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JAMES RANKIN STROUP. Range township, Madison County, enjoys the distinction of having furnished to the various municipalities of the United States five different mayors. Judge D. C. Badger was mayor of Columbus, Ohio; John B. Koontz served as mayor of Washington C. H., Ohio; M. C. Allen, as mayor of Nevada, Iowa; W. S. Stroup, as mayor of Dunkirk, Ohio; and James Rankin Stroup, the subject of this sketch, is now serving his fifth term as mayor of South Solon. Mr. Stroup is a familiar personage to every man, woman and child of South Solon. He is widely known for miles around as the mayor of South Solon, as the founder of the South Solon Advance, and as an all-round business man and farmer. He has been a familiar figure in both the political and social arena ofthis section, and has made himself popular among the inhabitants by kind deeds, willing hands and active support to all worthy projects for the benefit of the community and those around him. He is the one man needed in every community to fall back upon when energy and willingness are needed to promote the general welfare.
James Rankin Stroup was born in Range township, Madison county, Ohio, March 9, 1844, and is the son of William and Caroline M. (Rankin) Stroup, the former of whom was born in Madison county, Ohio, and was the son of John and Rebecca (Grimes) Stroup. John and Rebecca (Grimes) Stroup were natives of Pennsylvania and Kentucky, respectively, and among the first settlers in Madison county, Ohio. They established a pioneer home in Paint township, and spent the remainder of their lives there.
William and Caroline M. (Rankin) Stroup had eight children, five of whom are living. The deceased children are Rebecca F., who married William McCune, of Columbus; John M., who died in Midway, Madison county; and Joshua, who died in California. Both William McCune and his wife are deceased. The living children are: James Rankin, the subject of this sketch; William Edwin of Dunkirk, Ohio, who has been in the employ of the Pennsylvania railroad for the last thirty-five years; Sarah E., who lives in Chicago; Margaret C., who lives in California; and Harry L., who is train dispatcher in New York city. William Stroup was engaged in the mercantile business at Midway for many years. During the latter part of his life he was engaged in the grain business at Lima, where he died in 1885. His wife died ten years previously.
Born in Range township and educated in the common schools at Sedalia, James Rankin Stroup clerked in his father's store until 1861. When he was seventeen years old he enlisted in Company D, Fortieth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was one of the first of the young men to respond to President Lincoln's call for volunteers. He participated in James A. Garfield's first battle at Middle Creek, Kentucky. Colonel Garfield was commanding a brigade at the time, January10, 1862.
After the war Mr. Stroup came back to his native county, and for several years was engaged in farming and selling farm products. During that period he raised pure-bred jersey cattle and hogs. In 1889 he removed to South Solon, and in 1902 founded the South Solon Advance, an enterprising newspaper of that section.In 1902 he was elected mayor of South Solon and served eight years, until 1910. In 1914 he was re-elected mayor and is now serving his fifth term. Mr. Stroup is also justice of the peace and a notary public. He is likewise engaged in the real-estate and loan business. As mayor of South Solon his efforts have ever been for the benefit of the town, and as the result of his election the town has many needed improvements. His projects for benefiting the community have been entirely impartial. He is a newspaper man of considerable note, and has built up the South Solon Advance until it is a thriving and newsy sheet, well patronized and widely read. Among his other interests, Mr. Stroup owns a farm of fifty-eight acres in Range township. He also owns a splendid modern home in South Solon.
On October 20, 1863, James Rankin Stroup was married to Martha Haskell, a daughter of David and Ann (Kenton) Haskell. Mrs. Stroup's mother was a daughterof Simon Kenton, a nephew of the famous Kenton of pioneer times. Mr. Haskell was born in Utica, New York, and his wife at Xenia, Ohio. They were married at Xenia. The Haskells were farmers and stockmen throughout his life and lived in Range township after their marriage. Mr. Haskell died in 1893, and his wife died in 1911.
Mr. and Mrs. Stroup have had three children, as follow: Haskell, born on September 3, 1864, lives in Range township, near Danville; Grace, born in 1879, died in 1901; Anna C. died at the age of two years. Mr. and Mrs. Stroup celebrated their gold wedding anniversary on October 20, 1913, at their home in South Solon. There were about eighty guests and they received many presents. The Springfield News mentioned the event as one of the most interesting in the history of Stokes Township.
Mr. Stroup resides with his wife and granddaughter in a fine residence in South Solon. He is as active, as quick in wit and conception, and as deft in his literary work as a young man. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, of South Solon, and is quartermaster of the post. He is also a member of the Loyal Order of Moose, at Springfield, Ohio. Mrs. Stroup is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, at South Solon. James Rankin Stroup is identified with the Democratic party.
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