He was educated by attending the ward schools until the age of thirteen when he went to work for his father's newspaper, the Wolverine Citizen.

[4] In 1881, he was appointed to fill the vacancy in the office of Treasurer of the City of Flint under Mayor Charles A. Mason and serving another full term under Mayor George E.

[1] Rankin was elected as the Mayor of City of Flint in 1891 for a single 1-year term.

[3] Additional he was Secretary of the Republican County Committee for six years.

[4] He served in a few organization as officers with the Genesee County Agricultural Society as secretary and with the Flint Gentleman's Driving Club as Vice President[4] On December 7, 1925 in Flint, Michigan, Rankin died and was later buried in Glenwood Cemetery, Flint, Michigan.