Rankin   Rankin is located southeast of Avalon and southwest of Bardwell at the intersection of FM 877 and FM 984. The community is named for Frederick Harrison Rankin. A native of Kentucky, he left there when a young man and first went to Alabama and Mississippi, then married in Louisiana Elizabeth, daughter of William Smith. In 1822, he joined Austin's Colony and was one of the original Old Three Hundred settlers. He came to Navarro County in 1850 and moved to Ellis County June 1, 1851, settling in the southern part of the county. The Rankins had eight children, one of whom was Napoleon B. Rankin, born in 1828. N. B. assisted his father as a stock raiser and in his agricultural pursuits. When the latter's health began to fail, he took charge of his estate, and conducted the business in connection with his own. According to information in the most recent Handbook of Texas, the region was also apparently popular with various outlaws, including Sam Bass, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. The settlement first received its mail at Astonia in 1879. Growth was slow but by 1892, Rankin had two businesses, three churches and a school. U. S. Postal files reveal that March 7, 1900, marked the end for the Astonia post office and it was moved to Rankin. Alex M. Rankin was appointed first postmaster, followed by Percy L. Goodwyn, Sept. 8, 1904. Service was discontinued Sept. 14, 1905 and mail brought from Bardwell, Wright Poff the carrier. F. L. Woodwin had the first store in Rankin and W. G. Gidding, of Ennis, supplied the groceries. Guy Youngblood had the first gin. In 1878 and 1879, the Chambers Creek Masonic Lodge No. 499 met on the upper floor of the store which still stands in Rankin. There were twenty members with John Matlock, Worshipful Master, and T. S. Nettles, secretary. The membership was made up of citizens from the Rankin, Astonia/Austonia, and Avalon area. When money was raised for a new school in the area, Bonepart Rankin donated five hundred dollars. The school was built in 1878 just west of the old store building. It was a two story building called Rankin Chapel School. The first school teacher was Jimmy Wilson; another, Mr. Hays, who was hired and was to get $40 per month if he could get 75% of the students to attend. If not, his salary would be cut accordingly. Other teachers were Pannel, 1888, Cam Kay, 1893-94 and H. R. Stovall, 1904-1906 with one hundred six pupils. In 1933, there were three businesses and a population of thirty four. After a high of seventy-five in 1945, the population declined to twelve by 1990. Rankin last had a school in 1951-52, consolidated with Byrd until 1959 after which both consolidated with Ennis. As late as 1989, the Rankin's store was still in operation and served lunch to area farmers as well as anyone else who dropped in. Service was home-style in bowls and platters, with everyone serving himself at the table in the back. At that time, Alexine Rankin Pitts, granddaughter of Napoleon B. Rankin, was still living near the store and her granddaughter took care of the kitchen and lunch. The home of Doyle Jones was directly across the road. Today, the building is the only landmark of the Rankin Community. References: Hawkins, et al, History Workshop, History of Ellis County, 1972 A Memorial and Biographical History of Ellis County, pub. 1892 "RANKIN, TX" The Handbook of Texas Online Waxahachie Daily Light, article by Billy Haynes, Aug. 27, 1989 The Weekly Local, pub. Ennis, Tex. June 10, 1976 U. S. Postal Service Records, Washington, D. C.   Copyright © 2002-2016, Ellis County TXGenWeb. All Rights Reserved. This page was last modified: Thursday, 01-Jul-2021 13:17:22 MDT