Armstrong and Hannah Rankins on Oak Ridge

Armstrong and Hannah Rankins on Oak Ridge

Ironton Register, August 21, 1890 – Editor Register: This name originated, doubtless, under a mistaken view of things, as the furnace didn’t stand on a ridge.  When your correspondent read on the stone in the arch of the old furnace stack, “Oak Ridge Furnace built by W. H. Allison, 1856.”  I could not help saying to myself that the year of ’56 must have been a year of mistakes. The building of the Oak Ridge Furnace where it was built was as great a mistake for a man to make. Almost as the nomination of James Buchanan was a great one for the party to make, if we can judge by the final result of the two cases.

The one brought financial disaster to Allison and his supporters. The other brought national disaster from the effects of which this nation has not yet recovered. Of course, this last statement must not be interpreted too literally.

As your correspondent crossed the ridge between Arabia and Oak Ridge, I found in the woods a graveyard, and two old-looking tombstones standing side by side had the following on their faces. On one, “Armstrong Rankin, born March 27, 1797, died July 17, 1849”; on the other, “Hannah, wife of Armstrong Rankin, born March 17, 1797, died July 17, 1849.”  I read them over and thought of how singular those old people who were born in the same month of the same year should die on the same day. I must find out something about this singular thing, if possible.

Abner Dilley

Mr. Abner Dilley is interrogated on the matter. He knows the story, of how they died of cholera. Such was the excitement in the neighborhood that people left their homes in fear of the disease. For a time, no one could be found that would bury those old people. But finally, after their bodies had lain there for four days, a man was found. He was not afraid to bury them, and he was employed to do the dangerous work. His name was Peter Griste, and he took cholera but did not die suddenly. He struggled for three years against its effects and then died.

Mr. Dilley can interest an inquiring mind by the hour, telling how he and others had to do in early times here on Elkins Creek to protect themselves from the wolves. To prevent them from catching their pigs and lambs, they used to track their horses through the pea-vines in search of them. In the mornings, after having hobbled them out in the evenings to feed them. Also, he talked about how easy it was to get turkey meat whenever they wanted. It seems surpassingly strange that such changes have taken place within the lifetime of one person.