal education. A
quick scholar he easily and rapidly
fitted for college, entered Middlebury
in 1850 at the age of 10, maintained an
honorable position i'm his class and
graduated in 1854. 1t was while in
college that he began that wide course
of English reading that he continued
through life. During the following
four years he taught, first at Abingdon,
Mass, and then SanbOrntOn, N. H., and
New York city and finally, in 1858, he
came to ST. Johnsbury as the first prin-
cipal of the Union school, Thorough
ly equipped for his work he proved
as Il teacher careful and painstaking
and was very successful. Between
1858 and 1864, besides teaching, he
studied law i'm the Office of Stoddard
& Colby at Montpelier and at the HaI-
ward law school Cambridge, Mass,
where graduated in 1861. 1t was
while thus engaged that it became evil
dent that trouble with his eyes would
prevent the close and continued appli-
cation necessary to the following of
the legal profession in regular practice,
and in 1864 he accepted the position of
clerk of the Caledonia county court
which he held at the time of his death.
Though his aff1iction prevented his en-
tering the arena of public life and COM
peting for the higher places in the
profession which he was qualified to
fill, his exceptional abilities and ripe
scholarship were by no means unrec-
ognized and he was frequently called
from his desk to fill higher positions,
always acQuitting himself with honor.
From 1867 to 1870 he was secretary of
the state board of education, a posi-
tion for which he had peculiar qualifi-
cations and in which his efforts con =
tributed largely to the advancement OF
the cause of education in this state.
In 1876 he was called by Gov. Horace
Fairbanks to the position of secretary
of civil and military affairs, "a position
he accepted with reluctance but left
two years later with great credit to
himself. That these qualities were
not unrecognized in the state at large
is evidenced from the fact that in 1885
he was appointed by Gov. Barstow one
of the delegation that at that time rep
resented Vermont ut the inter state ed
ucational convention at Louisville, KY
Before this and while enjoying trip
abroad with his wife and friends ht
was rendered by President Grant the
position of American consul at Messina
IL position that might have been ac-
cepted had he been at home and able
to give the matter the careful consider.
alton that was impossible under the
circumstances.
More recently MIR. Rankin has beer
identified with the monetary institu.
tions of this place, serving as one o.
the board of trustees of the Passump
sic savings bank since 1873 and as {
director in the First National banl
since 1884, proving IA wise and safe
counsellor and a man of sound judg
ment in financial affairs. OF late years
his time has been largely occupied al
referee in cases at law, a position hi
knowledge of law, cOnscientiOusnes
and independence well fitted him t.
fill with satisfaction to all concerned
Of an extremely retiring nature Ia
rarely appeared as an actor in public
events but when called upon to do 81
J acquitted himself with credit. Per
laps there is no more striking instance
| Of this fact than the a61rasS which Ia,