businessman, politician, soldier, Congressman, b. Passaic, N.Y. He moved to Wisconsin in 1854, settling in Mishicott, Manitowoc County. There he engaged in the mercantile business, and held local political offices. A Democrat, he was state assemblyman (1860). During the Civil War, Rankin served as captain, Co. D, 27th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry (1862-1865). After leaving the army, he returned to Wisconsin, settling in Manitowoc. He was again state assemblyman (1871-1874), and state senator (1877-1882). In 1882 he was elected to Congress on the Democratic ticket, was re-elected in 1884, and served from Mar., 1883, until his death. Biog. Dir. Amer. Cong. (1928); Wis. Blue Book (1885); L. Falge, ed., Hist. of Manitowoc Co. (2 vols., Chicago [1912]); Madison Wis. State Journal, Jan. 25, 1886.

The Wisconsin Historical Society has manuscripts related to this topic. See the catalog description of the Joseph Rankin Civil War Muster Rolls for details.

View newspaper clippings at Wisconsin Local History and Biography Articles.

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[Source: Blue book]