RANDALL, Hon. Elisha

RANDALL, BROWN, HENDERSON, KEERL, BOGARDUS, STEWART

Posted By: Jennifer Gunderson (email)
Date: 5/23/2021 at 17:49:26

Hon. Elisha Randall, Mason City.

One of the earliest settlers in Cerro Gordo county, and one of the most noteworthy men, is Judge Randall, who was one of the thirty-four voters that organized the county in the summer of 1855. Elisha Randall took the full name of his father, who was one of the judges of the court of Madison county, New York, for many years. The son was born at Brookfield, in that county, on the 22nd of September, 1818. His mother, Besty Brown Randall, was a daughter of one of the first settlers in Madison county.

Judge Randall, senior, owned a clothing-mill, a saw-mill and an oil-mill, and until he was twenty-two years of age, the sone worked with his father, attending a common school during part of his boyhood. In 1844, the son moved to Edmeston, Otsego county, where he remained six years operating a grist-mill and manufacturing hardware. He then removed to Belmont, Allegany county, and spent nearly four years in manufacturing lumber.

In the autumn of 1854 Mr. Randall immigrated to Iowa, halting a short time at Waterloo, and the next June took up his permanent residence in Cerro Gordo county, one mile north of Mason City post office. On locating here he built a saw-mill on Lime creek, in connection with Samuel Douglas, of Benton county, and a grist-mill two years later, running both for several years.

In 1870 Mr. Randall built a lime-kiln, in connection with other parties, and operated it a short time. He made the business a study, and in July, 1872, received a patent for the "Randall Perpetual Lime-kiln." Two years ago he sold his interest in this patent in Cerro Gordo county, and recently his mill property, moving on a farm two miles from town.

Judge Randall, as his neighbors love to call him, was the first supervisor of Mason township; was justice of the peace for several years after the county was organized; was county judge two years, and while holding this office was elected recorder of the county, serving one term.

He aided in getting the three railroads to Mason City, and at one time was a director of the Central Railroad of Iowa. He has done much to ubild up Cerro Gordo county.

Judge Randall belongs to the Masonic fraternity.

He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church since he was seventeen years old, and has lived a consistent christian life, leaving in this respect a precious legacy to his family.

In politics, he was first a whig and then a republican, and adheres to the latter party.

On the 31st of October, 1838, he was married to Miss Lucy M. York, of Brookfield, New York. They have had twelve children, eight of whom are living. Five of them, one son and four daughters, are married.

When the rebellion broke out, Judge Randall had no sons old enough to enlist, but sent three sons-in-law; one of them, Charles H. Huntley, adjutant of the 32nd Iowa Infantry, was killed at the battle of Pleasant Hill. Another was a Virginian, Henry Keerl, who promptly enlisted in the Union army, while four brothers at the south fought in the rebel army. He was a lieutenant in the 32nd regiment, and for his bravery at the battle of Pleasant Hill was offered the captaincy of the company, but he refused to accept because of an impediment in his speech. At that battle he received a ball in his canteen. The other son-in-law fought on the Indian frontier. His name was George W. Henderson. He returned after serving three years and three months in the 7th United States Cavalry. One of his daughters, the widow of Charles H. Huntley, is now hte wife of L. I. Huntley, formerly United States revenue assessor at Dubuque, and now of the White Line and Stone Company, Mason City.

Judge Randall is a modest, social and very pleasant man, always hard-working, yet well preserved and likely to live to enjoy a serene old age.

Source: The United States Biographical Dictionary and Portrait Gallery of Eminent and Self-made Men, Chicago & New York: American Biographical Publishing Company, 1878. P 257-8.

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Transcriber's notes:

Elisha "Judge" Randall, Jr. was born 22 Sep 1818 in Brookfield, Madison County, New York. He died in 1897.

Children include:

Martha A Randall Henderson
1840–1936

Lurena Randall Keerl
1847–1918

Millard F. Randall
1849–1934

Delia Ette Randall
1852–1863

Mary Randall Bogardus
1855–1912

Sarah E. Randall Huntley
1857–1944

Lucina May Randall
1860–1868

Adin Randall
1862–1945

Tinnie Sylvia Randall Stewart
1865–1957

Source: findagrave.com