Robert A. Rankin and Margaret Belle Finley
Husband Robert A. Rankin 1 2 3
Born: 8 May 1857 - Elizabeth Twp, Allegheny Co, PA 1 4 Christened: Died: 4 May 1908 3 Buried:
Father: John Rankin, Jr. (1821-1908) 1 3 4 5 Mother: Eliza Jane Kelley ( -1879) 1 4
Marriage: 20 Jun 1889 1 4
Wife Margaret Belle Finley 4
Born: Christened: Died: Buried:
Father: Thomas G. Finley ( - ) 6 Mother: Elizabeth T. [Unk] ( - ) 6
Children
General Notes: Husband - Robert A. Rankin
He was brought up as a farmer. He entered the common schools and later spent three years in Jefferson Academy, Cannonsburg, Pennsylvania, after which he returned home and engaged in farming. He was thus engaged until 1889 when he was appointed clerk in the prothonotary's office under John Rial. He was also a clerk in the prothonotary's office under R. A. Hope, and was deputy prothonotary under Lewis Thompson. He was elected prothonotary of Westmoreland County in November, 1897, and filled the office in 1898, 1899 and 1900. In April, 1900, on the organization of the Westmoreland Savings & Trust Company of Greensburg, he was elected assistant secretary and treasurer of the institution, and filled that position until September, 1903, when the governor appointed him register of wills and clerk of the Orphans' court to succeed Samuel C. Stevenson, deceased. At the close of his term of appointment he was elected to the same position in 1905 by a majority over his opponent of 7823 votes. He was president of the First National Bank of Webster from its organization. Since coming to America the Rankins were energetic and active in politics. The older members of the family were Whigs, who became Republicans upon the birth of that party. Robert A. Rankin was twice elected chairman of the Republican committee, in 1900 and 1901, in which campaigns the party was successful, the majorities reaching from 4000 to 6000. For over sixteen years he was a resident of Greensburg. Both he and his wife were communicants of the old Rehobeth Church in Rostraver township before moving to Greensburg, after which time they were members of the Westminster (Presbyterian) Church of Greensburg, of which Mr. Rankin was a trustee and treasurer for many years.
He was a member of Webster Lodge, No. 70, Ancient Order of United Workmen, and Greensburg Conclave of the Improved Order of Heptasophs.
General Notes: Wife - Margaret Belle Finley
from Rostraver Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA
Her great-grandfather was Rev. James Finley, who assisted in organizing and was the first pastor of the old Rehobeth Church in Rostraver township, a church so noted in Westmoreland history. Among her family were other noted men: Rev. Samuel Finley, president of Princeton College in 1776; and Samuel Finley Breese Morse, the inventor of the electric telegraph.
1 Samuel T. Wiley, Biographical and Historical Cyclopedia of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: John M. Gresham & Co., 1890.), Pg 154.
2 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. II (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 114, 298.
3 Fenwick Y. Hedley, Old and New Westmoreland, Vols. III & IV (New York, NY: The American Historical Society, Inc., 1918), Pg 998.
4 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. II (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 114.
5 —, The History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Part II (Chicago, IL: A. W. Warner & Co., 1889), Pg 346.
6
John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. II (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 115.
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