Mary Adeline (Rankin) Moodey (1832 - 1901)

Born 3 Nov 1832 in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, United States

Ancestors

Died 20 May 1901 at age 68 in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: David Pierce [send private message]

Biography

Mary was the eldest daughter of William Rankin and Caroline Nevin Rankin. She was baptized on 22 June 1832 at the Shippensburg Presbyterian Church. Mary spent her formative years in Shippensburg.

On 23 September 1851, Mary became the wife of Judge James Crawford Moodey. The couple had four children: William Rankin, James Crawford, Caroline Nevin, and Elizabeth Crawford (Bessie).

James' career took the family to both Indiana and Saint Louis, Missouri. James served as a circuit court judge in both of these places; however, he was impeached by the Indiana State Legislature for not having sworn in jurors. He was reinstated later, but by this time, he was working as a judge in Saint Louis.

James died in Saint Louis in 1880 at the age of 63. Soon thereafter, Mary, along with her children, moved to Chicago, Illinois, where she ran a boarding house. By 1891, Mary was living in Shippensburg again, along with her adult daughter.

There are numerous references to Mary in the Shippensburg newspapers from 1891 through 1901 at her death. We know that she visited the World's Fair in Chicago. She also made numerous trips to visit her children and grandchildren.

Mary died at the age of 68 in Shippensburg.

Sources

• 1850, 1860, 1880, 1900 U.S. Federal Censuses, Shippensburg, Pennsylvania.
• Pennsylvania and New Jersey Church and Town Records, 1708-1985.
• Pennsylvania Wills and Probate Records.