Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/692

 612 HISTORY OP SOUTHEAST MISSOURI ceeds iu making his own way in the world has doubtless a great deal to contend with, he is without the obligations which are im- posed on the descendant of a family which has always amounted to something. The feel- ing of noblesse oblige determines mauj- ac- tions. If a man is conscientious this feel- ing is his safeguard, although he may chafe under the obligations at times. The Honor- able Robert Giboney Ranney has not only lived so as to satisfy his family and his fel- low men, but has also lived up to the standard set forth by his father and his grandfather; he has made his life count for something; he has not only made a competency for him- self and his family, but he has done honor to the name; he has been of assistance to individuals; he has aided in the advance- ment of his state and his country. He was born at Jackson, Cape Girardeau couut.y, Misouri, December 15, 1849. His grandfather was Stephen Ranney, a native of Connecticut, who served in the Revolu- tionary war and also in the war of 1812. He held the office of Attorney General under Governor Hendricks. He spent the last years of his life in Cape Girardeau county and was buried at Jackson, Missouri. He had a large, powerful frame and was phj'S- ically a very strong man. He was married four times, his last wife, grandmother of our subject, being Elizabeth Hathorn of Salem, Massachusetts. William C. Ranney, father of Robert and son of Stephen, was a native of Whitehall, New York. He came to Cape Girardeau count.v, ]Iissouri, about 1826, where he soon made his presence felt, being a lawyer by profession. He was the first common pleas judge in the county, having been appointed by the legislature, — a most unusual occur- rence. He was a member of the legislature and was state senator. During the whole of his residence in Cape Girardeau he was active in public affairs, feeling the deepest interest in the growth and advancement of the state in which he was one of the early settlei-s. He lived to be eighty-three years old and was hale and hearty up to the time of his death. He, like his father, was possessed of a very strong physique and weighed two hundred and seventy-five pounds. He mar- ried Elizabeth Giboney, a native of Missouri. Her father. Robert Giboney, came to Mis- souri with his father, Alexander Giboney, about 1796 from their home near Harper's Ferry, in Virginia. They came by wagon to Cape Girardeau county, bringing with them the few necessities of life. They were pi- oneers to Cape Girardeau county, where they obtained grants of land and located there. These tracts of land are still in the owner- ship of the descendants. Jlrs. William C. Ranney lived to the age of eighty-one, hav- ing borne four sons to her husband, three of whom are living now. The eldest son was Stephen, named after his grandfather; Rob- ert Giboney was the second; William Alex- ander, named after his father, the third, and Herbert Hathorn, the youngest. When Robert was a baby his parents moved to a farm five miles southwest of Cape Girar- deau; there Robert was brought up and as soon as he was old enough he attended the district school. He learned how to do all sorts of farm work, thereby laying a founda- tion for conscientious fulfilment of duty that has been of good service to him through life. He was sent away to attend the Kentucky Military Institute when he was seventeen .years old. He remained there four years and when he returned home he taught one year. He had by this time made up his mind that he wished to study law as had his father and uncle, Johnson Ranney before him. He was desii-ous of starting in their footsteps but would make others for himself, branching out in other directions from those taken by his ancestors. After reading law with Louis Houek he attended the law school at the ^Missouri University, graduating in the class of 1873. Loviis Houck had formed such a high opinion of his ex-scholar's abilities that he took him into partnership. The two did business together until 1880, when Rob- ert's state of health compelled him to retire from the practice of law. He moved on to a farm and continued to actively superintend its management until 1894. He found the outdoor life was just what was needed to build up his health, but was in no hurry to return to his professional life, rather pre- ferring the quiet, simple life of a farmer. In 1894, however, the interests of his family decided him to move to Cape Girardeau and again practice law. His knowledge and capa- bilities were such that he was eminently suc- cessful. In 1908 he was elected judge of the Common Pleas Court, which position he now fills. He had previously been a Justice of the Peace, while he was engaged in farming. In 1876 he married Lizzie Giboney, by