Joseph Rankin was an American businessman and Democratic politician.
19 Facts About Joseph Rankin
1.
2.
Joseph Rankin was elected to two terms as US Representative for Wisconsin's 5th congressional district, but died during his second term.
3.
Joseph Rankin was born in Passaic, New Jersey, in 1833.
4.
Joseph Rankin worked briefly in the lumbering industry, but soon opened a general store.
5.
Joseph Rankin left office in 1861, as the secession crisis was taking place across the American south.
6.
Joseph Rankin immediately volunteered for service in the American Civil War and joined up with a company of volunteers known as the "Manitowoc Guards".
7.
Joseph Rankin was initially elected lieutenant, but was later removed by a vote of the company.
8.
Joseph Rankin instead accepted a commission from the Governor to assist in new recruiting efforts.
9.
Joseph Rankin recruited a new volunteer company in Manitowoc and was elected captain.
10.
Joseph Rankin brought his volunteers to Camp Sigel, in Milwaukee, where they were enrolled as Company D in the 27th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment.
11.
Joseph Rankin did not run for another term in 1874, but in 1876 was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate, representing the 15th Senate district.
12.
Joseph Rankin served three two-year terms in the Senate, serving on the committee on railroads for all six years, and serving five years on the judiciary committee, and 1 year on the state affairs committee.
13.
Joseph Rankin was known as a skilled parliamentarian, but not a speech-maker.
14.
In 1882, Joseph Rankin participated in the redistricting process and was accused of drawing the new 5th congressional district to favor his own election to that seat.
15.
Joseph Rankin insisted that he was not a candidate for Congress through the Summer, but at the district convention in Manitowoc, his name was placed in nomination.
16.
Joseph Rankin was chosen as the Democratic nominee on the 126th ballot, over Thomas R Hudd, who had campaigned extensively for the nomination.
17.
Joseph Rankin was easily elected in the November general election in the heavily Democratic district and was re-elected in 1884, serving in the Forty-eighth and Forty-ninth congresses.
18.
Shortly after arriving in Congress Joseph Rankin began suffering from a long illness, which would eventually result in his death.
19.
Joseph Rankin succumbed and died on January 24,1886, in Washington, DC Joseph Rankin was interred in Evergreen Cemetery, Manitowoc, Wisconsin.