Robert Rankin

Robert Rankin and Sarah located on their home farm of 480 acres in the spring of 1852. They also owned a larger acreage on Sni Island, in the Mississippi River, six miles away. He was the first president of the Adams County Horticultural Society, being elected in 1870, and held that office until he died. He planted 13 of his acres in peaches and organized many others to do likewise. This local association later shipped nine carloads of peaches per week from the Fall Creek station. He had a packing house on his farm, employing 16 girls during the packing season. He also had 2.5 acres of his land in vineyards. He was known as an influential promoter of agricultural and horticultural development in his farming community. Robert and Sarah had the following children prior to her death on 15 Sept 1873: