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father, Isaac Leffer, was born near Canton, Ohio, August 12, 1851, and died in July, 1915. Her mother, Martha Alice Coffman, was born near Lincoln, Illinois, February 28, 1863. Mr. and Mrs. Leffer came to Nebraska in November, 1888, where they engaged in farming for many years.
Mrs. Randall is the mother of two children; Helen, born October 7, 1908, and who on November 25, 1930, was married to Otto H. Lank. They now reside in Omaha. Richard W. Cain, born August 16, 1910, was married December 21, 1931, to Dorothy Dreavor of York. They reside in York. Residence: Holdrege.
John Murray Rankin
John Murray Rankin, who has been a grain merchant at Cambridge, Nebraska, since 1888, was born at Haugh, Scotland, January 27, 1865, son of John and Jeanie Murray (Hillhouse) Rankin. His father, a farmer and merchant, was born at Kilmarnock, Scotland, April 4, 1834, and died at Cambridge, January 9, 1926. His mother was born at Catrine, Scotland, May 24, 1838, and died at Cambridge, September 28, 1904.
Mr. Rankin received his education in the public schools of Scotland. He arrived in America, in 1884, living in Albany, New York, for a year and a half, then moving to Cambridge, Nebraska, in March, 1886. He is manager of the Rankin Brothers Grain Company at Cambridge, is a member of the Cambridge Commercial Club, and was formerly president of the Rotary Club. He is a Scottish Rite and Shrine member of the Masons, and is affiliated with the First Congregational Church of Cambridge, of which he was choir leader for a number of years. He holds membership in the Red Cross and the Nebraskana Society.
For the past fifteen years Mr. Rankin has been a director of the Kansas Grain Dealers Association, representing that portion of Nebraska south of the Platte River which forms a part of the Kansas organization. In 1931, he was elected a director of the Nebraska Grain Dealers Association, and was also chairman of the committee of uniform grades of the Grain and Feed Dealers National Association for the years 1930-31.
During the World War, Mr. Rankin served as chairman of the four minute men of Cambridge, and was also chairman of the Cambridge branch chapter of the American Red Cross. He has acted in the later capacity ever since, his service extending over the past fifteen years. For the past seven years he has also been chairman of Furnas County chapter of the American Red Cross. He is affiliated with the Republican party. Residence: Cambridge: (Photograph on Page 981).
Robert Hillhouse Rankin
Robert Hillhouse Rankin, prominent grain and livestock dealer at Cambridge, was born at Catrine, Ayrshire, Scotland, May 28, 1858. His father, John Rankin, born in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, April 4, 1834, was master foreman in a cotton spinning mill in his native land, he came to the United States as a homesteader, and later was a partner with his son Thomas M. Rankin in the Meat and Produce business at Cambridge. His death occurred there on January 9, 1926.
Jeanie Murray Hillhouse, wife of John Rankin, was born at Catrine, Scotland, May 24, 1838, and died at Cambridge on September 28, 1904. Her father was active in municipal affairs in his native town in Scotland. She was active in the work of the Free Church in Scotland, and later in the Congregational Church of Cambridge.
Robert H. Rankin was educated in the public schools of his native land, together with added study stimulated by active membership in literary societies there. A homesteader near Cambridge, he was later a member of the firm of Rankin Brothers, (consisting of R. H. Rankin and J. M. Rankin), grain and livestock dealers, which was established in 1884.
On September 25, 1890, he married Caroline Sidney Lenocker at Stuart, Iowa. Mrs. Rankin who was born at Mt. Hope, Ohio, November 4, 1864, is the daughter of Jacob and Barbara (Drushel) Lenocker. Her father, born in Switzerland, September 7, 1831, died November 1, 1907; while her mother, born in Mt. Hope, September 5, 1840, died March 10, 1878.
Mr. and Mrs. Rankin have eight children: Robert L., born September 6, 1892, an attorney and a veteran of the World War, married Verna Sparks; James H., born November 21, 1893, a merchant and a World War veteran, married Hazel Thorndike; Walter M., born August 3, 1895, a grain dealer, married Angelette Barnes; Jeanie M., born May 16, 1897, is the wife of Monte C. Lockenour, a World War soldier; Annie L., born December 22, 1899, is an instructor at Centralia, Washington; Donald J., born April 9, 1902, is a pharmacist; Ruth M., born September 16, 1904, is the wife of Harry Fredricks, a World War veteran; and William A., born November 21, 1906, is a grain dealer.
Active in the development of Municipal Ownership industries in Cambrdge (sic) for forty years, Mr. Rankin has served on the board of the Congregational Church, the Board of Education, the village board, the Cambridge Telephone Company, and is chairman of the board of directors of the Enterprise Loan & Building Association on which board he has officiated for forty years. During the World War he participated in all loan and Red Cross drives, he is a member of the Red Cross, the Community Club, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Southwest Nebraska Historical Society, and the Nebraskana Society. His hobby is the study of literature, commercial and political reading. Residence: Cambridge. (Photograph on Page 983).
John Butler Raper
John B. Raper, lawyer and judge, was born in Pawnee County, October 5, 1861. William B. Raper, his father, who was born in Greene County, Indiana, October 29, 1832 and died at Pawnee City, December 30, 1914, was a merchant and government agent at the Ponca Agency. He enlisted in the 2nd Nebraska cavalry, October 16, 1862, in the Civil War, was commissioned 1st lieutenant and served until September 9, 1868. He was county clerk for some time, and was a member of the Nebraska house of representatives in 1907 and 1909. His ancestry was English and Irish; his paternal grandparents being members of an old North Carolina family.
His mother, Mary Jane (Butler) Raper, who was born in Greene County, Indiana, October 13, 1838, and died at Pawnee City, February 10, 1864, was descended from an old Kentucky family. Her father, John R. Butler, was a member of Nebraska's first legislature, in 1867.
Judge Raper received his elementary education in the public and normal schools. He was admitted to the bar in Pawnee County, in 1890. Since that time has engaged in the practice of law and has been active in the political life of Nebraska. He has been judge of the district court of the First Nebraska district, since 1905; has served as county clerk and county attorney of Pawnee County. He is a Republican.
He was married to Jennie Albright in Pawnee County, Nebraska, September 17, 1885. Mrs. Raper, who was born in Tazewell County, Illinois, March 27, 1864, is of English and German ancestry. They have one daughter, Pauline, born August 23, 1886. She is married to Edwin N. Van Horne; they have four children: Leonard Hugh; Betty; Pauline; and John Edwin Van Horne. Residence: Pawnee City.
Frank Washington Rapp
Frank W. Rapp was born at Springfield, Ohio, May 30, 1888, son of George Washington and Minne (Rains) Rapp. His father, a business man of German descent was born at Springfield, in 1866, and died there in 1917. Min-
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nie Rains Rapp was born at Villisca, Iowa, February 15, 1868, and is of English Quaker descent.
Frank W. Rapp attended parochial school eight years and high school two years at Springfield. Coming to Nebraska, he entered Fremont Normal College and was graduated in April, 1916. He received his D. D. S. from Creighton University in 1919. He is a member of Phi Kappa Omicron and Delta Sigma Delta.
Dr. Rapp has had an interesting and varied career. A Machinist, carpenter, stereotyper, piano plate finisher, salesman and chain restaurant operator, he also owned and operated an irrigated farm in central Utah, in 1911. Since 1919 he has conducted his own professional practice. He is president of Liberty Stands, Inc.
On July 22, 1920, he was married to Louise Babe Mackeben of Council Bluffs, Iowa. Mrs. Rapp was born May 22, 1888, and is of German descent. They attend Kountze Memorial Lutheran Church. During the World War Dr. Rapp was in the Medical Enlisted Reserve Corps. He is a member of the Interprofessional Institute, the Omaha District Dental Society, the Nebraska State Dental Society and the National Dental Association.
A Mason, Dr. Rapp is a member of Omaha Lodge No. 288, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Knights Templar, Nebraska Consistory, 32nd degree Scottish Rite, and Tangier Temple of the Shrine. He likes golf and hunting. His hobbies are reading and inventions. Residence: Omaha.
Melvin Earle Rasdal
One of the outstanding business executives of Nebraska is Melvin Earle Rasdal, who is a leader in civic and commercial afairs (sic) at Ogallala. He was born in Thurston County, Nebraska, July 7, 1891, the son of Harry Clarence and Ada Leila (Purdy) Rasdal, the former a farmer who was born in Minnesota, November 25, 1868. His father, whose French and English ancestors came to America prior to the French Revolution, has served as a member of the school board and as delegate to the Republican State Convention in pre-primary days. His mother, who has been active in educational and civic affairs in her community for a number of years, was born at Blue Earth, Minnesota, May 23, 1871. Her ancestors, who were descended from English, Welsh and Dutch settlers in America, were pioneers in Michigan, Indiana, Minnesota, and Nebraska.
Mr. Rasdal was graduated from the high school at Lyons, Nebraska in 1909, and received the Ph. G. degree at the University of Nebraska where he was chairman of the Pharmacy Week Committee, served as president of the Pharmacy Club, and held membership in Phi Delta Chi. He has been unusually prominent in Nebraska business affairs and has held the following positions; salesman for the Loose-Wiles Biscuit Company; manager of the Sioux City branch of the Loose-Wiles Biscuit Company; manager of the Farmers Union Store at Crofton; and owner of a retail drug store at Ogallala since 1924.
He has owned interests in drug stores at Lexington, Nebraska; Beloit, Kansas, and Sidney, Nebraska, and has written various articles on commercial subjects in trade journals. Mr. Rasdall is a member of the American Pharmaceutical Association, the National Association of Retail Druggists, also past president of Nebraska Pharmaceutical Association. He holds membership in the Ogallala Commercial Club, of which he was secretary, 1925-7, was secretary and a member of the board of directors of the Rotary Club for a year, and is a member of the Nebraskana Society. He is affiliated with the First Congregational Church of Ogallala, is a Master Mason, and was formerly a member of the Young Men's Christian Association. Until a few years ago he took a prominent part in semi-professional baseball and at this time officiates at various high school football games. Mr. Rasdal takes an active part in the Nebraska Rexall Club and had a place on the program of the National Convention held at Boston, Massachusetts in 1928. He is interested in contract bridge and reading.
In 1930 Mr. Rasdal was awarded recognition as an astute and progressive business man by the Nebraska Merchant and Trade Review which presented him with a medal showing him to be one of the first class of ten Master Merchants of Nebraska. Since 1926 he has been a member of the board of managers, Unit Division, of the Nebraska Pharmaceutical Association; this division is for store owners only.
His marriage to Agnes Hofeldt occurred at Laurel, Nebraska, June 20, 1916. She is the daughter of Wm. F. and Anna (Bartels) Hofeldt. Henry Bartels, her mother's brother, served as state representative for several terms. Mrs. Rasdal, who is of German descent, was born in Wayne County, Nebraska, January 3, 1896. They have two children: Agnes Geraldine, April 4, 1918; and Earleen Jane, born September 1, 1923.
Mrs. Agnes Rasdal is a member of the P. E. O. Sisterhood and past matron of the Eastern Star. Residence; Ogallala.
Anton Nelson Rask
For over 44 years Anton Nelson Rask has been a resident of Howard County, Nebraska, and is now engaged in the implement business at Boelus. His father, Nels Nelsen Rask, who was a farmer, was born at Skjorplag, Denmark, July 13, 1822, and died at Habro, Denmak (sic), September 18, 1816; he served in the Danish and German War of 1848 in which he was wounded. His mother, Maren Kjerstine (Neldlatten) Rask, was born at Gunestruf, Denmark, April 16, 1832, and died at Habro, April 8, 1877.
Mr. Rask was married to Annie Schmaljohn at Alliance, Nebraska, February 25, 1899. Mrs. Rask was born at Rockville, Nebraska, January 21, 1875, of German and English parents who came to this country in 1872. To them were born: Leslie, July 18, 1900; Marguerite, September 24, 1902, who married Walter Nelson; Evelyn, November 6, 1904, who married Fred D. Lammers; Devona, April 5, 1911, who married Wilber Wickman; Anton, Jr., July 10, 1914; and Frances, November 22, 1996. Residence: Boelus. (Photograph in Album).
George Rasmussen
George Rasmussen, prominent lumber, coal, and grain executive was born at Idaho Falls, Idaho, the son of John and Caroline (Petersen) Rasmussen. His father, who was a general contractor, was born in Denmark and died in Omaha, January 29, 1902. His mother was born in Denmark.
Mr. Rasmussen was a student at the Lincoln grade school in Omaha, Nebraska, and later attended Omaha High School. He has lived in Nebraska since 1888 and is now president of the Atlas Lumber Company of Omaba and the National Cypress Pole & Piling Company of Cardwell, Missouri, and is connected with the Independent Lumber Company, the Western Securities Company, and several other Nebraska organizations.
He was united in marriage at Omaha, June 9, 1909, to Irma Springer. Mrs. Rasmussen was born at Beatrice, Nebraska, March 31, 1889. Their children are: Irma Georgene, born March 19, 1910; and George Paul, born July 24, 1914.
Mr. Rasmussen is a member of the Omaha Chamber of Commerce; the Nebraska Lumber Merchants Association; and is affiliated with most of Omaha's civic associations. He holds membership in the Nebraskaaa Society and the Young Men's Christian Association. His social clubs are the Happy Hollow Club and the Omaha Athletic Club. He is a member of the First Central Congregational Church. His sports are golf and tennis. He is a Mason and a Republican. Residence: Omaha.
