Francis H. Rankin, Sr.
| Francis H. Rankin, Sr. | |
|---|---|
| Michigan State Senator | |
|
In office 1877 – 1879 |
|
| Michigan State Representative | |
|
In office 1860 – 1865 |
|
| 14th Recorder (law) | |
|
In office 1872–1873 |
|
| Preceded by | Charles E. McAlester |
| Succeeded by | Solomon V. Hakes |
| Constituency | City of Flint, Michigan |
| 16th Recorder (law) | |
|
In office 1874–1876 |
|
| Preceded by | Solomon V. Hakes |
| Succeeded by | abolished (City Clerk) |
| Constituency | City of Flint, Michigan |
| 1st City clerk | |
|
In office 1876–1879 |
|
| Preceded by | Created |
| Succeeded by | J. B. F. Curtis |
| Constituency | City of Flint, Michigan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | County Down, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party |
Whig Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Arabella |
| Relations | Joseph Rankin, Father Richard S. Hearn, father-in-law |
| Children | Francis H. Rankin, Jr. |
| Occupation | printer, editor, publisher |
| Profession | Publishing |
Francis H. Rankin, Sr. was a Michigan, United States politician and publisher. He was a member of and Grand Master of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and in 1873 was the Sovereign Lodge's Grand Representative. He received the Knight Templar degree in the Masons.
Born in County Down, Ireland to Joseph Rankin, He married Arabella Hearn of County Longford, Ireland. He came to the United States in 1848 initial to Pontiac, Michigan, where he learned the trade of printing. In 1850, he came to Flint, Michigan and founded the Genesee Whig, a weekly newspaper. On December 28, 1854, he had a son of the same name.
Rankin was appointed to the Flint City Charter draft committee in 1855. Rankin served on the School Board for several terms. In 1860, he was elected to the first of two terms in Michigan House of Representatives. Rankin was elected City of Flint Recorder in 1872 serving a one-year term. In 1874, he returned to that position, serving additional terms until the city charter was amended to replace the elected Recorder office with a common council appointed clerk in 1876. He was the first person appointed to the office of City Clerk of Flint. In addition to being the City clerk, Rankin was elected as a Michigan State Senator in 1877 serving a single term. Under Governor Crapo, Rankin served as one of several prison inspectors. From 1879 to 1887, he served as postmaster.
In 1895, with William C. Durant and several other individual, they founded a fraternal beneficiary society on January 31, 1895 called the Knights of the Loyal Guard.
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