David Oscar Rankin was born July 29, 1864 at Shelbyville, Mo. and departed this life at his farm home in Douglas County on December 19, 1950 at the age of 86 years, 4 months and 20 days.  He moved to south Missouri with his parents in 1883 and settled in Mountain Grove, which was then only a village with the present business square only partially built in.  Later the family purchased a farm on North Fork 8 miles southeast of Mountain Grove and moved to it.  In 1892 Mr. Rankin purchased his present farm home near Ann and resided there 58 years prior to his death.  He was married to Ella J. Brockett in 1889.  To this union five children were born, two of whom died in infancy.  Besides his wife, he is survived by two sons, Orval of Pensacola Florida and Allen of Mountain Grove, Mo.; one daughter Mrs. Gertrude Beck of Memphis Tenn.; one sister Mrs. Lana Johnston of Batesville Arkansas.  Funeral services were conducted by Rev. T. Stacy Riddick at the Methodist Church in Cabool December 21, 1950 with burial in Cabool Cemetery under direction of the Elliott Funeral Home.  

From the Mountain Grove Journal
Posted by: Phyllis Rippee   July 2005