Principal, Otto Ranke, Building Contractor, Seattle, WA.

The Ranke Family lived in IL c. 1867-1870; from c. 1871-1882 in Olympia, WA; from c. 1883-1889, Seattle, WA, Ward 3; in 1891, Seattle, Ward 4. Ranke died at 10th Avenue and Madison Street in 1892.

Otto Ranke was married to Dora Ranke, a native of Holstein, Germany. Alive in 1889, she disappeared from Territorial Census records by 1892.

Ranke was from Mecklenburg in Germany, as were both of his parents. According to the Census of the Territory of Washington, Thurston County, Olympia of 1880, the Rankes had four children, named Alex, (born in IL, c. 1868) Gretchen (born in IL, c. 1869), Amelia (born in Olympia, WA, c. 1873), and Fred O. (born in Olympia, WA, c. 1874); according to the Census of the Territory of Washington, King County, Seattle, Ward 3, that was done 07/30/1887, the Rankes had four children, Alice (probably Alex), Gertzen (probably Gretchen), Mamie, (probably Amelia), and Fred; once again, census records prove to be inconsistent. Alex worked as a brick mason and foreman according to these census records.

Ranke was listed as having worked as a "brickmason" in the U.S. Federal Census of 1870, a "saloon keeper" in the Territorial Census of Washington, 1879, and as a "mason" in the 1883 census. Otto and Dora Ranke returned to Seattle, WA, via New York, NY, from Bremen, Germany, on 07/20/1892 aboard the S.S. Havel.