Vol II , Chicago, The S. J. Clark Publishing Company 1911

Page 399

E. George Randle

E. George Randle, who for thirty years was engaged in the general merchandise business in shipman, but is now living retired, is one of the oldest settlers in Macoupin county. His birth occurred in Todd county, Kentucky, on the 2nd of April, 1828, and he is a son of John H. and Sarah H. (Arnold) Randle, the father a native of North Carolina and the mother of Virginia. They migrated to Illinois in 1830, first locating in Edwardsville, which at that time was only a fort, the Indians still being hostile in this vicinity. Subsequently they settled in Macoupin county, the father entering two hundred acres of government land that he cultivated until his death. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Randle there were four sons and two daughters, the son E. George being the eldest. All of them are living with the exception of two.

As he was still a small lad when the family settled in this county, E. George Randle acquired his education in a little log schoolhouse with slab benches and puncheon floor in Shipman township. While engaged in the mastery of the common branches he was becoming acquainted with the simpler principles of agriculture under the direction of his father. His early years were not particularly different from those of the other pioneer farmer lads of the period, much of his time being taken up in the work on the fields and care of the stock. The family as a whole shared in all of the hardships and privations that devolve upon those who form the advance guard of civilization in any new county. E. George Randle remained under the parental roof assisting in the cultivation of the home farm until 1856, when he came to Shipman and opened a general merchandise store. Commercial enterprises continued to engage his attention for thirty years, proving so lucrative that at the expiration of that period he disposed of his business and has since been living retired.

It was in Christian county, Illinois, in 1858, that Mr. Randle and Miss Roxie Ann Warren were united in marriage. Mrs. Randle, who passed away in 1873, was a native of the state of New York. She migrated from her native state to Illinois when a child with her parents, who settled in Macoupin county, where the father followed agricultural pursuits. To Mr. and Mrs. Randle were born two sons and two daughters, namely: Abigail, who is deceased; Charles, who is a resident of Pana, Illinois; Harriet, the wife of Prentice Cutler, now living in Oregon; and G. Warren, of Grove City, Illinois. In 1875 Mr. Randle was again married to Miss Frances McClaren, a native of Pennsylvania but a resident of Shipman. When still in her girlhood she came to Illinois with her parents, who settled on a farm in this county where they spent their latter years. Two children, a son and a daughter, born of this marriage are living: John and Florence, both of whom are at home.

The family affiliates with the Methodist Episcopal church, in which the parents have long held membership, and politically Mr. Randle is a republican. A man of clear judgment and business ability, he acquired in his early life the means to enable him to enjoy his latter years in well earned ease and comfort.

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In early colonial days there came from England two brothers by the name of Randolph, who settled in Roanoke County, Va. Three sons of each moved to North Carolina and settled along the Great Peedee River. To this source many of the best families of our country can be traced. The old English Randolph, by corruption has become Randol, Randal, and Randle, while others retain the original Randolph, and many of this stock have become eminent as ministers, physicians, military men and educators; but few as lawyers. [***This is considered by many Randle researchers to be wrong information. Info probably came from letter written by E. H. Randle based on interview of James R. Randle. All based on Bible record with children listed as last name Randolph; no parents listed; all children went by RANDLE in Brunswick Co, VA records]Our subject, Prof. Edwin H. Randle, traces his lineage to this source. On his father's side (one of the brothers), Maj. John, Wilson and George; on his mother's side (the other brother), William, Peyton and Susan Randle, our subject's parents being George and Susan Randle. They were brought from North Carolina to Stewart County, Tenn. when small. After marriage they moved to West Tennessee, and spent the remainder of their days. They had six sons and three daughters, our subject being the only one living. He was born December 18, 1830, in Henry County, and was educated at Andrew College, at Trenton, Tenn., graduating there in 1856, and has since been engaged in educational work. In 1860 he married Letitia Alexander, by whom he had one son -- Samuel T. Mrs. Randle died three years after their marriage. During the latter part of the war he served in Buford's division of Forrest's cavalry, and was assistant sergeant in the quartermaster's department. In 1869 Prof. Randle married Sarah A. McPherson, by whom he had three children: Mary W., Malcolm M. and Edwin I. Prof. Randle has been a close student and a useful man in the field of education. In 1856 he established Caledonia College, at Caledonia, Henry Co., Tenn., and was at the head of it until it was burned during the war. He afterward established, in the same county, the Paris Female College, and with Henry C. Irby founded McKenzie (now McTyeire) Institute, and held a joint principalship for six years; then taught four years in Paducah, Ky., and in 1881 moved to Ripley and has since had charge of the school. Prof. Randle has written some able articles for the leading periodicals. Among the number are "Tyranny of the Cassics" and the "Bacteria of Disease," and he has in manuscript a valuable scientific work in two volumes: Vol. I, "Scientific Interpretation of Genesis;" Vol. II, "The Plurality of the Races in the light of the Bible, of Science and of History -- Anti-Darwinism." Prof. Randle is justly considered a learned man and a fine educator.

Rev. John Randle was born on the 12th of January, 1811, and is a son of Thomas and Nancy (Davidson) Randle, and is a descendant of Maj. John Randle and Col. George Davidson, who were Revolutionary veterans. Our subject's parents were born in North Carolina and came to Tenn. after their marriage. The father was a farmer, and served under Jackson in three campaigns. He lost his life during the Seminole war. He was an old Jacksonian Democrat and he and wife were church members. The mother died about 1817. After his parent's death our subject was cared for by Maj. Henry Walls. He remained with him until his sister's marriage, which was in a few years, and then lived with her until 1831, when he was married to Nancy W. Harris, daughter of Isham and Lucy (Davidson) Harris. She was born in Tennessee, in 1811, and is the mother of eleven children: Thomas G., Lucy E., Martha E., Nancy E., Angeline E., George B. (deceased), John P., Mary E. (deceased), William H., William (deceased) and Richmond A. (deceased). Mr. Randle obtained a license to preach, in 1842, and followed that calling twelve years. He now owns a good farm of 275 acres. In 1836 he volunteered to fight the Creek Indians and also assisted in the Florida war. For the last two years Mr. Randle has been unable to perform his ministerial labors, but his past labors and many good deeds will ever be a living tribute to his memory. His wife, who was an earnest Christian and a devoted wife and mother, died in 1875. All the children save two are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Maj. Tom Randle, son of Rev. John Randle, served in the Confederate Army throughout the late war.

Peter C. Randle, who has the honor of being called an old settler of Madison County, is residing at the present time on section 21, Omphghent Township. He was born in Montgomery County, N.C., July 14, 1818, and is the son of Peter J. Randle, whose birth occurred in old Virginia in 1781. The latter removed with his parents to North Carolina when a lad of four years, and was there reared to mature years and married.

Peter J. Randle made the trip to this state with his family in 1832, locating on a farm in Edwardsville Township, where he was residing at the time of his decease, when past three score years and ten. His father was Isam Randle, also a native of Virginia, and a soldier in the Revolutionary War, serving through the entire period of eight years.

The mother of our subject, who was born in the Old Dominion in 1777, was prior to her marriage Mary Apchurch. Her parents also removed to North Carolina, when she was eight years old. There she met and married Peter J. Randle, and departed this life near Edwardsville when advanced in years. Both parents were buried on the old home farm, where they spent so many years of their lives.

The original of this sketch was one in a family of nine children, all of whom grew to mature years with one exception. They are, Janette, Martha, Isam, James, Maria, Elizabeth, Peter C. and Henry L. Our subject was in his fifteenth year when he came to this county and five years later was married to Miss Susan Beeman, who was born in Green County, this state. She became the mother of four daughters and five sons, and departed this life in the year 1865. Five of her family are living, Mary, Mrs. Russell, resides in St. Louis; Sarah, Mrs. Dunning, is living in Worden Township; Jennie E., now Mrs. Herin, is a resident of Virden, this state; Joseph M. is a farmer of Omphghent Township, this county; and Orman P. makes his home in Virden.

Mr. Randle was married in 1867 to Matilda C. Holton, who was born on a farm in this county, March 19, 1833. She was the daughter of D. F. Spruiel, a native of North Carolina, who came to Madison County, this state in 1828, thus becoming one of its pioneers. The mother of Mrs. Randle was in her maidenhood Lydia Winn, also a native of North Carolina, and the daughter of George Winn. The second union of Mr. Randle resulted in the birth of two sons and one daughter: Irvin Freeman, Silby W. and Martha C., who is deceased.

The original of this sketch located about 1832 on a farm near Edwardsville, and later went to Greene County, where he was also engaged in agricultural pursuits for a few years. On his next removal we find him living in Macoupin County; there he made his home until 1869, when he returned to this county and located upon the farm where he is at present residing.

Mr. Randle is classed among the substantial farmers of his township, and though advanced in years, is still carrying on the operations of his estate with the assistance of his two sons. In politics he was first a Whig, but is now a Republican. He is a member in good standing of the Christian Church, which he served in the capacity of Deacon for many years. The Randles are known throughout this county as among its very earliest settlers and Mr. Randle's parents also came here in a very early day.

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RANDLE. - W.M.G. Randle was born in DeKalb County, Ga., May 5, 1830, and died in Hunt County, Texas, October 10, 1907. Between the above dates was a great and very useful life. Born of religious parents (his father a useful local preacher), he was converted and joined the Methodist Church in boyhood, and, so far as can be known, honored his membership for sixty-three years. Not highly emotional, but intelligent, industrious and persistent, he developed a strong personality that counted much for good to the Church. "He was reliable" is a strong saying, but none too strong. As a captain in the Confederate Army, his men could never discover any sign of fear in the most dangerous places. As citizen or Church member he was equally strong; let others do as they may, but as for me, I am the Lord's, was his continual purpose - a high aim. In every office in the Church (he filled many of them), he was ever faithful. So strong were his convictions that out of three different families he raised nine children in all; not one of them strayed from their father's Church. Every one of the eight living children are members of the M.E. Church, South. The writer of these lines has been in sight of Bro. Randle for more than sixty years and has more than once been his pastor, and three times his presiding elder, and all the time he has been heading the right way. On October 1, 1907, the writer preached his funeral discourse to an immense crowd of people at South Sulphur, Texas, and laid his body to rest until the resurrection morning, when it will rise all Immortal. W.L. CLIFTON.

The history of the Randle family in America, dates back to three brothers, who came over from England in the Mayflower, in 1620. From one of these brothers the subject of the sketch is descended. His grandfather, Isom Randle, became a resident of North Carolina, and served in the Revolutionary war with the rank of major. Mr. Randle's father, Josiah Randle, was born in North Carolina, and there married Hannah Tompkins. She was the daughter of Richard Tompkins, who was also one of the brave men who took part in the struggle of the colonies for their independence. He held a colonel's commission and fought through the whole seven years of the war. Josiah and Hannah Randle were the parents of eleven children, five of whom were sons, and six daughters. At this date four daughters and two sons are still living. William S. Randle was the youngest child, and was born in Montgomery county North Carolina on the 10th of May, 1827. When he was eight years old in the year 1835, his father moved with the family to Madison county, in this state. The winter of 1835-6 was spent at Edwardsville, and the next spring the family moved to a farm three or four miles south of that town. Josiah Randle afterwards moved to the eastern part of that county, and died in August, 1858. The subject of this biography had only ordinary advantages for obtaining an education. He attended the common schools and endeavored to improve his opportunities to the best of his ability, but still the most of his knowledge has been gained by his own efforts. On the 10th day of May, 1849, he married Sarah Hausberger, daughter of Henry Hausberger. Her father was a native of Virginia and settled in Madison county, in the year 1848. Mrs. Randle was born in Trigg county, Kentucky.

For a number of years previous to the war, Mr. Randle was quite extensively engaged in trading in stock. During the rebellion, he supplied the government with large quantities of horses and mules, and was engaged in other business enterprises of a similar character. In the fall of 1869, he moved from Madison to Christian county, and settled on his present farm on section 8 of Ricks township. He and his wife have had ten children, of whom seven, five daughters and two sons, are now living. Beside farming, he has been engaged to some extent in the practice of law - a profession with which he first became familiar, while living in Madison county. His practice of the legal profession has however been limited to the time he has had to spare from his other business. In his political sympathies, he has been a democrat. He is a man, however, on whom party ties sit lightly, and he believes that the interests of the country are often best served, by voting for the best man for office, irrespective of party affiliations. On another page is an illustration of his farm, the improvements on which he has built since his residence in this county.

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