Case School of Applied Science - Differential Yearbook (Cleveland, OH)

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BIOGRAPHY OF JUDGE R. Dy RANNE-Y-. -' TRUSTEE OF THE! COLLEGE FROM 1881 TO 1889. CS fa UFUS P, RANNEY was born in Hampden county, 6 J Massachusetts, in 1813. His father, who was a J x L. , Y Q19 9 farmer moved with his family in 1824 to Portage county, Ohio, and settled in the midst of the wilderness. The boy was ambitious and determined upon securing an education. Being warmly indorsed in this desire by his parents, he went to Nelson, where he studied for some time, earning his books by chopping wood. Ffom this academy he entered Western Reserve College, where he studied for two years, supporting himself during this time by working and teaching school. In 1834 he went to Ashtabula county and entered the law oihce of Giddings 81 Wade, to study law. His progress was such that in Cone year he was admitted to the bar, and in two years was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court. Shortly after this, the firm of Giddings 81 Wade being dissolved, he became a partner of his former instruc- tor, Mr. Benjamin F. Wade. The nrm of Wade 81 Ranney lasted for nearly ten years, and was noted for its strength and the extent of its business. , In 1845, Mr. Ranney withdrew and opened a law office in W'arren, and immediately took a front place in the bar of Trumbull county. Although never seeking for political honors, he was nominated and elected to various offices, showing the high opinion which the people held of him. He was nominated to the State Senate in 1842, 346 and '48. In 1850, Mr. Ranney was elected by a very large majority, as a member of the convention called to revise the State Constitution. He served with great ,distinction as a, member of this convention, and after its adjournment was elected to the Supreme Court, and held this position an 1857. ' I i In that year he was appointed by the President to the position of United States Attorney for the 'Cleveland District, but resigned and again took up the practice of law in Cleveland, with F. T. Backus and C. W. Noble.

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of Cleveland, and they all, with the exception of General Devereaux, left for the south on one of the Havana steamers to make an extended trip through the Southern States and the West Indies. Landing at Jacksonville, they boarded a steamboat bound up the St. Johns River. On the evening of Thurs- day, March 19, the party separated for the night at about eleven. Mr. Kerr Went down to the lower deck, and at the foot of the stairs, which led directly to the edge of the boat, he stumbled and fell overboard. The alarm was immedi- ately given, and searching parties were organized at the nearest city, but his body was not recovered for several days. The funeral was at Painesville, Ohio. ..2O..

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In 1862 he was again elected to the Supreme Court, but resigned in 1864. While a member of the Supreme Court, of which for a portion of the time he was Chief Justice, he made a record showing himself to be one of the great lawyers of the country. In 1871, Western Reserve College conferred upon Judge Ranney the honorary degree of LL. D. Judge Ranney held many positions of honor and trust outside of his profession, among them being that of member and then President of the Board of Trustees of Case School of Applied Science. His chief aims have been, however, in connection with his profession, which he has pursued with an industry and ability that have made him one of the greatest advocates known in the history of American jurisprudence. In the very best sense of the words, he was a self- made man, and his history furnishes additional evidence that integrity of purpose, combined with perseverance, will overcome all the diiiiculties which may 'beset the young American and enable him to fit himself fully for honorable and useful positions in society.