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Note: He was born at the home of his parents in Westfield, Essex County, NJ. Shortly after his birth, the area of his parents home was
redesignated as Union County. By 1871 the name of that portion of
Westfield had been changed to Cranford. He lived in what is now
Cranford, NJ for most of his life. The US Census of 1880 lists his
occupation as Farmer. At the time of his marriage in 1889 and again
in the 1900 US Census he is listed as a Coal Dealer. The 1915 NJ
Census and his Death Certificate in 1932 list his occupation as Real
Estate.
The following is the text of an article published, with his photograph, in the February 9, 1911 edition of the Cranford Chronicle
newspaper:
[UL:J. C. W. RANKIN:UL]
[UL:Real Estate and Insurance:UL]
The name of James C. W. Rankin has been an influential factor in the business and public life of Cranford for many years, and there is
today possibly no man who has been more closely identified with the
town's development or more familiar with present conditions. For
twenty-five years Mr. Rankin has been in the coal business and has
himself been a large property owner. In the spring of 1907 he
succeeded George C. Gay in the real estate and insurance business,
combining it with his other interests, and has since devoted the
greater part of his attention to real estate, having consummated some
of the biggest sales made here. He himself developed Rankin Park on
Burnside Avenue. Mr. Rankin transacts a general real estate business,
buys, sells, exchanges and rents suburban property for clients and is
always in close touch with prospective buyers and sellers, so that he
may be said to be a valuable man to get in touch with. Insurance in
all its branches, fire, accident, live stock, plate-glass, automobile,
etc., is written, mortgage loans effected and estates managed for
resident and non-resident owners. Mr. Rankin is one of the solid men
of the town whose responsibility and standing is unquestioned. He has
always been a prime mover in advocating all progressive municipal
movements and has served twice as Mayor, several times as a member of
the Board of Health, and twelve years as a Township Committeeman. He
is now a member N. Y. and N. J. Real Estate Exchange.
The following is the text of his obituary published in the January 7, 1932 edition of the Cranford Citizen and Chronicle newspaper:
[UL:DIED:UL]
[UL:JAMES C. W. RANKIN:UL]
Former Mayor James Campbell Watson Rankin, 75, died early Monday morning in the American Legion House at Wilson, NC to which he was
admitted last Saturday suffering from pneumonia. Mr. Rankin left
Cranford October 4 for Florida.
Mr. Rankin was born in Cranford, October 6, 1856, and attended the schools here. As a young man he assisted in the operation of his
family's farm, one of the largest in this vicinity, which he later
developed as Rankin Park.
In 1890, he joined a Mr. Winans in the establishment of the Winans and Rankin Coal Co. This firm dissolved in 1895, but Mr. Rankin
continued in the coal business until 1922. In 1910, he purchased a
real estate and insurance business, which he conducted with his other
business.
In 1898, Mr. Rankin joined Azure Lodge, No. 129, F. & A. M. and served as its master in 1906. During the past three or four years he
has been caretaker for the lodge, both of the rooms in the Masonic
Building and in the Temple. A member of Phil Kearny Council, Jr. O. U.
A. M., he served as its councilor in 1892. He was also a member of
Cranford Council No. 1651, I. O. F. and was once a member of the truck
company of the fire department.
Mr. Rankin served nine years as a member of the Township Committee, from 1900 through 1909. In 1902 and 1908 he was elected chairman of
the committee. He also held the position of overseer of roads for
District No. 4 and inspector of elections.
The survivors include his wife, Carrie, two sons, James Jr., and David and two daughters, Miss Florence Rankin and Mrs. Edith Ward, all
of Cranford.
The funeral service took place last night at Gray's Funeral Home, in Westfield, and interment was this morning in Fairview Cemetery.
[UL:FAMILY RESIDENCES:UL] [BO:01 JUN 1895 NJ CENSUS:BO] Cranford, Union Co., NJ
[BO:01 JUN 1900 US CENSUS:BO] Cranford, Union Co., NJ (Centennial
Avenue; Occupation: Coal Dealer)
[BO:01 JUN 1905 NJ CENSUS:BO] Cranford, Union Co., NJ (Centennial
Avenue; Occupation: Coal Dealer)
[BO:01 JUN 1915 NJ CENSUS:BO] Cranford, Union Co., NJ (312 Centennial
Avenue; Occupation: Real Estate)
[BO:01 JAN 1920 US CENSUS:BO] Cranford, Union Co., NJ (312 Centennial
Avenue; Occupation: Real Estate)
[BO:1929-30 CRANFORD CITY DIRECTORY:BO] Cranford, Union Co., NJ (358
Centennial Avenue; wife Caroline)
[BO:01 APR 1930 US CENSUS:BO] Cranford, Union Co., NJ (358 Centennial
Avenue; wife Caroline)
[BO:04 JAN 1932 JAMES C. W. RANKIN DEATH RECORD:BO] Wilson, Wilson
Co., NC
[BO:1938-39 CRANFORD CITY DIRECTORY:BO] Cranford, Union Co., NJ (358
Centennial Avenue; widow Caroline)
[BO:1944 CRANFORD CITY DIRECTORY:BO] Cranford, Union Co., NJ (55 South
Union Avenue; widow Caroline)
[BO:1947 CRANFORD CITY DIRECTORY:BO] Cranford, Union Co., NJ (55 South
Union Avenue; widow Caroline)
[BO:09 SEP 1950 CAROLINE RANKIN DEATH RECORD:BO] Cranford, Union Co.,
NJ (406 Claremont Place; widow Caroline)
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