Benoni Robert (Ben) Rankin

BOSSIER, HEACOCK, LIKENS, RANKIN, SWEARINGIN, YOUNG

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 10/19/2004 at 14:05:28

Ben R. Rankin, who was for many years prominently identified with the business interests of Truro as proprietor of a general store, was born in Belmont county, Ohio, on the 19th of July, 1848, a son of Samuel and Sarah Rankin. The father was born in Pennsylvania, of Irish descent, and the mother was likewise a native of that state, where they were reared and married. Subsequently they removed to Belmont county, Ohio, where the father farmed until 1851, when with his family he came to this county and entered land near Peru in Walnut township. That place remained the home of the parents until 1894, when they removed to Winterset and there resided until called to the great beyond, the father in 1900 and the mother in 1901.

Ben R. Rankin attended the common schools of Walnut township and while still a youth went to Missouri, where for a time he worked upon his brother's farm. He was married in that state in 1876 and remained there until 1880, when he returned to Iowa and turned his attention to merchandising, conducting a general store at Peru, this county. After seven years he sold his business and in 1889 he went to Barney, Iowa, where he opened a general store. His stock of goods was destroyed by fire and in 1895 he located at Truro, where he again engaged in merchandising, conducting a general store here for eighteen years, or until his death on the 31st of March, 1913. He was progressive and energetic, managed his business affairs well and depended upon the value of his goods and the honorable policy which he invariably pursued to hold his custom. His volume of business grew steadily and he derived a good income from the conduct of his store, which was one of the best known in this part of the state. For fourteen months after his demise his widow conducted the business and then sold out.

On the 5th of January, 1876, at Brunswick, Missouri, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Rankin and Miss Alberta Likens, a daughter of Levi and Susan (Bossier) Likens, both natives of Pennsylvania, the former born in Chester county, of Swedish ancestry, and the latter in Blair county, of Dutch lineage. In his early manhood Mr. Likens was a coal miner but later devoted his life to farming. In 1854 the family removed to the west and settled near Davenport, Iowa, where the father followed agricultural pursuits until 1869, when removal was made to Sheridan county, Missouri. He bought land there, which he operated until his death on the 31st of March, 1902. His widow is now making her home at Truro with her daughter, Mrs. Rankin. Mrs. Likens has reached the advanced age of eighty-four but still enjoys the best of health.

To Mr. and Mrs. Rankin were born two children. Orville, born June 18, 1877, died March 8, 1894. Frank, born July 28, 1879, was united in marriage in 1899 to Miss Ida Heacock and they became the parents of two children: Garry, born June 4, 1901; and Geraldine, whose natal day was April 26, 1904. His wife died June 18, 1905, and September 26, 1906, he married Mrs. Grace (Swearingin) Young, of Ohio township. To this union have been born three children: Dale, born May 15, 1907; Claude, June 28, 1908; and Phyllis, born April, 11, 1911.

Mr. Rankin was a democrat and for several years served as a member of the city council of Truro. He held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his wife is also a member. Fraternally he was connected with the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias, and his wife at one time belonged to the Woman's Relief Corps, the Order of the Eastern Star and the Rathbone Sisters. He was fully entitled to the success that came to him, as he gave strict attention to his business, worked hard and was at all times strictly honorable in his business dealings, never taking undue advantage of another. He was a self-made man and his manly qualities of character made him honored and respected.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915”