RANKIN, Elisha Cowgill - CW
Source: Greencastle Herald 31 Oct 1907 p 1
Elisha Cowgill Rankin, a veteran of the Civil War and a native of Greencastle, Ind died yesterday afternoon at 2 o’clock at his home, 1832 N Alabama St, aged 60 years. He was well known throughout Marion County and other parts of the state. For the last 30 years he had been employed by the US Postoffice Department both in the railway and city postal service. It was while he was so employed that he received the injuries which eventually caused his death. On March 29, 1898 while out on a regular run on a train traveling 50 miles an hour his mail car jumped the track and rolled down an embankment carrying several of the following coaches with it. Several of his ribs were broken and he was injured internally. His injuries gradually increased in effect until his death. Elisha Rankin was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Orville Rankin. When he was 5 years of age the father died, leaving the mother and eight children. When the war broke out four sons left for the front Elisha being the youngest to go. He was then 16. Mr. Rankin served through the war in the 133rd Reg and finished with a clear record. His career in the post service is varied. He was railway clerk on nearly all the railroads leading into Indianapolis but during the last of his Government service he was employed in the Indianapolis Post Office which he entered under WR Halloway. His only surviving relatives are three sisters and a brother. They are the Misses Agnes R. Rankin and Louisa M. Rankin with whom he had lived, Mrs. B. Wilson Smith also of this city and John R. Rankin of Washington, DC – Indianapolis Star. - kbz