My gg-grandfather, William Milton Rankin, born 28 August 1842 in Jasper, Tennessee, s/o James Rankin (1809-1871) and Jane ALLEY (1825-1880)--my ggg-grandparents. William was the oldest of 9 children born to his parents.

William had married Mary Jane MOORE (1847-1914) on 17 August 1865 in Jasper, TN and together they had TWELVE children: (Mary has stated that she had had 12 children in the 1900 census - 10 living; and then on June 6, 1908 - apply for an indigent widow's pension for her husband's confederate service again stated she had had 12 children with William 7 boys and 5 girls. Thus, I either don't know the identity of one of the boys who is NOT listed below - or Minnie Rankin - who is listed on the 1900 census only as having a "disability" is one child Mary did not want to acknowledge and there were really 13 children.)
(1) John Valentine Rankin (1870-1917);
(2) William J. Rankin (1872-1919);
(3) Anderson Loftin Rankin (1875-1929);
(4) Cora M. Rankin Hudson (1877-1944);
(5) Dora May Rankin Cantrell (1879-1938);
(6) Minnie Rankin(1879-?);
(7) Nettie Moore Rankin King Monell (1881-1954) - my g-grandmother;
(8) Valentine Rankin (1883-?);
(9) Henry Van Buren Rankin (1884-1951);
(10) Hugh Lankester Rankin (1886-1972);
(11) Pearl Rankin Kilgore (1889-1908); and
(12) Bonnie Mariah Rankin Morrow (1892-1953).

William Rankin was a former sheriff in Marion County, Tennessee, and died at the age of 55 in Whitwell, TN on May 14, 1897.
His obituary appeared in the Sequachee Valley News: May 27, 1897:
"Died
"Ex-Sheriff Wm. Rankin, of Whitwell, died suddenly at his home on Tuesday, May 18. He was a brother of conductor Rankin and connected with the pioneer families in the Co. and was 55 years old at his death. He was buried at Jasper Wednesday, May 19th, under the auspices of Olive Branch Lodge, I.O.O.F. and the Masons, the Tribe of Red Men and the K. of P. also attended and many friends. He leaves a widow and family, and was highly esteemed in the community."

I would love to communicate with any descendants of this family and am still trying to find a picture of my gg-grandfather.