The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
DAVID RANKIN: At the age of 13 years David was compelled to go to work for a living. During his youth he noticed that the pioneers always settled on the poorest land near the river and in the forests.
He believed that the prairie land would prove to be the best land and at an early age commenced investing in it. He was always a borrower, but his borrowing was to buy land.
At the time of his first marriage he owned eighty acres of land, a few cattle and had four dollars in money, which he paid the minister who performed the ceremony.
Later that same year he bought a half-section of land paying $50 down on it and going in debt for the remainder.