Person:George Ranck (6)

George Washington Ranck was born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1841 and was raised in Shelbyville. He attended Shelby College and later Kentucky University in Harrodsburg. In 1865 he became principal of the academy at Kentucky University. He was a noted Kentucky historian who wrote several books (see lists).

Research Notes

• Book Lists: WorldCat - FamilySearch
• Resource: George Washington Ranck Papers, ca. 1870-1896
• cos1776 Note: supposedly he suffered from hearing loss which could explain how he was struck by a train

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Death Notice, in Kentucky Historical Society (Frankfort, Kentucky). The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society. (Frankfort: Kentucky Historical Society)
   7:18, 1909.
   Prof. George W. Ranck
2.   Ranck, George W.. History of Lexington, Kentucky: its early annals and recent progress including biographical sketches and personal reminiscences of the pioneer settlers, notices of prominent citizens, etc., etc. (Cincinnati: Robert Clarke & Co., 1872).
3.   Ranck, George W.. Boonesborough: its founding, pioneer struggles, Indian experiences, Transylvania days and Revolutionary annals : with full historical notes and appendix. (Louisville, Kentucky: J.P. Morton and Co., printers to the Filson Club, 1901).
4. ↑ Death Notice, in The New York Times. (New York, New York)
   3 Aug 1901.

   GEORGE W. RANCK KILLED. '; Kentucky Author Struck by a Train at Lexington. Ky.
   [text behind paywall]

5.   Biography, in The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans" : vol.IX by Edward Sprague Rand
   4:page needed.

   George W. Ranck, author, was born in Louisville, KY., Feb.13, 1841.: son of Solomon and Sarah (Marman) Ranck; grandson of Samuel, 2nd and Mary (Aultz) Ranck, and descendant of Michael and Anna Barbara Ranck, Huguenots, and adherents of the Moravian church, who escaped from Holland in the English vessel Morton House, and landed in Philidelphia, PA., Aug. 24, 1728, helping to found the town of New Holland.
   
   George W. Ranck was a student at Kentucky university, 1864-1868, at Harrodsburg, 1864-1865, and at Lexington, 1865-1868; was a tutor there for some time and principal of its academy in 1868. He was editor of the Lexington Observer and Reporter, 1868-1871, and in 1871 became owner of the paper.
   
   He was married in 1868, to Helen, daughter of John and Mary E. Carty of Lexington.
   
   He was one of the organizers of the Kentucky Historical society at Frankfort, 1878: was a member of the Virginia Historical Society; the Massachusetts Historical society, and of various other learned and patriotic organizations; delivered the historical address," Centennial of Lexington,: at Morrison college, April 2, 1879. His death resulted from being struck by a train, while examining the stone sills and under ties of the first railroad built in Lexington, KY., in quest of historical information for an article he had in preparation. His publications are: History of Lexington, Kentucky (1872); O'Hara and His Elgies (1875) ; several chapters for History of Fayette Co., KY. (1882); Guide to Lexington (1883); Girty, the White Indian (1886) ; The Traveling Church (1891) ; The Story of Bryans Station (1896); The Bivouac of the Dead and its Author (1898); Boonesborough (1901)
   
   He died in Lexington, KY., August 2, 1901.