Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-10-21
WILLIAM RANKIN
D|ES| 1O3D YEAR
In Spite of Age, Veteran New
ark Lawyer Was Robust
Until Week Ago.

William Rankin, church worker,
lawyer and veteran resident of New
ark, died last, night 1t Princeton at
the home of his son, Professor Wal.
ter NJ. Rankin. Mr.. Rankin, who was
the father of Edward S. Rankin, of
751 High street, this city. city engi-
neer and for many years treasurer
of the Board of Foreign Missions,
had reached his 103d year last month.
In spite of his advanced, age Mr..
Rankin was remarkably healthy and
active up to a week ago, when his
health suddenly failed.
The funeral will be held here on
Wednesday in Newark.
The body will be brought to New
ark on Wednesday morning and serv-
ices will be held at the home of Ed
ward s.. Rankin, T51 High street, at 2
o'clock in the afternoon. Interment
will be at Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
Mr.. Rankin had heen living in
Princeton since 1903. Previous to
that time he resided at ISL High
street. but left Newark in that year
oon after the death of his wife. who
was Miss Ellen Stevens, of Connec-
ticut.
Was in Harrison's ONCE.
During his early life as a lawyer
Mr.. Rankin was in the office of for
nier President William Henry Harri-
son, in Cincinnati, and in the same
city he was associated in business
dealings with the father of President
Taft. All his life Mr.. Rankin was a
Republican, and his first vote was
cast for Henry Clay.
William Rankin came from II of
the old families of Newark, his
father, also named William Rankin,
having settled here in 1911 and having
been the pioneer in the hat industry
in this city, opening an establishment
on Beaver street. a fact which I'M
doubtedly gave the street its name.
Mr.. Rankin was born in Elizabeth i'll
1910 and came to this city a year
later.
After attending Newark Academy
Mr.. Rankin entered Williams College
and was graduated in 1881. After
studying law in Newark and being
admitted to the bar In this State he
vent TO practise his profession in
Cincinnati and while there was in the
law office of former President Harri-
son.
No definite arrangements have beer
made for the funeral
Wrote Work on Missionaries.
In 1850 he returned to Newark and
from thai time until 1888, when he
retired from business. he was treas
urer of the Board of Foreign Mis-
sions of the Presbyterian Church,
having an office in New York. While
in this capacity he wrote two bio
He was an elder in the High Street
Presbyterian Church, and for many
years was president of the old New
ark Library Association. at the time
when 1t was on Market street where
Bamberger's old store now stands.
AT one time the Rankin family
possessed q large amount of property
extending from High street to Boston
street and from South Orange ave
u to Thirteenth avenue, the elder
William RanlSin's homestead having
peer on Stirling street. A portion of
this property Is still in the possession
of Mr.. Rankin's descendants.
Six children were born to William
Rankin and his wife, of whom four
are now living. They are Edward S..
of this city: Mrs. Bliss, Prof. Walter
M, and the Rev. John J.. Rankin, of
Scranton. Pa. A son, DR., William
Rankin. of this city, died in 1904, and
a daughter, Mrs. Mary Johnson, of
Pennington, Conn, died in the same
year.
Mr.. Rankin never held public office
and belonged to no fraternal orders.
At the time of the Civil War he was
too old to be drafted and had no in
clination to enlist of his own accord.
He never attributed his longevity to
anything in particular, although his
father lived to be 81 years old and his
mother to be Sc.