James Ewing Rankin was born on March 17, 1847, in Paducah, Kentucky, the youngest of six children of Dr. Adam Rankin and Elizabeth Speed Rankin. He grew up in a family of distinction, connected through his mother’s Speed relatives to prominent figures in Kentucky and national politics. His grandfather, Dr. Adam Rankin Sr. of Henderson, was a well-known physician, and his maternal family ties linked him to James Speed, who served as President Abraham Lincoln’s attorney general. From his earliest years, James was steeped in a heritage of leadership and civic responsibility.
Rankin’s childhood in Paducah was disrupted by the turmoil of the Civil War. He attended school until the Federal occupation of the city in 1863 forced its closure, at which point he was just sixteen years old. Compelled to leave his studies behind, he entered the world of business to help sustain his family’s estate. This early trial shaped the course of his life, pushing him into a career that would make him one of Henderson’s most influential industrialists.
His first employment was with the wholesale grocery firm of J. M. Moore & Co., and he later gained valuable experience working with Ashbrook, Ryan & Co. and L. S. Trimble & Co. Afterward, he became a bookkeeper for Watts, Given & Co., and when that firm suspended business, Rankin relocated to Evansville, Indiana. There he worked with R. K. Dunkerson, eventually establishing himself as head of a forwarding and wharfboat company. Returning to Kentucky, Rankin built the business house of J. E. Rankin & Co. and helped guide Henderson’s commercial life into a new era.
In 1876, Rankin took an ownership interest in John H. Barret & Co., a tobacco-exporting firm with operations in Henderson, Owensboro, and Uniontown. His influence in the industry only grew, and by 1885 he organized the Henderson Cotton Mills, serving as its president from the beginning. Under his leadership, the mill became a cornerstone of Henderson’s economy, employing generations of workers and shaping the industrial character of the city. He also served as president of the Coquillard Wagon Works, and his vision extended beyond manufacturing to transportation and civic improvement. Rankin was instrumental in bringing the Union passenger station to Henderson and advocating for the elevated roadway that enabled trains to cross city streets without disrupting daily life.
On December 5, 1871, James married Sue Rankin Barret, the daughter of prominent tobacco exporter John H. Barret. Together they raised several children, including Susan Daniel Rankin and James E. Rankin Jr., and their family became an integral part of Henderson society. Rankin was not only a successful businessman but also a devout Christian. As a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, he served as vestryman, junior warden, and superintendent of the Sunday school. His dedication to faith and community was as central to his life as his industrial pursuits.
Despite his many responsibilities, Rankin remained remarkably vigorous into old age. Well into his nineties, he was known for walking as much as forty blocks a day. He continued visiting his office in the Ohio Valley Bank and Trust building until just days before his final illness. In early May of 1941, while dressing at his home on South Green Street, Rankin fell and fractured his hip and ribs. Though he showed brief signs of recovery, his condition declined, and he passed away peacefully on May 14, 1941, at the age of ninety-four.
His funeral was held at his home, with services conducted by Dr. Imri Blackburn, rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, and he was laid to rest in Henderson’s Fernwood Cemetery. His obituary remembered him as a leader, industrialist, and man of faith, deeply mourned by friends, family, and the wider community.
Today, James Ewing Rankin is remembered not only as the founder of the Henderson Cotton Mills but also as a visionary figure whose work helped shape the commercial and civic life of Henderson for more than half a century. His story is one of resilience, enterprise, and enduring service to his city.
